Spring Onion Classic - 3 Mobile Sportive

Rated Event: 47.7%

wrote:

A good route, no registration and the use of timing chips made life easy and the collection of the rider number was a breeze, so no queues made a nice change from other events, but we really didn't need to be there so early to then hang around to start well after 9:15. The HQ was poor with the use of only one cubicle in the gents for several hundred riders. The red paint on the roads was difficult to see in fog whilst riding with water on both sides of my glasses. Even when in the brighter conditions the markings were too close to the junctions and were easy to miss when riding at over 25mph. I went off course three times so I was not impressed. The food stop was ok and because I knew there was only one I had a good feed which lasted me for the rest of the event. When I reached the finish I met a friend who said that there wasn't even a hot drink and cake available for the paid up riders. At this point I thought that I had paid enough and decided to ride home without.

I really don't know why the entry fee was so high because we got very little value from it. The event was done on the cheap and someone should have made a lot of money out of us. I hope the organisers take on board our comments and bring this event back up to standard for next year.

Rated Event: 83.3%

wrote:

2nd year doing it. very good course. good balance not overloaded with climbs. will be doing it again.

Rated Event: 73.3%

wrote:

Well organised, good starting venue, well timed, easy process in / out, chip good, good course.
Feed station could have been a little further into the ride, or have two of them if feasible or one big, one smaller
Arrows on the road I did not like that much, may be to do with the weather but some of them not that easy to see but mostly reliant on people in front.
Good spacing and not bunched at all but I was the first group out - so on the arrows front was sometimes on my own and not sure if going in the right direction!
Think I prefer signs on the back of the few cycle events I have done but understand they come with their own issues.
Quality of photographs very good

Rated Event: 76.6%

wrote:

A few comments that I hope will help for next year:

1 A tough, but very satisfying route.
2 Very good HQ - easy to find, good amenities and plenty of parking!
3 Road markings could be improved - in general, turns should be highlighted sooner than they were and the paint should be in a more vibrant colour - especially when the weather's poor.
4 I cycle on some of the chosen roads quite often, but later on in the season when there is less debris on the road and conditions are a little safer. On Sunday, some of the road surfaces (too much gravel, pot holes and mud) let to too many punches and risks of injury.
5 Overall, a very good event that I will seriously consider entering next year - thanks for organising it.

Rated Event: 78.8%

nigelleggatt wrote:

SWRC seem like a really friendly club - all the officials and riders in team kit were supportive and happy to help. Event feels a little home-spun compared to other comparable rides - rather half-hearted feed stop. Great route though and managed to take 20 minutes off last year's time.

Rated Event: 73.3%

Don Menzies wrote:

Great course. Good weather. Food stop poor. Post event refreshments had to be paid for - not even a free cup of coffee!

Rated Event: 75.5%

wrote:

My first Sportive in the UK. The GPX route differed from the signage at one point in the ride, but decided to follow the well marked signs - thankfully. The feed stop was poor, water and bananas - but the sportive was cheap so can hardly complain. Liked the course as rode some hills I hadn't encountered before. The roads were in very poor condition at some points but that is hardly the organisers fault as it seems to be the same everywhere. Thanks SWRC, will be back next year as it is a good early season ride.

Rated Event: 73.3%

wrote:

Enjoyed the route,even the climbs!! The descents were great and weather was good,will def be back next year.

Rated Event: 72.2%

wrote:

Well signed, very scenic, food stop very basic (bananas!), no electronic timing, but would probably do again.

Rated Event: 72.2%

unknown wrote:

Rated Event: 75.5%

AJC wrote:

Rated Event: 86.6%

Mark Harding wrote:

I enjoyed the event and thought that the marshals did an excellent job and the signage good and feedstation was ok. Could have done with one or two more toilets at HQ. The course was harder than I remember, the great company on the course made it a really enjoyable day. Hope to do it again.

Rated Event: 78.8%

wrote:

Never enough toilets or parking at these events but was fairly well organised. Took a while to queue up to get the card signed off at the end adding a few extra minutes to my time. As mentioned before cakes and teas not really up to usual SWRC high standard :(

Nice course and adequate signage on this challanging route. An enjoyable day with great company. Coombe Bottom never seems to get any easier!

Rated Event: 66.6%

wrote:

I really enjoyed the route, especially the last 20km downhill or flat which was a stroke of genius. :)
my only small gripe was having to queue to get my time at the end as id hoped to get just inside 4 hours and i was just over (4:02) due to the wait but thats a small thing and i will definately be back next year.

Rated Event: 82.1%

unknown wrote:

Rated Event: 78.8%

wrote:

Great event and well organised. Would definitely do it again!

Rated Event: 68.8%

wrote:

Great event - ditto about the toilets and the timing - but it's Wednesday and where are the results then? Cakes weren't as good as last year. Otherwise very enjoyable and a good route. Thanks SWRC

Rated Event: 79.9%

wrote:

Great course, I found the last hill before the end was a killer, very windy day that made the route difficult,very helpfull friendly marshals.Enjoyed the day. Roll on the summer!!

Rated Event: 69.9%

wrote:

1st real ride of the season so took it out of me and pretty shattered at the end. Myself and 3 others missed a left turn about 5 miles in and so carried on for a couple of miles (and down a hill that coming back was steeper than any other on the course !). Apart from that annoyance it's just what i needed to shake off the winter cobwebs.