BikeRadar Live: Ride the glorious Peak District in the Cycling Plus Sportive

With 100km or 100 miles of English countryside to challenge sportive beginners and experienced riders alike, the Cycling Plus Sportive supported by Pacific Outdoor Equipment in association with the Geoff Thomas Foundation is the flagship road cycling event of the BikeRadar Live weekend.

Entry to the Cycling Plus Sportive is £25 for the first 500 people. Simply enter the promotional code 06SP02 while booking and save £20 off the full price of £45! (Tickets are limited, and we’ll be ending the offer until the special price tickets sell out).

The price includes weekend entry to BikeRadar Live, plus:

• High-quality refreshments at feed stations
• Paramedic cover, marshalling and rider care by Perfect Motion and Pennine Events
• Cycling Plus Sportive t-shirt
• Cycling Plus Sportive commemorative medal for every finisher
• ChampionChip timing

Starting at DoningtonPark at 8am on Saturday 30 May, Cycling Plus Sportive riders will be the first at the show to ride the motor racing circuit before heading off on one of two routes.

The routes

Riders on the 100-mile route will head towards Melbourne and follow the line of the River Trent through north Leicestershire and south Derbyshire to the Staffordshire border. They will then follow an undulating route west through small villages before heading north at TutburyCastle towards the WhitePeak. Passing north between Carsington Water and Ashbourne, the route reaches the Pennine Bridleway before turning west and then south along the Derbyshire/Staffordshire border and through the beautiful scenery of Dovedale, Ilam Park and the Manifold Valley. The Peaks section will test the best of riders, with challenging climbs, drops and turns.

The 60-mile (100km) route follows the same path until it reaches Carsington Water and the Tissington Trail, when it heads west and rejoins the 100-mile route through IlamPark, the ManifoldValley and Dovedale.

The small print

The sportive is backed by British Cycling. Riders must be 16 or over. Photo ID (a passport/driving licence) PLUS a household bill will need to be produced at briefing/sign-on.

Sportive entrants do not count as ‘accompanying adults’ for under-16s. If you have come to BikeRadar Live with children, there must be another adult to look after them at all times, with no more than three children per adult.

Sign-on, chip and number collection will be from 5pm–9pm on Friday 29 May and 5am-7.45am on Saturday 30 May.

Sign up now at BikeRadar live.

About BikeRadar Live

BikeRadar Live is the biggest ever mass-participation cycling event to hit the UK, and will take place on the weekend of 30–31 May 2009 at DoningtonPark in Leicestershire.

The weekend will be packed full of races and challenges, with something for everyone, whether you want to compete, watch your friends and family or just check out some of the world’s best riders.

Entry into any of the events gives you full access to the festival’s many attractions including spectacular all-weather stunt displays, invitational dirt jump and dual slalom comps, a cycling film festival, live big top entertainment and the Scott Sunset DJ Sessions. Test yourself against pro and celebrity riders in the Procycling Hot Laps, post a time in the Wattbike comp or take the kids along to the CycleActive skills school. A purpose-built bikes and accessories expo will give festival-goers the chance to ride the latest bikes from leading brands and grab show-only deals on bikes and accessories.

Events include the Cycling Plus Sportive in association with the Geoff Thomas Foundation (100km & 100 mile), Whyte Night night-time enduros (12hr & 4hr), MBUK eliminator dual-slalom and the Devil Takes the Hindmost circuit race. Click here to sign up.

BikeRadar Live’s world-class facilities include on-site camping with a kids and family area, secure bike lock-up, showers, bike wash, workshop, picnic area, medical centre, viewing stands and food and drink market.

BikeRadar Live is brought to you by Future, the makers of MBUK, Cycling Plus, BikeRadar.com, What Mountain Bike, Cyclingnews.com and Procycling.

For more details go to the BikeRadar Live website.