Want to get back on your bike in 2018, but don’t know where to start? We’ve come up with a handy list of events to pencil into your shiny, new cycling diary. A mixture of the fun, funky and frankly ambitious, you’re sure to find something here to kick start your new cycling adventure.
Studies have shown that you’re more likely to achieve your aims if you set yourself a goal. That might be as simple as cycling somewhere once a week; to work, the shops, the park, even the pub.
Feeling a little more https://www.dream-challenges.com/challenges/women-v-cancer/? Maybe you could sign up for a sportive. Or perhaps you’d prefer to just kick back and relax at a stylish cycling festival.
Whatever you aim for, Cyclechic is here to help you achieve your goals. Our mission is to promote cycling as a desirable lifestyle choice and encourage more women to take to two wheels.
That’s important now more than ever, as a recent report showed a worrying decline in women cyclists.
So here’s a taster of what’s in store for 2018 to inspire you to get back on your bike, where you belong.
1. Eroica Britannia (15-17 June)
If, like Cyclechic, you’re a fan of all things retro, or you just like a Great British Festival with lashings of classic bikes thrown in, then you’re sure to love Eroica.
Hosted in the bucolic surroundings of Friden Grange, near Buxton in the Peak District, Eroica (Italian for ‘heroes’) is the quintessential boutique festival experience.
Central to the weekend is the ‘Classic Ride’. First choose one of three routes: the 30-mile ‘Tourist’, 60-mile ‘Sportsman’, or the eye-watering 100-mile ‘Hero’. Then don your merino wool jersey, jump aboard your pre-1987 road bike, and rise to the challenge.
Prefer to take a load off and just enjoy the spectacle? You’ll be spoiled for choice. There’s non-stop live music, roaming entertainers, your favourite old films playing at the ‘Sundown Cinema’, and DJ’s for when the sun’s gone down .
Feeling peckish? Don’t worry, there’s classic British food and drink galore. There’s a fab fairground and funky shops for when you need a break from the bikes. And there’s even an adventure kids club for when you want a little ‘me-time’.
Bring a tent or campervan and do it your way, or let Eroica take the strain and treat yourself to a weekend’s ‘glamping’.
Whatever else you do this year, why not join ‘the heroes’ this summer, and get back on your bike in style
2. Women Versus Cancer ‘Ride The Night’ (5th May and 26th May)
Fancy setting yourself a real challenge, while also doing your bit to beat women’s cancers? Then ‘Ride The Night’ is for you. Why not join a host of women banding together to try and make a difference?
The 100km circular route will take you past some of London’s most iconic landmarks, so there’s plenty to see along the way. More importantly, if you sign up soon, it will give you something to aim for over the next few months.
There’s something rather wonderful about riding through a city at night, and if you’ve never tried it, now’s your chance to sample some of that nocturnal magic in a safe and supportive environment.
Places are limited, but this year the events organisers are spreading it out over two nights to allow as many women as possible to take part.
3. Cyclists In Southwark (1st and 2nd Saturday of every month)
Social rides are a great way to motivate yourself to get out on your bike. You’ll meet new people, discover new routes, and most importantly, up your coffee and cake consumption.
If you live in South London, Cyclists In Southwark are an active, welcoming and inclusive group. Their rides will take you all over London and even out into the leafy Kent countryside.
City riding can be a stressful experience when you’re on your own, and heading out of town may seem a little daunting.
Joining a social ride allows you to experience the best of both these worlds. It offers the support of cycling in a group, and means that at least one person knows where they’re going at all times, letting you relax and just enjoy the ride.
Want to find a social ride in your area? Head over to Cycling UK or British Cycling to see a full list of local groups.
4. Divas On Wheels (24th June)
Want a fun cycling event where you get the chance to give a little back, but don’t fancy heading up to the big city?
There are masses of ways to raise money for your favourite charity from the comfort of your bike saddle, and there’s bound to be one near you.
Divas On Wheels is a women-only event that challenges you to complete a 25 or 50 mile route to raise money for the Pilgrim’s Hospices. Starting in Canterbury, you’ll be heading out into the charming Kent countryside, through quiet lanes and winding by-ways.
And don’t worry if you’re new to all this. The event has a positive, supportive environment (including a free bike safety check provided by the organisers), and the level of camaraderie among fellow riders will have you crossing the finishing line tired but happy.
5. Prudential RideLondon FreeCycle (28th July)
Always fancied cycling in London, but didn’t fancy battling against all those cars, motorbikes and buses? Sign up for this event, and you’ll have the streets all to yourself (and thousands of other fellow cyclists, of course).
This free-to-register event is a family-friendly, 8-mile, traffic-free tour of London’s iconic landmarks. Part of London’s Festival of Cycling, it’s the perfect way to get your city cycling legs in a friendly, supportive atmosphere.
Dotted along the route are the Festival Zones, where you can take in the live music, stunt cyclists, bike polo matches, and much, much more.
Even if you’ve never seen yourself as an urban cyclist, try FreeCycle, and you might just be inspired to trade in your Travelcard for two wheels.
6. The Tweed Run/Cycle Revolution Festival (5th May)
Like the idea of cycling, but Lycra and fluoro-wear just isn’t your cup of tea? The organisers of the Tweed Run couldn’t agree more.
Now in its 10th year, this event has proved so popular that tickets are already sold out. But you can still turn up to support the riders as they promenade through the capital in classic British style.
And just in case you feel you’re missing out, the organisers are also hosting a free-to-enter satellite festival in Spa Fields Park, East London.
Set up to promote cycling as a desirable and achievable lifestyle choice, the Cycle Revolution Festival seems like the perfect place to wrap up this list.
This is just a small sample of what’s out there to encourage would-be cyclists to follow their hearts and get back on their bikes. Why not try one out, you never know where it might lead.
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