Rider times now available
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Last year we were blessed with pretty good weather all year, so turning up in Chieveley this morning to pouring rain was i bit of a shock way to kick off 2012!! As per usual, the long loop fell to me to mark out, but this was my doing as I have an agenda……. I wanted to ride up Streatley Hill. This is due to the purchase of the Best 100 Climbs in the Uk book and today I knocked off one more 
. You can buy the book here , it’s a great challenge and the good news is that the Ride It series will knock off about 10 – 15 over the year ( King of the Downs has 6 of its 10 climbs in the book!!) Using one of our new Garmin 800 units I was able to upload my route, the info can be found here Garmin Connect
Anyway, today. It stopped raining the second we started peddling and stayed dry for the entire ride, finishing in sunshine which was pleasant. The roads are in winter condition so we recommend winter tyres, try and stay off those ultra skinny, lightweight easy to puncture tyres. To be honest, they’re not too bad, there’s a few sections where there’s small stones and debris washed on to the tarmac but we have tried to stay on the bigger country lanes.
The Mountain bikers however are going to be in for a bit of a mudfest!! There’s plenty of good surfaced trails on the ride, but this being winter in the Uk, there’s some mud about, and it might be a bit slippery……. bring your sense of humour.
Remember it’s NOT a race
Just a reminder that these rides are not races in any shape or form. Please treat other road and trail users with respect and patience, always give way and be courteous. Do not ride more than two abreast on roads where it’s not safe to do so, STOP at junctions and be aware that there might be something big around that blind corner. We do not insure you for your actions on our rides – if you hit a car it’s down to you to pay for the damage!
Right – GPX files. Here they are.
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Welcome back! The RideIt! team hope you had a great Xmas and New Year, it’s now time to shake off the winter layer and get back on those bikes
We have a few changes to our events 2012. Firstly we have teamed up with High5 to supply you with your nutritional needs on the ride. You’ll get a small tube of High5 Zero tablets, a bar or Gel and sports drink during the event to keep you topped up out on the trails. To keep you ON the trails we now have Garmin along as a navigation partner. There’ll be a range of Garmin Edge 200, 500 and 800 units to try out free of charge at the events. These’ll be all loaded with the maps for the day so you can ignore our arrows and just follow the Garmins directions, easy. They are due to land with us on the 18th of Jan so we are going to be a bit rushed to get them for Chieveley, but ask at registration and we’ll loan them out if we can.
Back to Chieveley……….
Traditionally the start to our year and always unpredictable……. From a cancellation due to snow, minus 6 degrees and frosty to mild and muddy, we’ve seen it all. Looking at our weather at the moment I’m guessing we’re going for mild again and let’s hope not too muddy. Then again it’s still the British winter If this mildness does hold out we’ll probably take the Sportive up a few of the local hills.
Hi, I am booked on Cheively event, my son who
is 12 has now asked if he can go. Firstly is the ride
suitable for young riders and can he book in
on the morning of the event in case he changes his mind again.
Many thanks
Stephen
Hi Stephen
I think you spoke to one of the guys in Reading toady?
You don’t say MTB or Sportive – Mtb is going to be muddy, so is he capable of riding up to 15miles with added mud? The sportive is pretty ok on the fun and short, the only big hills are in the Med and Long.
You can add him on the morning, no problems.
Ta
Dean
Hi
How do I up load the gps routes i cant seem to do it.
cheers
Hi Steve
I need more info, where/what unit are you trying to load it to?
Might be easier to call me on 0786 3226768
Ta
Dean
Hi Dean, the mtb long fails to upload to garmin.connect and i can’t get it or the medium to load into memory map, could you check them out
Adrian
HI
Entered the MTB on saturday and was just wondering where the event centre will be? The pre event info link on email didn’t work!
Thanks
this is my first sportive event, I have just received the pre event email but the pre event read link won’t load, will I be missing much or can I find out what I need on the day before I set off I haven’t got a GPS yet but hoping to borrow a garmin 800 on the day as this what I am looking to buy any info apprecialted
Kevin. The link worked for me, so try the link from HERE. If not then all the info can be found by clicking the ride it tab at the top of the Evans web page and then looking for Chieveley on the left menu.
Adrian, None of the GPX files will upload to Garmin connect as they are not the right type of GPX file ( They are not created on Garmin basecamp or via a Garmin unit) Memory Map units won’t take a GPX file, they need an MMO file. If you mail me, I’ll send them over. dean.stacey@evanscycles.com
Ta
Dean
Steve. All the info can be found by clicking the Ride It tab at the top of the Evans web page and then looking for Chieveley on the left menu. See above post about link – it worked for me, so not sure what the problem is.
I have a suitcase full of Garmins in me front room……
Ta
Dean
hi, i tried the event information link and it was broken. so what time is kick off for the medium route.
cheers,
justin
ps: for those who want to visualise the route then they can load the gpx
files into gpsvisualizer.com and select google earth as the output, then load the output kmz file into google earth and enjoy.
Hi Justin, Thanks for the info about visualizing the route.
