Belvoir Blast 2023 Rider Information  

***** Please Read Before the Event ****

We are delighted that you have decided to join us for Belvoir Blast 2023.  We hope to deliver you a memorable and enjoyable event from start to finish. 

**Please download the free app ‘what3 words’. Should you need any assisstance you can use this app so that you can be found quickly and accurately, should you require medical or mechanical attention.  You don’t need your mobile data on.

1. Event Venue: Hose village hall , Melton Mowbray LE14 4JR

2. Arrival

• If arriving by car, please follow directions to Hose Village Hall, where there is ample free car parking at the back of the hall on the field. Cars should access this via the tennis and bowls clubs. Please follow signs.
• From the South (Leicester):  From A46 take turning for A606 to Melton Mowbray.  In Nether Broughton turn left, taking signs for Long Clawson.  In Long Clawson, turn right, then left (through the village centre) towards Hose.
• From the North (Newark):  From A46 take turning for A52 to Grantham.  After 2 miles, turn right on Tithby Lane to Langar.  Follow the lane through Langar, and into Harby. Just outside Harby turn right, following signs to Hose.
• From the East (Grantham):  Take the A52 towards Nottingham.  At Bingham, take the left hand turn – Tithby Lane to Langar. Follow the lane through Langar, and into Harby.  Just outside Harby turn right, following signs to Hose.
• Please note if arriving by car you will go out the way you came in, to avoid any tangling of cars and bikes!
• All cyclists arrive and leave via the main entrance to the village hall.

  

3. What to bring

• A helmet is compulsory for this event.  We recommend that you wear appropriate, comfortable clothing and footwear, and wear or carry a waterprooftop layer, and sunglasses.  We also advise that you bring a full water bottle, charged mobile phone, and basic tool kit, if you have it (allen keys, tyre levers, spare inner tube and pump.)  We have always been really lucky with the weathers don’t forget sun screen.
• Please try to ensure that your bike is in good working order before arriving at the event.

   4.    Registration and Start times 

• Please note there are slight changes from previous years.
• We will be open for registration from 7am.  Times vary by distance. 
  •  If you know your speed tends to be on the steady end of the spectrum please arrive at the beginning of your allocated time for registration.
  • If you’re a racing snake, please veer to the end of the slot.
  • We will not be giving out individual start times – we ask you  to regulate yourselves.

  • 100 milers:  Registration will be between 7:00 and 7:20, starting approx. 20 mins. afterwards.

    60 milers: Registration will be between 8:00 and 8:45, starting approx. 30 mins. afterwards.

    28 milers: Registration will be at 9am, starting approx. 20 mins. afterwards.

    40 milers: Registration will be at09:30 , starting approx. 15 mins. afterwards.

     

• Once you have arrived, please come into the main entrance of the hall. Please find your name and  confirm your route and  mobile number.
•  You will be given your rider number on a wristband (allows access to feed stations) and a route map , 1 per group (40 and 60 is signposted..100 is not). The wristband will have important telephone numbers for First aid; bike aid; any other queries.  
• Complimentary tea and coffee will be available from Hose village hall from 7:15 for all those wearing wristbands. Please wait for briefing outside before leaving.
• Please note if you set off much earlier or later than these times village halls may not be ready/ may be closing down.
• **Please remove all cleated shoes before entering Hose village hall.

 

5. Routes 

• Printed route A4 maps will be available at the registration desk, 1 per group
• You may like to load these Ride with GPS/ Strava routes to your GPS device.
  • 28 miler – fully signed – watch out for directions as you cycle,
    • https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41373156
    • https://www.strava.com/routes/3134416427008974354

 

• • 40 miler – fully signed – watch out for directions as you cycle
    • https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34056824
    • https://www.strava.com/routes/3134176162434202176

 

• • • 60 miler – fully signed  (minor tweak to route going through Sproxton for the second time) – watch out for directions as you cycle.
      • https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34057204
      • https://www.strava.com/routes/3134177493748997312

• 100 miler – only the sections that are shared with the 60 miler are signposted – this includes the first 18 miles, 3 miles before and after Knipton feed station (miles 30-43) and after Skillington feed station the whole way back (miles 82-102)
  • https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34057012
  • https://www.strava.com/routes/3005401521459220510

         

6. Mechanical Assistance (‘Bike aid’)

• Our mobile mechanic, Dave from No Two Cycles (based in Croxton Kerrial) will be at the venue before the start and will then move out onto the course for the duration of the event.  If you need mechanical support during the ride, please use the telephone number on your wristband. He accepts contactless payment should you need to buy any emergency inner tubes enroute.

 

7. Medical and Emergency Assistance (‘First aid’)

• A trained first aider will be in attendance on the day of the event and will be roaming the routes.  For minor incidents or accidents please call the First aid number provided on your wristband. Our roving first-aider may be able to reach you before the ambulance does.
• In the case of medical emergency, if in doubt, please call 999.

  

8. Refreshments and Piece of Cake Feed Stations – riders only with the appropriate wristband

• 100 and 60 milers only: The first feed station at Knipton Belvoir Cricket Clubhouse and it  opens at 9:00 until around 12:30. This will fall at mile 35/23 (100/60miles).  Food and drink are obviously inside. There’s a fresh water tap for water bottle refills on the outside of the building
• Please be patient and smile. Our helpers will do their best to serve you as quickly as they can – enjoy a cup of tea/coffee and some delicious home made cake, all lovingly made only 8 miles away.   Please enjoy the  wonderful views over Belvoir Castle. Take your time to enjoy the break!
• We have a limited amount of gluten/dairy free and vegan options available at all feed stations including non dairy substitutes – please do ask the friendly kitchen teams.
• After refueling, please leave the feed station the same way you entered – back up the hill and straight through Harston down to Denton, following signs.
• At the top of Swine Hill (what a great name!), at the other end of Harlaxten – mile 32 for the 60 milers and mile 43 for the 100 milers, the 2 routes will part company.
• The 100 milers will turn left and head for a lovely 40 mile rolling ride through the countryside – this part of the route is not signposted. We strongly recommend 100 milers take a paper copy of the map – it has the route on it and the villages listed in order.
• The 60 milers will turn right and continue to follow signs for another 8 miles to the second feed station Skillington.

