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Scottish Bike Show Sportive, Scotland's newest long distance mass participation road cycling event, that will be staged in the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park on Sunday 15 April 2012.
Online entries for this much anticipated event will open on Monday 14 November 2011 - http://www.thescottishbikeshow.com/sportive.
The Scottish Bike Show Sportive will be one of the highlights of the expanded Scottish Bike Show, Scotland's consumer cycle show, when it returns to the SECC, Glasgow, from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 April 2012.
Taking in some of Scotland's most beautiful glen, loch and mountain landscapes The Scottish Bike Show Sportive offers two challenging routes, a 100-mile Sportive ride and a 65-mile Challenge ride. Both fully signed and marshaled rides will test all round biking skills and fitness levels with some tough long climbs and fast descents throughout.
Rowan Mackie, organiser of The Scottish Bike Show from Magdala Media, said: 'We are really excited about the Scottish Bike Show Sportive and the prospect of showcasing the stunning hills, glens and lochs of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park to the UK's cycling community.
'We have two fantastic routes for the inaugural event. The rides are challenging, particularly at the start and I am sure they will make for a fitting start to the Sportive season in 2012. I hope The Scottish Bike Show Sportive become a firm favourite on the UK's annual sportive calendar'.
Starting at Balloch Castle on the edge of Loch Lomond both rides will head north-east towards Aberfoyle and into some long and extremely challenging climbs. There is one particularly testing climb of two kilometres at a 10 percent gradient!
At Loch Katrine the shorter Challenge route splits off west and tours around the loch before heading back via Stronachlacher; passing Loch Chon and Loch Ard, before turning back towards Balloch Castle and the finish.
While the Challenge riders begin their tour round Loch Katrine the Sportive riders will travel eastwards towards Kilmahog. They will then head north, passing Loch Lubnaig, Lochearnhead and Loch Earn, before moving west past Loch Lubhair and Loch Dochart towards Crianlarich. The route then heads south passing Loch Lomond, Loch Long and Glenmallan, Auchenvennel and Dumfin before the final run back to Balloch Castle.
Entries to The Scottish Bike Show Sportive will open on Monday 14 November 2011. Entries are open to all cyclists aged 17 and over and start at £21 for the Challenge Ride and £25 for the Sportive Ride (if booked before 03 January 2012) with discounts available for group bookings. Full entry and booking details can be found on the website - http://www.thescottishbikeshow.com/sportive. Entries to the Sportive will also include entry to The Scottish Bike Show.
The Prostate Cancer Charity is the official charity partner of The Scottish Bike Show Sportive. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK. 37,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year. 250,000 men are currently living with the disease. Organisers hope that all riders taking part will raise funds to help save men's lives. For further information on Prostate Cancer and The Prostate Cancer Charity go to: http://www.prostate-cancer.org.uk.
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