2006 sportive dates

[huw williams]

Judging by plenty of big talk at last week?s social do, it?s clear that a lot of ACCers are up for some sportive action next season. To that end, below is a more up-to-date list of the major UK events/dates/contacts than was run in last week?s Cycling Weekly. All the big rides now have confirmed dates.

Entries for most events will be going on line early in the new year so don?t panic at this stage if there?s no link to an entry form on some of the host websites. On some you can register for e-mail updates informing you of when entries become available and I strongly advise you to do so as all indicators are that this year?s bigger events will be sell-outs quite quickly. The Polka Dot and Wessex rides are already accepting entries.

You?ll notice a big gap in the calendar in July/August. That?s because the BCF haven?t yet deigned to inform us what their Sportive plans for 2006 are but you can be pretty sure they?ll be putting a few bigger events on at around this time. Watch this space.

We?re currently compiling a list of recommended European Sportives and Gran Fondos at the moment and I?ll let you have a copy as soon as it?s available.

For next year I?d like to set up some kind of information exchange for riders going to sportives by car. In 2005 if five people from Addiscombe attended a ride then there were invariably five cars with a single person in each, travelling to the event. I?m sure we can come up with a better arrangement if everyone makes it clear in advance which rides they?ve entered and are driving too. Cheaper and more convenient all round. Again, watch this space. - Huw


2006 UK SPORTIVE CALENDAR

7th May 2006
Fred Whitton Challenge
Lake District
http://www.fredwhittonchallenge.org.uk

21st May 2006
Etape Du Dales
Yorkshire Dales
http://www.etapedudales.co.uk

27th - 29th May 2006
Tour of wessex
Devon/Cornwall borders
3 day event can be ridden as a whole or individual days only
http://www.pendragon-cc.com/tourofwessex.html

4th June 2006
Polka Dot Challenge
Peak District
http://www.polkadotchallenge.co.uk

11th June 2006
Wicklow 200
Ireland
http://www.wicklow200.ie

18th June
Tour of the Cotswolds
Oxford
http://www.circuitofthecotswolds.org

25th June 2006
Dragon Ride
South Wales
http://www.dragonride.co.uk

3rd September 2006
Spud Riley Gran Fondo
Peak District
http://www.polkadotchallenge.co.uk

10th September
Trans Cambrian challenge
Mid Wales
http://www.clivepowell-mtb.co.uk

8th October 2006
Autumn Epic ? Mid Wales
http://www.cyclosportives.co.uk

[Brian Nolan]

Nice one Huw !

[Ian A4size]

I have registered my interested for the cotswold ride and will register for the dales epic as soon as!!!!
I know there is a lot of interest within the club- and i can remember the names of those who also said they would have a go

[Marek]

http://www.londoncyclesport.com/news_20 ... bilty.html

For those of you who fancy something a bit earlier on in the season, I am going to try and get along to as many of these as possible.

Cheers

Marek....

[Jon H]

I've just looked at the Etape du Dales site, and it looks like they've made it even harder by putting in another knarly steep hill, a bleak section of moorland road and the highest pub in the country

If you recall the first part of "American Werewolf in London" you'll get the general idea.

[Ian A4size]

Aaah the slaughtered lamb--stick to the path lads, hope the signage round the course is good- or else connor and i are on the menu

[Conor Cormican]

A little bit more meat on Ian than me. I will be ready to entry for that one on Jan 6th.

[huw williams]

The three reliability trials (mentioned in marek's post) starting from Knockholt/Halstead which are run by Catford, Old Portlians and Sydenham CCs are all great events which I do every year. A good introduction to sportive's if you've never done one, as they are a bit shorter at 60-70 miles. Normally between 50 & 150 riders of all abilities turn out and the courses are excellent and very hilly around the Ashdown Forest area.

This is a format we're thinking of using for a possible ACC Reliability Trial in Jan/Feb 2007 which will ideally start at Walton/Box Hill area, feature some of the club-run route and a couple of the ToSH hills. Any ACCers who turn up and ride this year's events let me know how you found the organisation, routes etc.

[siwickm]

I did the East Sussex CA reliability ride a few weeks ago and it was really good route. Problem was that it is not sign posted so you need to follow the instructions or someone who knows the way. Obviously I took a few wrong turns which added a bit of distance but I managed to get myself back on route and it was great fun.

It was about 50 miles and took in a rolling course around Ashdown Forest, fantastic scenary and really quiet roads for the most part. I would recommend.

Cheers

Marek....

[David Lombari]

I've sent off my application for the Polka Dot Challenge!

[Ian A4size]

Conor and myself have put our entries in for the dales ride.
Thats gonna hurt! .
Any more beer drinking ACC ers up for it?

[huw williams]

That is gonna hurt - Connor, remember how hard it was last year? Well I just heard from the organiser that they put in an extra long climb. He didn't like it when a load of southern softies turned up and creamed his course in 6.5hours last year so he wants to get even!

[huw williams]

Ah, the plot thickens. Having learned that the Etape DuDales course has an extra long loop which includes the very large climb of Tan Hill (home of the highest pub in Great Britain Ian) the overall route distance remains the same. How is this possible? We now learn that in their wisdom the organisers took out the 20 miles of flat riding at the start and finish of the ride (nice warm up and warm down) and replaced it with 20 miles of climbing!

[Toks]

I'm down for The Dales, The Polka, the Dragon and The Freddy. I hope I hope I'm not on my Jack Jones

[Ian A4size]

Well toks you will only be with me at the start!( assuming its a mass start)