We’ve already spoken to about how he organises huge 3000 rider events, so now we’ll go to the other end of the scale and head out for a ride with Allen Bridge, the man behind the Polocini events.
Polocini is a company offering Sports Tours and holidays but Allen also runs a few low-key Sportives as well, aiming specifically at the 200-300 rider mark. It gives a community scene to his events and means he can use low-cost village halls as his event centres. This keeps the cost down for the riders too. Allen, like all good organisers, knows his routes very well and will often ride each one half a dozen times before the actual event to make sure he knows the roads, can plan in any diversions if last minute roadworks close a section and (for a worst case scenario), knows about emergency access to the course. There’s more to this Sportive planning than meets the eye!
I met Allen and a few of his friends and Twitter followers early on Saturday for the recce ride. Allen had ridden the 15 miles from his house out there as well which meant he’d be doing about 100 miles all told that day! We set off into the Cheshire lanes which characterise his early season event, mostly lovely quiet roads with occasional reminders, as we crossed an A-road or passed over a motorway, just how close to major urban conurbation we actually were. Part of the route is within sight of the end of Manchester Airport yet the lanes are small and quiet – the only traffic is above us.
We headed out towards Knutsford, more or less following the Winter Sprinter route but with a few extras thrown in as Allen checked out an inviting looking lane. The 8-strong group was an excellent number, manageable for other traffic but also sociable and the miles passed easily on the gently rolling roads. We stopped at Alderley Edge for coffee and cake. The ride itself has its own feed station but this being a recce ride, we had to rely on the delights of Costa instead. Afterwards, Allen decided that we’d ride the notorious cobbled climb of Swiss Hill – it’s an “optional extra” on the Winter Sprinter but Allen was keen to make me regret doing the ride on my singlespeed road bike. Fortunately, I had the excuse of stopping to take photos! Climb duly dispatched, we headed back onto the route and into the more rolling terrain around Pott Shrigley with its short sharp climbs. Throughout all of this, Allen kept his event management head on, pointing out where he’d put signage, memorising the state of the roads after winter so he could put it in his pre-event briefing but still finding time to chat with everyone.
The Polocini Winter Sprinter is already sold out but keep an eye on our constantly updated Events Calendar for more events. Further details about upcoming Polocini events can also be found at www.polocini.com or follow them on Twitter @polocini
