In an attempt to combat my mild addiction to indoor cycling at the moment and with lockdown restrictions easing shortly, I’m seeing a host of events popping up on the calendar now, tempting me to enter and keeping the mojo alive. Here’s what I’ve got in the calendar so far
April
So next month I’ve entered a uniquely FREE, yes, thats right, free event called A Day in Hell, organised by Rapha. There isn’t much information on it but it looks like a few events have popped around the country and abroad, based out of cycling shop/cafe’s. There is no official mass-start, instead I’ll get the route emailed to me and I go and ride it at some point over the weekend of Paris-Roubaix which the event pays homage too, so I can expect roads, tracks, bridleways etc. It will be a nice change and my first ever ‘gravel’ event.
https://www.rapha.cc/gb/en/stories/a-day-in-hell
When I had my shop, I organised an informal club ride I called the Amstel Floubaix once, taking in a mix of local trails, tracks and byways. It would be called a gravel ride these days
May
At the end of May I’ve entered the Black Rat Gran Fondo which regrettably falls on the same day as the rescheduled Mad March Hare Sportive originally penned for March. Anyway, I’d entered this before the reschedule and it’ll be my first big road test of the year. 181km/112 miles out over the Severn Bridge and up through the Forest of Dean to Hay-on-Wye, back over Gospel Pass before a lumpy ride back over the bridge via Chepstow. It’s sure to be a gran (fondo) day out.
https://www.blackratcycle.co.uk/events-2021/granfondo-23-may-181km/
June
Nothing official booked for June yet, but I have also entered the Cotswold Cross Enduro Sportive which is another event that has been postponed. I’m just waiting for a rescheduled date. Advertised as a ‘…65km on and off-road sportive utilising quiet roads, green lanes and bridleways around the valleys and villages of the Cotswold Hills south of Cheltenham…’ its yet another gravel-type event which seems to be a theme for the year so far.
https://www.bagman.website/cotswoldcross/
July
July is a busy month. First up the Two Ton Tour. 200 miles, in 2 days and nearly 20,000ft of climbing. Also, my friend and co-founder of events company Pulse Events has just announced a new event called The Worcestershire Rough Ride. It’s local, it’s cheap and something different. Described as a 50 mile(ish) mix of ‘…great tracks, bridleways, gravel, cobbles, mud and quiet lanes, with plenty of ups and downs, taking in the best North Worcestershire has to offer..’ Right on my manor, I couldn’t resist so I’ve entered that to support it. There is no route published yet but knowing most of the terrain around here I have an idea where it might be going! Mark is a prolific and experienced organiser so it should be great.
https://www.pulsepursuits.co.uk/events/the-worcestershire-rough-ride/
Looks like the year is shaping up well
I rode A Day In Hell , as we discussed on our ride earlier and it was a rubbish route, also agreed.
Shame
Some big events there to keep you motivated! 🙂