2023 K20 Cycling Club Sportive raises £2,000 for local charities
Last year was our first attempt at putting on a Sportive. We were of course very pleased that it turned out to be a great success and wanted to build on that success for this year’s event.
Our philosophy with the Sportive is quite simple, - we want it to be a memorable event that all parties get something out of, and that riders want to return to the following year. It seems that we must have done something right last year as word of it had obviously got round amongst the cycling fraternity, which resulted in a 64% increase in registrations. And it wasn’t just local riders which entered. We had registrations in from Brighton, Basildon, Lewes and Hampshire, and for a second year we were really well supported by entries from Oxted Cycling Club and Sevenoaks Tri Club.
Once again the cycling Gods were smiling upon us as although it was a moderately chilly start, all the weather apps were promising hotter, sunny conditions by mid -morning, and they proved to be correct.
Unfortunately, KCC Highways threw us a curveball by starting two days of roadworks in Marden on Saturday, which compromised access to our parking area, and the first mile of the planned routes. I was obviously speaking to the wrong person at the Highways offices as I was given firm assurances in the week leading up to the event, that the road in question would be under traffic light control and would not be closed. Oh well, these things are sent to try us!
As they milled about waiting to leave all riders were given a sachet of a new sports nutrition product from Enduosport. The first were on their way at 0830 and our start site was clear by 0900. The routes were the same as last year with just one tweak which took out a slightly dodgy turn at a crossroads. It’s a nice free-flowing route that takes riders through the centre of some really pretty villages. There are one or two climbs, but nothing to make anyone panic.
The enroute feed stop is at Rolvenden Village Hall. It’s a great venue with the space to sit outside and enjoy the superb food, supplied by Old Post Office Coffee House in Marden, that we put out for the riders. Ours is not a timed Sportive and quite a few riders last year commented that it was so nice to be able to sit down, have some great food and a chat with other riders, and not feel pressured that somewhere in the background a clock was ticking and psychologically telling them to hurry up and get back on the road!
Our start/finish site provides a huge, grassed area for riders to sit out on, in the sun or shade, where they can chill out, relax, chat to other riders, and partake of an ice-cold, non-alcoholic beer from Athletic Brewing Co., more food provided by the Old Post Office Coffee House at Marden, and an ice cream from Abbie’s Ice Cream of Laddingford. Whilst they were enjoying those many took the opportunity to cast their eyes over the small classic steel bike display we put out.
And let’s not forget our now famous Goody Bag! This year it was the Ice Cream Edition of the iconic Holdsworth/Campagnolo musette crammed full of gifts, - gin, wine, apple juice, non-alcoholic beer, sports nutrition, toothpaste, a cycling race cap, bike shop discount vouchers., and coffee pods.
We have realised a profit of £2,000 from the 2023 sportive which will be split between the two local charities we support, - Marden Scout Group, and Dementia Friendly Community Marden. Thank you to all the riders who paid their hard earned money to ride in our event enabling us to raise money for these charities.
As ever I really must put out a huge “thank you” to our members who volunteered to help before, during and after the event. It just couldn’t happen without you!
And finally, our sincere thanks go to our sponsors:
Scarab
Sleek Shutters (Horsmonden)
Santini UK
Copper Rivet Distillery (Chatham)
Athletic Brewing Co
Cherry Fermor and Perry Court Farm (Ashford)
Dean Brooks and Cycles UK (Maidstone)
Paul Tweddle and Smileology, Barming Dental Centre (Barming)
Most Wanted Wines
High 5 Sports Nutrition
PACT Coffee
Old Post Office Coffee House (Marden)
Abbie’s Ice Creams (Laddingford)
Marden Scout Group
Vestry Hall Marden
