Do you prefer A to B or circular routes?

Giraffoto

I'm hoping to organize a group ride next year (one of the many "ride 50 miles or so for charity" sort of rides) and would like to get some opinions on this point: if you were to take part in such a ride, would you prefer it to be between two points a fair distance apart, or starting and ending in the same place?

cougie

Circular - as then theres no hassle about getting back to the start.

bobtbuilder

Unless the ride is linking two places for a specific reason, e.g. to link two places of personal significance to the charity, the a circular route would always be my preference.

RowCycle

cougie wrote:

Circular - as then theres no hassle about getting back to the start.

+1

rolf_f

Circular is always easier to convince people to do. That said, straight is far more satisfying. Doesn't sound much when you describe a loop no point of which is further than about 35-40 miles from the start but eg my ride from Leeds to Carlisle really sounds like something!

kev77

Circular, all day long!

Cleat Eastwood

circulars probably more appealing ie less hassle figuring out transport back or getting picked up etc plus if you have food tents etc they can get custom at both the start and the finish.. Best of luck with it.

rhext

If you can 'brand' a point to point in a way which will increase sponsorship then might be worth considering: 'London to Brighton' possibly easier to sell sponsorship for than "50 mile circular route in the Home Counties".

But if there's no such reason to do it, I'd go for circular every time for lack of transport hassle. And there's no reason why you can't brand a circular route similarly: "challenging 50 mile circular course taking in the five highest hills in Norfolk" sort of thing!

prawny

Depends how far it's going to be, some directors at my place did York to Norwich, which sounds good (not in one go though) as said above point to points are better for branding and convincing sponsors. You'll no doubt get more riders on a circular route though, it would be interesting to compare the figures over a sample of charity rides. I wonder if the Tour Ride people would be able to help out with totals from this year? Stoke pretty much circular I wonder how it compared to Wales?

Giraffoto

Circular seems like the popular choice!

How does "50 miles from Whipsnade Zoo to the highest point in the Chilterns and back, via the highest point in Herts" sound? A couple of climbs, some nice scenery? Would that appeal to many people? (i.e., would it appeal to you?)

Pep

This has always puzzled me...

All my rides start and finish from home.

If it's A to B, how do people get back to the start ?????

Monkeypump

For my own rides I tend to mix it up (circular primarily, with a few A-B rides thrown in for interest).

For 'event' rides I prefer A-B, for reasons similar to Rolf above. I want to feel that I've 'made it' to somewhere at the end of the ride.

Giraffoto

The last time I did it (London to Whipsnade Zoo) we took the train into London and then got friends/family to pick us up from the end point. The consnsus is, though, that it's easier to arrange travel to and from one point!

Monkeypump

Giraffoto wrote:

Circular seems like the popular choice!

How does "50 miles from Whipsnade Zoo to the highest point in the Chilterns and back, via the highest point in Herts" sound? A couple of climbs, some nice scenery? Would that appeal to many people? (i.e., would it appeal to you?)

You might want to come up with a more snappy name!

TBH, that just says "a nice ride in the country" to me - I can't visualise anything significant in there.

For example, one of the fun 50-odd mile charity rides I do is the Palace to Palace - Buckingham Palace to Windsor Castle. Nice easy ride, but includes landmarks and well-known spots (Richmond Park included). It makes it more relevant to potential sponsors.

Pigtail

I would prefer a circular route for simple transportation reasons but I do a few point-to-points and probably get more from them.

It's a school holiday weekend here - I'm at work and my family have gone away for the weekend. I'm going to knock off early and go to join them by bike. 45 miles, with one very significant hill and I must admit the anticipation is building much more than it does for a similar length Sunday morning circular route.

Pep

My rides these days are 100km at most and are over by 11:00 at the latest. Then it's family time.

A to B? Car? Train? Just not doable for me.

shouldbeinbed

Giraffoto wrote:

Circular seems like the popular choice!

How does "50 miles from Whipsnade Zoo to the highest point in the Chilterns and back, via the highest point in Herts" sound? A couple of climbs, some nice scenery? Would that appeal to many people? (i.e., would it appeal to you?)

longwinded get a snappy title to go with the selling points and bobs yer uncle

Frank the tank

Got to be a loop for practical reasons.

How about, for a title.

The Whipsnade Zoo Do,

garrynolan

Circular - as soon as you leave, you're on the way back...

bobtbuilder

Frank the tank wrote:

Got to be a loop for practical reasons.

How about, for a title.

The Whipsnade Zoo Do,

That sounds much better to me. The ride sounds good too. Use your local knowledge to keep it on nice, quiet smaller roads if possible. For me, "A" roads are always a bit of a turn off as they tend to be pretty busy here in Sussex & Kent.

Giraffoto

Thanks everyone for some very useful responses! Now for my next bit of market research . . .
If none of it is on A roads (and less than a mile through towns) . . .
If it has a snappy title . . .
If it is a circular route . . .
If the elevation looks like this:

And if it's all for a good cause . . .

. . .would you do it?

That elevation chart may be done from right to left instead, and there could be the option of a shorter route that misses out the highest point in the Chilterns between miles 21 and 35 or so

Anonymous

What about The Zoo-mer ?

I'll get me coat.......

thecrofter

Call it the Whipsnade Ark and only accept entries from tandems



I'll get my coat too



Seriously, circular route, I did the Tour Ride (Peebles to Dumfries) and was surprised by the low turnout (under 250) I think people are put off by the transfer, if it hadn't been the ToB route I wouldn't have done it.

prawny

Zoo-m Zoo-m Zoo-m and get Mazda to sponsor the event,
no need for a coat it's quite nice out

Giraffoto

Some good ideas here - I shall steal them and plagiarize with no shame whatsoever. I really like the idea of "the Whipsnade Zoom" - it kind of goes well with a route that starts on a steep descent and has at least two long downhill stretches.