Your favourite bike events/sportives

[CMOTDibbler]

I'm starting my spreadsheet for next years events (I know, v organised, but it worked well this year to sort ourselves out round things that ds(9) could do with one of us while the other did a longer route, my triathlons/runs, and the rest of our lives), and it made me wonder what other people had really enjoyed doing.

This year, we've done:

Wiggle New Forest (DH - v windy, but well organised and a scenic route)

Evesham Blossom (all of us, ds and I did 27 miles, some fun hills but lovely round the orchards, has some v short routes for littlies)

Kellys Challenge Farnham - extremely well organised, though medals were a disappointment. Ds reckoned it was the best cake

Velothon Wales - me and dh thought it wa amazing! Closed roads and a fab finish

Ride London - dh thought it was great

Malvern Mad Hatter - only if you love hills!

BHF Glastonbury - flat, flat, flat! If you are looking to go further, its the one to choose.

Trossachs ton, although I suspect it's a bit far from you. It's got challenging hills, a choice of distance, and is very well organised with well stocked feed stations. Dh & I love it.

I really fancy ride London next year...

Its nice to hear about further rides, as we can always make a weekend of things.

The only issue with RL is the logistics as start/finish aren't anywhere near each other. We stayed out at Excel which was a lovely hotel, and great for the start - but a trek back with an exhausted dh and his bike

Have you done any Audax? My mid life crisis will be Paris-Brest-Paris. On a recumbent.

I did hear the logistics were a bit difficult. I'd need to plan carefully!

The closed road Etape in scotland is also very good.

DH is threatening to do some Audax next year. A number of the scary whippet old men from bike club do them, so he's been a bit inspired. Its too much time for me!

We have a bit of a logistical issue in that theres no one to have ds, so either hes in an event or one of us doesn't get to do it. Velothon Wales was the exception as a friend lives in Cardiff, and with the v early start it wasn't too much of an imposition for him to look after ds.

I'll tell dh to look at the Scottish Etape - he was v disappointed that the tour of Cambridgeshire is the same weekend as his friends wedding next year, so this might make up for that!

VeryPuny, have you got a recumbent? Ive got an Ice Sprint and love it.

Id love to do some Sportives next year.

WhoTheFuckIsSimon An ICE Sprint is on my fantasy list. I currently spend too much time towing trailers or using the child seat to justify a 'bent.

Audax is fab, even if some of the riders are, ahem, characters. Dirt cheap to enter but no support - figure out your route and DIY refreshments, and no mechanical support. We did loads pre-kids working up to the Belfast-Dublin-Belfast Maracycle but not really feasible now we have very young children.

There's a sportive on the Isle of Wight that is supposed to be good, but hilly....

Doing the Breeze challenge in Warwickshire on Sunday. Will report back, this is my first time Have only done one other sportive, it was Jodrell Bank a couple of years ago which I really enjoyed.

I'll be interested to hear about the Breeze challenge. I was thinking about doing it, but decided to do a duathlon instead. Which I'm still not entirely sure about!

Hilly is no good for bents. I live in The Flatlands which is a Bents natural territory.

Not all Audax are 100000000 miles! I did the Audax Stevenage Start of Summertime a couple of years ago (the only sportive I've ever done), it was great :)

evilgiraffe We used to do the Start of Summertime as well - a lovely run. The hills are nicknamed the Hertfordshire Alps in our house.

WhoTheFuckIsSimon you musn't be a million miles away from us - we're just outside Cambridge.

Lots of Audax events have 50km runs alongside them - that's how we started.

I'll have a look at the shorter Audax events - though ds loves a medal so it might be a hard sell to him. Of course I could do the club audax and leave DH doing refreshments

Thoroughly recommend the Breeze challenge events. Did the 100km route yesterday and it was absolutely brilliant. Fantastic support all the way round and a lovely cheer at the end. I think we were probably the last group in. I know the lovely Rachel from Countdown was there as she is promoting Breeze.

I'll def put the Breeze challenge on the list for next year then.

For anyone in the SE I can recommend The Fool's Errand V sportive near Tonbridge in Kent next April. I did the 60 km this year (only start cycling this time last year) but will do the 120km next year - really beautiful ride with a few by hills, very well organised but small and low-key event. I'm hoping to get a ballot place in RL but if not I can get a charity place and then Hever Tri in September - distance depends on my swimming training nearer the time . Wouldn't mind finding a few more sportives earlier in the season if anyone can suggest any in the Kent/Surrey/Sussex area.

Have a look and see if there are any Evans ones near you - they are well run and reasonably priced. Last year they did 3 for 2 as well.