Cycling Weekly South Downs Spring Sportive 2014 

Essentials: 

Distances: 33, 61 & 85 miles 
Participants: 700 
Start: Plumpton Racecourse, Plumpton 
Transport: Plumpton Station about a mile away 
Feedstops: 1, 2 
Timed: Yes 
Services: Bike wash facilities, mechanical assistance, medical support, massage, event photography, broom wagon and web results service 
Signs: White arrows on an orange background 
Road: A real mix of terrain. Starting off fast and flat before becoming lumpier and then smoothing out again. A good mix of roads and scenery to keep you entertained. 

The South Downs Spring sportive is the fourth offering in the Cycling Weekly headlined series of events. With another six to come, spread around the country, it's worth making the effort to get along and ride one. 

I rode this event last year and was impressed, so I thought I'd come back for another go to see if it lived up to previous expectations. On a different note, the weather played a blinder. The sun was out from early o'clock, and for once it was a case of how few layers to wear as opposed to how many I could cram on. Despite the prospect of riding to and from the start, the joy of having an event almost on my doorstep meant I was practically skipping out the door to get going. 

Plenty of parking

Registration

Travelling light helps, as does riding in shorts and a short sleeve jersey. The joys. I took a leisurely ride down through the lanes to the Racecourse. Arriving at the designated start you are greeted with a bustling hive of activity. Registration opened at 7.30 and there were plenty of riders already there when I arrived 20 minutes later. There were some trade stands set up and the SiS stand was doing a roaring trade, aided by the token given as part of registration for a free drink and bottle. 

By using a racecourse as your event HQ you are guaranteed plenty of parking, room for stands and a big room for registration and refreshments. As a result, sign-on was quick and efficient. I choose to get going and save my tea/coffee token along with my SiS token for the finish. 

As usual head honcho, Martin Barden took the riders through the safety briefing and in a matter of moments we were out on the open roads. The opening 30 miles were fast, and predominantly flat, allowing for a speedy start. The majority of the roads were quiet as we traversed Sussex heading east out through the Broyle. From there it was south to the southern most point of the epic route at Chalvington. Rounding this tip it was north to begin the trek up to the top of the route. 

Window shopping

Riders heading towards the Downs

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