Cyclone Challenge | 2010 Event & Rider Comments

“Thanks to Peter and his team fir a great day out. All the best” – Darren, 12June2010

“Thank you to everyone who organised and helped out with the 2010 Cyclone. My brother and I took part in the 63 mile race, our race times suffered when we got side tracked at the Black Bull at Matfen but we had a great day We're off to spectate at the Ryals to see how you're supposed to ride them
Thanks again” - Tony Whelan, 13 June 2010

“Fantastic event Best organisation I have experienced and great course!!” - Andy Dobinson, 13 June 2010

“Congratulations on fantastic event yesterday. Thanks again. Here's to next year!” - Gerry Mullan, 13 June 2010

“I'm sure you are getting loads of emails and I wanted to add my weight to them - yesterday's Cyclone was brilliant.  What a wonderful new route you found for us.  My knees are shot, my bike is broken but I tried my hardest and crossed the line in 6hrs 23mins.  It was hard, painful and worth every minute. The hills just kept coming, one after another after another - and hardly a car on the road.  Even the A68 time trial section (to where we rejoined the 63mile route) before Ryals was fast and fun. God blessed us with a wonderful world and wonderful weather - but you blessed us with great organisation and a challenging ride. So a big thank you and I'll be signing up as soon as I can next year” - Graeme, 13 June 2010

“Completed my first ever sportive yesterday - the 104 mile Cyclone Challenge. Absolutely fantastic experience superbly organised from start to finish. No negative points whatsoever. Thank you!” -John Dessi, 13 June 2010

“Hi, just wanted to say the Cyclone event on Saturday was very enjoyable and the organisation was excellent. Thanks” - Jane Thirlwell, 13 June 2010

“Just to say what a well organised and good event this year's cyclone proved. All the staff and helpers were cheerful and, well, helpful. There were even people out on the roadsides clapping the cyclists; perhaps you didn't organise that, but every little bit of encouragement helps! Best wishes and already looking forward to 2011” - Dr David Robson, 13 June 2010

“Many thanks, Peter et Al. I did Ride B: brilliant organisation, excellent pre-race info, easy registration, great starting off with so many others, 1st class cake stop (~20K) pls send my thanks, beautiful & scenic ride, very welcome pit stop at Stamfordham, 4 hours back to start was perfect for me! Many thanks again Best regards” - Andy Hook, 14 June 2010

“Just a quick e-mail to thank you for organising a good weekends cycling, saw the Crits on Friday, cycled the C ride and watched the Beaumont at the Ryals.  Good organisation and good weather – for 2 of the days anyway. One suggestion for the C ride – can next year’s route turn left in  Otterburn up to the Bellingham crossroads on the A68 and so avoid the very busy section on the A696.  It felt very unsafe with articulated wagons over-taking on the section passed Otterburn.  The A68 takes a fraction of the traffic of the A696 and it also allows a safer left turn onto the road to Greenhaugh rather than a right below the brow of a hill” - Iain Gill, 14 June 2010

“Thank you for such a great event on Saturday for the Northern Cyclone Sportive.  My partner & I had a wonderful day despite a bit of an accident early on. Looking forward to next year to try to put in a better time… The support of fellow riders/first aiders was excellent & we were able to continue, but a warning sign before the junction could have prevented our collision. Thanks again for such a great event & we look forward to next year” - Heather Thomson, 14 June 2010

“Congratulations to all involved at the weekend a great event and we have managed to raise about £200 so far for the British Heart Foundation. We managed to finish the 104 mile ride (Just) perhaps ~60 miles would have been more sensible! Unfortunately I lost a small Kodak video camera on the way around, just after the second timing station I think. I only mention because it had some footage of the event and may (by some miracle) make its way back to one of the organisers. If it does I would be very grateful to get it back” - Kelvin, 14 June 2010

