Milton Keynes Sportive

Brakeless
Brakeless Posts: 865
edited March 2010 in Sportives/audaxes/training rides
I rode the Milton Keynes 100 Mile Sportive today and it was not good.

Firstly queued for ages to sign on. 1 person checking people in.

The Route was fine and well signed however after 30 miles there should have been a feed stop. There was a sign for a feed stop but on turning off the road, nothing and I turned off with a bunch of MK riders who also saw nothing.

We then carried on assuming we'd make it to the second feed stop at 60 Miles. By this time I'd emptied my water bottles, however there was nothing to indicate a feed stop at all.

I ended up stopping at 80 miles at a shop to buy water.

When I finally got to the end the organiser on the finish line said someone had removed the sign for the second feed stop. When I asked about the first one he just shrugged his shoulders.

There was also not even a free cup of tea at the finish just a burger van where you had to pay.

Comments

  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,238
    This is a new one and one I haven't even considered, given the uninteresting starting location and the lack of any form of challenge.

    If it's their first year, some mistakes are inevitable... if it survives it will get better, although I very much doubt it will. Born out of desperation of a few riders that would go to any length to fit a timing device on their fork, it doesn't really make any sense at all in the amateur cycling panorama
    left the forum March 2023
  • Brakeless
    Brakeless Posts: 865
    For alot of us cycling 100 miles is a challenge. The route was actually very good and I rode with a good bunch of friendly riders, it didn't have any killer climbs but I don't think that has to be the bench mark for all sportives. My gripe is that I do sportives because of the signage and the fact I should be able to grab some food and fill my bottles at a couple of feed stops. This wasn't the case with this one.
  • bigpikle
    bigpikle Posts: 1,690
    I rode the 100km route yesterday as my first sportive ride.

    There was a feedstation at 30 miles, and it was full of people. I dont know if you somehow missed it but it was packed and did a great job with free cheese/ham/jam rolls, energy bars, bananas, water etc etc and people were filling their faces left right and centre.

    I agree with the queues at the start - the 100km queue was far longer and several people gave up after 15 mins waiting and just went off and rode it without picking up numbers and timing chips etc.

    The route was OK, although I dont have any other sportives to benchmark it to. On the short route there were a few climbs although nothing killer, but it toured lots of villages and countryside with only a small amount of main roads. I had friends do the 100 mile route and said it was also OK.

    Nothing at the end was a little poor and the goody bag of medal and MK branded buff was rather poor. I just headed out ASAP to get home for lunch.
    Your Past is Not Your Potential...
  • cartesr
    cartesr Posts: 70
    I rode the 100k and my experience was good, Ive rode a few sportives and what counts for me is a decent route signage and food.

    Signage was very good compared with some Ive ridden.
    the food stop was in a sports hall at 30 miles with loads of people there, free rolls and buzz bars, tea and coffee, again Ive seen worse,,,, jelly babies in a tent!

    Im not a great climber so I though the route was a good early season starter

    My only gripe was the start sign on and I got there at 8 still had a to queue but still made the start but I could see lots of frustrated riders as we started. More toilets at the start would have been better as well. Lots of space at the bowl so it wasnt down to shortage of space.
    I used to do a bit meself you know
  • purplehaze
    purplehaze Posts: 14
    I did the 100k - found it a well signed and interesting route with a feed stop at 50k with enough free food and drink to keep us going - I pre-paid and only had to queue for a couple of mins at the start. Overall I thought it was a positive experience and worth the entrance fee... :D
    purplehaze
  • purplehaze
    purplehaze Posts: 14
    I did the 100k - found it a well signed and interesting route with a feed stop at 50k with enough free food and drink to keep us going - I pre-paid and only had to queue for a couple of mins at the start. Overall I thought it was a positive experience and worth the entrance fee... :D
    purplehaze
  • purplehaze
    purplehaze Posts: 14
    I did the 100k - found it a well signed and interesting route with a feed stop at 50k with enough free food and drink to keep us going - I pre-paid and only had to queue for a couple of mins at the start. Overall I thought it was a positive experience and worth the entrance fee... :D
    purplehaze

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