Please see below for riders' comments, views, suggestions etc regarding the inaugural Great Weston Ride:
Please see below for riders' comments, views, suggestions etc regarding the inaugural Great Weston Ride:
Chris Posted: Sep 10, 2010 - 10:25:42
Lucy Posted: Aug 25, 2010 - 11:38:27
Colin Posted: Aug 23, 2010 - 05:14:04
Stu Posted: Aug 19, 2010 - 10:59:27
Sylvia Posted: Aug 18, 2010 - 17:26:31
Michelle Lane Posted: Aug 18, 2010 - 12:33:03
Richard Posted: Jul 24, 2010 - 10:13:26
Andy Posted: Jul 23, 2010 - 08:32:14
David Halstead Posted: Jul 22, 2010 - 23:19:18
Darran Posted: Jul 22, 2010 - 22:03:37
Mark Wyatt Posted: Jul 22, 2010 - 21:53:01
Kate Posted: Jul 21, 2010 - 21:26:48
Julia Posted: Jul 21, 2010 - 21:25:04
Richard Posted: Jul 21, 2010 - 21:07:45
Ricci Collins Posted: Jul 21, 2010 - 20:37:05
Emma Seddon Posted: Jul 21, 2010 - 19:59:58
Matt Posted: Jul 21, 2010 - 19:08:49
Ade & Ellie Posted: Jul 21, 2010 - 18:56:15
Rob Posted: Jul 21, 2010 - 15:57:28
Paul Posted: Jul 21, 2010 - 15:27:00
Emma Williams Posted: Jul 21, 2010 - 12:04:50
Don Posted: Jul 21, 2010 - 11:14:13
David Smith Posted: Jul 21, 2010 - 10:19:08
Ben James Posted: Jul 21, 2010 - 09:47:03
Steve Newby Posted: Jul 21, 2010 - 09:46:18
Andy Posted: Jul 21, 2010 - 09:11:56
Ricci Posted: Jul 20, 2010 - 22:04:34
Jon Brown Posted: Jul 20, 2010 - 12:47:30
Mr G Posted: Jul 20, 2010 - 11:36:22
Mark Boreham Posted: Jul 20, 2010 - 07:26:24
Tim Bishop Posted: Jul 19, 2010 - 22:30:34
Peter Bradbury Posted: Jul 19, 2010 - 22:17:44
tristan Posted: Jul 19, 2010 - 21:54:52
Karen Posted: Jul 19, 2010 - 21:43:07
Owen Posted: Jul 19, 2010 - 21:04:16
Zena and Ryan Posted: Jul 19, 2010 - 20:26:35
Emma, Steve, Michelle Posted: Jul 19, 2010 - 18:36:06
Alan Posted: Jul 19, 2010 - 18:05:32
David Posted: Jul 19, 2010 - 18:01:05
Steve Webb Posted: Jul 19, 2010 - 17:44:02
neil Phillips Posted: Jul 19, 2010 - 17:33:15
Steve Posted: Jul 19, 2010 - 17:13:12
Dave Jane Posted: Jul 19, 2010 - 15:34:20
Toya Champ - Meningitis UK Posted: Jul 19, 2010 - 15:24:55
Lloyd Burgess Posted: Jul 19, 2010 - 13:25:43
Mr G Posted: Jul 19, 2010 - 11:45:51
Jennifer T Posted: Jul 19, 2010 - 09:42:40
Steve Wiseman Posted: Jul 19, 2010 - 09:01:29
Skippy Posted: Jul 19, 2010 - 08:55:50
Jony Russell Posted: Jul 19, 2010 - 08:33:14
Nicky Turner Posted: Jul 18, 2010 - 21:12:15
Matt Hall Posted: Jul 18, 2010 - 20:17:16
I thoroughly enjoyed the day out. The course was well thought out and the scenery was amazing, just a shame about the weather. Thanks to you and your team for organising and for making this a great day out - this was the first time I have ever done something like this. See you next year!
