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NOT WHAT IT USED TO BE

Missed the start of the Tour of Beijing as a result of the wrong date on the competition list, which is still showing as the 15th of October....Now I know that I could of checked elsewhere but when you are paying for a service, be it only a tenner, then I expect dates to be right.
Two years ago when I discovered this site, I raved about the quality of it and as a result I now have many friends that play.
Since the introduction of the Premium I think the overall quality of the site has been amateurish at best.
Late openings of the start lists, late updating of scores, mistaken dates, scoring disputes in certain races (points jersey/sprints etc.)...
I hate the new forum layout, struggle to see the excitement of getting badges and to be honest wonder where everybody's £10 goes..
I probably will not play Premium again unless the site is going to be run a little more professionally.....I realise that certain people put their own time in but I still feel that the site does not deliver the consistency in service that it did a couple of years ago.....Rant over....

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

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18 comments

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VVV73 | 10 years ago
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wanker

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backflipbedlem | 11 years ago
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Being my first year playing the game, I obviously don't know what the game used to be like, but ive had a great time playing these last few months, really like the mix of the various types and size of races, enjoy the banter on the forums and like the fact you can have dialogue with the people that run it, might have been a couple of start date hiccups but theres lots of ways to see when each stage is starting, such as the Whats coming up tab.
Overall well worth a tenner, and happy to pay again next year! Much better than fantasy football!

And'll be even happier if I get that 'swag' that Dave promised me for winning San Sebastian!  3

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keith roberts | 11 years ago
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I got the mail.....and I still think its a great ,well run game..bags of fun! A tenner for nearly a whole years entertainment? superb. Great way of introducing non cycling folk to the black art that is racing, and I too have raved about the game to any that'll listen to me..i even got the guys at work to have a bash during the Tour and the Giro....Brickyard workers aren't known for their knowledge of cycling so quiet a coup..

I'll be back next year.

thanks for a great game and website guys.  1

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Gkam84 | 11 years ago
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I just pasted the email. I had nothing to do with sending it. I only sent emails for a few of my races this year, mainly because I forgot about the function to email people  19

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Gkam84 | 11 years ago
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Yeah, the deadline time was working

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enrique | 11 years ago
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I know this is Premium, but I usually go check the game 'Pick Team' page a few days before the competition, and that's usually what I go by to see how much time I have. Was the deadline timer, which says the game closes in so many 'days:minutes:hours' running ok or was that off? Just wondering...

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Gkam84 | 11 years ago
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Tour of Beijing now open
Hello Premium players. The Tour of Beijing, our final competition of the season, is now open. The deadline for the first stage is early tomorrow morning, so make sure you make some time at lunch or in the evening to get your team ready!

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chiv30 replied to Gkam84 | 11 years ago
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Gkam84 wrote:

Tour of Beijing now open
Hello Premium players. The Tour of Beijing, our final competition of the season, is now open. The deadline for the first stage is early tomorrow morning, so make sure you make some time at lunch or in the evening to get your team ready!

With all due respect that email headline doesn't indicate that the tour started tomorrow so to speak , just that it's open if I'm scanning my email and it's a Thursday and I'm thinking a race starts Sunday I pick my team sat night to reduce any non starters ...especially when the competition tab on the site still indicates a few days to go

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Gkam84 | 11 years ago
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I don't understand how everyone is missing the start. There was a forum thread and an email went out at least a day before the first deadline  39

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Ghedebrav replied to Gkam84 | 11 years ago
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Gkam84 wrote:

I don't understand how everyone is missing the start. There was a forum thread and an email went out at least a day before the first deadline  39

Just putting my email marketing hat on (it's a trilby); I'd say it probably should've said "Tour of Beijing starts tomorrow" in the subject line, rather than "now open". Not everyone checks their emails every day, and then not everyone reads all the emails they receive. (N.B. I haven't actually checked what the subject line was before posting this, but I think I'm right!)

I'd clocked the start date in the competitions tab a while back and that Tuesday start was what stuck in my head. As it happens, I found out that it was starting on Friday so got a team in on time - but I can definitely see how some people missed it.

Nothin' personal, as my comments above say I've got a tremendous amount of fun out of my tenner, I love the game and the set up and understand the mis-step here.

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cidermart | 11 years ago
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I missed the start date too but managed to get in on day two with a standard team only. Yes I'm slightly peeved but I'll get over it.

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chiv30 | 11 years ago
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I'll be honest it's my first year here and I've really enjoyed it but even though I didn't have much chance of winning anything I too am miffed at missing the start date but only because it's one of the races I paid to play  14

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Gkam84 | 11 years ago
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I think the game could easily be run by one person and have thought about asking Dave to let me run the game next year. That way it will cost him £0, the same as I have taken this season.

But with four people running it, it does through up some issues here and there, hopefully it will be better in the future.

I didn't even see the competition list, else I would have gotten Dave to change those date. I don't know how they are set.

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STEVESPRO 79 | 11 years ago
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I fully understand the problems at times caused by the lack of info available coming out of the smaller races and my post was not meant to disrespect those putting time into the game behind the scenes...
Its just a personal opinion that I don't think the game is as slick as it was...
I would prefer to pay £20 and road.cc pay a person to run the game so that we get a guaranteed level of consistency across the game...

I am not bitter because I have missed my first race start in over two years, I have felt this way for quite some time and was going to express my views at the end of the year anyway....

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enrique replied to STEVESPRO 79 | 11 years ago
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STEVESPRO 79 wrote:

...I would prefer to pay £20 and road.cc pay a person to run the game so that we get a guaranteed level of consistency across the game...

I'll take your £20, buy me a couple of beers and run the game for a free Premium membership!  4

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drheaton | 11 years ago
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From my point of view, I agree that some of the points are valid.

As the game has expanded over the years it's gotten to the point where one person can no longer run the whole thing, introducing extra people will always introduce some inconsistency and that's likely where some of the issues come from (dates, different scoring methods etc).

I think everyone involved is always looking to improve and next year will be better now that some of these issues have been ironed out.

I also agree with Ghedebrav in that some of the problems have been as a direct result of the race organisation however this is because we are including a broader range of smaller races in the game for the first time. When all we do is race the grand tours and major monuments it means we're running competitions over big established races. When we run something for the Volta Algarve or similar stature of races we are at the mercy of the organisers in many ways.

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Ghedebrav | 11 years ago
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Dates comment is definitely valid. I only happened on it by chance (I saw the email, but only scanned it and didn't take in the date; in my head it was starting on the Tuesday) and could conceivably have missed it myself.

Still, a lot of the startlist and point-scoring issues stem from the races themselves not getting the right info out. Would it be easier if there were just 16 WT teams and a fixed calendar with no overlapping races I wonder...?

Griping and kidding aside I have to say despite the odd glitch I've definitely got my £10 worth. In fact, I really like the fact that the more active users have the chance to contribute to future development, or at least get their feedback heard - something we wouldn't get with a slicker operation.

Worth reiterating though that getting the Beijing date wrong is pretty inexcusable, particularly as it's a premium-only race. I'd be mightily miffed if I'd missed it too.

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Stumps | 11 years ago
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Some of the points you raised are valid however when you look at the big picture its gone from a well run smallish game to something bursting. The lads that have obviously volunteered their own time will take time to settle and get into the swing of things and i'm sure next year will be much better.

I, for one, would not like the responsibility they have taken on. Stick at it though mate i'm sure it'll come good.

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