Category: Events

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Events

Bike Bath – June 28-29, 2014

Bike Bath

Bike BathAn exceptional weekend of cycling on offer in and around the city of Bath – Bike Bath offers three routes on Saturday June 28 and a further three on the Sunday. The Saturday routes – 20, 60 and 100milers – combine the best elements of the 2012 and 2013 event with the 100 and 60mile routes both featuring the challenging climb of Burrington Combe, with Cheddar Gorge also included on the 100 mile route, and both options coming back into Bath through the Two Tunnels Greenway. The Sunday routes – 30, 60 and 100milers – head out into the Cotswolds with relatively flat courses once the climb of Kingsdown (out of Bath) has been crested…

 

Early bird discounts for the first 500 riders to sign up are set at £35 for the 100mile options, £30 for the 60 and just £15 for the 20 or 30mile short rides. £1 for every rider is donated to Sustrans.

 

Full details and online entry for Bike Bath at bikebath.co.uk

 

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Events

Dorset Coast and Harbour – June 8, 2014

Dorset Coast and Harbour

Dorset Coast and HarbourAn idyllic early summer ride with a choice of three great routes (17mile family route, 35 and 55mile routes) the Dorset Coast and Harbour offers up the best of the beautiful Dorset countryside and the famous Jurassic Coast. Starting in Poole Park (map here), the routes follow around one of the largest natural harbours in the world, before heading out into the lush countryside of the Isle of Purbeck.

 

The 55mile (long) route heads west then south to sweep down through Lulworth, before heading down the coast to Swanage and back to Poole via the Ferry at Studland Bay. The 35miler follows the long route to Corfe Castle where the two routes part ways as the medium riders cut across to Studland and re-join the other routes. The medium route can be shortened to 30 miles, taking cyclists along flat woodlands next to the harbour. The 17mile (short) route riders cycle to Studland and back crossing the water by ferry twice. The 55 and 17mile routes are on road, whilst the 30mile option includes roughly two miles on unmetalled Sustrans cyclepath, some of which has a loose gravel surface.

 

Organisers, Bike Events, publish an excellent guide to race preparation – click here – and entry fees are: adult (17 miles) £16.50, entry pack £18.50, kids entry (under 15s) £8.00 and team entry (6 riders or more) £18.00 per rider.

 

Full details and online entry for the Dorset Coast and Harbour at bike-events.co.uk

 

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Events

Bethany Edinburgh Sportive – June 7, 2014

bethany edinburgh sportive

bethany edinburgh sportiveNow in its 6th year, the Bethany Edinburgh Sportive is an event for serious amateurs, which involves a ‘super challenge ‘route of 102miles plus a shorter 72miler for those who think they may not be able to complete the longer stretch within the 8-hours time limit.

 

Riders leave from Lasswade High School, Bonnyrigg (map here) and head south over the Moorfoot Hills to Innerleithen where the long and shorter routes split. The long route takes a spectacularly scenic route around the borders taking in some 8000ft of climb and the formidable Witchy Knowe. For the shorter route, riders return to Lasswade from Innerleithen via the River Tweed and Gala Water valleys then both routes meet again just west of Selkirk. All riders return to the High School over the Moorfoot Hills.

 

Four feed and water stations will be on hand offering the riders refreshments along the way and the end of the event promises that: ‘riders can relax with well-deserved pie and a cuppa…’

 

Registration opens between 7am and 9.25, with start times staggered at 2 minute intervals in groups of not more than 14 from 8 to 9.30am. Entry fee, open until June 5, is £30 – event details for the Bethany Edinburgh Sportive can be found at edinburghsportive.btck.co.uk and online entry at entrycentral.com

 

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Events

Hertfordshire 100 – May 18, 2014

hertfordshire100A new ride from Bike Events, the Hertfordshire 100 is an ideal way to enjoy spring cycling through pretty villages and the lush countryside of Hertfordshire. Take the challenge on the 100mile route through a landscape of beautiful half-timbered cottages and colourful marketplaces with a choice of charities to raise funds for (or pick your own).

 

Starting and ending at Knebworth House (map here) and with start times from 7-8am the Hertfordshire 100 offers marshals, mechanics, refreshments and support vehicles to help you through this challenging but beautiful ride. Bike Events publish an excellent guide to race preparation – click here – and entry fees are set at Club Entry £17.00, Entry Pack 100 miles £18.50 and Team Entry (6 or more) £18.00 per person.

 

Running alongside is the gentler Hertfordshire 50/25 meaning there’s something for (almost) everyone here. Full details and online entry at bike-events.co.uk

 

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Events

Squires and Spires Cyclosportive – May 4

Squires and Spires Cyclosportive

Squires and Spires CyclosportiveThe Squires and Spires Cyclosportive takes place on May 4, through the rolling Northamptonshire countryside; it runs through many beautiful history-steeped villages, passed ancient churches and through areas famous from English Civil War history. With two routes available – The Duchess (100miles) and The Maid (50miles) – it takes riders on a tour past numerous country houses, including Althorpe House (home of the Spencer family and resting place of Princess Diana) and Cottesbrooke Hall, the inspiration for Jane Austen’s ‘Mansfield Park’. Despite Northamptonshire’s reputation for being somewhat less than mountainous, don’t underestimate how tough sections of these routes can be, especially in their final third when legs are already sapped.

