The Herio Sportive in Newport, Gwent was in danger of becoming a victim of its own success on Sunday 26 April. It's an event run entirely by volunteers, with all profits donated to World Bicycle Relief.
The entry fees were exceptional value at £18 for the 120km route and only £8 for the 50km course. Lots of people must have thought so too, because the organisers appeared to be swamped by entries on the day. One of the feed station helpers later told me that there were 250 pre-entries but another hundred people turned up to sign on and ride on the day. This appeared to put quite a strain on the logistics prior to the start, with organisers having failed to cater - literally! - for the unexpected numbers.
I'd received a detailed email five days prior to the sportive. Registration at the Airbus site was due to open at 7am with a briefing at 8am for the 120km riders and an 8.15-8.30am start time. 50km riders were due to be briefed and start half an hour later. I arrived at 7:25am and there was plenty of parking and marshals to direct you to it. It was a very cold spring morning and the end of the registration queue was snaking out of the building when I joined it. After a few minutes one of the friendly organisers rearranged the queue so that everybody was inside. However, new people joining the queue were then effectively getting in ahead of those already waiting. The main issue appeared to be too many people in too small an area. It took 20 minutes to get to the front. The proof of ID and address requested in the briefing was not required and there was no record of my entry. I was asked to return a bit later whilst it was sorted out. I went to use the facilities only to find two out of the three toilets were out of order.
It wasn't all frustration though, as there was free tea and coffee, but I felt too rushed to partake. In hindsight I would have tried to get there for 7am. I returned to the sign on desk and collected my pack. It contained a number for the front handlebars, cable ties and a map of the 50km course (I was doing the 120km route). It was now five minutes prior to the scheduled briefing and I was nowhere near ready. I resolved to get my bike and myself together on the basis that I had read the briefing sheet at least three times. I assume a briefing did take place, but I headed straight for the start line around 8:25am and was soon on the road. Most of the group I was with went the wrong way at the very first roundabout, probably because they were discombobulated by the events of the morning. I also soon realised that everyone but me had a second number with a timing chip on the rear of their bikes. Oh well, too late to go back and my ride was being recorded on my GPS device in any event.
I'm happy to report that once out on the road and far from the madding crowds at HQ there was a chance to relax and enjoy the diverse route. Initially it ran through the suburbs of Newport, including some early short and steep hills. The election posters in nearby gardens were almost exclusively Labour with the odd Lib Dem. I saw some of the organisers sweeping up glass in the road after one rider had punctured and there was plenty of logistical support for any problems encountered.
Once out of Newport there was a sustained scenic section around the Celtic Manor golf course, a previous Ryder Cup venue, and then up through the pretty Roman town of Caerleon. The roads were practically deserted and the surfaces were great. This eventually evolved into a long, quiet B road, again without much traffic. Great views and field after field of Conservative election posters. Someone must have spent a very long time banging them into the ground. The 50km route had split off by this point and the first feed station for those on the 120km route came into view at 38km at Gwehelog, in a village hall. Hot drinks, various fruit, cakes and flapjacks were on the menu along with energy drinks. A rare but welcome addition were some gluten-free bars.
The next section of the ride was the longest prior to the second and final feed station at 95km. It was time to get my head down and get stuck in. This part of the course also featured the most challenging climbs on the route. There were at least a couple of hills where the gradients got my attention for short stretches, but there was always an end in sight and nothing that went on too long. The views at the top of some of the climbs were amazing, including back across to the Second Severn Crossing. There was a looped area through mainly woodland near Chepstow racecourse where again the climbs were generally shallower but slightly longer than earlier. The signs on the route were blue or red arrows on a yellow background, and occasionally they were a little hard to pick out. However, they were mainly well located on the course.
The route then began to flatten out and head back to town. The final feed station (or only one for 50km riders) was in a Scout hut in Magor with much the same fare on offer, along with a tray of meatballs. The final 25km was pan flat along the Gwent Levels. It was easy riding but almost hypnotic, with absolutely no alteration in gradient and the lazy rotation of the nearby wind turbines as an accompaniment. The final part of the route was back into central Newport along a busy A road filled with early afternoon traffic. The total distance was 123km with 1684 metres of climbing.
On arrival back at base medals were being handed out to all finishers. There should also have been some hot food and T-shirts but both had gone when I had got there. I understand that it would have taken too long to cook up more food and that further T-shirts will be on order and sent out to participants at a later date. I explained to one of the organisers about my lack of timing chip so they didn't think I was still out on the road, and left tired but happy.
The route was a good one with plenty of variation in terms of both gradients and scenery. The only negative was the confusion and small niggles at HQ. I think that it was generally well organised but there wasn't the anticipation of the late flood of participants. I'm sure this will be taken on board for next year's Herio sportive and won't be an issue. The event is almost half the price of some other similar sportive, but holds its own in terms of the ride experience - and for that reason it gets my vote.
0 Comments