Dursley Road Club members are very active in taking part in Cyclo Sportives. Events in the UK are at an all-time high at the moment and six of the best have secured international recognition, being listed on the "Cycling for All" calendar of the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale). below is a list of some of the ones that members enter during the year.
The Mad March Hare Sportive
07/03/2010, North Worcestershire
A warm-up event for the 2010 summer calendar. We have kept the distance to a manageable 107km over a generally flat and fast route that touches the Cotswolds. It would not be a Sportive without a bit of a test of your mettle, so were taking you up Saintbury Hill in the first half. Not a leg-breaker but certainly hard enough to have you all clambering for the big sprockets! Throw in a feed station and hot food and drink at the finish, its the perfect recipe for a standout Sportive of 2010...and all this for the MAD entry fee of £8.00 !!!
For further information http://www.madmarchharesportive.co.uk
Epic Cycles Spring Challenge
20/03/2010, Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire
The fourth Epic Cycles Spring Challenge is being run by the organisers of the popular Autumn Epic and Devil Ride cyclosportives. The idea behind the Spring Challenge is to provide riders with ideal preparation for the bigger challenges to come as the season gets under way, while raising some cash for the County Air Ambulance at the same time. Over in Italy there are lots of lower key events in the Spring that act as true early season challenges in their own right, while not being the huge undertakings that most Gran Fondos are. The Epic Cycles Spring Challenge is intended to be just like these mini (or Corto) Fondos
White Horse Challenge
25/04/10, Wiltshire
This will be a useful early season ride that will enable riders to gauge their fitness level as they cycle around 150km through Wiltshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire with about 1400 metres of climbing. The route has been carefully selected to keep the riders interested and challenged by their surroundings, on decent road surfaces and with minimal traffic.
For further information http://www.whitehorsechallenge.com/
Forest of Dean Spring Classic
02/05/2010, Monmouth, Wales
The event is an excellent training opportunity for the May classics and the later continental etapes, but should your fitness let you down the route is never more than 20 miles from the Monmouth start and finish. The route design also offers newcomers the opportunity to try a "Classic Sportive" without too much pressure.
For further information http://www.forestofdeanspringclassic.co.uk
Black Rat Challenge
16/05/2010, North Somerset
A fabulous tour of North Somerset and the Mendip Hills. Taking in classic climbs on the Mendips, including Cheddar Gorge - which will be on closed roads for the day. This is not a "throw in every local hill you can find" sportive - there is plenty of variety in the route, which will be on quiet roads. If you have not done a sportive event before but fancy a challenge, this event is tailor made for you. There are two distances to choose from - 100 miles and 100km. Both are challenging but neither are "killers". Event HQ is well catered with plenty of free parking. Timing chips will record your times. For full information, visit www.blackratcycle.co.uk. Entries are now being accepted!
For further information http://www.blackratcycle.co.uk/
The Tour of Wessex
29/05/2010, Somerset and Wiltshire
Your opportunity to ride the same routes on the same days as foreign pros and the UKs top domestic teams competing in the Tour of Wessex Premier Calendar road race. The routes include some of the best scenery and most well know sites in the UK; including Glastonbury Tor, Cheddar Gorge, Exmoor National Park, and the Jurassic Coast. 3 Stages from 23rd to 25th May 2009
For further information http://pendragon-cc.com/sports/node/16
Verenti The Dragon Ride
06/06/2010, South Wales
The 2010 Verenti (Kiron) Dragon Ride Wales will take place on Sunday 6th June 2010. One of the original annual cyclosportives in the UK, the Kiron Dragon Ride is also currently the largest and was hailed by Cycling Weekly as "The UKs Premier Cyclosportive". The first UK sportive to gain access to the UCI calendar, the Dragon is also working to gain acceptance from the UCI as the UK round of the Golden Bike world series.The ride offers 3 distances, 40, 130 and 190kms over the challenging climbs of the South Wales Valleys. The two longer routes use the classic Category 1 climbs of the Bwlch and Rhigos, with 3000m of climbing on the longer "Gran Fondo" ride. The bleak but beautiful Brecon Beacons form the northern loop of the longer ride. The 2010 event will retain the same route as used in 09 with improvements made to speed up the car parking and a slightly revised start/finish layout, once again at the Pencoed Technology Park.
