The new Evans Cycles Ride It Bristol sportive on Sunday 2 February comes so early in the year it's probably best described as pre-season. February is still winter, and it was cold - mainly thanks to a persistent north wind that brought fluttering snowflakes as the day progressed.
The base for the event was Hengrove Leisure Centre in south Bristol, complete with Olympic size swimming pool. There was some free parking on site with further overspill parking a very short cycle away. I arrived at 8:00 am and the main car park still had spaces available an hour later.
Registration kicked off at the same time, and the only gripe of the whole event was that it took place outside. It wasn't much fun queuing and getting colder by the second, but after about 10 minutes I was signed up and good to go. Those signed up at least eight weeks prior to the event received a free High5 nutrition pack worth £10.
The cafe adjacent to registration was open and offered refuge from the cold, although no cleats were allowed in order to protect the floor. I retreated to my car to warm up and get changed. A map was provided, along with a clear plastic bag to protect it which was a thoughtful touch. The emergency number was on the map.
Ride It Bristol was a 400 person sell out with four potential routes to choice from - Fun (15 miles), Short (32 miles), Medium (50 miles) and Long (70 miles). GPS routes were provided prior to the event. The ride was billed as a 4 out of 5 for the level of difficulty. Cost was £7.50 for the fun ride and £18.50 for all other routes, with the medium course seemingly the most popular.
I had my excuses ready: my football match had been switched from Saturday to Sunday afternoon, so I only had time for the 32-mile route. After a short but comprehensive briefing that included advice on how to pass horse riders (keep talking as you approach and pass), we were underway.
The first mile or two of the ride navigated out of the urban area and then it was straight on to Dundry Hill. This was a long and winding climb, steep in places, that would have put the frighteners on anyone who hadn't been on the bike for a while. About 2 miles in length, the first section of the climb rises gently before a couple of steep ramps with gradients reaching 20%. The bonus was I was fully warmed up at the top. The ride was well into the countryside now and it wasn't long before the fun ride turnoff loomed up for the loop back to the finish.
The rest of the riders kept going onto another shallower hill and then I took an early split on to the short course. Essentially this was a short cut via the villages of Winford and Butcombe (passing the eponymous brewery) to get to the first feed station in the layby at the bottom of Burrington Combe. The riders on the medium and long course went out on a loop past Bristol Airport, down Brockley Combe and around the relative flat and fast country lanes before also arriving at the same feed station via the towns of Yatton and Congresbury.
The feed station had the benefit of a permanent toilet block and there was a wide variety of sweets, nuts, cakes, gels and other foods available. Energy drinks and water were on tap. Best of all, tea and coffee provided the heat to fuel the coming climb. Burrington Combe was the usual steady slog, rising 213 metres over 4km at an average 5% grade.
Throughout the ride the puddles on the road were still icy but the roads themselves were fine. The organisers should take credit for ensuring a rideable route as some roads can be a bit hit and miss in winter. Signage along the route was excellent too: all signs were on a fluorescent pink background with several signs prior to a junction, another sign at the junction and one immediately afterwards.
The short route split again shortly after the top of Burrington Combe, and following a steep descent there was a mainly flat route back to the start around the lakes and pretty villages of the Chew Valley. A short climb just before the end was the only interruption. I was glad to get back to the warmth, especially as some light snow fell briefly as I drove home.
Those on the longer course went further into the Mendips and the route included another feed station. The long course descended Cheddar Gorge and then went through Wells before all courses rejoined the run in through Chew Valley.
The Evans Ride It series returns to the South-West in August with a Somerset sportive over the weekend of 8/9th. I found the Bristol ride to be professionally run at a difficult time of year, and would definitely sign up for another of their events.
0 Comments