Registration Convenience
Very easy
Accommodation Convenience
Convenient
Website Information
Easy to understand
Parking Convenience
Very convenient
Ride options
Rides for every ability
Route Sheets & markings
Route sheets and markings needed
Food at rest stops & finish
Good selection
SAG Support
Ham Radio, good support
Road Quality & Scenery
Good roads and nice scenery
Course Safety
Safe, wide bike lanes, country roads
Staff Friendliness
Well staffed, friendly, courteous
Overall Enjoyment
Memorable experience
Perks
Schwags, average start/finish, T-shirt
We did the 50 mile route. Definitely not for beginners unless you really enjoy riding uphill. The scenery was beautiful even though some of the roads travelled weren’t very well maintained. For the most part the staff were helpful and friendly. While we probably will not be doing this distance again, we might consider one of the shorter rides.
Low
Very Easy
Average
Very Convenient
Very Convenient
Rides for every ability
Difficult to follow
Basic foods and drinks
Ham Radio, good support
Excellent roads and scenery
Safe, wide bike lanes, country roads
Well staffed, friendly, courteous
Fun Ride
Schwags, average start/finish, T-shirt
This was my first time participating in Finish The Ride Griffith Park 50 miler and it will be my last. The course was horribly marked. The website only shows a Strava map of the route, but does not provide “turn by turn” directions for participants to download or print. At packet pick-up, they provided a print out of the directions. This would have been sufficient, but they must have missed a page because it started at mile 19! Facepalm. They claimed there would be volunteers at major intersections making sure people made correct turns. This was not the case. The course markings were completely inadequate. They placed colored arrow stickers on the ground. Before the ride started, they warned us that some of the stickers had washed away in the rain during the night. They knew for a week that it was going to rain… they couldn’t have anticipated this and planned something better???? The arrows that hadn’t “washed away” were difficult to follow. TWICE, I made a wrong turn because the arrows indicated I should turn. From what I gather, a lot of people got lost due to the poorly marked course.
It was challenging climb up to the Griffith Observatory. I would have enjoyed it if the road had been in better condition. In some segments, the road was so poorly maintained, it had practically turned to gravel. It was horrible to ride on, especially on a road bike. I would have been much more comfortable on a mountain bike on that type of terrain. The road was so bad, I was worried that my road bike would be damaged.
Upon crossing the finish line, I immediately spotted chocolate milk. Just what I did after a rough 50 mile ride! The volunteers then told me, “No, we just ran out. Those last two are for us.” DUDE. While I’m all for the volunteers putting some goodies aside for themselves, this should be done discretely and not within view of participants who are being denied said goodies.
Because all the raffles had ended prior to our finish and refreshments were minimal, my husband and I did not stick around very long after the ride.
This event was badly organized and a real stinker. It is the first bike event I have not enjoyed.
Average
Very Easy
Average
Inconvenient
Very Convenient
Rides for every ability
I got lost
Basic foods and drinks
Little support
Very rough roads little scenery
Very dangerous, 60+mph traffic
Helpful and friendly
Nothing special
Schwags, average start/finish, T-shirt
I had fun on this ride despite the rain. Other than that, the route was diverse and scenic. There was a good amount of marshals roaming the routes but I couldn’t see any marked SAG vehicles along the way. Due to a change in start/finish location, parking was a little confusing but that got sorted out during the event. That being said, the big left turn from Crystal Springs onto Los Feliz in the rain and traffic was a little intimidating and a Traffic Control Officer would have been nice. The one long stretch between Travel Town and Warner Brothers alongside Forest Lawn was a pretty fast open section for traffic and cars were flying by at high speeds and one car even passed us at a high rate of speed within feet of us. The staff and crew were great . At the end, the 35 and 50 mile medals gave a couple of us 20 milers some medal envy. Would be nice if the 20 mile medals were just a little bigger. The band was great and the guys hosting on the microphones were very articulate, entertaining, and informative. I will be trying this again next year.
Average
Very Easy
Very Easy to understand
Very Convenient
Convenient
Rides for every ability
Good route sheets and well marked
Excellent food and drinks
Ham Radio, good support
Good roads and nice scenery
Some street, bike paths, low traffic
VIP treatment – Wow!
Memorable Experience
Schwags, average start/finish, T-shirt
For a fifty mile bike ride it is pretty challenging especially going up to the Griffith Park Observatory from the backside. The fact that it lightly rained on and off throughout made it even more challenging. Good thing I wore rain gear to stay warm and dry. This is definitely a course for advance riders. It is one of my favorite ride events of the year. I look forward to doing this ride every year!
Low
Very Easy
Very Easy to understand
Very Convenient
Very Convenient
Rides for every ability
Easy to follow without route sheets
Good selection
Ham Radio, good support
Spectacular roads and scenery
Some street, bike paths, very little trafficy
VIP treatment – Wow!
Exceptional, this is a must ride
Schwags, average start/finish, T-shirt