Experian Robin Hood Festival of Running
Olympic Games
Starts In...
Paralympic Games
Starts In...

Great Notts Bike Ride

Great Nottinghamshire Bike Ride entries open for 2009

Entries for the 28th Great Nottinghamshire Bike Ride, organised by Nottinghamshire County Council and sponsored by Boots, are now open following a launch today (8 April) at Boots Headquarters in Beeston.

Taking place during National Bike Week on Sunday 21 June this year, organiser Nottinghamshire County Council is keen to ensure the 2009 event has a strong family focus. One option is for families to come along and borrow bikes in order to challenge Dad in the Family Lap Challenge this coming Father’s Day.

The Great Notts Bike Ride will also feature an 18 mile Community Ride, a 50 mile Challenge Ride and a new Sportive route of around 75 miles. All distances are open to individuals as well as organisations taking part in the Freeth Cartwright Corporate Challenge. 

 
The Corporate Challenge invites businesses to take part in teams with the challenge of raising the most money for the four event charities, rather than completing the course in the fastest time. Last year this contributed to a significant increase in sponsorship funds raised for local charities. Representatives of the four benefiting charities accepted a cheque for £60,000 during the launch.

Boots have renewed their sponsorship of the event for the second year, demonstrating their support for the Nottinghamshire community. Last year they sponsored the event and provided 6,000 sports drinks and 6,000 energy bars to thirsty, hungry riders.

Oonagh Turnbull, Boots Head of Corporate Social Responsibility Marketing, commented: “We are delighted to be supporting the Great Nottinghamshire Bike Ride again this year. Our aim is to engage more of our employees to take part and volunteer at the event as well as involving the local schools that we support.”

Nottinghamshire County Councillor Steve Carroll, Cabinet Member for Culture and Regeneration, said: “Last year saw 5,000 riders take part in the county’s favourite family bike ride. We hope to see even more people taking part this year and urge everyone to come along.

“Nottinghamshire has some of the finest tracks and trails that are perfect for getting out and about such as the recently extended Big Track which covers ten miles of flat wide riverside tracks from Trent Bridge to Beeston Lock, and provides commuter and family friendly routes.”

To enter any of the Great Notts Bike Ride events visit the website www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/bikeride and enter online or download an entry form for a friend. 

All routes will begin and end at Holme Pierrepont at varying times on the Sunday:
Family Lap Challenge (5km laps)
Community Ride (18 miles)
Challenge Ride (50 miles)
Sportive (75 miles)
Freeth Cartwright Corporate Challenge (18, 50 and 75 miles)

In 2008 2100 people took part in the 50mile route taking 40 minutes to roll over the start line. 1300 people entered the 18 mile route. The remaining participants took on the Sportive route and the Family lap challenge.

Four local charities (Cerebral Palsy Sport, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Rainbow’s Children’s Hospice and When you Wish Upon a Star) benefit from sponsorship money raised, which helps to improve the lives of people living in Nottinghamshire.