 

• All riders: The team at Skillington village hall is happy to serve you from 10:30 until about 3:30.
• Skillington: ** Please take off your cycling shoes before going inside– leave them on the grass, out of the way .**
• All riders will leave in the same direction, left out of the hall and down the small hill into Skillington and turn left out of the village. All riders will follow the same 20 miles back to Hose for medals, cheers and lunch. All riders will have a lovely long downhill (Harby hill) – please take care on the descent through the trees, turing left before you hit Harby and back to Hose, entering the front of the village hall (the same way you rode out).

 

9. Staying Safe 

• The rides will be on open roads, so you will be sharing the route with other road users.  The Highway Code applies as usual, so please follow it, riding no more than two abreast and being considerate to other road users., including horses and be mindful or dog walkers and their dogs.
• Please ride with control and take care of yourself.
• All of the routes follow relatively quiet country lanes with low levels of traffic, but there are points along the routes where you will cross, or turn right across a slightly busier road.  Please use extra caution at these junctions.

10. Signage

• Our rider information signs will be branded with our ‘2 wheels and a piece of cake’ logo. (see below).  They will be positioned at (or in advance of) each junction or turn on the routes. These will be brought to your attention before you set off.  Please do not follow any other signs.   We have, unfortunately, had previous isolated incidents of signs being tampered with so we recommend you carry one of our route maps, and/or, possibly have your Garmin etc. loaded with the route as a back-up.   If you reach a junction and there are no signs please call the number on your wristband.  Where routes split, please look out for distance markers at the point where arrows seem to be going in different directions.
• We will put these signs up on Friday/ Saturday and  they will be checked again early on the Sunday. If you know the route but spot a missing sign, please call Bob on the number on your wristband and let us know so we can come and rectify the situation for other riders.

• **‘Be Safe!’  signs** If you see a “Be Safe!” sign, please sit up and take care. These signs will be placed at locations where we have identified a severe change in gradient (downhill)/road surface (possibly gravel)/sharp bend (often combined with a fast section) /busy road crossing/junction or other risk.
• Lost? – Don’t keep going!  Track back to the last sign that you saw and get back on course.  If in doubt, please give Bob a call (number on wristband).

 

11. Juniors 8-17 Parental consent form

• If you are riding with a young rider under the age of 18, please copy and paste this link into a new browser. https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/zuvvi/media/bc_files/non_comp/FORM_-_Parental_Consent_Form_TemplateLATEST.pdf. Please print out and bring with you on the day.
• Please contact us to organise payment to be certain of a place. Options include direct bank transfer/ Paypal in advance (preferable – please contact us when you have made payment – hello@2wheelsandapieceofcake.co.uk) or contactless on the day.

 

12. Finish Line

• Please make sure that you check in with us at the finish line!! If you decide to abandon the event for whatever reason, or if you change route mid-event, please let us know so that we don’t go out searching for you!
• We ask you to be patient as whilst we have done our best to spread you all out at the start and at each feed station, as well as at the end, best laid plans don’t always materliase!
• We will hand you a medal and lunch voucher.  If there is anything you do not want – don’t be shy – just leave with us and we’ll reuse – would rather that then going to landfill.
• Please note that the cakes in Hose are for those who have completed the 28 mile loop – green wristband only.

13. Lunch

• Soup will be served from the kitchen in Hose between 12:30 and 16:30. Tone of the soups is vegetarian, the other is vegan. Both  are gluten free. There will be a full list of ingredients.
• Cafe Allez will be selling hot drinks from outside the hall from 12:00- 16:00.

 

14. Insurance

• No-one likes to think about things going wrong but accidents can happen and we think it’s important that riders understand their own responsibilities. Our event has public liability insurance in place that covers us as event organisers, it doesn’t cover you for your own actions or for actions of other third parties. In simple terms that means if you cause an accident that is found to be your fault, you are personally responsible for any injury to yourself or others and for any damage to yours, or other people’s property. Sorry if that all sounds a bit heavy, we want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable ride so please ride sensibly, control your speed and don’t take unnecessary risks. We recommend all riders have their own insurance arrangements in place to cover such accidents. There are a number of providers – British Cycling offers 3rd party insurance, as part of its different membership packages. Its insurance will cover incidents that are your fault and free legal support for ones that aren’t.
• This link takes you to a full summary of all the benefits of the different packages and a link to join.  https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/membership  

15. Feedback.

• We strive hard to plan to make your day as enjoyable and as SAFE as possible: the routes, the signage, all the cakes and savoury options at the feed stations and lots of extras you don’t find on many other sportives. If you feel at all disappointed about any element of your day, we genuinely welcome your feedback and please, please come and talk to us, on the day ideally, or call us (‘Bob’ number on wristband) or email us as soon as possible on hello@2wheelsandapieceofcake.co.uk. We are a very small team/business and rely on very little marketing and social media costs. 
• We would love some up to date Facebook reviews on our ‘2 wheels and a piece of cake ’23/’24’ page.

We are really looking forward to a super event!  

If you have any questions please get in touch.    Britta.                                                       hello@2wheelsandapieceofcake.co.uk

 See you on Sunday 17th.