End of Season Wiggle CX Sportives

Paul Horta-Hopkins

Preview of End of Season Wiggle CX Sportives

With autumn on its way and cyclo-cross leagues in full swing, there’s still time to ride your ‘cross bike in a more relaxed manner. Rather than thrashing yourself around a muddy field, how about trying something a little longer?

We rode three of the Wiggle CX Sportive series this year, Pete took on the South Downs Sting, while I rode the Surrey Hills Gravelcross and the monster CX Century. These were great rides and really showed just how much abuse a ‘cross bike can handle. They also showed me some new areas to ride that have had me looking at my local Ordnance Survey map and working out my own mini adventures.

So if you’re looking for something to do with your ‘cross bike that isn’t racing, or if, like me, youre wondering what to do on those weekends when there’s no racing, check out the last two of 2015’s Wiggle CX Sportive series.

First up is a new event in the series, The Gold Rush. This heads west from Salisbury to Shaftesbury, with the full 75km route taking in the iconic climb of Gold Hill. This 1 in 4 cobbled monster will be familiar to riders of a certain age, as the climb from the Hovis add. And if you climb it without putting a foot down you’ll get a special award!

The organisers reckon this is perfect CX country, with ancient gravel drove roads on top of the Downs and tiny lanes passing through chocolate box villages. There are also tough climbs, including some 20% leg benders and Zig-Zag Hill, which boasts the most hairpins of any hill in Britain.

Next up and last event in the Wiggle Cx Sportive series is the White Horse Ridge CX Ride. This will take you over the Ridgeway; Europe’s oldest highway it’s been in continuous use for over five thousand years and the organisers reckon it makes for near perfect riding for CX and gravel bikes.

Unlike the other events in the series, which have you diving on and off road, the White Horse Ridge CX is 95% off road, which will have you riding high above sweeping views of the Oxfordshire plain. This should make it a little like the CX Century, which I rode earlier this year, although only half the distance. The route is described as flowing, with some “lumps and bumps” to test you!

Both rides offer full and comprehensive route marking, feed and support stations and electronic rider timing. There will also be hot and cold food, drinks and snacks, plus free Wiggle energy products. So if you fancy something a little different this autumn, head over to the Wiggle CX Sportive website. I’ll be riding and will report back on how I get on.

Wiggle CX Sportive Series