The South West Property Sportive is a non-competitive road sportive. For legal reasons, the Sportive will be started in small waves of riders at set intervals.
The registration will be open from 9.00 am onwards (click here for start times for your distance).
The three courses are fully marked, but every rider will be given a small ‘backup map’ in case the marking is not 100% clear or gets damaged/removed. Around the course, you will find 1-3 feed stations (depending on course length) where you can fill up with drinks and a great selection of snacks. Alongside the energy backup, mechanics will be out there trying to help anybody with any technical problems. There will be 1-2 broom wagons patrolling the courses to pick up anybody struggling to finish.
Three different courses will be on offer (distances are approximate):
All routes start from the Somerdale Pavilion in Keynsham and share the same beginning, and ending and stay together up to the clearly marked split points on the way out and re-join at various locations on the way back to Keynsham. While the three courses don’t include any longer climbs, the undulating terrain helps to ramp up the meters of climbing without the need for extended efforts to the top of the hill.
All three routes head out of Keynsham towards Willsbridge, passing by Oldland Common and Bridgeyate on the A4175. Once over Siston Common, the roads will be smaller and quieter as the riders pass through the village of Pucklechurch and out towards Hinton. The first feed station (which all three distances pass through) is at approx. 18km just before the three courses all go their separate ways.
The CLASSIC Sportive turns right here and cuts across to join the returning leg of the other two courses. The riders head back past Dyrham Park Estate, go through the village of Wick and then Bitton, before turning right towards Willsbridge and then re-tracing their outward journey back into the event venue. There are no big climbs on this course, just some undulation, so this leaves plenty of energy to enjoy a social ride and take in their surroundings.
From the split point after the first feed station, the DISTANCE Sportive heads straight on towards Burton, then turns right into the quintessentially English village of Castle Combe. By this time, they will have re-joined the returning leg of the CENTURY Sportive route before heading to their second feed station at approx. 32km into their ride. They will then be joined by any CLASSIC Sportive riders who may still be out on course, and all three distances now follow the same route back to Keynsham. This goes back past the other side of the Dyrham Park Estate, through Wick and Bitton, before heading to Willsbridge and finishing in Keynsham.
The CENTURY Sportive turns to the left just after the first feed station, heading over the M4 towards Tormarton, then bears right and heads towards Badminton. The village of Westonbirt comes next before the market town of Tetbury in the South Cotswolds. This is the turnaround point, and the second feed station will be waiting at approx. 50km into the course. From here, there is lots of spinning to be done over undulating terrain, but no big climbs so plenty of time to take in your surroundings. At 70km, the course runs parallel with the M4 for a short while before passing over it for a second time and heading into Castle Combe village. By now, the DISTANCE Sportive riders will have joined you and you will all enjoy refreshments at your third feed station at approx. 75km into your ride. Not long after this, you will be joined by any CLASSIC Sportive riders, and you will all head back past Dyrham Park Estate, through Wick and Bitton, then onto Willsbridge and finally returning to Keynsham. After riding the 103km Sportive, you will definitely be ready for some hearty food and will have some stories to share from your day.
Once you’ve managed to complete your ride and come over the finish line, don’t rush off home as there will be a complimentary after-ride supper at the event venue where you will have the chance to make up for all the calories you have burnt off and share a few riding stories with your fellow sportive riders.
Somerdale Pavilion
Cross Street
Keynsham
Bristol
BS31 2FW
Car parking is very limited at Somerdale Pavilion, and we would encourage everyone to come by alternative means of transport, such as cycling, lift share or public transport. For every ‘non parking person’, we will be donating £5 to Wheels for All, the national cycling charity with safe and supervised cycle facilities across the country, including Bristol.
Limited alternative parking is available at Keynsham Station (Station Road, BS31 2BN Keynsham) and the car park off Keynsham Road (BS31 2DE).
You will find contact numbers on the briefing page of this website, on the handout briefing and on your number board. These numbers are for emergency use only. Please ensure you take your mobile phone with you.
The event and registration will be open from 9am onwards. Simply make your way to the registration hall (in the main Somerdale Pavilion building) and find your name on the signing on sheets.
After you have signed and provided your personal mobile number (so that we can reach you while out on the course if needed) and your emergency contact number, you will be given your briefing (back up map on reverse) and your number board with your timing chip on the back.
Once you have fitted your number board, checked your bike one more time and when your start time is approaching, you can make your way to the start line/inflatable arch.
There you will be given a verbal briefing from Paul and some last-minute updates before you can start your ride. Simply follow the signs and make sure you obey the highway code and have a great time on some of the nicest roads the area has to offer… and all that for a good cause.
9am Event, facilities and registration open at the Somerdale Pavilion
10am – 11am First start wave: CENTURY Sportive (103km course) leaves the Somerdale Pavilion
11.30am – 12.30pm First start wave: DISTANCE Sportive (60km course) leaves the Somerdale Pavilion
1pm – 1.30pm First start wave: CLASSIC Sportive (42km course) leaves the Somerdale Pavilion
4pm Course closes/riders must be back at the Somerdale Pavilion
There will be two medi-cars on the courses. See map/briefing (which you will receive at sign-on) for contact details.
There are changing rooms and (communal only) showers at the Somerdale Pavilion. There is no provision for secure storage or valuables. The organisers are not responsible for any loss of property.
Please ensure that you bring enough water and food with you. There are feed stations around the course, however, please be aware that the stations are for replenishing your supplies rather than being relied upon as the only source of your provisions. There will be after ride food provided, and there is a bar providing soft drinks and bottled alcoholic drinks.
For a donation to charity, BW Cycling is offering light servicing and repairs. Please be aware they may not always be able to meet demand. This service should not be relied on to fix existing problems with your bike.
The broom wagon will sweep up riders who fall behind the required time cut-offs, or anyone having difficulty finishing. The courses close at 4pm and we are expecting all riders to have finished their ride by then.
The after-ride meal will be available when you get back from your ride. We are going to have a BBQ (or similar) from approx. 4pm onwards.
The prize giving will take place during the after-ride dinner.