“Many thanks for an excellent event on the Saturday Cyclone. Well organized, great course not too hilly and very fast in places. Will definitely be back next year” - Simon Broomfield, 14 June 2010

To all of you, many thanks for a brilliant event… It was my first ride and I can not praise the organisation enough. As you know cycling can be a bit of a solitary pass-time, only you and your Eddy-Merckx fantasies, but on Saturday it was me in "the Tour of Northumberland". Excellent fun!!! Keep up the good work, hope to see you next year” – Dave Marshall, 14 June 2010

“That was another great cyclone event; it was good to see so many people out on bikes and really enjoying the experience. Your efforts are really appreciated. Personally it gives me a goal and an objective which keeps me riding and I’m grateful for that. Best wishes and look forward to next year” - Tony Freeth, 15 June 2010

“Just a note to say what another memorable cycling weekend, it has given me a much needed boost to get out and do more miles. I thought I was only capable of the 30 miles this year but made it round the 63. Thanks again for a great event and putting the region on the map”- Bill Swan, 15 June 2010

“I didn't get a chance to see you after the race and so I just wanted to say thanks for a fantastic race on Sunday. I know you had loads of stress in the lead up to the event but you would never have known as the race was fantastic, smoothly run, safe and a credit to you and your organisation… Thanks again for all your help and hard work and I look forward to seeing you again soon” - James Whatling, 15 June 2010

“Just a quick note to say thanks so much for your efforts to make everything go so well for so many people on Saturday. The organisation was impeccable - despite my late entry I received the programme through the post, and on the day the headquarters was excellent, particularly the slick signing-on area and start procedure.  I had wondered how you coped with such a volume of riders but it was obvious how the layout at the venue really helped things go smoothly.

As for the ride itself, I had hoped to make up for the kickings, I received every time I ever did a race in the area. On the road I got carried away with the easier hills in the first half so it was inevitable that I got yet another kicking on the lanes after Otterburn!  I enjoyed every minute of course, the scenery and near absence of traffic making it all worthwhile. Seeing so many grinning faces at the end says I'm not the only one to think it was a top quality event, so thanks again” - Jim Henderson, 15 June 2010

“Just a quick note to say a big thanks and well done  to all concerned in putting on a great day of cycling on Saturday’s cyclone - can't wait for next years ride - the 104m route was awesome!! The only thing which we felt let down by was the feeding stations - only the first one had any food and s.i.s powder for your drink!! I also wished that the t-shirt at the finish was an actual cyclone cycling  jersey like the ones you can buy - anyhow keep up the good work and I very much look forward to next years cyclone!!” - Graham Davison, 16 June 2010

“Just in case you received any e-mails from one or two whingers, can I just say I thought the weekend was fantastic, really enjoyed all 3 days of cycling and the organisation was superb! Thanks again for all your efforts Peter! – Graeme, 17 June 2010

“Once again Peter, very well organised and good fun albeit a little harder this year!” – Ian Goulson, 17 June 2010

“Thanks for a great day out, my first one, looking forward to next years already. Thanks again for the great day I had doing the 63 miler. Look forward to the bigger event next year.
Cheers” - Dave Ellis, 14 June 2010

“I would like to congratulate and thank you for a fantastic day at the Cyclone ride on Saturday. That was my third consecutive effort at the longest ride and, although I might not have said this during the day, I absolutely thoroughly enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to next year already! That little detour you slipped in before ending up in Wark was a little unexpected but it added to the enjoyment, and pain, and, in my opinion, the overall quality of the route. I have to say, I think the Cyclone is fast becoming, if not already up there, one of the UK’s best sportives. We’re spoiled of course having the beauty and varying terrain of Northumberland and I’m sure the numbers can only increase year on year. Well done Peter for a great day out! Still, the great day out far outweighed the parking problem and it can’t take away what another great experience I had in my fabulous home county. Thanks again Peter and I’ll see you next year! All the best” - Gary Johnson, 14 June 2010