There seems to be aproblem with the link for some people, I can see it, so not sure what the issue is. Please see posts above with another link. All the info you need can also be found by clicking on the Ride It tab at the top of the main Evans website and then selecting Chieveley from the menu on the left.
Ta
Dean
Dean
Many thanks for the info the link still didn’t work but hey that’s technology for you!! looking forward to it tho and the use of a Garmin if there are any left when I get there
see ya Sunday
Hi Steve.
Worked out the problem today, and it’s a human error not technology!! It’s linked to the Evans intranet which is why I can see it and no one else can
I’ll have a word with the guys at Head Office….
Ta
rode the mtb event on Saturday and wanted to say thanks for a well organised and although tough, enjoyable event. Looking forward to the next one!!!:-)
Hi Carlos, Thanks very much, I think the going go easier towards the end of the day as the trails dried out, buy still a suprisingly hard ride. Some friends were out MTB’ing today and popped in to see me, they were very complimentary about the way we had smoothed out all the trails for them
Cheers
hi,
rode the 50 mile route today. It was well organised, well done.
however, the timing chip guy seemed amused by my planet-x
team alu, here’s the website for home to continue his
amusement.
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/
best regards,
justin
Hi Justin, Not sure who that was, but I might have an idea……..
Will pass this on.
Ta
Dean
Rode Medium Route on my ancient BSA.. Great ride, good signage, excellent venue. Will be back again next year (this was my second year on this ride).
What about a Ride It event in Worcestershire? – Lovely roads also…
As last year, this was a great event to start thye year. Rode 46miler on ancient BSA “Tour de France”and thorughly enjoyed.
What about an Evans Ride It! event for Worcestershire? Some lovely routes, some hilly and lothers less demanding… What do you think?
Hello Rideit Team
I have a general question about Rideit events – in the event of not being able to attend events you have paid for in advance due to illness – is there any process inplace to
a, transfer to another event
b, refund
I wasn’t able to attend the cheively event due to the above – hence question
Be intrested on the offical line so I can determine am I better to ener on the day
thanks
It would have been a great start to your ride it events if the staff didn’t look so downright miserable!
Compared to last year, the fuel station was extremely miserly and despite my hunger was handed one power bar, which I had to ask for as it was hidden in the back of the van. The guy (with glasses) at the fuel station, despite his earlier comment that my seat was too raised, decided he couldn’t be bothered to adjust my saddle for me, when asked. This left me saddle sore for the rest of the ride.
The event was fun, ruined by poor unmotivated and unsmiling staff. Everyone had attitude except the guy at the start/finish line. He was great and full of conversation.
Luckily I enjoy sportives so the unfriendly staff won’t stop me from attending another. But pull your socks up Evans…..for goodness sakes……it’s your first ride of the year!
Steve – Glad you enjoyed the ride. We are looking at new venues for next year but they have to roughly be where we have stores. That being said, we are getting some new stores…..
Andy – The official line is there is no refunds. We gear up for the amount of riders that have pre-entered, so in the admitedly unlikely event that everyone had a cold, we’d be stuffed! The unofficial line is that we will transfer your entry up until a week before but there are no refunds or transfers from the week runing up to the event.
Ta
Dean
Mr A.rider
I read your post with interest.
I have spoken to Tony, the guy with the glasses, about this. The way he remembers this is that he made a comment that he thought the front of your saddle was to high ( not the saddle itself ) but when he had a closer look on level ground he decided that it was OK. It wasn’t that he wasn’t “Bothered” it was that the saddle was in the correct position so he didn’t need to adjust it. Can I say that it’s not our responsibility for the set up of your bike. I’m assuming that you had ridden the bike before the event with the saddle in that position – did you get sore then? If you adjusted it before our ride then you would have ridden it about 30miles in that position before you got to us, so I think it’s a bit unfair to blame your saddle soreness on us.
The drink station was stocked with bananas, cake and flapjack as it was last year. You can generally help yourself to as much as you like, so I can’t see this as being “miserly”. With your entry you get a bar and tube of zeros at registration, this is your allocation of free energy bars for the event. We keep a small supply at the drink station for emergencies, but don’t put these out as they are not part of the food offered. This is why you had to ask for something that was not on display.
As for staff, I can’t really comment on your personal experience but the staff are under quite a lot of presure at certain points of the day. In the morning we have to precess 250 – 300 riders in quite a short time, get them parked, through the starts etc so they might not always be able to stop for a chat.
Hopefully you’ll have a better experience in the future.
Ta
Dean
I did the off road ride on saturday. All seemed pretty friendly and welcoming and well organised to me and plenty of cake and drinks at the feed station. And despite the lack of a butler service or other staff there to buff and polish my bike or adjust the saddle height for me but still managed to cope OK
Hi Muddy –
To all the staff and other riders!!
Thanks so much for making the event a happy friendly event. Everyone is always very helpful, fellow riders offen ask if all is ok and when stopped looking at punctures or chains etc.
As for the Evans staff – they couldnt me more friendly and helpful. Yet another great well organised event.
Thanks so much – it cant be too much fun standing out in all weathers, your efforts and dedication are appreciated!!
