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a Real season-opening challenge - Saturday 8th March 2008

The second Epic Cycles Spring Challenge is being run by the organisers of the popular Autumn Epic cyclosportive (ranked #1 by subscribers to Cyclosport.co.uk).  The idea behind the Spring Challenge is to provide riders with some ideal preparation for the bigger challenges to come as the season gets under way, while raising some cash for the County Air Ambulance at the same time. Over in Italy there are lots of lower key events in the Spring that act as true early season challenges in their own right, while not being the huge undertakings that most Gran Fondos are.

NEWS:  The joining instructions are now available here, and the updated route map here - although there is likely to be some rain on Saturday, the weather has been reasonably kind in the run up so we will be using a revised route that avoids main roads.  As a many of the lanes are bordered by thorn bushes, we strongly advise that all riders take at least two spare tubes with them.  If the weather is wet on the day, please take care when crossing the cattle grids. 

online entries Are now closed (EVENT FULL)

(Current Entry List)

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.