Tour of Tweeddale Cycle Sportive
Sunday 6-September-2015
The Peebles Cycling Club (PCC) hosts its annual Tour of Tweeddale Cycle Sportive in September this year. Full details and how to enter at
With the ‘rise and rise’ in the popularity of cycling, particularly in the Scottish Borders, we see more and more local people being tempted out on their bikes, and we often hear of questions about taking part in a cycling event such as a ‘sportive’…
So we thought we’d provide some insight and encouragement on taking that first step into participating in a cycle sportive event….
What is a cycle sportive?
A cycle sportive is a mass participation cycle event, where the riders cycle round a lengthy route on the roads and have their time recorded. You can cycle alone, or with a group or friends, or as is usually the case, with other people you meet up with on the day…
It is not a race, and it is not a time trail in the sporting sense – think of it more as a ‘personal challenge’, which being personal could vary significantly for each rider. Your challenge might be that you have never cycled over this distance before, or the course may take some challenging route, possibly some tough climbs, that you have never attempted before.
So I need to be a good cyclist?
A shorter distance sportive might be around 40 to 50 miles, so a novice cyclist might take around four or five hours to complete the course. So you do need to be fit enough to be cycling for this extended period of time. There are typically food stops along the course where you can get tea/coffee/cake, so there are opportunities to take short breaks.
But I’ll need a special bike?
The main requirement is that you have a road worthy bike, and that you’re comfortable on it, particularly as you could be cycling for a good number of hours longer than you may have done in the past. A geared road or hybrid bike is most suitable; a mountain bike with its wide grippy tyres would be harder work over the typical sportive distances, but not impossible…
What if I have a puncture or a mechanical problem?
Participants on sportives are asked to be self-reliant – ie. Carry some basics like a spare inner tube, pump, basic mini tools etc. and know how to use them! However, the organisers usually provide a ‘sweeper wagon’ which follows the last rider round up until a cut-off time and would collect any riders who were unable to repair any issues and take them back to the finish. It could be a long wait though!
The ethos at sportives is such that fellow participants will usually stop and help if you ask for assistance.
OK, so how would I prepare for attempting a sportive?
The best training is to simply get out on your bike regularly, and build up your cycling time. This may start by cycling continuously for an hour, if you’ve never done this before and working up from there. Perhaps build up to a local route where it’s a bit hilly, and get used to cycling at a steady pace on longer inclines.
You don’t need to have cycled for the full distance or duration of the sportive before. For a 50 mile sportive, you will manage fine if you are comfortable cycling for a 2 to 3 hours duration – the adrenalin on the day will carry you over the remaining distance!
Probably also worth giving your bike some tender loving care – why not pop into the local bike shop and ask them to give it a check or a service before the event…
But what will I wear?
It is mandatory to wear a helmet at the Tour of Tweeddale Cycle Sportive, but other than that, wear whatever you are comfortable in when you go out on your bike.
We would probably recommend wearing padded cycling shorts and to wear, or at least carry, a waterproof jacket for the occasional shower.It can be cooler in the mornings come September, so you may need to start with warm gloves and an extra layer, but you’ll soon warm up when you get underway.
Any practise route recommendations?
We are spoiled here in Peebles that we have so many great road cycling routes right on our doorstep – see our Tour of Tweeddale Practise Route Recommendations at the bottom of this document
OK, I’m convinced – where do I sign up?
Full details of the Peebles Cycling Club Tour of Tweeddale Cycle Sportive can be found at:
Entry fee (online entry) of £17.50 (note pre-entry only; no entries on the day)
- Choice or two routes – 50 miles or 80miles
- Multiple free food stops, sweeper vehicle
- Lots of friendly PCC banter and encouragement
We are looking forward to seeing you at the Tour of Tweeddale Cycle Sportive in September. Good luck with your training….
The Peebles Cycling Club Tour of Tweeddale Team
Practise route recommendations?
We are spoiled here in Peebles that we have so many great road cycling routes right on our doorstep.
Some quick suggestions, starting and finishing in Peebles, mainly on our quieter roads:
Route Suggestion #1 (~12 miles)
Cycle path to Innerleithen, stop for a coffee or a Caldwell’s ice cream, return on the back road via Traquair
Route Suggestion #2 (~24 miles)
Glasgow road out to Stobo, taking the junction over the hill towards Dreva and into Broughton, coffee and cake at the Laurel Bank Tearoom and return via Drumelzier and Dawyck
Route Suggestion #3 (~30 miles)
Back road out past Cardrona to Traquair and then turn right and over Paddy’s Slacks to the Gordon Arms Hotel for coffee and cake; return via the same route
Route Suggestion #4 (~45 miles)
Back road out past Cardrona to Traquair, but this time turn left and follow the back road down the Tweed valley to the old Peel Hospital at Ashiestiel; cross the river at the bridge and continue down through Caddonfoot, back over the river again at Yair and on to Selkirk. Pick up the Yarrow Valley (the road to St Mary’s Loch) – coffee and cake at the Waterwheel Tearoom – and then continue on the Gordon Arms Hotel (another coffee/cake opportunity); turn right here and over Paddy’s Slacks to Traquair before returning to Peebles either on the back road or the cycle track