It was only 8 months ago I was writing my post-ride report of The Mad March Hare Sportive and saying it was my last one. I wasn’t really wowed by it. I think it had lost it’s charm and the urban route start/finish and HQ were poor choices, in my opinion.
Then recently, out of the blue I it was announced that the event had been taken over by a previous organiser.
This poked my interest a bit so I sat tight an waited to see what they were going to do for the 15th Edition.
I like the sound of the new venue, Wythall Transport Museum. Right on the edge of the West Midlands and straight out and back among quiet lanes. Perfect. No more playing with traffic and riding through housing estates. Also, it is just down the road from where I organised a few editions of the event, so basically on that note, back to it’s roots from a HQ point of view.
I’m a little disappointed by the route choice. If they wanted to really take it back to how it was they could have easily gone south towards Broadway and thrown in one or two of the classic climbs down there I used to use before the ride back home but they’ve stuck with an easterly route out towards Bewdley and Stourport. It’s ok and they did only say back to pre-pandemic standards which is where the route went, not back to when I organised the event. So I’m being pedantic really and should shut up.
Anyway, fair play to them recognising the issues with the 2022 edition and trying to resolve them, so I’ve signed up. I’ll always have a soft spot for the event I created and gives me something to focus on and train for over the Winter.
Bring it on!
Good to see new management listening to feedback and improving!