If you don't want to be deterred by the recent spell of bad UK weather, you'll be glad to hear that there's a wide selection of cycling events planned for this July. From festivals to cross-country races and sportives, next month is full of organised rides you can get involved with. Here's a taster of what's in store…
Ribble Valley 100 – Sunday 1 July 2012
This route used to be known as the Cross Pennine 100. Any riders who've taken part in that event will know that it encompasses the beautiful countryside of the Yorkshire Dales, Lancashire and, if you're doing the 100-mile option, Cumbria. A few challenging climbs are thrown in for good measure, just in case you get too comfortable admiring the views!
As the name suggests, 100km or 100-mile routes are on the cards, and you'll be raising money for Action Medical Research.
Find out more about the event and check out the route in more detail on BikeRadar Training.
The 100-mile route around the Ribble Valley
Hope XC Series Race 2 – Sunday 1 July 2012
More into getting your tyres muddy? Take part in this grassroots mountain bike race at Lee Quarry, Lancashire. Priding itself on its friendly atmosphere and accessibility for all riders, it's a good place to give XC racing a go if you're a novice. With a number of male and female categories, from Weekend Warriors to Racing Divas, there'll be a category to make sure you're pitted against those of similar race experience. There's also a Singlespeed category for those who don't do gears...
Entry costs are some of the cheapest you'll pay for an XC series, at just £6 for 15-16 year olds and £12 for those of 17 years and over (that goes up to £7.50 and £15 respectively on the day).
Find out more about the event on BikeRadar Training.
Brownbacks Racing promote grassroots cross-country racing in Lancashire
Rat Race BASECAMP – 6-8 July 2012
If you have a couple of days to spare and really want to mix things up, it's worth taking a look at this event. Held at Graves Park, Sheffield, it's part of the Cliffhanger Festival (the UK's biggest outdoor pursuits festival). Enjoy a weekend of camping, live music, real ales and enter the 50km Rat Ride cyclosportive on the Sunday.
A weekend of music, camping, ales and this 50km cyclosportive – sounds perfect!
There are plenty more events going on throughout July. Head over to BikeRadar Training to view the full line-up. And if you know of some rides or races going on that aren't already listed, feel free to add them to our calendar.
Are you interested in entering events but want to get fitter first? Then head over to our new fitness site, BikeRadar Training. It's a free online resource for you to record and analyse all aspects of your training, log your routes, get yourself tailored training plans, see how you're doing on ourleaderboards, set goals and plan your season with a comprehensive events guide.