With the biggest cycling competition just on our doorstep this year, the Tour de France will leave a huge footprint for cycling in the UK.

Cycling is now officially the fastest growing activity in the UK and this September is the perfect time to challenge yourself at the Tour de Broads based in Weston Longville.

Revolution Events and social enterprise ActivatingCIC have teamed up with Broadland Council and sponsors The Parson Woodforde and Pedal Revolution to offer you the chance to get fit, be active and feel great.

The Tour de Broads, Sunday 7 September, has a range of routes and free festival activities catering for all types and ages of riders - from toddlers, complete beginners through to toughened experienced riders.

Tour de France jersey winner and prolific sprinter Barry Hoban will lead the main ride which takes in roughly 114-kilometres of the Broadland District, giving you the chance to ride the tranquil and beautiful settings of the Norfolk Broads.

There is also the Archant Community Challenge Ride, a 65-kilometre fully signposted route, ideal for beginners and those wanting to overcome that little bit more of a challenge, as well as a five kilometre family ride. With a closed road sprint finish and a medal awarded when riders finish their ride, you are guaranteed a personal welcome back.

Starting in Weston Longville, northwest Norwich, the day includes a wide range of free festival activities,  including the Total-Trax portable mountain bike circuit to improve your bike handling as well as a children’s area providing Balance Bikes for two to five year olds - we like to start them young in Broadland.

Matt Lines, 29, who entered the Tour de Broads last year for the sole purpose of riding with other people and having a good time said:

"Really enjoyable ride on the inaugural Tour de Broads, perfect weather, great directional signage and let’s face it it’s not every day you get the chance to ride with a true icon of British cycling in the legendary Sean Yates. Riding with a whole bunch of other riders, from beginners to regular riders, the feeling was great, can’t wait for it again this year."

Riders taking part in the longer ride have the beautiful setting of the Reedham broads as their view while at the refreshment stop, half way round the route. RSPB in Strumpshaw Fen will also be providing drink and light refreshment for the riders to indulge in enroute.

James Ware from Archant is taking part in the Community Challenge Ride said: “It’s great to be part of the Tour de Broads this year, building upon the success of last year’s event, Archant have decided to join forces and bring you the Community Challenge Ride, whereby any one from the local communities and all over can all ride together.”

With discount incentives for local businesses to ride as a team, there should be no excuses for not jumping on that bike. Paul Wright from Expro, a local Great Yarmouth company took part last year.

“It was one of my early sportives, and I loved it. Really good crowd, good pace and nutritious food at the refreshment stop, excellent networking for our company” says Paul, Base Manager at the firm.

Revolution Events Luke Rumbelow is also excited at the prospect of the inaugural event. “Lots of riders from beginners and charity riders to commuters rode the Tour de Broads last year, and it was great to see people enjoying riding a bike. This year we are introducing timing chips whereby you will get a record of your time when you finish. The Tour de Broads is an amazing opportunity to enjoy one of the best cycling landscapes you can ask for”.  

Other activities

Coaching will also be available for those wanting to build confidence, awareness and learn to ride as a group or family. As well as bouncy castle for the kids, there will also be food and beverages available on the day provided by local country pub and sponsor The Parson Woodforde.

For more information and to secure your entry into our rides on the day, go to http://www.revolutionevents.co/

Tickets cost from only £9. As a social enterprise, all profits from the rides are used to engage, inspire and enable the local community to try cycling using our growing loan bike fleet and support new and developing riders get active, feel great and achieve more in life.