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Next year I'm thinking of doing more big cycling events, here's some I've done or thinking about doing. Most lists only focus on road events but I'm interested in the spectrum of gravel and MTB too. What must-dos am I missing?
- RideLondon 100 (sadly no longer running, but was one of the biggest cycling events in the world with amazing atmosphere)
- Fred Whitton challenge (looks incredibly challenging, thinking of doing it next year)
- South Downs Way in a day (I almost made it this summer but started too late, will have another go next year)
- Etape Loch Ness (after RideLondon this is now the biggest closed road sportif?)
- Dirty Reiver 200km (would like to do it, a bit logistically annoying for someone in the south without a car)
- Dragon Devil Ride (we'll see how the Fred Whitton goes before signing up for this!)
Wild Wales Challenge is pretty iconic.
For genuinely historically important, London Edinburgh London audax.
Or the 3 Peaks cyclo-cross race, which has been run today.
If you're located in the south, go over the channel to Belgium and ride the Tour of Flanders sportive, my absolute favourite ride of all time.
WHW
Is it just cycling or anything sport?
If the latter then the Dartmoor Triple Crown
100 grit routes ( or not grit if you're proper hard)
Tour of the Highlands was a great one but it looks a bit like it's gone. Maybe not.
Some information here - and I've got the GPX from doing it a few times.
It was a great 3 days. Day 2 was a proper challenge for non-roadies like me. 100+ miles in the legs (and a few metres of climbing) and it's a climb from Loch Morlich to the Cairngorm ski centre.
Le Coq?
I know you said UK, but consider the Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders). Make a long weekend of it, ride the sportive on Saturday, watch the pros on Sunday and experience the madness.
Fred Whitton. Usually about 2nd weekend of May, it's a ballot system of entry, entries open 1st December and close on 12th so you have a window of less than 2 weeks to get your entries in. Successful entrants are notified on 15th December, at which point book your accommodation immediately!
Dartmoor Classic Sportive is another big one, usually in mid-June. 110 miles with about 10,000ft climbing.
For a multi-dayer, probably one of the most famous routes in the world, Land's End - John O'Groats. Any number of route options (including off-road) and freedom to do it in as long or short a time as you want. There are some supported tours: Peak Tours do both a 10-day and 14-day option: https://www.peak-tours.com/lands-end-to-john-ogroats-cycling-holidays/
RideLondon doesn't exist any more and is unlikely to ever exist again.
Coast to Coast. Again there must be a couple of dozen variations on a theme of this, the "classic" is Whitehaven to Newcastle: https://epicroadrides.com/cycling-blog/uk-coast-to-coast-cycling-route/
but there are God only knows how many other options.
Morecambe to Bridlington (The Way of The Roses) is one, I did Seascale to Filey earlier in the year (was supposed to be Whitby but the massive fire on the moor above Whitby forced a slight deviation).
Dunwich Dynamo - ride through the night in whatever weekend in July is closest to the full moon, starts in east London, finishes 200km later on the Suffolk coast. Free, slightly mental, generally really good fun.
Have a look at the Bryan Chapman Memorial. 600km from Chepstow to Anglesey and back again.
Bealach na Ba Sportive. May 16th.
Or, for real shits and giggles, Ride to the Sun. June 20th
Frontier 300
is run by the DR200 team, but smaller numbers, more varied and can be split over 2 days riding. Also much easier to reach via train.
Plus 1 for Ride to the Sun (no entry fee and very sociable). Book trains back south early.
Battle on the Beach March time - Pembrey S Wales
Etape du Dales if you don't get a place in the Fred
It's hill climb season at the moment - not my game, but some of them have a long lineage, run continuously for over a century.
The Anfield 100 mile TT is over 100 years old.
The polaris was an iconic MTB event, which was run by OMM more recently, and not sure what the current state of play is - MTB orienteering over several hours.
But it's the 3 peaks (as mentioned) if you want something unique. Nothing else like it.
IOW randonnee? Was on Sunday 4th May 2025.
The Scottish closed road events - did Loch Ness this year (with 5,999 others), Tour o the Borders next year, a friend did the Caledonian this year but thought the Loch Ness had a better atmosphere.
The London Edinburgh London audax is getting a lot higher profile (sadly this year due to having been cancelled due to Storm Floris). Interesting chat with one of this years riders who got held and then turned back at Richmond about not having to do qualifying rides like PBP may be getting some riders who really don't know what to expect.
The London Edinburgh London audax is getting a lot higher profile (sadly this year due to having been cancelled due to Storm Floris).
The next one is 2029, which is a frustratingly long wait for those of us who were turned back on this year's ride.
Surely the strathpuffer has to be on the list, even if you don't want it to be 😀
Frontier 300 is a classic. The one day version!
The next one is 2029, which is a frustratingly long wait for those of us who were turned back on this year's ride.
