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  Sportive Diary, 2011.

Sportives are one of the fastest growing areas of cycling and the club includes some experienced riders in this challenging marriage of touring and racing over some of the most difficult routes and dramatic scenery in the UK and Europe.

Members are already planning their Sportive Diaries for 2011 which are listed here in the event that other members may also wish to enter and form club groups, or just ride solo in the same event.

Like any other aspect of cycling be sure you are fit and competent enough before tackling the more arduous routes which are both physically and technically demanding. Dave, Malcolm and Fred will be more than happy to offer advice and can be contacted direct or via the website. contact

Members have entered, or pencilled in, for 2011;

Fred Lyn.

Inveterate sportiver Fred Lyn is again planning a number of sorties abroad this year including

La Look - Nevers, France - May

Le Raid des Alpilles - Saint Remy de Provence, France - June

Laurent Desbiens in Armentières, France, in August, as my mate Luc Leblanc is doing it and I feel like getting my revenge for the narrow thrashing he gave me in the Tour du Beaujolais last year!!!!!

details from Fred.

Annual Charity Ride, 14 May, 2011.

LATEST: Ian Wood and Alan Bodell now have costings for the overnight accommodation in Newcastle at the Swallow Motel. Anyone interested in the ride needs to confirm with Ian or Alan by mid-February so that we can finalise the rooms needed.

Let me be amongst the first to invite you on a ride in 2011. On Saturday 14th May the annual charity ride organised by Alan and Sue Bodell will be taking place. This year it’s from Mirfield (the usual departure point outside John Cotton’s) to Newcastle. There’ll be an optional departure point in Wetherby for those who don’t fancy the full ride. The distances are – from Mirfield approx 118 miles and from Wetherby about 90.

As usual the ride is fully supported and there will be an abundance of food, energy bars and energy drinks. There’ll be a night out in Newcastle (with accommodation bookable) but the price of which is not included in the fee for the ride. There’ll be a minibus back for those that prefer not to ride and non-cycling partners are welcome.

Cost of the ride is £20 and cheques should be made out to Alan Bodell. More details – including an outline of the route – are available from Ian Wood or Alan Bodell.

This ride was one of the highlights of last year’s long rides/sportive calendar. Once again you’ll be guaranteed good company, excellent food and a well planned and fully mapped route to suit all abilities. You’ll sample the delights of the West Yorkshire and Vale of York scenery, the spectacle of the Angel of the North and the restored glory of the Newcastle/Gateshead waterfront. Of course, you can also never underestimate the restorative power of a night out in Newcastle.

Ian Wood.

Morecambe - Bridlington - Leeds, 24 June .

Here’s another long distance challenge to add to your diaries for 2011:  Morecambe – Bridlington – Leeds against the clock! Well, not quite. The plan is to get up to Morecambe by whatever means available by the evening of Friday 24th June, stay in a B&B, ride to Bridlington on the Saturday (25th), again staying in a B&B and then  ride back to Leeds on the Sunday. The against the clock element would be to ride Morecambe to Brid in under 10 hours.

The route would be, roughly, Trough of Bowland, Hawes, Thirsk, Malton and Brid. The return to Leeds would be across the Wolds.

The ride will be fully supported – spares, drinks, refreshments – but riders would be expected to pay for their own accommodation on the Friday and Saturday nights. We’d have to charge a small amount to pay for the food, drinks and fuel for the support vehicle.

From comments on the club forum this proposal does clash with the Northern Rock Cyclone but otherwise seems to be a reasonably free weekend.

Estimated total mileage (if not riding Leeds- Morecambe) would be just over 200 miles.

Please let em know if you’re interested.

Ian Wood

 

   Audax UK.

Members may also be interested in Audax events many of which are held locally. Offering many of the attractions and challenges of Sportives, with a wide range of distances and terrain, but at much lower entry fees. . Audax UK