Just wanted to say I loved the ride! I thought it was good that the website really encouraged anyone to do it, without that reassurance I probably wouldn't have done it. If I'm still living in the Bristol area next year, I'll definitely be at the 2011 ride.
I really enjoyed the day - thought the route was excellent and had just the right level of difficulty for an all-comers ride. Next year I'll be looking for something in the area that's a bit more challenging but this was ideal for getting me started!
It was a really great day. The organisation was brilliant. The helpful steward riders were good and the people that sat at road junctions all day! Nice route. Possibly could have done with a couple more signs in Burnham by the playground/cycle route.
That was a fun ride and well organised. Perhaps a hint about the nature of the treat/surprise at the end to prevent one stuffing one's face just before the end!
I loved the ride and it was really well organised. Next year milage markers would be good as it would help to know how far is left!
we really enjoyed it, organisation very professional - I especially liked the Cakes stop - got Jack up and running too.
Had a great day and the fish and chips at the end were good!!
Well done; nice ride & gt atmosphere. Can I suggest: i.Optional timing chip next year (£5 charge) ii. Option to continue ride back to start along A370, with feed stop at Weston (ie 75 mile course) iii. Shorter route skipping the Mendips climbs for families etc (say 30 miles) iv. Advertise as a sportif-type event, (cf Evans Cycles Ride-it events), with range of distances (30 miles, 56 miles, 75 miles). v. Let's have a medal! Well done though. Maybe link up with Black Rat challenge as part of a suite of Bristol sportifs? David
Great route, and well organised ride all round.
Great event. Thanks to all the organisers and the marshalls who kept us going. Must have missed the refreshment stop but the rain kept us cool :)
Thoroughly enjoyed the ride - very well organised and a lovely day out, if not just a bit strenuous at times! The cakes at the 2nd stop were amazing and I really enjoyed the fish and chips at the end. Will be back for next years ride!
Echoing all the others - very well organised, good signage (much better than BHF the week before) but a couple more water stops wouldn't have gone amiss. Look forward to kinder weather next year. Thanks Darren and all your helpers.
Great ride, well organised and a nice twist at the end with the fish n chips. Only disapointment was the lack of food at the 1st Feeding station.
Hi, Great ride, good route chosen, good organisation, especially when I had an issue to discuss and the fish and chips at the end was a good final touch
Nice route but disappointing lack of any food at the food/water points. Especially compared to the black rat challenge which cost the same where there was an abundance of bananas, energy gels and various other food stuff. However the fish and chips were appreciated at the end. However the Big wheel could leave. thanks for organising
What's great about these events is the spirit of the people taking part, cameraderie and good will. Worth every penny I think. And it promotes cycling - there's always a good turn out for these events, which shows there's demand for this sort of thing. Even on a wet and uninviting morning, the spirit and enthusiasm of the riders is not dampened. Good stuff!
A big thank you to all the organising and marshalling staff. We thoroughly enjoyed the route and scenery. Bacon butties and cake went down a treat. Shame we had a puncture but it all adds to the memory on the day. Thanks to all the chaps who enquired if we were alright as well
Thanks for a great day - very well organised.
Darren,Just to say thanks to you and everyone involved in organising a great day which I thoroughly enjoyed. Burrington was predictably a challenge, more so because of the drizzle, but compensated by magnificent views of Bridgwater Bay and Glastonbury Tor later. I also enjoyed the sight of the lawns in WSM! And the wheel ride and fish and chips were much appreciated.
Hi, Big thank you from my Quad team at Macmillan for everyones support along the way. The encouragement really helped the team get through the tough areas of the route and we finally crossed the finish line just before 6pm!! well done everyone.
Thanks a lot Darren and team - well organised! Really enjoyed the route. Beer tent at the finish would be good!! Perhaps local sponsorship? Butcombe? Bath Ales?
