| 19 August 2012
We've received this excellent preview of the upcoming , which takes place on 19 August 2012:
Preview
We are a local group of Peterborough club cyclists who have banded together to raise £10,000 for the Help for Heroes Charity. We have set ourselves the challenge to organise a number of cycling and other events this year. The Peterborough 5x5 challenge team have over 10 years experience planning events of this nature.
Our first Sportive Challenge was completed on Sunday 1st April with the Cyclists covering 50, 70 or 90 miles all on quiet country lanes through local villages in Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire. The feedback for this event was exceptionally positive from all the riders and we raised over £2000 towards our target.
It’s now time to enter our 2nd Sportive on the 19th August, again covering distances from 50, 70 to 90 miles. Riding again will be on quiet country lanes mainly traffic free through Rutland, Lincolnshire & Leicestershire. Starting and finishing at 16th Regiment, Royal Artillery, St Georges Barracks, North Luffenham Rutland LE15 8RL starting at 9.00am.
The course organiser has achieved a route which with three different distances and difficulties which will appeal to both novice and experienced cyclists. The routes will be well signposted throughout and you will also receive at registration a turn by turn waymark listing. (Don't forget you can download the route to a GPS device, just follow our link). There will be two feed stations on the routes plus 3 other cafe stops should you require energy top up at Wymondham, Cold Overton or Uppingham.
Starting from North Luffenham, the first 5 miles is common to all routes and is of a steady descent nature, getting your legs and heart warmed up. At Empingham the Cruise ride (50 mile) head west towards Cottesmore over a few steady climbs accompanied with long descents before rejoining the main course at Ashwell. The Challenge & Classic riders climb out of Empingham across the A1 and into Lincolnshire via Pickworth. At this point the Classic ride (70 mile) will take a short cut across to Castle Bytham and rejoin the main course. Those on the Challenge (90 mile) ride will now travel north on quiet country lanes with little traffic towards Swinstead (across the A151 beware fast moving traffic) through Inham, Hawthorpe, Lenton and on to Ingoldsby with varying degrees of demanding climbs and descents.
Heading south now on the B1176 extra care must be taken as this road twists and turns and even has 3 blind summits on it before returning to country lanes towards Swayfield. There is a fast downhill descent into Castle Bytham and care should be taken as the road narrows over a small bridge and a slight bend in the road. The course from Castle Bytham through to Wymondham will give you time to recover and is undulating with a couple of gentle climbs and descents. At Ashwell the Cruise riders rejoin the group and will appreciate the Rutland / Leicestershire country side as you head towards Uppingham.
As you leave Burrough-on-the-hill there is a steep descent down Dawson’s Lane which twists and turns with a sharp left turn at the bottom so beware. The recovery time is now over as before you enter Uppingham Brooke Road has a steep climb of 200ft+ in just under 0.5mile. Once through Uppingham it’s back on to our usual country roads passing through some of the best kept villages in this part of the country.
Leaving Lyddington the final 12 miles will test your resolve and get your heart rate climbing as you approach Gretton followed by Harringworth and finally Barrowden as all have very steep climbs but with good fast descents. At this point you have only a couple of miles to go and this will be the view you will be looking for.
Soldiers that are injured in service of our country deserve the very best and require a full range of facilities, including welfare, medical rehabilitation and education. They face an hourly / daily challenge to recover. We want to help our heroes. So don’t just sit there, get on your bike and accept the Peterborough 5x5 Sportive challenge and be proud that you are supporting our brave solders.
