2024 Events / Races / Sportives - Who’s doing what?

[emicen]

Sure there was a thread on this kind of thing previously but not seen it in a long time, so, who is planning what events for 2024?

According to the email I just received it’s 12 weeks to Etape Loch Ness, on the 28th April. Did it in 2022, was meant to do it again last year but then caught covid.

Quite fancy something else but the racing calendar always makes it tricky. If the Tour de Forth is the 9th June as rumoured, might give that a whirl as well. Sadly the Touro isn’t happening in 2024, if ever again.

[Dracoro]

Never done a sportive (or any cycling event for that matter) before and been cycling for a fair few years (mostly solo, sometimes with the odd mate or small group ride etc.)

But have a couple planned this year. Cambridgshire in a few weeks then New Forest in June. In both cases, going for the long routes as 60m I’ve done a few times locally so want to make it a distance/challenge not done before.

[andySC]

I’m doing The Gralloch, it’s gravel race in Scotland (Gatehouse of Fleet). It’s part of the UCI World Series & the only round in the UK. It’s has age group categories so I’ll not be getting in any World Tour riders’ way. About 1000 participants & it’s over a very hilly 75mile course that’s 95% gravel.

I’m going ok so far & aiming to give it a proper go. It has quite a high attrition rate due to punctures/mechanicals so as fit as I get myself I could be riding & sightseeing after 10 minutes ! Alex Dowsett did a great YouTube video about the race from last year which piqued my interest. I know the a lad who won it in 23, he absolutely loved it & reckons he’ll be back this year to defend. The weather can be make or break though. A grotty off road day in Scotland can be an ordeal & then some.

[sir humphrey appleby]

I’ll be doing three Gorrick MTB XC races, 5 of the Southern XC races, Pedalhounds enduro events. So lots on but always good fun.

[TDi]

I'm steeling myself for the start of my circuit racing season and have booked a few trips to Belgium with some mates to do some Kermesse racing again. First year in the 50+ category so looking forward to feeling like a junior again!

[Pablo16v]

Keen to do something like the Gralloch myself but so far I’ve only signed up for the Stonehaven Midsummer Beer happening gravel ride (40 miles). I do have a spare set of road wheels for the gravel bike though, so I could maybe look at doing a road event as well.

[ecs]

I'm doing Spinneys Dubai 92 at the end of this month. I think it's 94km (despite the name) around the city starting and finishing at the Expo site.

[JEA1K]

The usual mix of regional racing and circuit racing ... possibly a few gravel races thrown in, will see. I'll be focusing on road and circuit national (masters) champs hopefully with another national champs jersey or a poxy medal for 1st or 2nd loser as a mimimum

I only have two more seasons of UK racing as we're planning a move abroad so I want to retire on a high, especially as this will be last year in 40's then into 50's catagory. I probably won't race until start of April as I have another snowboarding holiday in March ... a national champs event at the of April then off to Spain for 10 days to train ... hopefully come back from that with some decent form for the road season ... when its warm(er) or less cold should I say.

Edited by JEA1K on Tuesday 6th February 15:14

[Steve vRS]

Nothing competitive on the road for me anymore - just not brave or fit enough so its events only. Cheshire Cat and the Tour of Lancs, both as training for the Fred Whitton.

Then back to CX racing in September. Wondering about entering the 3 Peaks but I may be too much of a wuss.

[simkin911]

Mallorca 312. Trying to build up the miles….

[justin220]

emicen said:

Sure there was a thread on this kind of thing previously but not seen it in a long time, so, who is planning what events for 2024?

According to the email I just received it’s 12 weeks to Etape Loch Ness, on the 28th April. Did it in 2022, was meant to do it again last year but then caught covid.

I'm doing that this year, how is it?

[RC1807]

simkin911 said:

Mallorca 312. Trying to build up the miles….

Wow! Good luck!


Me: Schleck Medio Fondo, Luxembourg


A mate in the UK wanted me to do the "follow the sun ride" in June, but I'm already booked to see the Foos that night in Laaandon, so that enabled me to escape days of (post ride) pain.

Edited by RC1807 on Friday 9th February 11:00

[Beethree]

First ever cycling event for me this year, doing the medium Glorious Gravel route in the Forest of Dean.
Was meant to be doing it with my dad but due to serious health issues he can’t ride at the moment, so looks like I’ll be riding solo!

[emicen]

justin220 said:

emicen said:

Sure there was a thread on this kind of thing previously but not seen it in a long time, so, who is planning what events for 2024?

According to the email I just received it’s 12 weeks to Etape Loch Ness, on the 28th April. Did it in 2022, was meant to do it again last year but then caught covid.

I'm doing that this year, how is it?

I really enjoyed it first time round.

Not sure whether I would call it a ride of 2 halves or just that there’s a monster in the middle, in any case, don’t go too hard out the blocks, pick a pace that works for you.

The Glendoe climb is a long grind, quite a few blew up on it from going a bit too hard thinking the level out in the middle was job done when it was only the half of it.



Take plenty of clothes choices also. When we set off it was 10 degrees in Inverness but immediately dropped to 6 for most of the lochside in the mist, then dropped going up Glendoe to ~2 degrees at the summit. Number of reports of people suffering from the cold.

[justin220]

Great stuff thanks.

[z4RRSchris]

recovering from shattering my heel so i can barely walk, but i can ride a bike.

Calpe in march
700km point to point Toulouse to Biarritz in June

then the usual selection of track and crits, track masters end of the year the big focus.

[redrabbit29]

simkin911 said:

Mallorca 312. Trying to build up the miles….

I'm thinking about this next year. I've just started cycling again after a break. Weak and slow but really motivated. I've previously done 2x 100 miler sportives when I was fitter

[Dannbodge]

I've jumped into racing this year.

Started a road race on the IoW which unfortunately got called off after a big crash (90km, 800m elev)
Apart from that I've been racing my local track every other week and will be doing goodwood tonight.

[emicen]

emicen said:

According to the email I just received it’s 12 weeks to Etape Loch Ness, on the 28th April. Did it in 2022, was meant to do it again last year but then caught covid.

Quite fancy something else but the racing calendar always makes it tricky. If the Tour de Forth is the 9th June as rumoured, might give that a whirl as well. Sadly the Touro isn’t happening in 2024, if ever again.

Forgot all about this thread.

Mission for Etape Loch Ness was to be 1st lighter than last time and better prepared…

Lined up 1/2 a stone heavier, probably better trained but still not happy. Hotel room had a broken radiator valve so was jammed on full hot, ended up sweating my arse off all night, waking up with a stinking dehydration headache. Downed some water etc to try and get rid of it but all that happened was I ended up needing to stop twice for a pee on the outbound section along the loch and spent the entire first hour sickburping. Delightful.

Managed to finish in 3hr 37min 53sec, knocked just under 4min off my previous time.

Probably the end of events for this year, no Touro and no TdForth, haven’t got the time to travel for anything else.

Edited by emicen on Tuesday 6th August 08:33