Thanks Guys, Great day and well organised by a very nice bunch of people. I look forward to next Year. Excellent Route as well!
Thank you for organising this ride. It was a lovely course and a pleasure to ride. Good signage too. The stops were the right distance apart. Fish and chips at the end was a stroke of genius. It's early days and you probably have plans to grow this ride over the coming years, but a longer 80 mile/century ride option would be great. Cheers and see you next year. Ben
Yeah Brilliant! I had a great time. Was chuffed to finish in just under 4 hours. I haven't done a long ride for a while and this route was a perfect blend of climbs and flat. I really liked the fish & chips idea, but still have a preference to the bling of a medal/t-shirt though the free ride on the Weston Eye was a nice touch. I thought there could have been a few markers along the way to let you know how far you'd come/how far to go. All in all a fantastic day and I'll definitely recommend it to all my mates for next year. Thanks to all involved for making this happen, you rock!
Fab day, really well organised, looking forward to next years! Best bit ... fish n chips at the end with a nice cool Guinness! Well done Darren and team for a great day.
Myself and Rich thought the ride was excellent. The route was well planned and directions were good.
Brilliant day great route !!! thanks :)
Photos link:- SportivePhoto.com , but not there yet.
Thanks for a great day - it certainly was a challenge! I notice a couple of times during the event,there were people taking photos, will they be placed on the web site???
Congratulations, a big thank you to Darren and the team of helpers in organising and running a brilliant memorable day. Very enjoyable ride including the hills (easy to say now?) well signed great route through lovely West country scenery. Well run refreshment stops and a nice touch at the end with the fish & chips. See you next year.
Well, what a great day. Everyone in good spirits and a fantastic route. Have recently done the London to Brighton which was very crowded slow and a bit dangerous. This was the opposite allowing time to really take in the scenery. Thanks to all involved in organising and assisting on the day. Will certainly be there next year.Terrific! Well done.
Hi,Just a quick email to say a big thank you for organising the ride yesterday, being my first mass organised ride I had no idea what to expect but thanks to you and your team it was a great day (excluding the wind and the weather :D ) very well organised and an experiance which will stay with me for many years to come. my deepest thanks again
Hi Darren, just to say congratulations and a big well done to all those involved in organising the bike ride. This was my first bike ride and I found the route both varied and interesting (if a little demanding at times for a novice like me) but exhilarating all the same. Some of the scenery, particularly through the villages and over the Mendips was sensational. The organisation and the route signage was first class!! I enjoyed being part of the event. The fish and chip supper was a great finish. I can't say at this moment in time, that I am looking forward to the next event, but no doubt will be motivated to keep cycling and perhaps be brave enough to enter next year!! Thanks to everyone - a great day out!!
Just to echo what everyone's been saying, what a fantastic ride, with great organisation. Congratulations as well to the cake-makers at Hugh Sexey's school who deserve a special mention as their produce managed to cure my cramp and got me through to the end
Hi we just wanted to say thanks for yesterday, it was our first ride and even though we found it tough at times we really enjoyed ourselves. We hope to take part again next year!! We both thought it was really well organised, so thanks to all who helped support our first ride!!!
Hi Darren. Just a quick note to say thank you so much for yesterday, it must have taken a load of work and organisation. If possible please can you also pass on our thanks to all the marshals who were absolutely brilliant and so encouraging all the way around. There's no way I would have made it up the evil hill otherwise! Despite being totally shattered by the end we had a great time and will be back next year to hopefully improve on our time!!! Thank you very much again!
Hi, Just a few words to thank you and all the helpers for such a great day yesterday in all respects. The fish and chips at the end were especially welcome! Many thanks and keep up the good work.
