6 cycle challenges I (you?) have to do before you die
2011 was the year when I started to take up cycling again. It started as an enthusiastic hobby and quickly moved to something of an obsession. I'm trying to balance things a little now.
However, cycling is now in my blood and having done a few sports challenges I know there are a few I would LOVE to do. I have listed my top 6 cycle challenges I want to complete before my time is up.
London to Brighton is a fairly iconic event and is actually one of the few challenges that is participated in by both serious riders and those who haven't got on a bike for 10 years but feel like getting out and about for the day.
At around 50-55 miles it's certainly achievable for most (even if you have to walk up Ditchling Beacon), the pace is very moderate (just too many people for the smallish roads you travel on for there to be any pace) BUT the welcome you get arriving in Brighton is second-to-none.
More importantly for me, it was the event that made me decide that I wanted to take my cycling more seriously.
Have you done London to Brighton? Want to? Details for the 2012 event are here : http://www.sportingcircles.com/events/viewevent/87-londontobrighton2012
2) The Cycling Weekly Sportive (Epic)
If people were to mention Leith Hill, Pitch Hill, White Down and Box Hill to you, you might respect that they were pretty tough hills to climb. In fact some of the toughest climbs in the south and 3 of them fall in the UK's top 100 climbs.
Then take all 4, add a 101 mile course around the Surrey hills, and you've got a monster of a challenge. I did this in 2011, got cramp about 3 times, BUT managed to complete the course averaging 14.1 miles per hour, and without having to dismount and walk up any of the climbs.
As far as pride goes, that one made me feel the most accomplished for having completed it.
We don't know if the event will be held in 2012 but here are full details of the 2011 event. http://www.ukcyclingevents.co.uk/events/cycling-weekly/
Another perennial favourite this and now covered by so many different organisations. It's pretty much a case of naming the date you want to do it and signing up, or decide which charity resonates strongest with you and choose that event.
London to Paris comes in all shapes and sizes from 3 days to 5 days, hard routes and more sedate routes, - always around 300 miles, and regardless of which you choose to participate in, there's no denying the sheer exuberation described by participants when they arrive in Paris.
This one is definitely on my list of next 3 challenges to do. 2012 I hope will allow me to do it.
An example of this event in the EXTREME can be found here : http://www.sportingcircles.com/events/viewevent/60-londontoparis24 (not for the faint hearted!)
This one was a new one on me, but the thought of starting the ride at the Eiffel Tower, and passing through Champagne, Nancy, Strasbourg, and the Black Forest and then finishing by crossing the Danube and cycling in to Munich - well there can't be many better ways than seeing some of the glorious mainland European sites.
This is a 7 day ride (5 full days with 2 days of half rides to allow for travel to and from the start and end points) and covers 494 miles. So I would say this is definitely a fantastic challenge and probably something to look at before you consider anything like John O#Groats to Lands End.
For details on this challenege see : http://www.sportingcircles.com/events/viewevent/88-paristomunichbikechallenge2012
This is THE event if you see yourself as the next Bradley Wiggins. Taking on 2 of the mountain stages of the Tour de France, riding in peletons, you'll be screaming round the beautiful stages from Albertville to La Toussuire, Les Sybelles (covering 140Kms) and / or Pau to Bagnères de Luchon.
Although this is very much the amateur Tour de France, the event is accessible to most, BUT that doesn't mean you should be fit and equipped to ride as it will be a seriously hard event.
We have both legs listed on SportingCircles
Act I : http://www.sportingcircles.com/events/viewevent/69-etapedutouract1monday11thjuly
Act II : http://www.sportingcircles.com/events/viewevent/89-etapedutouractii
6) John O'Groats to Lands End
Basically one extreme end of the UK to the other. It's 900 miles. It's hilly, treacherous in parts, probably wet and most probably grey. BUT WOW. What a challenge. 100 mile a day, for 9 days, without a break. The first 4 or so days and tough but you're up for it. Then things start to turn and you start searching for your inner strength. The last thing you want to do on day 5 is get on your bike, let alone cycle another 100 miles, through hilly terrain.
As challenges go, this one will push you and push you, but the sense of achievement is second to none.
My only advice would be to find a road bike that soaks up the shudders and gives you as relaxed a ride as possible. This thing is going to feel like part of you after a few days and you don't want it feeling like a knife. Remember, this one truly is a marathon and not a sprint.
The Ride Across Britain Ride which is doing it the other way round (Land's End to John O'Groats) can be found here : http://www.sportingcircles.com/events/viewevent/76-deloitterideacrossbritain2012
So there's the list of the top 6 events I felt I could justifiably write about. I wanted to make this a top 10 BUT I don't have enough facts and figures to present 4 tougher events than John O'Groats to Lands End.
Therefore if you have an even that you think needs to be listed here - to make this a top 10 - then please let me know.
