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With less than a week to go, ‘Up North Yorkshire’ sportive organised by cycle-wear brand Fat Lad At The Back (FLAB) has announced a 100 per cent increase in registrations for this year’s event.
The sportive comes just a week after 144 elite riders from all over the globe descended on the county to take part in the acclaimed Tour De Yorkshire. In contrast, the FLAB event is designed to encourage cyclists of all levels to embrace the Yorkshire countryside on two wheels and this year it has seen more than 400 participants sign up to get in the saddle, an increase of 200 on its first event last year.
Driving the growth is a new 25-mile route catering for novice and developing riders looking to take on a fresh challenge.
Each of the three routes will have several FLAB ambassadors – or ‘FLAMbassadors’ – who are made up of experienced cyclists, breeze riders and cycling coaches, to support all participants on the journey ensuring no one rides alone.
With more than 20 years’ experience cycling many of Yorkshire’s most iconic routes, Fat Lad founder Richard Bye has promised riders this year’s sportive will be bigger and better than ever. He said: “We’ve had an incredible response to this year’s sportive and we’re thrilled to welcome a host of new riders on board alongside some of our regular faces.
“In addition to a 25 route, I think the presence of FLAMbassadors has given people that extra assurance that they can achieve their goal – and they don’t have to do it on their own because, sometimes, that’s the most daunting thing about getting on a bike. Our objective is to ensure that you have an ace day out, meet some of the awesome Lads and Lasses in the FLAB community and leave wanting more.”
The rides also pass through the valley that Postman Pat author’s was based and the Duke of Devonshire’s Bolton Abbey estate as well as criss-crossing the Tour De France 2014 route, taking in the best views but missing out some of the lung-stinging climbs.
Bye added: “We have a real cross range of riders from the very experienced to enthusiastic novices which means no one will be alone and there will be lots of mates to help and support along the way.The food stops are also legendary and include black pudding scotch eggs and lots of other stuff which our fat Lads and Lasses like, as well as the usual fruit and flapjack based options.
"We also have a BBQ afterwards which went down really well last year at our sportive in Derbyshire. This means people hang about and chat and share rather than just getting in their cars and leaving.”
You can find more information on the event here.