Hi Darren. Just a quick note to thank you and the team for a great and well organised event yesterday. I really enjoyed the route and even the cooling wind and rain that was laid on over the Mendips ;-). Seriously though, great ride! I'll be spreading the word amongst my cycling buddies for next year. Lets hope the event grows and grows year on year and becomes really successful. Loads of nice touches, with the energy gels at the foot of Burrington and the Medics on the bikes - oh and the fish and chips! Great job.
Lovely route & not too much huffing & puffing up Burrington Coombe - just missed a beer or two at the finish. There were a couple of photographers on the route - how can we access the pictures? Steve Webb
Hi, Thanks for a great ride, marshaling and signs were spot on. It rain all the way up Burrington coombe which was fitting for such a long and taxing climb. Loved it ! The wet ride across the top of the mendips was made extra special by the view that was presented before us just before dropping down to the somerset levels. The sun in the distance spurred us on. Great stop at Wedmore, lovely bacon rolls and cakes. The ride around the back of Brean was also suitable long and hard to make you appreciate the finish line and the fish and chips ! Many Thanks Neil cherry gardens school.
Just a note to say thanks for a very well organised event - I said when I arrived with some of the front runners that it was great to recieve such well informed mails giving all the details. Signage was great, start and finish all perfect, good route. Great job, great ride, great day out.
I came up from Cornwall to make a weekend of it, Brilliant event, great route, well marshalled, please pass my appreciation on to everyone involved in organising the ride. Will definately be back next year. First time events are always difficult to gauge, you should be very proud of your efforts this weekend.
This was a fantastic, well organised, challenging event. The registration process, signage on route, refreshment stops and the fish and chips at the end of the ride J were all great. Thank you to the organisers, the marshals and the other riders that gave me that extra boost when going up the many hills. Finally a massive well done to the Meningitis UK Ride4Ryan cyclists â€" you did a fantastic job!Great event, great day!
Great event and really enjoyable - thank you for organising it. The route was fantastic. I thought the signage was very good, apart from a couple of places where it was a bit sparse. Looking forward to next year. How many people took part, it was difficult to know as everyone was so spread out? Is there any memorabilia (t-shirts, certificates, photos etc.) available?
What a great day! (even though I picked up a groin strain before Blagdon) Ouch! But managed to complete in 6 hours despite this. Well organised event, well done! Thanks. Well done to Team Ride4Ryan. I assume I passed you at Priddy.
Really enjoyed the ride - especially as most of it was fairly flat! *grin*. Thought the organisation was really good, as well as very helpful and friendly. There could have been a few more signs though. We live round here so knew the route, but if you don't it could have been trickier... Both the stops were great - and it was really nice to have toilet facilities. All three of us had a great time :)
Had a puncture 4 miles from the end, the roving mechanic was just behind me and changed it in 2-3 minutes.....a great big thank you to him....thoroughly enjoyed the ride, shame about the initial weather....but I'll be doing it again and rounding up a few mates next year ;-)
I'd just like to add my thanks to everyone in the team for a great ride out and especially to the people manning the second rest halt. The cakes and tea were fantastic and a real boost to my morale and energy! Thanks again - I really enjoyed it!
We recently completed the London-Brighton ride which was very crowded and, as a result, rather dangerous. This was the opposite. It was a pleasure to be part of the first GWR ride. I have lived around here for 20 years but the route took us along previous undiscovered roads through some stunning Mendip villages. And, because numbers were limited, we were able to look around and enjoy the fabulous views. Well done to all concerned.
Dear Darren & ALL the organsers, marshalls & behind scene helpers. Brilliant organisation for a 1st ride, lovely route, sunshine at end made up for the drizzle up the Coombe, but Team Ride4Ryan made it in 7 hrs. Team comprising 3 adults and 4 children 12-16 yrs. We raised over £2Grand for Life for a Cure-Ryan Bresnahans Meningitis Fund. thanks everyone
Completed the ride this morning. Really great route, shame about the wind and rain. Please thank the organisers, marshalls and those who manned the food stop for a really enjoyable morning. i look forward to next year!