Rolling hills, coastal views, lung bursting climbs and a spine-tingling descent are some of the ingredients of the first ever Bristol Belter sportive, which will take participants through some of the best cycling north Somerset and the Mendip hills have to offer.

On the 3rd October 2010, two different courses will start from the Redwood Country Club at the western edge of the city of Bristol. Riders can expect 1st class start/finish facilities with ample parking right next to the registration and start/finish, showers, toilets and changing facilities – all part of the Redwood Country Club.

With a fantastic hotel and fitness complex right next to the start line, the Bristol Belter leads itself perfectly for a long sportive weekend away. Rooms will be available for a special event rate that includes a carbo-loading dinner. Please check the local info page on the website for details.

There are  two courses on offer:

Classic Sportive – approx. 151km long with 1,900m of climbing

Standard Sportive – approx 110km long with 1,300m of climbing

They will be primarily run on quite roads away from the main flow of traffic and will showcase some of the less obvious climbs and scenery the area has to offer. That doesn’t mean that rders will not be tested on iconic climbs like the Cheddar Gorge or Burrington Combe, but on top of that there will be a few surprises thrown into the mix to make the ride a real experience even for local sportive riders. 

The courses are fully marked but every rider will get a small ‘backup’ map in case marking gets damaged or removed. Around the course you will find 2 or 3 service stations depending on distance where you can fill up with drinks and energy food. Alongside the refreshments, mechanics will be out there trying to help everybody with any technical problems. There will be a broom wagon patrolling the courses to pick up any stragglers.

Both courses will be electronically timed and riders can expect a finishing gift when coming over the line back at Redwood Country Club.

How to enter:

Entry is now open and riders can either can go the old-fashioned way by entering via a downloadable entry form or via the straight forward online entry. Both can be found on the entry page of the event website. Alternatively, just pop into the Specialized Concept Store in Bristol (Parkstreet) and pick up an entry form. 

The entry fee of £ 25 for either of the two courses at the Bristol Belter powered by Specialized includes:

–          Ride entry

–          Electronic chip timing

–          Service stations on course

–          Finishing present

–          Free parking

–          Free usage of facilities

Where to find out more:

The Bristol Belter powered by Specialized Concept Store has its own ‘home’ on the web – www.bristolbelter.com. Here you can find all the details on the event including course description, profiles, maps and entry facilities plus the latest news updates on this new addition to the UK sportive calendar.