Black Rat Challenge

The Black Rat Sportive in May 2015 was very successful and we are delighted to bring our 7th edition back to Clifton Rugby Club for 2016.

The start/finish will  be located at Clifton Rugby Club in Cribbs Causeway, about 1km from Junction 17 of the M5. The facilities are superb, with plenty of on site parking, ample changing, showering and toilet facilities, a great club house in which to relax afterwards and on site catering for pre ride bacon sarnies!

The club gives excellent access to our route and means that there is virtually no riding on busy roads.

We will have three routes to choose from, a Piccolofondo route of 83km, a Mediofondo route of approx 120km or a Granfondo route of 161km. 

The rides will start at 8.30am and last riders need to leave the club by 9.30am. After leaving the club you will ride on the Cribbs Causeway dual carriageway for 1km. Subject to Police agreement, the inside lane will be cordoned off for the start to ensure rider safety. After 1km you will turn off of this road into Hollywood Lane and will remain on country lanes for the next 18km until you reach the Severn Bridge.

The cycle lane that crosses the bridge will take you to Chepstow, which you will pass through, heading towards the Racecourse and on towards Tintern. The first climb of the day meets you after you pass the Racecourse and head towards St. Arvans. This is just a leg warmer though! After making the climb a great descent into Tintern is next up, taking you alongside the River Wye and past the famous landmark of Tintern Abbey.

The routes split after leaving Tintern, with Granfondo riders heading across the River Wye to Gloucestershire and Mediofondo and Piccolofondo riders tackling the 5km climb up to Trellech.

Granfondo riders will immediately be welcomed back to England by the climb that will take you high up in the Forest of Dean towards Ellwood. The payback though is the excellent descent that so many people raved about last year down to Parkend in the heart of the Forest. (looking out for wandering sheep on the way down!)  After Parkend you will ride through the Forest towards Speech House and then turn towards Coleford where another short, but tough climb awaits you.

After leaving Coleford, you will now be heading back to Wales down the outstanding Staunton Road towards Monmouth. This descent has recently been resurfaced and with no tight bends, gives you an opportunity to swoop down at a good pace all the way. You will ride through Monmouth and immediately head for the hills with the long but beautiful climb up towards Trellech where you will rejoin riders on the Mediofondo and Piccolofondo routes.

From Trellech, all riders will ride towards the hamlet of Llanishen. Here, Mediofondo and Granfondo riders will turn right before dropping down towards Raglan Castle. The countryside views (for those that aren't head down, flat out) are wonderful along this part of the route. After Raglan, the road heads towards Abergavenny before turning down the superb Usk Valley. This road is fast, swoopy and long. You will be smiling all the way! Unfortunately there is a bit of a sting after Usk with a long but generally fairly gentle climb but you will be rewarded with more superb descending alongside the river afterwards.

At Llanishen, Piccolofondo riders will continue towards Devauden where they will then enjoy the fantastic 7km descent that takes them to Chepstow Racecourse where they will rejoin the other two routes.

All routes will rejoin at Chepstow Racecourse. Once you arrive back in Chepstow you will take the cycle path back across the Severn Bridge before riding along more country lanes back to the start/finish where you will be able to collect your souvenir Black Rat Tankard and fill it with free Black Rat Cider and enjoy a hot pasty.

As always, the ride will be fully supported by our friends from Chaos Cycles in Bristol who will be on hand to fix punctures, broken chains and even lend a bike as one person found last year! Riders will be electronically timed and professional marshals will again be situated around the course to give you directions and support.

We are aware that some riders followed similar looking signs to ours in 2015 and ended up going off course, heading towards the other event. We have organised new signage this year which will be unique and should not be confused with any other event.

Event Website http://www.blackratcycle.co.uk HQ/Start Address Address Line 1 Clifton Rugby Club Address Line 2 Station Road, Cribbs Causeway Town Bristol County Bristol Postcode BS10 7TT		Event Facilities Adequate Car Parking Facilities Changing Rooms Showers Food & Drink (Pre/Post Event) Sign-on at HQ Support for Participants Route card with emergency contact details SAG wagon following laster rider(s) Organiser Details Name Jeremy Humphries Email Phone 0117 3250777 Address Line 1 Unit 52, Spike Island Address Line 2 133 Cumberland Road Town Bristol County Bristol Postcode BS1 6UX