Dear Sir/madam,
I am doing something that I never thought I would have to do. I am writing a complaint about the Rapha
Condor Blackpool Sportive that was held in Blackpool and the surrounding area on the 1^st of August 2009.
As a relatively new rider to Sportives I was looking forward to this one as this would be my first timed event. I was looking forward to measuring myself against the other riders. Your sportive also sounded like a nice route through some countryside which I had never ridden before, so I was happy to make the trip from Glasgow to take part in the event. However, it was upon registration that things started to go wrong.
During registration I noticed that no-one mentioned or handed me a timing chip for the event. I was surprised at this and asked one of the girls on the registration desk (who were all very pleasant) when we were to receive a chip. She knew nothing about them and had to go and ask for advice. A chap came and spoke to me describing how the decision had been taken 2 weeks before the race not to have chip timing as the costs did not justify it. Why then, were participants not told of this change? The organiser (I assume that is who he was) suggested that Sports Systems were supposed to e-mail everyone, but didn’t. However, why did Rapha Condor not chase this up, and/or contact the participants themselves. I was not amused.
I also noticed that we did not receive a personal map of the route. It had been suggested in the pre-ride information that we would receive one. Why was this map not supplied?
Upon registering I was also surprised by the lack of trade stands. There appeared to be some form of BBQ, however, this seemed very disorganised and I could not see any food actually being provided to participants. This was all at odds with the pre-ride information that we had been provided which suggested, ‘Meet the Rapha Condor pro riders face to face and get pictures and autographs. There will be plenty happening at the start HQ along with trade stands by Rapha and Condor.’ There was no attempt to introduce any of the pro riders, either.
Just as we were setting off we were informed that the long route would now be 6 miles longer due to road works and diversions. However, the person setting us off suggested that this would not be a problem as it was well sign posted and there would be, ‘…plenty of marshals on the course…’. I only saw three marshals on the way out of Blackpool over the first mile and no further marshals over the whole course. I never came across any diversions.
The signage was very poor. Its colour was very difficult to see from a distance, and it was often placed beyond the junction where you had to make the turn. It was especially confusing at roundabouts. I and many others made wrong turns as a result. I understand that there are limitations to what signage can be used and where it can be placed, however, bright signs well in advance of turns, with additional signs as close to the turn as possible are not impossible. Roundabout signs can also be designed in such a way that they cannot be miss-interpreted.
I was particularly surprised when I reached the bottom of the Trough of Bowland and I hadn’t come across the promised first food stop. I wondered if I had missed it. In fact, after talking to other cyclists I found that no-one had found it. It didn’t exist. I had planned my drinks etc with the aim of filling up at this first stop. So as I started my ascent I had ran out of fluid and so found the next 20 miles or so particularly difficult due to the onset of mild dehydration. If you promise a food/drink stop, you provide a food/drink stop!! Very, very poor!
I later arrived at the ‘second’ food/drink stop. It was situated right across from a church with a wedding going on. Apparently the groom was not amused, understandably. I was surprised to find only energy gels and sports drinks available. For some 85 miles is a normal club run, however, for others, burning several thousand calories over the course of 5-6 hours requires that food is eaten. To not provide any substantial food is very poor (especially with one stop missing!).
Upon arrival back at the finish (which was 88 miles and not 85 or 91!) the welcome was muted. In fact there was no welcome to speak of. No trade stalls, no BBQ, and surprisingly no goodie bag; just a request to de-register. This was very much an anticlimax. However, for an extra £5 you could get a sports massage! More like a slap in the face!
I have had the pleasure, earlier this year to take part in the Trossachs Ton 100 mile ride organised by Action Medical Research. This cost £25. For this money we got a very well marshalled route with excellent signage (signs saying things like ‘keep going’, ‘food stop soon’ etc), a detailed OS map, excellent food stops with a full buffet lunch provided at one of them, an excellent goody bag with gels, t-shirt, waterbottle etc, a medal, and a free sports massage. Therefore, considering the lack of timing, lack of stops, poor signage, lack of marshals, lack of food, lack of goody bag, and lack of massage, can you please inform me what my entry fee went towards? Surely as a significant amount of what was promised never transpired a refund is in order?
This event has tainted my opinion of the Rapha Condor cycling team and of both of the individual sponsors. Surely it is bad business practice to treat possible future customers with such contempt. As I feel that both Condor and Rapha might be interested to know about feedback from this event and how it may affect their brand, I have copied them both into this e-mail.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards
.... you would definitely have fared better on the Gore ride, which was well organised, excellent signage and reported by one guy who had done both as ........
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