Tour Ride in the South West

[Alistair TR]

Hi All,

Registration is now open for the first Tour Ride in the South West.

This is a charity ride for The Prostate Cancer Charity, along the full route of one of this year’s Tour of Britain stages. It will start in Minehead, Somerset and end on the South Devon coast. So you have the added bonus of a riding a ‘Coast 2 Coast’.

It’s a challenging route, taking in some wonderful scenery and some tough hills. It has to be said that the West Country is a bit bumpy, but at least you do get some fast downhill stretches!

There will be Tour of Britain directional signage, static and motorcycle marshals, mechanics, well-stocked feed stations and medical support along the whole route. A transfer service to the start will be available at the finish.

Distance: 150 Km (94 miles)

Date: Sunday 5th September 2010

Entry Fee for the Pro Ride: £40 per rider

I live in Devon on the South Coast and help run a cycle club in the Axe Valley. I’m also helping to promote the ride for The Prostate Cancer Charity. This is a great part of the country to cycle in and a brilliant and challenging route awaits you.

I’m a bit biased about where I live, so I should also mention that there are two other Tour Rides taking place, one in London on Saturday 18th September and the other in Stoke-on-Trent on Sunday 26th September.

You can register here: http://www.tourride.co.uk

Hope to see you

Alistair

 

[Alistair TR]

I've had a few people asking me where the finish is, it's Teignmouth, so you can pop down to the beach at the end. This is going to be an excellent route, with some good testing hills.

 

[Alistair TR]

Anyone else entered a Team yet for the SW Tour Ride?

We’ve got 14 registered so far for the Pro Ride representing Axe Valley Pedallers (East Devon).

The sun is out and the sky is blue today, let’s hope we get the same in September!

Alistair

 

[Alistair TR]

More detail coming out about the Tour Rides in the South West, so you can now see how far and how much height gain there will be.

The ‘South West Pro Tour Ride’ is going from Minehead, Somerset (on the coast) to Teignmouth, Devon (on the coast), a distance of 175km (in old money 109 miles) with 3190m of ascent to cycle up.

The ‘South West Challenge Tour Ride’ is going to start in Honiton, Devon and end up in Teignmouth, some 70km (44 miles) later and after 1140m of ascent.

The ‘South West Family Tour Ride’ all takes place in Teignmouth itself and adds up to 15km (9.5miles) and about 300m of uphill altogether.

The ‘South West Little Tour Ride’ also takes place on the promenade in Teignmouth itself and will cover between 500m – 1000m.

So there we have it rides for all abilities and all ending up in Teignmouth on the Devon coast.

http://www.tourride.co.uk/default.asp

 

[Alistair TR]

It’s good to see that the Tour Ride has a varied list of celebrities supporting it http://www.tourride.co.uk/ambassadors.asp

It promises to be a great day out and a real challenge for the Pro Ride entries that have to tackle over 3000 plus meters of height gain on the South West route.

See you there?
Cheers
Alistair
http://www.tourride.co.uk

 

[Alistair TR]

Hi again,

I’ve just been sent the following by way of a bit more detail on the South West Pro Tour Ride. It’s a bit poetic, but some of you might be able to work out roughly where the route is going. I’ll give you all details of the full route as soon as I can, which I think will be at the end of March.

The level of sign ups has been brilliant with some good sized teams building up as well. So do get any friends that are thinking of signing up to so while they still have a chance.

Minehead to Teignmouth Pro Tour Ride – 5th September

Riders will roll out of the historic seaside resort of Minehead, and set off on their 175km ride, following the exact route that will be used for The Tour of Britain stage two weeks later. Leaving the golden sands of Minehead behind them, the Tour Riders head straight into an immediate series of tough climbs, bringing them up to an elevation of 450m after just 12kms of the Pro Tour Ride route. The stage then descends back down to sea level, following the North Somerset coast before heading inland and climbing steadily across the south Somerset hills up to the 50km marker of The Tour of Britain route.

