Over thirty cyclists will be cycling from Bath to Paris from 27th – 31st May, to raise funds for local charity Sporting Family Change, and will be using the upcoming Love2Cycle Sportive as a dry run.
As part of gearing up for the challenge, the team, from novices to experienced cyclists, will be taking part in the first ever Bath and North East Somerset Love2Cycle Sportive, sponsored by Bristol Airport and KLM, on Saturday 20th May.
Sportives are non-competitive, organised bike rides and are a great opportunity for groups of friends or families to get together and take in some of the area’s best cycle paths and lanes.
There are two routes – one 33 miles and one 71 miles. They start at Royal Avenue in Bath and travel through the Somer and Chew Valleys.
Jimmy Deane, Sporting Family Change’s founder, said: “We’ll be cycling 50 – 70 miles each day over the four days so regular training sessions are essential to get us fit. They’ll also help bring our team, which includes families we’re currently working with, together.
“We’ve decided to build our training programme around the Love2Cycle Sportive on May 20; this will be our “dry run” for Paris.
Sporting Family Change is based in Midsomer Norton and works across Bath and North East Somerset.
The family-focused charity mentors young people and works with them and their families to achieve success in their lives.
A major part of their work is sports-based family sessions, bringing parents and children together to promote healthy lifestyles and boost self-esteem. They also run a social group supporting young adults with learning disabilities
Jimmy added: “It’s going to be a fantastic experience and we’re determined all the team will finish together under the Eiffel Tower. We’re hoping local people will support us to help raise funds for Sporting Family Challenge and we have set up Localgiving pages if anyone would like to donate.”
The Love 2 Cycle Bath and North East Somerset Sportive, supported by Bristol Airport and KLM, will take place on the morning of 20th May; the same day that Bath hosts the first Saturday night stage of The Tour Series and the Matrix Fitness Women’s Grand Prix.
It will start in Royal Avenue in Bath, before taking in the country lanes of the Chew and Somer Valleys, before cyclists return to the city for an unique finish under the Tour Series gantry on Great Pulteney Street.
Maps of the routes and how to enter can be found at www.bathnes.gov.uk/tourseries. To find out more about Sporting Family Challenge visit http://sportingfamilychange.co.uk.
You can sponsor the team here, by contacting [email protected] or via 07392 309064.