Dear Dean
Many thanks for you taking the time to chase up my concerns and providing me with your feedback. It is great that you provide an open forum and take on board opinions both good and bad.
However, please note, I did not blame Evans for my saddle soreness. Sorry you mis-interpreted what I wrote. I asked for an adjustment to be made on my saddle (I felt it was not in the correct position and your staff initially agreed) only for him to change his mind and suggest to me that it was already in the correct position. For the record, at no time was my bike on level ground for him to ascertain that his own initial assumptionat was incorrect. Something that could have been alleviated was made worst by inaction.
I am not going to speculate as to what reason that some of your staff members were (in my opinion) less than jolly at Chieveley. All I can offer up is that a smile never did any harm. I have been on many organised rides, where there were significantly more participants than you had and all I ever saw was a sea of smiles from the organisers!
I enjoyed the Chieveley ride enormously, the route was well choosen and the countryside setting was beautiful. The signage has vastly improved since the debacle that existed on last year’s Redbridge ride. I have no doubt that I will attend another ride it event in the near future.
Keep up the good work, make improvements and never rest on your laurels – that is the secret of any success!
Best Regards
A Rider
Great ride and the course was excellent. Good balance of fast track and MUD! This was my second mtb event and it was the best. Will definitely be doing more and will drag a few buddies with next time. Thanks for organising it!
Mr A Rider
Perhaps you should take responsibility for maintaining your own equipment. You should have basic tools with you to perform minnor adjustments and repairs or perhaps you should bring your own support team with you.
B Rider
Dear Rideit,
This was my first sportive with you, though I have done some prestigious events in the past, this was one of the very best rides I have done. I am relatively local living up towards Oxford. I was truly impressed by the course (did medium route), it was beautiful and a pleasure to ride. I thought the staff were really friendly throughout and the route signage was very good.
For the entrance fee I thought it was staggeringly good value, to have a tube of electrolytes tablets, gel, bar, laminated map, gpx files, pre-ridden routes, signage, cake fruit and liquid at the stops was just excellent. When you consider the value for money in terms of items and time, it makes 10k road races and the like look hugely expensive.
If i had to find critiscism it would be – as the case with every event I have ever done – the toilets at the start center were inadequate. Furthermore, it is shame for me that you don’t do “standards” for these rides – I am sure there has been much debate about why this is and probably comes down to issues with the “fun police” – but even guide times for gold, silver and bronze would persuade me to choose a rideit event over another one offering standards.
I had a strong day (for me) on the bike on Sunday, which is nice when winter training is rewarded, this will biased my views regarding the ride some what, but the event left me wanting more and looking forward to forthcoming year.
My experience is completely at odds with that of A Rider – we seem to be talking about different events. I do hope A Rider can experience more of what I did, at future events.
Well done great job
mmm,
i started & i finished – yep i was slow, but not
to warrant a dns. so may self identifying chips – thought mine was 98. obviously i read it wrong – doh. theres most
probably a duplicate logged somewhere.
cheers,
justin
A.Rider.
I’ll always approve any comments posted here, the only exception is if I feel they are unnecessarily rude or offensive, We make mistakes and sometimes get it wrong so it’d be hypocritical of me just to post the nice ones.
With regard to the “debacle” at Redbridge, I’m assuming that you are refering to the junction where someone took down a sign and riders just guessed instead of looking at their supplied map. Normally this wouldn’t be an issue but it just happened that if you guessed wrong then you joined the fun route and came back early. As soon as we found out we sent someone up to resign it.
Unfortunately this is not really with in our control and why we issue riders with maps.
You might be interested to know that someone changed a sign around on the long route at Chieveley and redirected everyone the wrong way into oncoming traffic down the slip road to the A34. Again, this was corrected by a friend of mine who was just passing (Thanks Annie) but it would have caused issues that weren’t of our making.
Ta
Dean
Hi Justin
Sorry about that!! We are in the middle of replacing our electronic system at the moment after our last one blew up! Come March and we’ll have a fully working system that will mean you don’t have to call out your number.
Ta
Dean
Hi Dan.
Thanks for your comments. We like to think of ourselves as the best value series in the Uk, and provide as much as we can. We are in a slightly good position though in that Ride It is a promotional exercise for Evans and doesn’t need to make a profit ( although That’d be nice!!)
WIth regard to standards – sportives are not races and we try our best to play down any form of competition or racing. This is why the times are in chip order and not time. I know what you mean though, I’d like to be able to issue standards, but as a company we want to safegaurd ourselves against any accusations of running a race.
Cheers
Dean
To everyone else
Thanks for your comments – I have to go off and sort Rochdale now, but I’ll hopefully see you all soon.
Ta
Dean
hi,
just like say well done and great value
for money. please let us now if theres
an event planned that takes in berkshire/hampshire
south of the m4 ie walbury hill, linkenholt
etc.
personally the ride was as good as the anthony
maynard which covers quite allot of the
same route. same level of nutrition and support.
cheers,
justin
Hi Justin.
We are going to Cliddesden which is just south of Basingstoke in November, and Liphook which is a bit further south as well.
Have a look at the “find a ride” section of the Ride It website.
Ta
Dean