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The Epic Cycles Spring Challenge is intended to be just like
the Italian mini (or Corto) Fondos. It won't be a fully supported event
like the Autumn Epic - more of a halfway house between a
cyclosportive and a reliability ride. It costs just £10 to enter,
with all proceeds going to the West Midlands Air Ambulance, and will
include:
- A picturesque 50-mile route - way-marked, with routecard as
backup
- Free 750ml bidon of Nuun sports drink at the start, with a water stop en route
- Sport photographer - photos will be available within 24
hours at
http://www.onlysportsphotos.com
- Food at the end (tea/coffee, cake, sandwiches)
- Car parking in the grounds of Kyre Park gardens (worth a
visit in their own right while you are here)
- Registration, toilets and changing in Epic Cycles, which
will be open for the day
- Demo bike try-outs from Look ctycles
- Sports Massage after the event for £5 (from
Fit For Life) - for those who do not get time on the day a
Fit for Life will have a special offer of £15 for half hour leg
or back massage at their Leominster premises or a £30 for a full
hour.
The Spring Challenge won't have some of the things that you
might expect in a full long-distance cyclosportive or century
ride, like mobile mechanics (all riders will be issued with an
contact number for use in an emergency only) and food stops
out on the course (although you will pass through the small
town of Clee Hill which has a number of shops, and
we will have a water stop at 25-30 miles).
We have kept all costs to a minimum in order to maximise the
money raised for charity, while holding the entry fee down
to £10.
Don't be fooled into thinking that this is an easy ride though -
this lovely countryside route is hilly throughout (over 5000ft of
climbing in all), and takes in the
highest hill range in Shropshire (the Clees). The route is mainly on B-roads and quieter
A-roads, with a lots of unclassified country lanes thrown in for
good measure.
The entry limit for 2008 is 200 riders, so we expect to fill
up fast - we sold out in 3 weeks last year with our smaller field of
120 (we didn't want to overstretch things in the inaugural event).
2007's Event: The first Epic Cycles Spring Challenge was
held in 2007, and what a great day it was. Perfect weather and
high temperatures meant that riders were in for a treat as they took
in a tour of the hills of the three counties of Worcestershire,
Herefordshire and Shropshire. Rider photographs are
available at
onlysportsphotos.com.
Event registered with
British Cycling.
  
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