Yes, the conversation on Saturday got to "would a regular audax be cancelled for Storm Floris?" which led to the lack of audax experience discussion. And I'm not sure anyone on Saturday had travelled half way round the world and not brought the kit for an unseasonably late/early storm
Dunwich Dynamo - ride through the night in whatever weekend in July is closest to the full moon, starts in east London, finishes 200km later on the Suffolk coast. Free, slightly mental, generally really good fun.
Came here to say this
The oldest continually held bike race in the world;the Catford CC hill climb.
Etape Loch Ness didn't feel all that "special" to me (on either occassion) other than the fact you get to ride the A82 traffic free. Maybe I'm just a bit too blasé about the scenery?
Etape Loch Ness didn't feel all that "special" to me (on either occassion) other than the fact you get to ride the A82 traffic free. Maybe I'm just a bit too blasé about the scenery?
No, I think you're right - the absolute draw with those events is the ability to bomb along without traffic, traffic lights, junctions etc.
I suspect most people riding those things are not remotely looking at the scenery, they'll be head down looking at their cycle computer and the arse of the guy in front.
Not much of a challenge (for regular riders) but London-Brighton has got to be the most iconic sportive?
This summer we meet people doing “Chase the Sun”
Start on the East Coast at sunrise finish on the West Coast by sunset
https://www.chasethesun.org/uk-south/
Having done the Dragon Devil in its first year, I'd rank the Fred Whitton as harder. Not that I've done the FW, but the DD is just a long ride. Only a couple of sections that I'd call steep, most of the climbs are steady.
I've yet to do it myself (a 'next year' challenge now I think) but is the Snow Roads audax (permanent route, not calendar event) considered a classic?
I've heard it spoken of in reverential tones over the years, definitely want to give it a go...
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27886676?lang=en
Actually wondering if there are any worthwhile gravel diversions en-route...
Avenue Vert is a good route to follow - yeah, it's not an event as such, but a great 250ish Km ride from Dieppe to Paris..
DrP
Avenue Vert is a good route to follow - yeah, it's not an event as such, but a great 250ish Km ride from Dieppe to Paris..
DrP
Think that fails one key aspect of the OPs question 😉
Etape Loch Ness didn't feel all that "special" to me (on either occassion) other than the fact you get to ride the A82 traffic free. Maybe I'm just a bit too blasé about the scenery?
No, I think you're right - the absolute draw with those events is the ability to bomb along without traffic, traffic lights, junctions etc.
I suspect most people riding those things are not remotely looking at the scenery, they'll be head down looking at their cycle computer and the arse of the guy in front.
An awful lot of us at the back were enjoying the scenery AND the closed road aspect, it doesn't have to be an either/or thing. Plenty of wannabe racers went to hard on the opening leg and walked up the hill while being overtaken by the charity riders on their Carrera bikes. The support from locals was great, as were the macaroni pies.
Dunwich Dynamo is on my wish list, as is Ride to the Sun, it's a question of organising logistics. Chae the Sun looks a tough challenge as well. There are now north, south, Irish and Italian options for those who like to collect in sets.
Think that fails one key aspect of the OPs question
Look - it's a good job i'm not in a safety critical, 'details matter' job, eh...!
😉
DrP
Highland Trail 550 looks like a bit of a challenge.
Highland Trail 550 Route Mountain Biking Route | Trailforks
Cairngorms Loop or Badger Divide may be more attainable, I'd be interested in doing one of those at some point.
Plenty of wannabe racers went to hard on the opening leg and walked up the hill while being overtaken by the charity riders on their Carrera bikes.
🤣
That climb out of Fort Augustus is a bit of a shock to the system isn't it?! Might put the ride on my own list. 👍
Having done the Dragon Devil in its first year, I'd rank the Fred Whitton as harder. Not that I've done the FW, but the DD is just a long ride. Only a couple of sections that I'd call steep, most of the climbs are steady.
I've never done either, but I did ride Hardknott & Wrynose passes (the last two climbs of FW, both brutally unrelentingly steep) in summer 2024 and I can't imagine being able to ride both with 95 miles and shedloads of climbing in the legs.
I've yet to do it myself (a 'next year' challenge now I think) but is the Snow Roads audax (permanent route, not calendar event) considered a classic?
Yup,I would call it a classic.
The route is fantastic and has such a great mix of roads.
Done it twice,once with a group (chain gang style),which was glorious .
The second time I did most of it on my own,that was a long,long day,in a world of crap weather,strong winds and legs like jelly.
Oh, and I have yet to taste a better Forfar Bridie than was served at the finish. 👍 😀
Thanks for all the great suggestions. Enough iconic rides to keep me busy for a few years. Getting some stuff on the calendar:
@kilo That Catford Hill Climb is in a few weeks time so I've signed up for it. What motivated me to start this thread was loving the atmosphere of the Urban Hill Climb event, despite not getting a great time. Proper type 2 fun.
Battle on the Beach is not too far away in March, I've signed up to the list as it looks like an absolute blast.
We’ll expect a race report from the Catford!
It used to be a done thing to double up with the Bec CC HC which was on the same day. (“Done” as in not done by me!)