Sportive sell-out

[huw williams]

Below is a copy of a news report we're running in next week's CW.

A) Based on what's in it, can anyone let me know if they've got a confirmed entry from the Fred Whitton

B) As you can see Dragon Ride is selling out fast so if you're intending to enter, get on it

Huw

2006 Sportive?s Soaring

Massive entries promise to make 2006 a golden year for UK challenge rides

Following on from last year?s explosion of interest in the domestic sportive scene, organisers of this year?s most challenging rides have reported unprecedented requests for entry into this year?s events.

The Lake District?s Fred Whitton challenge, which last year sold out it?s 400 rider limit in the space of about four weeks increased it?s capacity to 600 for the 2006 event due to the demand. Despite the increase, the event sold out in just three days. ?I couldn?t believe it? explained organiser Paul Loftus, ?we went live with the entry website on new year?s day and had 600 application forms downloaded in the first 24 hours. In the following two days we received postal applications which sold out the event and I?m going to have to return just as many unssuccessfull applications to rider?s whose forms came in after we closed the entry. We could have sold out twice over.?
Despite the demand Loftus doesn?t want to increase the capacity of his event any further, ?The route we use just wouldn?t cope with a lot more than that? he admits ?If we had the wider open roads of the continent then maybe yes, but not here.?
Trying to evaluate reasons for the sudden increase in interest in an already well established event, Loftus has seen a trend toward challenge rides in the area develop over the past couple of years. ?We promote other cycling events and locally there?s definitely been a move away from mountain bike and road racing events towards challenge rides? confirmed Loftus ?Cyclo Cross has maintained a healthy interest but it?s the challenge rides that are really taking off.?

The ?Fred? as its affectionately become known is physically one of the hardest of the UK?s sportives featuring many of the Lake District?s hardest hills finishing with the mighty Hardknot and Wrynose passes which come after about 95 of the total109 miles distance. But this clearly hasn?t detered a wide spectrum of riders from entering. ?We even hand 12 hand-cyclists out last year? explained Loftus ?they modify their machines for the severity of the climbs and took up to 12.5 hours to get round but in fairness, there were quite a few riders who took that long.?

Meanwhile, down in the South Wales valleys, the Dragon Stirs. Lou Lusardi, organiser of the Dragon Ride reports that half of his event sold out within four days of going on-line. ?Our entry page on the site wasn?t as user-friendly as we?d like but the respone has been phenomenal? confirmed Lusardi ?As of Sunday evening (8th Jan) we filled 750 places and at this rate we?re likely to reach our target allocation of 1500 by next weekend, that?s before any postal entries have even been released.? Lusardi is aiming for official UCI Golden Bike status within the next two years and at this rate of growth, with a spectacular course winding through the Brecon Beacons and Rhondda Valleys, looks like a nailed on cert to achieve it.

Clearly the fastest growing area of cycle sport in the UK, the 2006 sportive season looks set to deliver on all the promises of last year.

[Jon H]

Looks like the Etape du Dales is sold out too.

The Addiscombe team is Conor Cormican, Ian Munnery, Brian Nolan, Tawar [sic] Collis, & your truly.

[Ian A4size]

huw- are you and Toks doing the dales ride? If so have you got a specil entry- you know the one where you start at mile 90?

[huw williams]

Should be doing it - but at the moment I'm down to do three in May which might be a bit excessive in one month - one of them might have to go, but I'm keen on the Dales because the new route looks awesome.

As for starting at mile 90 - I'm afraid not. The Dales ride is one where your transponder gets checked throughout the ride - so you're going to have to ride it all. And it's HELL!

[sylv]

"The Lake District?s Fred Whitton challenge, which last year sold out it?s 400 rider limit in the space of about four weeks increased it?s capacity to 600"

You might want to run this sentence through the spellcheck if it's going to print

[huw williams]

Don't worry - we pay a team of highly experienced sub editors a fortune to sort out my inept spelling

[Rory]

Huw, no confirmed entry but if your name is on the site then you're in the event.

http://www.fredwhittonchallenge.org.uk/2006riders.htm

Seem to remember that the confirmation comes a few weeks later along with a map of the course.

[huw williams]

Thaks Rory - The site is showing Tim, Ben and Toby and I'll be doing it myself. If anyone else gets a wild-card or replacement entry please let me know as I could do with as many contributors as possible for the CW feature on this one. Cheers H.

PS. Take a look at the Gran Fondo Cymru post

[Toks]

Huw, it looks like I'm gonna be too late for the Fred - still not sure about the Dragon or the Dales. If you're down for too many rides I'll gladly take your place on any you can't make and even write up a report if required. Cheers Toks

[huw williams]

Cheers - that's a distict possibility - but check out the gran fondo cymru post. H

[Rory]

Huw, if you need extra contributors then I could email some of the blokes from the Lakes Road Club to see if they are interested. A few of them tell a good tale in their write ups for the newsletter.

[huw williams]

Thanks Rory - that could be useful. I'll get back to you nearer the time when we know how many riders we've got contributing. Local riders perspective will be very usefull