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Tempted to sign up for a SDW based challenge in order to commit to getting a few more miles on my legs early in the season.
There are two events in feb very local to me, one a sportive the other off-road.
Are they worth the fee? £35 is enough to give me second thoughts at this time of year, although I can save 20% if I sign up within the next few days.
Essentially, I can ride these routes anytime I choose, but I rarely choose..
Plus it'd be nice to have my hand held around a well marked course rather than bothering with GPS/maps etc.
Done a few before, well organised and some free stuff usually plus well stocked food stations and decent free t shirt. Whether that's worth the money is up to you.
I think the Wiggle ones are generally a bit (only a bit) better than the Evans ones.
It's a nice day out with more support than if you did it yourself.
Only you can decide if it's worth the cost of a meal for two in the pub (or other similar personal non-essential expenditure you might have).
The only problem with riding somewhere you know on these organised rides is they tend to miss all the interesting singletrack you usually ride and take you up the good descents.
It's nice to treat them as a supported time trial though and set yourself a challenge or do it with some mates as a fun day out.
I've done the one on Feb over the last two years. I do them with the kids as it gives them a sense of accomplishment.
Two years ago was great cold frosty morning with hard packed mud.
Last year was torturous. Wet sloppy southdowns chalk and mud. Had to stop every km to scrape mud of the tyres. Some sections were unridable.
But saying that we are going to do it again this year.
They are well organised the route is pretty good and it's a bit of fun.