I'm looking for something to motivate my training into next year.
I did Ride London in 2022 (and will try to get a place in 2024 too) and that's my longest ride yet. I'd be happier training for something harder than that.
UK or Europe-based - probably road is most suitable but if it's off-road I guess I'd have an excuse to buy a new MTB.
Chase the Sun looks fun and there's also an event that rides from Madrid to Santiago de Compostela which looked awesome. I've always liked the sound of L'Etape du Tour.
What else could I be looking at?
Last year I did King Alfreds way, around 220 miles, needs a gravel bike or MTB I would suggest depending on timing but depends what you want and how big.
I looked at Canti way, but for me, too much road and that's about 140 miles IIRC
I am just starting to investigate, with some trepidation I might add, a just under 300 mile off road for 2024, nashes teeth, but it's for charity (mate) 😉
James
A friend of mine did this last year;
https://www.cyclinguk.org/blog/great-rides-rapha-pennine-rally
Looks like a decent event. I’ve also done the Calder Divide which was great, can’t do it this year but signing up for it in 2024 for definite.
Single day or multiday? Any budget restrictions? Loads of choice in Europe.
Marmotte series, https://cyclingclassics.fr/
Haute Route Series, https://www.hauteroute.org/
Maratona, https://www.maratona.it/en/
Various Raids - Pyrenees, Alps, Corsica
Has a UK option, Grinduro, https://grinduro.com/
Ventoux triple, https://www.clubcinglesventoux.org/
Fred Whitton Challenge is a step up from Ride London, then there's even harder sportives like The Yorkshire Beast. When they are not difficult enough you've got multi day races like Pan Celtic and All Points North.
Audaxes? Loads of them up and down the country at various distances, ranging from 50k up to over 1000k. I did my first 400k one in May which I would definitely have called a challenge! Far cheaper than Sportives in my experience and the people seem really friendly.
www.audax.uk
What else could I be looking at?
Are you looking for organised events (like RideLondon, Etape du Tour etc) or self-supported or are you not bothered either way?
Thanks all, these are good.
I had been thinking of organised events but I'm fairly happy doing self-supported as long as the route has a 'purpose' if you know what I mean.
Never done any bike packing so I think that might be a step too far.
The National 12-hour Time Trial was held yesterday. I've ridden a few to modest success. I plan on being at next year's. If you can ride 8 hours in the saddle, you can do a 12h. And you don't need lots of aero kit, many just ride on their road bikes. Organised by CTT, marshalled, cheap to enter, and no problem getting a space. You might get bored riding the same piece of road though 😉
The purpose? Ride as far as you can in 12:00. And 280 miles gets you on the all time greats list.
Several regions also stage 12-hour TTs, and there is one National 24h, which is more like a party for helpers with riders interrupting the fun from time to time.
<p style="text-align: left;">A 12-hour time trial sounds awful! Not really what I'm looking for.</p>
This might be a stupid question, but are you actually in Spain?
If so, I'd be looking at a big ride or organised event there, rather than coming to the UK.
That Mallorca 312 looks like a big day out.
Not a stupid question - right now I am in Spain because I'm on holiday but generally I'm in London. So UK-based would be easier but I'd be happy to go to Europe for a good challenge. Ah yes Mallorca sounds brutal? I've just remembered Quebrantahuesos too.