Surrey Legs of Steel 2016: Dave Aitchison Challenge Ride

Overall Rating

4.4/ 5

63 reviews
Would you recommend it to others? Yes
How did you rate the scenery? 5/5
How did you rate the atmosphere? 4/5
How did you rate the organisation? 4/5
Do you think this was friendly to beginners? Maybe

Anonymous

my favourite event of the year

please tell riders beforehand that their registration number is meaningless and is not their rider number and they will need reading specs to see their rider number on the list as the font is tiny! Could you not send the rider number out beforehand too?
that they have to bring ID to register
Signage at Ewhurst mini r/bout very confusing - I know you know this . Thank you for printing 'Surrey legs of steel' at base of arrow but a larger font for that or an easily visible( at speed) icon would really help to sort out your signs from 'theirs' whoever'they' are!!!

Reviewed using Eventrac, Oct 2016
Anonymous

A great well balanced course

Some of the signs were not clear. Went passed 2, and in the middle near St Martha's hill there were 4 signs, 2 pointing onwards, and 2 pointing left turn!

Reviewed using Eventrac, Oct 2016
Anonymous

My local sportive so always good to do it and push harder then my normal Saturday rides.

There needs to be some co-ordination with other sportives as there was clearly another one going on at the same time and then a 3rd on the Sunday. not conducive to keeping the residents of the villages on side.

Reviewed using Eventrac, Oct 2016
Anonymous

Wet yet fun!

Reviewed using Eventrac, Oct 2016
Anonymous

Punchy 50 mile sportive

Reviewed using Eventrac, Oct 2016
Anonymous

Brilliant (wet) ride.

I would definitely recommend this ride and will be doing it again next year. The marshalls on the day were brilliant - same as last year. They certainly helped, particularly when it was wet and cold. They were excellent. There were two occasions where it was difficult to navigate and it was only by chance that a driver noted we had missed a turn. It wasn't a big deal, but something to consider. I found entering the race REALLY DIFFICULT. It may have been because I was on my phone, but I was seriously going around in circles. It was very annoying. My husband ended up doing it and said I should have received a shirt for signing up early. I never received anything!

Reviewed using Eventrac, Oct 2016
Anonymous

Great event, fantastic scenery... but need more marshals and/or better signage!

This was a really nice event but out towards the furthest extent of the course there really needed to be better signage and/or perhaps more marshals. Some of the turns were very easy to miss as there was usually only one sign, which wasn't always obvious. That was compounded by very similar signs for other events which could potentially send you off in the wrong direction.

That aside it was a great route, good and clear communications leading up to the event and the marshals who were out on the course were fantastic and were really encouraging and positive despite the relentless rain!

Reviewed using Eventrac, Oct 2016
Anonymous

Great event, but route marker signage should be improved

I took a wrong left turn at Ewhurst following yellow arrows apparently for another event, taking me on a c20k detour and back up Leith Hill. Suggest adopting more distintive colour and branding for route markers with larger, clearer arrows (arrow heads were too small to see clearly until close up)

Reviewed using Eventrac, Oct 2016
Anonymous

Good ride but it's a total pain starting at the top of Box Hill

Great ride for a great cause. I would change the start and finish as Box Hill, although iconic, is a logistical pain for a Sportive. I knew the route but I saw people going the wrong way as other Sportives were out and about on the day with very similar looking signage. Also, the marshals need to stop people pushing in at the start. I was lucky, I got up early and was in the very first group off. However, I saw at least 3 people blatantly cycle up behind me and push in once they knew things were starting. It's just not fair on those who were in the queue.

Reviewed using Eventrac, Oct 2016
Anonymous

decent end of season event and a good testing challenge

move to Mid Sept to get better weather - or April

Reviewed using Eventrac, Oct 2016
Anonymous

Do not underestimate this tough event! You need to do plenty of hill training before attempting it.

Good well organised event. Organizing team are very friendly.

Reviewed using Eventrac, Oct 2016
Anonymous

Good tough route to end the season on.

There is currently no way to determine who actually did the long or short routes. Recommend a further sensor is added on one of the routes to filter the timing. I know it's for charity but there isn't much in the way of goodies and the medal is a lower quality compared to spne other similar priced events - no year etc..

Reviewed using Eventrac, Oct 2016
Anonymous

A stiff challenge that needs to be taken seriously.

Signage was a little confusing, I was lucky to be following someone who knew the way!

Reviewed using Eventrac, Oct 2016
Anonymous

Wet

Very wet.

Reviewed using Eventrac, Oct 2016
Anonymous

Wet but enjoyable

Reviewed using Eventrac, Oct 2016
Anonymous

A good, challenging, event

Reviewed using Eventrac, Oct 2016
Anonymous

challengong ride made more challenging by the rain

Reviewed using Eventrac, Oct 2016
Anonymous

challengong ride made more challenging by the rain

Reviewed using Eventrac, Oct 2016
Anonymous

Been doing it for years and it's great that it's small and friendly

Disappointed that no-one cared to much that people were held up for a long time by two trains at the level crossing in Chilworth. I lost over 4 mins and there were at least 20 other people affected to varying degrees. So great that the provisional times have been posted, but is suspect there are quite a few that are meaningless. No fault of the organisers, but the timing guys couldn't have cared less.

Reviewed using Eventrac, Oct 2016
Anonymous

It is an enjoyable challenging ride but I think a change in the starting venue is needed.

In the pre event messages it was made clear that parking would not be allowed at the top of Box Hill so imagine my surprise having cycled 14 miles from Caterham to discover that the car park was in fact full of cars for cyclists and I am pretty sure most were not National Trust members. The cost of the ride is quite high although I can understand this may be due to charges made by the National Trust. A recent ride I went on in the Peak District included food at the start and at the end for only £2.00 more than this ride.

Reviewed using Eventrac, Oct 2016