Bike Bath back for 2014 - registration now open

road.cc's home town sportive, Bike Bath is back for a third year next June – and registration is already open for the road rides and filling up, with organisers urging would-be participants to get in early if they want to secure one of the 1,500 places. 

In 2014 the event has set itself the challenge of attracting more women and youngsters to the event, building on the success of the 2013 edition in which 25 per cent of the rider's were female, according to Bike Bath's Steve Baxter that already makes it one of the most female friendly sportives in the UK.

Next year's edition will again be based at Bath Recreation Ground, and takes place from Friday 27 to Sunday 29 June, with rides of 20, 30, 60 and 100 miles on offer – anyone completing the 100-mile ride on both the Saturday and Sunday earning the title, ‘Gladiator,’ as well as a certificate to prove it. 

Route details haven’t yet been released for next year, but organisers say the Two Tunnels will feature in some of the rides as they did last year. In fact last June’s routes can be found on the Bike Bath website and give an idea of what’s in store – Saturday’s 100-mile route headed out to the south west and into Wiltshire, while Sunday’s went north into the Cotswolds. Both of them were a proper challenge and a good ride. 

Of course what sets Bike Bath apart is the quality of the food stops and the post ride food once you get back to ride HQ which in 2013 came courtesy of Michelin-starred chef, Rob Clayton.

One participant said on Twitter that the Tetbury feed station on the Sunday ride “was THE best feed station I've ever visited,” and you can find out what others thought of the event here.

road.cc's Mat, Tony, and Stu certainly enjoyed the nosh, especially the last feed station at the Moulton factory in Bradford on Avon on this year's Saturday ride. 

Steve Baxter from Bike Bath said: "Yet again we have been really encouraged by all the positive comments from riders and sponsors from this year’s event and we feel Bath now has a cycling weekend to compete with the best cycling events in the UK. 

“With an event limit of 1,500 my advice is to take advantage of the early bird registration offers to avoid disappointment.

“We are again grateful to Charles Stanley Direct our title sponsor who are working with us to build the event into something really special for the region.

Places for 2014 can be booked through the British Cycling website – online prices are shown below together with on-the-day prices for comparison, although obviously the later you leave it, the more likely it is that you may not get a place at all.

Ride: Saturday 100 mile
Online from: £30.50
On Day: £37.00

Ride: Saturday 60 mile
Online from: £26.00
On Day: £32.00

Ride: Saturday 20 Mile
Online from: £13.00
On Day: £17.00

Ride: Sunday 100 mile
Online from: £30.50
On Day: £37.00

Ride: Sunday 60 mile
Online from: £26.00
On Day: £32.00

Ride: Sunday 30 Mile
Online from: £13.00
On Day: £17.00

Ride: The Gladiator – 100 miles Saturday & Sunday
Online from: £59.00
On Day: £67.00

Ride: The Double 60 - 60 miles 100 miles Saturday & Sunday
Online from: £51.00
On Day: £60.00

Ride: The Commuter Double - 20 miles 100 miles Saturday & Sunday
Online from: £26.00
On Day: £32.00