The mid section of this extremely challenging route features more rolling climbs as the route heads south to Devon, featuring stunning scenery and tough riding. A steep descent will require full attention at 110kms – riders on the Pro Tour Ride will be able to tune into The Tour of Britain broadcast on the 14th September to see how the best riders in the world tackle these winding climbs and descents, but as they hit the South Devon coast at 125km their mind will probably be firmly on finishing a punishing ride and enjoying the hot food and hospitality at the finish!

The Pro Tour Ride winds along the south Devon coast from here, with the climb of the day – a steep punishing brute - in store after 128km. After cresting this climb, the route rolls back inland across the Devon countryside, before turning back to the south and onto the seafront at 145km, with just 23kms to go. A couple more climbs lie in store in the final 20kms, and whilst riders in the Tour Ride will be pushing simply to finish a tough but fulfilling ride, at this stage two weeks later the big teams will be winding their speed up for the finish, either pulling their leadout trains in order, or perhaps chasing a breakaway group into Teignmouth for the big finish of Britain’s national cycle race.

The Tour Ride route then winds into the beautiful south Devon resort of Teignmouth finishing alongside the sea, with warm hospitality and a feeling of huge achievement for those brave enough to take on the challenge.

 

[rsvdaz]

hmmm..considering this..doing the dartmoor classic with a few in june..might be able to rope a few more in with me

 

[Alistair TR]

Just got the following direct from Tour of Britain.
"We are proud of our reputation as Britain’s foremost cycling promoters and put the same attention to detail and event planning measures into delivering a Tour Ride as we do in putting on The Tour of Britain or Tour Series, or we did in 2007 delivering Le Tour de France’s Grand Depart in central London. No stone is left unturned, and riders in the 2010 Tour Rides will see this for themselves only too clearly with extensive route signage, route marshals, motorcycle support from the NEG, official cars en route, neutral service from SRAM, well stocked, carefully located feed and drink stations across each ride option, offering energy drinks and our official Tour of Britain Summer Pudding energy bars from Mule Bar as well as hot drinks, sandwiches and water from Highland Spring. Riders can take as long as they need at these picnic stops, or just stop to refuel the bidon and fill up their pockets with fuel – the motto of The Tour Rides is to “Ride it your way”. This year’s Tour Rides will also incorporate timing splits and timed King of the Mountains tests, adding to your experience and memories of the event. We are simply facilitators of cycling’s great challenge – trust us to deliver the event of your dreams, so that all that you, our Tour Riders have to do is turn up and turn the pedals!
Once rides have completed the route in the South West, or at Stoke-on-Trent, a warm reception is guaranteed from the crowd lining the barriers, and more besides. Packed Goody bags including all manner of cycling treats are given to all entrants whilst a hot meal awaits at the event village, where riders can reflect on a hard day in the saddle, swop stories from out on the route and discuss what we are sure will have been a unique day out with The Tour of Britain! We look forward to seeing you on the start line."


Rsvdaz, have you signed up yet? It would make a nice double in the West Country, the Dartmoor Classic followed by the Tour Ride.
Cheers
Alistair

 

[Baggy]

Team Hill Slug is good to go!

 

[Threelionsbrian]

Does anyone know what energy drink will be available. Carrying enough extra weight so trying to cut down on the extras in my pockets.

 

[tincaman]

Anyone going from the Torquay, Newton Abbot area to Minehead on the day, I'm looking for a lift up + bike on the day? Happy to share fuel costs.

 

[Baggy]

We're pondering how to get there, don't think we're taking the car though, sorry (can't face the idea of having to travel back to get it afterwards!).

With my current form am wondering if the 60km wouldn't have been a better idea...

 

[Threelionsbrian]

Does anyone know what energy drink will be available. Carrying enough extra weight so trying to cut down on the extras in my pockets.

Since nobody knew i asked it's Accelerade if any one wants to know.

 

[tincaman]

Anyone going from the Torquay, Newton Abbot area to Minehead on the day, I'm looking for a lift up + bike on the day? Happy to share fuel costs.

Sorted, my local club MDCC are going

 

[Baggy]

We're taking the bike-shuttle coach the day before and staying in a B+B. For anyone thinking of heading up on the train, be warned there is a coach replacement service on part of the route.