Sportive: New routes announced for E.ON Great Notts Bike Ride

Organisers of the E.ON Great Notts Bike Ride have revealed three brand new routes for the event’s 31st year, offering something new and exciting for riders of all ages and abilities.

The longer of the new routes will span the width and breadth of the county, passing through the borough of Rushcliffe, charming villages in the districts of Newark & Sherwood and Bassetlaw as well as the scenic Vale of Belvoir. The 2012 event, which will take place on Sunday 15 July, will still feature a 19 mile community ride, but it will see the 48 mile challenge ride take the place of last year’s 58 mile route and the 72 mile ride has been replaced with a 100 mile sportive.

This year will also see a brand new start / finish location for the E.ON Great Notts Bike Ride, on Nottingham’s Victoria Embankment, which will provide space for even more cyclists than in previous years. In addition, this year’s event will include a brand new 3 mile ride; the E.ON Nottingham City Ride, which offers a safe, traffic-free route for all the family to enjoy, particularly those with younger children. The E.ON Nottingham City Ride will be completely free to enter for residents with a Nottingham city postcode.

Chris Simon, Director of event organiser’s, Perfect Motion commented: “This year’s ride will encompass three brand new routes, providing the opportunity for cycling enthusiasts and novices to explore even more of the county’s beautiful countryside”.

The new 19 mile community ride will head south through Wilford and into the Nottinghamshire countryside before passing through Plumtree and Cotgrave. The route will head back to the Victoria Embankment via Holme Pierrepont and the Riverside path.

Councillor John Cottee, Committee Chair for Culture at Nottinghamshire County Council said: “As the E.ON Great Notts Bike Ride edges closer during this fantastic year of sport, it is great to be able to unveil these new routes.

“The challenge and community rides take in some fantastic areas of our county and some wonderful countryside. The Community route will feature Cotgrave and go past the National Water Sports Centre at Holme Pierrepont. It promises to be a special event again this year”.

The 48 mile challenge ride will follow the same path as the 19 mile route, before breaking off at Cotgrave and heading towards Langar, passing through picturesque villages on the eastern edge of the county. There will be plenty to see along the way, including the Vale of Belvoir, the small village of Colston Bassett, famous for its Stilton Cheese, Langar Hall, Holme Pierrepont Hall, and the pretty village of Elton-on-the-Hill.

The sportive will take in much more of the county, taking the same route as the 48 mile ride before changing its course at East Bridgford and heading through idyllic villages in East and North Nottinghamshire. The route will reach as far north of the county as Low Marnham, near Tuxford and Kirton, near Ollerton, while taking in glorious scenery en route.

For the first time this year, the 100 mile route will enter into the heart of Robin Hood Country, passing through not only some of the county’s most picturesque villages and over undulating hills, but it also goes by Rufford Abbey Country Park, once one of the great private estates in Sherwood Forest.

2011 National Criterium Race Champion, Graham Briggs from Team Raleigh said: “Having ridden the route, I’m sure the E.ON Great Notts Bike Ride participants will be in for a challenge. There are some testing climbs and some good, long sprint sections too. The route is incredibly picturesque so the riders will be guaranteed a good view, even if they can’t be guaranteed the weather.”

Chris Simon added: “The new routes for 2012 really do offer the opportunity for riders to explore the best of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire on their bikes. Taking part in the E.ON Great Notts Bike Ride, and in particular the longer routes will be a big challenge for many people, but they’ll have the chance to take in some of the county’s most iconic beauty spots.

“For those opting for a more leisurely ride around the three new routes, I’d definitely recommend making pit stops at the feed stations, where our four official charities will be based, providing entertainment and refreshments. The feed station at the Royal Oak in Car Colston in particular is an absolute must for those wanting to take in Nottinghamshire’s views, offering a picture postcard setting and a real quintessential English feel”.

The 19 mile route is available to download at: http://www.greatnottsbikeride.com/community.aspx

The 48 mile route is available to download at: http://www.greatnottsbikeride.com/challenge.aspx

The 100 mile route can be downloaded from: http://www.greatnottsbikeride.com/sportive.aspx

In addition to the E.ON Great Notts Bike Ride, Nottingham’s Victoria Embankment will be the home to a weekend of cycling events providing fun, entertainment and a whole host of rides and races between Friday 13 and Sunday 15 July, called E.ON Cycle Live. Those interested in the Great Notts Bike Ride may also be interested in the E.ON Nottingham Grand Prix taking place on the Friday night, which includes the Nottingham Building Society Corporate Relay Race, a free to enter Raleigh Chopper Challenge and three British Cycling licensed circuit races. Sandwiched between the two is the E.ON Festival of Cycling, also featuring Nottingham’s established Big Day Out event.

The Great Notts Bike Ride, which was established over 30 years ago, has always been a popular event in the Nottinghamshire sporting calendar, but the introduction of new routes and the addition of a whole host of other activities taking place over the event weekend, is expected to draw in excess of 25,000 visitors to the site over the three days.

Thanks to the events sponsors and partners, organisers have been able to abolish charges for child seats and tag alongs, so those entering with young children can enjoy a lower priced ride.

For further information on this year’s routes, and to enter, go to www.cyclelivenottingham.co.uk.