With over 2800m of climbing in 200km, the Kennet Flyer, organised by Reading CC on 19 August, may prove to have been misnamed. The website extols the ‘long, fast stretches of descent’, but entrants should not be fooled; with multiple crossings of the Ridgeway, the course profile is nothing short of the proverbial ‘shark’s teeth’, and the last leg could well be more of a ‘Kennet Groveller’. Feed stations will be provided at 45, 100 and 148km. A shorter ride, named the Lambourn Chase after the famous downlands over which it runs, packs 1250m of climbing into 85km, and will be no easy canter itself.
the Flyer will accept a maximum field of 300 entrants, and entry may be made through the website.

Proceeds will go to two nominated charities – the Thames Valley Air Ambulance and the Cyclists’ Defence Fund.