give out!
Getting there and getting around
By car
Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire are easily accessed from London via the main arterial route of the M4, and from England’s north and Midlands via the M5. The M5 provides further access to even the remotest parts of England’s south west peninsula, and the A30 and A38 roads are well placed to venture into Cornwall.
Other major roads servicing the region include the M3 and the A303, which, together, form a route that leads from London towards Exeter, passing iconic Stonehenge along the way. Most areas of Dorset and East Devon are easily accessed via the M3 and M27 through Hampshire to the A31 and A35 roads.
Tarr Steps require dismount and careful crossing (Route 4)
By rail
Riders wishing to travel to the region by train should first check out National Rail enquiries (go to www.nationalrail.co.uk and click on ‘Cyclists’). Here you will find easy links to your nearest regional train provider and information on how you can book your bike onto a train. Gateway train destinations tend to be Bristol or Exeter, where a change of train might be required.
When to go
The south west of England enjoys a mild climate most of the year round, and the further south and west you go, the milder it gets. It is quite normal to see semi-exotic plants and trees in Devon and Cornwall, especially along the more sheltered south coast. But the region is also home to some pretty unforgiving high moorland areas that should never be treated lightly – even in summer.
Dartmoor and Exmoor can be brutally exposed and, being high mountain regions, the weather here can change very quickly. Always carry suitable emergency clothing with you, like a lightweight waterproof top. On the high moors, visibility can be a problem too, so wear something bright and ride with caution; a small set of clip-on emergency lights will add almost no weight to your bike, but they could quite easily help avoid any nasty situations in bad weather.
Blue sky riding en route to Alvediston (Route 17)
Accommodation
Being a large holiday destination, there is usually no shortage of options when selecting from available accommodation. Leave it too late in the summer or at holiday times, however, and booking can be a bit of a nightmare. Bed and breakfast accommodation is a firm favourite anywhere in England’s south west and, with the advent of www.airbnb.co.uk, the selection of excellent short-notice overnight accommodation has been greatly enhanced. See Appendix B for a list of accommodation websites.
There’s no shortage of interesting cities, towns and villages in which to base yourself while exploring the region. The historic port of Plymouth works equally well for Atlantic Roller and Tor de Moor, while Exeter is the perfect base for King of the Castle. The bustling market town of Tiverton is an obvious choice for Exe-Factor and Slam Dunk, if you combine the two routes together, and either Wellington or Taunton act as an ideal launch pad for Blackdown Hills and A Ridge too Far.
The ancient cathedral city of Wells is well situated for any of the three routes that cover the Mendip Hills – Weston-super-Nightmare, Mid-Somer Murder and Mendip Madness. In Gloucestershire, Cirencester, Cheltenham or Chepstow offer riders a wealth of local interest and accommodation from which to enhance the ride experiences of Over the Edge, Forest of Dean and Cotswold Caper. Both Dorchester and Poole are natural choices for the Dorset routes – Fool Hardy, Jurassic Classic and Thrill of the Chase – while Salisbury is a terrific city from which to explore the chalk valleys of Wiltshire on Zig Zag and Plain Sailing. Further north, Marlborough and Royal Wootton Bassett hold plenty of cultural interest as well as being springboards for Cheval Blanc and Clyffe Hanger.
A friendly spectator at Combe St Nicholas (Route 6)
On the road
Hills
England’s south west is teeming with hills – even the mostly flat routes in this guide have at least some hilly sections. But, love them or hate them, you’ll just have to get used to them if you’re going to ride cycle sportives. Riding 50, 80 or even 100 miles can be a real test, but adding a series of long, grinding ascents and lung-busting climbs into any ride will drag the difficulty factor kicking and screaming into a whole new realm.
Some routes in this book, such as Slam Dunk and Zig Zag, are all about hill climbing. Every now and again it’s worth the effort to include harder climbing routes as a specific training ride. It’s also worth remembering that a challenging climb at the start of an event with fresh legs will feel like a very different beast after 50 miles or so. There are no shortcuts to hill climbing; seek them out, train on them regularly and beat them. To avoid the walk of shame during an event, train for the hills at every opportunity.
Yes, it would be naive to enter a ride such as the Fred Whitton Challenge in the Lake District and endure some of the most challenging climbs in England without suitable training. But there are plenty of challenging hills to be found in the south west of the country too, just don’t get caught out by a lack of quality hill training. Plan ahead, choose your routes carefully and make sure you know what you are getting into.
Read through this book, train on the routes that suit your aspirations and fitness, and, as you progress through your training schedule, select tougher routes on which to train. Following the routes in this guidebook is also a great way to explore the varied and beautiful countryside of England’s south west. Take your time, enjoy your riding and build up your distances and challenges before letting yourself loose on the world of cycle sportives.
Singletrack lanes
These are great for deterring lorries, but the myriad narrow lanes that cover the region will often be loose and gravelly under your wheels. They will also be slippery with mud in the rain and, inevitably, the only vehicle you’ll meet will be a delivery van in a hurry. Treat singletrack lanes with respect: keep your speed down on descents, ride in single file, give the rider in front some space and expect the unexpected.
Cattle grids
These beauties pop-up frequently, especially in and around the national parks. They pose no problem as such, but it’s always worth crossing them with a degree of caution when wet. Always cross them straight-on. Keeping a little momentum to free-wheel over cattle grids helps, especially when approaching from uphill, and standing up as you rattle across reduces weight on the back wheel to lessen pinch-flats and is kinder on your spine!
Safety
Cycle sportives and training rides are not races, and, unless it is held on closed roads, a sportive event and its competitors are bound by current traffic regulations and the Highway Code. Therefore it’s worth getting into some good riding habits from the outset of your training regime. This will pay good dividends in your safety cycle-management come the day of the event.
Keep your bike in good working order, especially if you’re getting in plenty of winter miles. Regular servicing of it is always a good thing, as is cleaning. Cleaning your bike is a good opportunity for close inspection, thereby avoiding potential problems later on. Check tyre pressures regularly too; correct tyre pressures are often the difference
