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20 Classic Sportive Rides in South East England

Graded routes on cycle-friendly roads between Kent, Oxford and the New Forest

ISBN

9781852847432

Availability

Published

5 Mar 2015

Edition

First

Pages

128

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x .80cm

Weight

150g

Delivery & Returns

Free Royal Mail 48 postage on UK orders. European postage is £3.50 per item. Worldwide postage is £5.50 per item. If you're not happy with your purchase for any reason, we'll give you a full refund.
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This guidebook offers 20 sportive routes in the most challenging and scenic cycling areas of south-east England. From the Surrey and Chiltern Hills to the New Forest and Berkshire Downs, the area boasts miles of cycle-friendly roads suitable for sportive training. The graded routes are all on quiet country roads and can be mixed and matched.

Seasons

From early winter starts to lazy summer evening rides, all the routes in this guide book are perfect as part of your year-round training regime.

Centres

Sevenoaks, Maidstone, Brighton, Reading, Windsor, High Wycombe, Portsmouth, Southampton, Basingstoke, Newbury, Eastbourne, Fleet, Reigate, Dorking, Redhill, Brockenhurst, Marlow, Theale, Hungerford, Oxford.

Difficulty

Sportive cyclists of all levels of fitness and ability will benefit from a mix of flat, cadence training specific rides to unforgiving lung-bursting routes where climbing is the name of the game. Check out the hill grades to each ride and choose the route on which you want to train. Don't forget to mix-and-match your routes for variation of training.

Must See

20 cycle sportive training rides that cover the most challenging and scenic areas of the Southeast of England: The New Forest, North and South Downs, the High Weald, Surrey Hills, Chiltern Hills and the Berkshire Downs all have mile upon mile of cycle friendly roads on which to train for your favourite cycle sportive event.

ISBN

9781852847432

Availability

Published

5 Mar 2015

Edition

First

Pages

128

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x .80cm

Weight

150g

Delivery & Returns

Overview

This guidebook offers 20 sportive cycling routes in the best cycling areas of south east England. The training rides range between 60 and 117km (37 to 73 miles) in length, and offer a wide range of challenge, from flat routes for pacing training, to tough, hilly routes to climb. The 20 sportive routes are found in Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Kent, Surrey and East Sussex, a collection from near Oxford down to the south coast by Bournemouth and Portsmouth. From the Surrey and Chiltern Hills to the New Forest and South Downs, there are miles of cycle-friendly roads suitable for sportive training. All 20 routes are graded for difficulty and include timings, ascent, food-stops and access information, as well as annotated route maps and clear route descriptions. Sportive cycling is a growing sport, and this guide provides routes for experienced riders and those new to this sport. Useful information on bike maintenance and equipment, to travelling around the areas with your bike and advice on accommodation is also included. The result is a sportive guidebook that will prepare you for the challenges ahead, and allow you to explore the best cycling the south-east has to offer.

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Overview map

Map key

Introduction

About sportives

The south east of England

Getting there and getting around

When to go

Accommodation

On the road

Safety

Emergencies

Equipment

Bike maintenance

The rules of the road

Maps

Navigation

Feed stations

Using this guide

The Routes

Route 1 Rattle and Hum: Brockenhurst (New Forest)

Route 2 Pony Express: Brockenhurst (New Forest)

Route 3 Kings of Meon: Portsdown Hill (Hampshire)

Route 4 Top and Tail: Queen Elizabeth Country Park (South Downs)

Route 5 Windoverstoke: Andover (Hampshire)

Route 6 The Gibbet: Hungerford (Berkshire)

Route 7 Dragon Slayer: Hungerford (Berkshire and Wiltshire)

Route 8 Isis: Reading (Berkshire and Oxfordshire)

Route 9 Devil’s Highway: Theale (Berkshire and Hampshire)

Route 10 The Hog’s Back: Fleet (Hampshire and Surrey)

Route 11 Mud, Sweat and Gears: Godalming (Surrey)

Route 12 Surrey Hills: Headley Heath (Surrey)

Route 13 Reservoir Cogs: Redhill (Surrey and Sussex)

Route 14 Park and Ride: Withdean (East Sussex)

Route 15 Weald-a-Beast: Sevenoaks (Kent)

Route 16 Battle Plan: Eastbourne (Sussex and Kent)

Route 17 Merry Wives: Marlow (Buckinghamshire and Berkshire)

Route 18 The Wycombe Wanderer: Marlow (Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire)

Route 19 Oxtail Loop: Kidlington (Oxfordshire)

Route 20 Ox and Bucks: Kidlington (Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire)

Appendix A Route summary table

Appendix B Bike shops and cycle repair outfits

Appendix C Useful contacts

Updates

We do not yet have any updates available for this book

We are always grateful to readers for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground. If you would like to send some information to us then please use our contact form. They will be published here following review by the author(s).

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20 Classic Sportive Rides in South East England - GPX File

By Colin Dennis

Colin Dennis has been riding bikes of one sort or another for longer than he dares to remember. His passion for road and off-road cycling has taken him all over the UK and continental Europe, both leading expeditions and for personal pleasure. Plotting, planning and escaping to new locations are pastimes that have driven him for many years, and working as both freelance copywriter and cycle guide provides a happy balance at home and work. Colin is never happier than when he’s struggling up a steep climb behind a group, usually covered in mud, but as long as there’s a warm tea shop involved – everything’s possible.

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