Autumn CX Sportive Events

by Paul Horta-Hopkins · 23/09/2016

Autumn CX Sportive Events

Paul Horta-Hopkins

Despite the evenings drawing in and ‘cross leagues underway all over the country, the weather is still fine – well down south it is – so maybe you could fit in a final CX Sportive before the cack arrives?

I’ve been riding the Wiggle CX Sportive series for a couple of years now and have really enjoyed the mix of on and off-road riding. The rides feature all you expect from a ‘normal’ road sportive; fully marked route, GPX route, feed stations and the Wiggle tent for last-minute emergency buys!

On a Wiggle CX Sportive Events you’ll find yourself crossing all kinds of terrain. Photo courtesy of Robbarkerimages.com

This weekend sees the second running of the White Horse Ridge event and is the one ride of the series that I have yet to do. This is more like the CX Century in that rather than constantly switching between and tarmac and dirt, it is almost 95% off-road.

Normally I’d be a bit concerned about riding on so much chalk during the autumn – it gets really greasy when wet – but if conditions are like they are down here on the South Downs, then it’s going to be a blast! With relatively little rain I’m still running file tread tyres, long may it last. There are seventy-five, forty-four or thirty kilometre routes available and the weather looks to stay good, so you can really go for that gold time.

Wiggle provide retail support for those last minute panic buys

Last ride of the Wiggle CX Sportive series is the Gold Rush on October 16th. I rode this last year and really enjoyed the quirky route. With one of the longest flint strewn downhills I’ve ever encountered; the climb and descent of Zig-Zag Hill, which boast the most hair-pins of any hill in Britain; the iconic cobbled climb Gold Hill (the one from that ’80s Hovis ad) and the fantastic long gravel track to the finish. A really enjoyable finish to the CX Sportive year.

So if you have an empty weekend where you’re not racing ‘cross – you are racing cyclo-cross right? – why not give one of the Wiggle CX Sportive events a go? They are a great chance to get some fast riding in on new roads and trails. And with the weather still being good and the trails running fast it’s a great day out, highly recommended! Check out the videos below of what to expect on a CX Sportive ride.