Riding

It rained. A lot. And it was windy. Very windy. But the inaugural Bristol Belter powered by Specialized Concept Store (to give it its full name) sportive was a big success with over 200 riders taking on some of the biggest climbs in the West and coming back smiling.

We're a sucker for a nice ride round the mendips here at road.cc towers, and if you fancy doing one in the company of plenty of like-minded types then why not check out the Bristol Belter, a new sportive on 3 October in association with the Specialized Concept Store. We took the time out to have a quick rant round the 150km classic route, and we're impressed.

Missed the Etape this year? France a bit too far? In September you get a chance to ride a stage of another professional bike race, and you don’t have to leave the shores of Blighty to do it.

“Did you enjoy that? Any complaints?” asked Neil Smith, co-organiser of last weekend’s Anthony Maynard Sportive, as he swiped my timing chip on the finishing line. Perhaps he’d read some of my previous reports. “Yes” and “No” respectively, were my responses offered in those mildly euphoric, endorphin-enhanced moments when the pedalling stops, in this instance after 110km in the saddle.

What’s the best way to start a major sportive? Relaxed, confident, positive. How did I feel on Sunday in the start pen of the 2010 Etape du Tour? Nervous, apprehensive, and a little bit scared.

Who’d be a sportive organiser these days – especially one attempting to run an operation outside the realms of the well-established, well-funded, well-manned major events? There certainly seems to be no shortage of takers, but based on our experience this year they are chasing a thinly spread sportive-riding market while struggling to meet increased rider expectations.

This weekend Mark Webber put in a stirring performance to win the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, two weeks ago he was involved in a spectacular crash in Valencia, but last week Webber was on his bicycle for the Ride to the Horns Sportive.

The weather threw a bit of everything at Sunday’s Tour of Pembrokeshire but still failed to take the shine off this hidden gem of a sportive set in deepest west Wales. Over 500 riders had signed up for the third edition of the small but perfectly formulated event and most were in place for a police-escorted mass start that saw them immediately gearing down for the 17% climb out of Saundersfoot.

After last weeks fabulous weather, thunderstorms were forecast for Sunday, threatening to add some extra fire and brimstone to this year’s Dragon Ride - the venerable sportive across the mountains of South Wales, now in its 7th year. But fears of a deluge were ungrounded, and about 3500 riders enjoyed a fantastic day out in the sunshine.

Simon Hartwell tackles the Galibier after breakfast… and it all downhill from there, until it starts going back up the Cime de la Bonnette