GREAT NOTTS BIKE RIDE

The Great Notts Bike Ride heads to Nottingham this year on June 22. The charity event has different rides for all abilities, including Nottinghamshire?s first sportive.

Accompanying an expected 4,000 riders will be former England and Notts Forest footballer Geoff Thomas, who has raised money for his own leukaemia charity by riding the route of the Tour de France following his personal recovery from the disease.

Local hero Geoff Cooke, a multi world track champ and British Cycling youth coach, will also be taking part. He wants to encourage people to take up cycling: ?They say that cyclists have the fitness of people 10 years younger, so I?d recommend anyone to take it up!? he says.

There are five rides, starting with the Family Lap Challenge, which is ideal for beginners. It features a five-kilometre and riders can do as many laps as they wish.

The Community (18 miles) and Challenge (50 miles) rides allow keener cyclist to push themselves a bit further, while the Sportive ride offers a 100-mile option, which is new for this year.

There is also a team event, the Freeth Cartwright Corporate Challenge, in which participants must try to raise as much money as possible.

There are still entry places available, but the closing date for applications is June 13. Visit www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/bikeride and enter online or download an entry form.

For more information call 08449 80 80 80 or e-mail bikeride@nottscc.gov.uk.

The Great Notts Bike Ride is also supported by www.everydaycycling.com.

RELATED LINKS

CW's 2008 British Cyclo-Sportive Calendar

CW's Dummies' Guide to Cyclo-Sportives