8 great cycling events from Inverness to the Isle of Wight

What are your plans this weekend? How about next weekend, or the weekend after that? Well, if your supply of plans is running low, maybe the road.cc RideCatcher can help you out.

This week the RideCatcher has searched high and low for fantastic cycling events that are coming up over the next few weeks. He came back with a haul of events stretching from Inverness where the Ride the North event is taking place, all the way down to the Isle of Wight where you can spend two days enjoying the two-wheeled festivities of the Cycle the Wight event.

If you’re stuck for something to do this weekend and you happen to be in North Wales or on Humberside, there’s the option to go and take in the Anglesey Cycling Festival - which is being run in conjunction with the Tour de Mon sportive - Sky Ride Hull.

There are four other events in this edition of the RideCatcher, spaced surprisingly evenly across the country - as you can see from on the map below.

This weekend:

Saturday August 15 & 16
Anglesey Cycling Festival
Newry Beach, Holyhead, Isle of Anglesey LL65 1YD

Image CC licensed via Airwolfhound on Flickr

There’s so much going on this weekend up in Anglesey that, even if you missed out on the fantastic Tour de Mon, you should have a fantastic time.

Here are just a few of the events that are set to take place on Newry Beach: a family bike ride Sunday, a showing of cycling in Britain documentary Bicycle on the Saturday, bike maintenance skill sessions, a pedal power demonstration, and loads more.

Sunday August 16
Sky Ride Hull
Queen Victoria Square, Hull HU1 3RA

It’s a shame that taking to your city’s streets on a bicycle can feel a like you’re taking your life into your own hands. The danger of the roads means that it’s rare for inexperienced riders to enjoy touring inner-city roads on two wheels.

Fortunately Sky, in conjunction with British Cycling, run their Sky Ride events all over the country to give riders of all abilities the chance to cycle the streets they know so well without the danger of other vehicles.

This weekend the team are in Hull. You can sign up here, or just head down to Queen Victoria Square on the day.

Next weekend:

Saturday August 22 & 23
Scarborough Festival of Cycling

Are you going to Scarborough Fair?

No? Well, how about the Scarborough Festival of Cycling? It might not be the international six-day market made famous in the modern era by Simon and Garfunkel, but the two days of cycling festivities could have something to offer you.

Check out the full list of events, here.

Sunday August 23
Tour de Broads
Strumpshaw Hall, Strumpshaw, Norwich NR13 4HR

Entries close on Monday for the Tour de Broads, so you’ve not got long to get your affairs in order and yourselves up to Norfolk to take part.

Two route options will be the order of the day. Your first choice is the gut-busting 117km ‘Epic’ ride which is priced at £20 per entry or £18 if you book in a group of six or more, followed by the slightly less strenuous 64km ‘Challenge’ ride.

The Challenge ride is cheaper at £10 per person - £9 if you book as a group of six or more - but both offer excellent value for beautiful, if a bit flat, Norfolk countryside.

Sunday August 23
The 2015 Burgess Hill Rumble Cyclosportive
Oakmeeds College, Burgess Hill, West Sussex RH15 9EA

“It’s not fun if it’s easy” are the words of Burgess Hill Rumble organisers SRS Events. And they’re not wrong.

Issues over difficulty only arise when cyclists aren’t prepared for the levels of adversity they’re facing, which is why only experienced cyclists are advised to take part in the hardest of three route options at next weekend’s sportive.

The Classic route in question covers 147km course which covers 6132 feet of climbing. The other route options are easier, with the Challenge and Tour routes coming in at 105km and 69km respectively.

All the rides come in at £35 per person though, which counts as a late entry given that this event is next weekend. Get in quick while there are still spaces available.

Friday August 28 & 29
Ride the North
Inverness city centre, Inverness IV2 4SQ

This two day supported ride, from Inverness to Stonehaven is a cycling adventure which you’ll find very difficult to match on home shores. With a stopover in Elgin overnight, two days featuring 135km and 143km of cycling lay ahead for the riders who want to undertake this challenge.

Not only will your £135 entry fee facilitate the mechanical support which will be at your disposal the whole way, it will also provide riders with support vehicles, signposting, lunches, mobile coffee stops, refreshments, luggage transfer and plenty of encouragement and moral support.

Plus, you’ll get a commemorative cycling jersey!

Further ahead:

Saturday September 5 - 27
Cycle the Wight
Seaclose Park, Newport, Isle of Wight PO30 2EA

A nearly month-long celebration of all things cycling on the beautiful Isle of Wight is certainly worth a visit.

Still three weeks away you’ve got plenty of time to set a weekend aside so you can explore one of the most beautiful patches of unspoilt countryside in the UK.

To read a full programme of events, click here.

Sunday September 6
Yorkshire Urban Cycling Festival
107 Water Ln, Leeds LS11 5WD

September, it seems, is a month that’s set to feature plenty in the way of cycling festivals, but up in Leeds they’ve got something a bit different, the Yorkshire Urban Cycling Festival.

With a fantastic range of cycling on show, including City Racing - an urban variant of cyclo-cross - a fixie skills contest which includes such tricks as the longest skid, an as-yet-to-be-confirmed handcycling event, plus more art, food, and cycling culture than you can shake a spoke at.

Sunday September 13
Kent Cycling Festival
Sport Pavilion, University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7SR

Finally, the British Heart Foundation are offering three cycling events in one on the weekend of September 13.

Starting and finishing in Canterbury, two circular road routes and an off-road adventure ride, will explore the beautiful East Kent countryside.

The price will be £15 for adults and £7.50 for those under 18.