For further information http://www.dragonride.co.uk/index.php
Avalon Sunrise 400
18/06/2010, Clayhidon, nr Taunton
Starting from a pub on the Blackdown Hills near Taunton at 10:30pm this event rides through the night to dawn somewhere in Somerset. Then across the Severn Bridge and back home again and is 244 miles or 400km. Although this a long way to ride it isnt a race. The challenge is to complete the course in less than 27 hours
Circuit of the Cotswolds
20/06/2010, Oxfordshire
The Circuit of the Cotswolds is a challenging ride through some of Englands most scenic roads and villages. The course climbs 2400m in 102 miles on minor roads, and includes the 25% monster of Cleeve Hill (a 70-mile flatter route option is also available). The event is organised to a high standard, with a fully signposted route, electronic timing and three feeding stations.
For further information http://www.circuitofthecotswolds.org/
Tour of Exmoor
03/07/2010, Somerset
A last sharpner before heading off to the big mountains in Mainland Europe. 2 long climbs of 9 km and 7 km and over 4,000 m of total ascent with some of the most spectacular sea views on offer. The longest route is 164 km (103 miles) in length and features 4,127meters (13,393 ft) of climbing making this one the hardest sportives in the UK. The Shorter 135 km (85 mile) route is still hard with lots of climbing so choose the route that suites your level of fitness
For further information http://pendragon-cc.com/sports/node/69
The Action 100 Bike Ride
29/08/2010, Bristol/Bath to London
The Action 100 Bike Ride challenge is aimed at all cyclists who are prepared to ride over 100 miles for charity, secure in the knowledge that all necessary support is on hand to help participants complete the distance. This challenge has been completed by thousands of cyclists since the ride started in 1982, many of whom encourage their work colleagues or neighbours to join them. Together they have raised over £915,000 for Action Medical Research!
For further information http://www.action.org.uk/
Ride the Route - Tour of Worcestershire
12/09/2010, Worcester
Welcome to the 4th Ride the Route based on all the best bits of the Tour of Britain routes through the County of Worcestershire in 2007 and 2008. Supported by Worcestershires Choose how you move scheme. This year we have added to the tests the Pros will have to endure with our own route the Tour wouldnt go up. The new route will add several new climbs and one "killer option" that we suggest you try if you have good walking shoes
For further information http://www.autumnepic.co.uk
Wessex 100
12/09/2010, Bath
New route for 2009! This spectacular ride will now start from Bath, with both routes heading past the lions of Longleat, continuing downhill all along the Wylye Valley. The ride skirts Salisbury plain before tackling the legendary Brassknocker Hill on the return to Bath, where the finish await
For further information http://www.wessex100.org.uk/
Cheddar Cyclosportive
19/09/2010, Cheddar, Somerset
This Sportive is in its fourth year and will take in the Somerset levels and the Mendip hills including Cheddar gorge. 2010 will see a bigger and better event, now with two courses of 100km and 160km and a new start/finish venue with excellent facilities! 100 miles.
For further information http://www.cheddarcyclestore.co.uk
Tour of Dartmoor
25/09/2010, Ashburton, Devon
If you like climbing, this one is for you. Experience superb views of Dartmoor and its unique landscape punctuated by its famous Tors and the coast of Devon. The Tour of Dartmoor adds to our list of favorite rides, the longest route is 103 miles in length and features 3,933 meters of climbing making this one the more challenging sportives in the UK. The shorter 82 miles route features 3,313 meters of climbing.
For further information http://www.tourofdartmoor.com/
The Autumn Epic
03/10/2010, Knighton, Powys, Wales
The Autumn Epic starts in the small town of Knighton in the Welsh Marches, and takes you through the superb scenery and peaceful country lanes of the ancient county of Radnorshire. It comes at the latter end of the season, so should be the ideal opportunity for one last test of that precious summer fitness, and a great way to celebrate the season in style. Slickly organised, with well stocked food stops, clear signage and a friendly feel. Now in its sixth year the Epic has sold out well in advance every year, so enter early to secure a place!
For further information http://www.autumnepic.co.uk
A cyclosportive falls between a traditional road race and a non-competitive randonnée or Audax event. Riders normally carry a number and the time they take to complete the course is recorded. There is usually an upper time limit within which the course must be completed (unlike many randonnée events, there is no lower limit preventing riders from completing the course quickly). The already lengthy course will traditionally include climbs and difficult riding conditions, adding to the merit of the event (e.g. the cobblestones of the Paris-Roubaix).
The routes will usually be well sign-posted and/or marshalled (some cyclosportives take place on roads which have been closed to motor traffic for the duration of the event), riders will be able to use feeding stations positioned at intervals along the route to replenish their food and drink supplies and mechanical and medical support may also be provided.
