The UK's best sportive/audax of the year award goes to...

rob_spedding
rob_spedding Posts: 442
edited January 2012 in Sportives/audaxes/training rides
...well it's up to you really – we'd love you to tell us about the best event you've ridden in 2011!

Thanks

Rob
Rob Spedding, Editor, Cycling Plus

Comments

  • CycleSportPhotos.com
    CycleSportPhotos.com Posts: 2
    I rode the Polocini Winter Sprinter back in March, it was a really good ride - perfect for the time of year, ie not too hard - top value and the food was excellent! I now take photos at Polocini events because as a rider, as well as a Photographer, I was impressed with what Polocini event riders get included in the rides; including breakfast! choice of proper food at the finish, CNP pack for the ride, well signed route,massages, giveaways! Its great value for the £20 entry fee.
  • nunowoolmez
    nunowoolmez Posts: 867
    Done 18 of them since March so lots to choose from. Wiggle Wight Ferry was great fun & a nice ride, the Cycling Weekly Sportive was a brilliant ride, fantastic course, toughest was the Action Medical Research Peak 100. Incredibly hard course in very tough conditions. Haywards Heath Howler also a tough ride.

    For the originality, organisation, great course, getting lost, good folk, fun ferry journey & free ice cream & cuppa, i would say the best this year was The Wight Ferry Sportive.
  • Philip Whiteman
    Philip Whiteman Posts: 470
    edited November 2011
    This thread should really be split into two:
    1. The UK's Best Sportive of the Year;
    2. The UK's Best Audax of the Year.

    It is a double barralled question attempting grade two different types of event in the same category.
  • Garz
    Garz Posts: 1,155
    Agreed. Hear hear!
  • sub55
    sub55 Posts: 1,025
    edited November 2011
    BCM
    constantly reavalueating the situation and altering the perceived parameters accordingly
  • Brakeless
    Brakeless Posts: 865
    Best - Fred Whitton
    Very Good - Puncheur
    Good - Wiggle No excuses
    OK - Southern Sportive
    OK- Hell of the Ashdown
    Bad - Dragon Ride
    Worst - Etape Cymru
  • Krys
    Krys Posts: 51
    Best - Dartmoor Classic - hands down :)

    (http://www.thecyclingmayor.com/dartmoor-classic)

    Worst - tough call between the Dragon (ought to know better, doesn't listen, never learns) and the Etape Cymru (has time to learn)
    My cycling blog: http://www.thecyclingmayor.com
  • nickwill
    nickwill Posts: 2,735
    Best sportive was Le Terrier. An outstanding difficult route with great friendly organisation. If you haven't sampled the Forest of Bowland you should do! I've ridden the Fred Whitton, The Etape du Dales , Dragon Ride etc in previous years and this caps the lot for me!
    http://lakescyclist.wordpress.com/
  • mr_poll
    mr_poll Posts: 1,547
    Best is very subjective.

    For me the best, organisation wise was Polocini, Kegs n Legs. Spot on signage, great food before and after, and a route that never relented - and all staff had smiles on their faces despite the weather.

    Most enjoyable was Lewis Balyckzi Memorial Ride - lucky with the weather, fantastic scenery, great atmosphere.

    Blogged about them both - http://www.teamskyfans.com/neilp.html
  • parky53
    parky53 Posts: 41
    Definitely the best Sportive for me was the LE TERRIER (Lancaster/Bowland). Ultra tough (and getting tougher by the year) but organised in the low key, friendly and value-for-money way of an Audax. Best of both worlds really. Get in quick next year - the limit is 400 and I reckon it will be reached for the first time.

    KEITH
  • young dog
    young dog Posts: 64
    Thanks Parky & Nickwill.
    There is an email on its way to previous riders.
    LE terrier Olympian first view of the long route - only 104 miles?? We have added Harrisend Fell, Beacon Fell, Longridge Fell, Waddington Fell, Furnessfold Road! The mileage and height gained are similar, but let me assure you, this has gone onto a new level!

    Le Terrier Olympian
    https://ridewithgps.com/routes/817698

    Enjoy :D
  • nickwill
    nickwill Posts: 2,735
    young dog wrote:
    Thanks Parky & Nickwill.
    There is an email on its way to previous riders.
    LE terrier Olympian first view of the long route - only 104 miles?? We have added Harrisend Fell, Beacon Fell, Longridge Fell, Waddington Fell, Furnessfold Road! The mileage and height gained are similar, but let me assure you, this has gone onto a new level!

    Le Terrier Olympian
    https://ridewithgps.com/routes/817698

    Enjoy :D
    I will be there. I expect to suffer in the process, but in a good way! :twisted:
    As if last year's event wasn't challenging enough!
    http://lakescyclist.wordpress.com/
  • nickwill
    nickwill Posts: 2,735
    Le Terrier duly entered!
    http://lakescyclist.wordpress.com/
  • rob_spedding
    rob_spedding Posts: 442
    We've now got an online poll up so if you fancy ticking a box to tell us your fave sportive then we'll enter you in a draw to win tickets for The London Bike Show and, if you're first out of the hat, a collection of unused bike products from under tech. ed. Warren's desk!

    http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/h ... tive-32562
    Rob Spedding, Editor, Cycling Plus
  • Stedman
    Stedman Posts: 377
    Best Sportive goes to the Caledonian Etape for the atmosphere, organisation and the numbers which take part. Even my wife who is a non-cyclist enjoys this event.

    Best Audax is the Charmwood in Spring run by Notts CTC. This has refreshments organised before the event and tea cakes afterwards, great route, weather, energy drinks, gel and free bottle all for £3. A mixed entry with over 150 entered, with club cyclist, MAMIL, bikes with fixed gears, steel frames, touring bikes and even mountain bikes. This gets my vote as the organisers have kept it simple and stress free!
  • Brian B
    Brian B Posts: 2,071
    Best Sportive - Ken Laidlaw, great route, friendly organisation and outstanding value for money

    Other events that need a mention

    Best Atmoshpere - Fred Whitton, done it 5 times now and no other sportive on Blighty can match this event
    Le Terrier - Fantastic event, awesome headquaters and really hard route, a must do for every sportive rider
    Most missed event - Cumberland challenge, great event but was missed from the 2011 calendar
    Best route overall - Ullapool Mor - a must do route for any cyclist. The best in Britain
    Brian B.
  • landofbo
    landofbo Posts: 21
    Best for me was the Lionheart in March - starting and finishing outside Longleat house.

    Cracking organisation, good pre and post ride stuff going on and setting off at 8am hearing the lions roar is a must, along with the obligatory sprint finish along the long, straight drive leading up to the grand old house. Roll on March 18th for another go.
  • MIG Rider
    MIG Rider Posts: 8
    Without doubt the Exmoor Beast, try and pull that event off in that weather and with those results!!!!!

    Exmoor beauty 2nd!,
  • Rabscott2003
    Rabscott2003 Posts: 3
    Remember the Ken Laidlaw Sportive 2012. Its at a better time of year the sun should be shinning down on the Borders. When climbing in the hill there it feels like the Tour De France your riding. Not only that full motor bike support, car support, broom wagon, feed stations, town centre parade and finish is like finishing a race in a way. Cant wait till this year only 500-600 places i think so better hurry cause it got 99.8% out of a 100% overall for UK Sportives. It truly is one of the best and should continue to grow. This year i heard a rumour it might be on BBC1 this year fully filmed and with celebrates competiting for various charities. Might be on the Telly.

    Heres the website with all the details:- http://www.kenlaidlawsportive.co.uk/

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