 

Race HQ is at Naseby Village Hall (map here), with an 8.30-9.30am start. All entrants receive a Just Racing technical t-shirt, energy drinks/bars/gels from sponsors USN at the feed stations, a full selection of sweet and savoury snacks, medical support and sweep vehicles.

 

Entry fee to the Squires and Spires Cyclosportive is £25, with entry closing on April 29. Full details and online entry at justracinguk.com

 

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Events

Pilgrims Hospices Cycle Challenge – May 4, 2014

Pilgrims Hospices Cycle Challenge

Pilgrims Hospices Cycle ChallengeGoing from strength to strength and having grown from a field of 350 participants in year one to 1000 riders in 2013, the Pilgrims Hospices Cycle Challenge is celebrating its fifth birthday and wants you along for the ride. There are four Kent-based routes to choose from – 45mile, 48mile, 78mile and the all new, and truly challenging, ‘Pilgrims 100’. Along with plenty of care and niceties on the day the Pilgrims Hospices Cycle Challenge also offers plenty of support pre-challenge with a series of eight training rides, beginning in March, to help build both confidence and skill levels.

 

Entry to the Pilgrims Hospices Cycle Challenge, regardless of the route you opt for, is a bargain £30 with an early bird £25 fee if you book online before April 30. Fundraising isn’t compulsory but this is such a worthwhile cause how could you not? Last year’s entrants to the Pilgrims Hospices Cycle Challenge raised an incredibly £88,000 – why not set yourself a real challenge and help smash that amount…

 

Full details and online entry at pilgrimscyclechallenge.org

 

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Events

Ultimate Three Peaks Challenge – June 2014

Action Medical Research

Three Peaks ChallengeThe Three Peaks Challenge – climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon, Britain’s three highest summits – looks pretty tough as a stand-alone challenge. How about cycling between the three for good measure? That’s exactly what the new Ultimate Three Peaks Challenge, launched by children’s charity Action Medical Research, is proposing. As they put it: ‘Up the mountain, down the mountain, cycle to the next, repeat…’

 

For those who love to push themselves to the limit, this brand new challenge takes place from Saturday 21 to Sunday 28 June 2014; over the course of seven days, participants will climb just under 3000 metres in some of the wildest mountain terrain, and cycle 450 miles through some of the best scenery, in Scotland, England and Wales. Every tough mile cycled and trekked will be in support of Action Medical Research to fund vital research to help sick babies and children and the event will be fully supported and led by experienced guides. The pace will be set by the cycle leader and support will be on hand to help out at the tougher times to ensure you make it to the finish.

 

Registration is £99 with a fundraising target of £2000 and the itinerary looking like this:

 

Day 1: Arrive Glasgow; Climb Ben Nevis (1344m); Cycle to Fort William (a mere 3miles)

Day 2: Cycle Fort William to Paisley (102miles)

Day 3: Cycle Paisley to Gretna (92miles)

Day 4: Cycle Gretna to Seathwaite ; Climb Scafell Pike (978m); Cycle to Keswick (total cycle 64miles)

Day 5: Cycle Keswick to Warrington (106miles)

Day 6: Cycle Warrington to Betws-y-Coed (75miles)

Day 7: Cycle Betws-y-Coed to Pen-y-Pas; Climb Snowdon (1084m); Cycle to Betws (total cycle 22miles)

Day 8: Bus Transfer Betws-y-Coed to Chester Railway Station

 

Places are limited so register now for The Ultimate Three Peaks Challenge at action.org.uk

 

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Events

The Shelter Cymru Challenge – February 5

Shelter Cymru Challenge

Shelter Cymru Challenge Here’s something you don’t see every day – an event that combines cycling and rugby. But clear your minds of some insane two-wheeled scrum, The Shelter Cymru Challenge is four days of cycling designed to get you from the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, to the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, in time to take your seat for the start of the RBS 6 Nations. The longest day is a ‘doable’ 65miles, the shortest around 35miles, but even if the weather proves challenging there’s a distraction in the shape of former Wales Captain and British Lions forward Colin Charvis who will be leading the way (or at least riding along…)

 

Each rider is asked to raise a minimum of £1,200 in sponsorship for Shelter and in return (apart from a great deal of satisfaction and some aching legs) participants get a ticket to the match, advice and training schedules prior to departure, a pre-ride training day, ferry crossing to Ireland, all accommodation + breakfast and specifically prepared meals throughout the day, all energy drinks whilst riding, return transport to Cardiff and a commemorative shirt…

 

Go on, you know you want to. Full details of the Shelter Cymru Challenge at sheltercymruchallenge.org.uk