LATEST NEWS

February 2025

Keeping Hearts Beating

February was designated as National Heart Month in the UK, and for good reason - because heart disease is actually one of the major causes of death in under 75s in England.

To put that into context: in 2022, there were 277 premature deaths from heart disease in Bristol alone - and 71% of these were among men.

And the chances are that many of us know someone – a family member, a friend, or a colleague perhaps – who has suffered (or possibly even passed away) as a result of heart problems.

Fortunately, Bristol is home to a world-leading heart hospital – the Bristol Heart Institute (BHI). It treats thousands of patients across the region every year, delivering cutting-edge knowledge and expertise in preventing, detecting and treating heart disease.

And this year our ambitious aim - with YOUR help – is to raise £30,000 for the BHI so we can give heart patients in Bristol and Weston the best possible chance at making a full recovery.

We know that our riders are up for a challenge and, by fundraising with us in 2025, you can literally help to keep hearts beating with every pedal stroke you make. And – even better – it’s all about something that is 100% bike-related!

Cardiac Bike

Before patients can have heart surgery or other treatment, they must first be assessed using a stress echo – an ultrasound scan that checks how the heart works when it’s forced to work harder.

And that’s where we come in – with our help our charity partner BWHC wants to fund a hi-tech specialist bike for the BHI to carry out these assessments. The bike lies patients on their left side, meaning they’re in the best possible position for scans while they’re exercising.

And this specialist equipment will actually be installed at Weston General Hospital – meaning that patients in North Somerset can have their tests and diagnosis closer to home, with less stress and anxiety.

Put very simply, it’s a potentially life-saving piece of kit – and YOU can make it happen.

Your ride can quite literally keep hearts beating across the South West – and what could be a more perfect fit for a group of big-hearted people who love a bike-based challenge?

So please head over to our Charity Partner page NOW and sign up to become one of our amazing fundraisers – and a potential lifesaver! - in 2025.

THANK YOU, from the bottom of our hearts!

January 2025

2025 Route Change

We've decided to make a relatively minor change to the Lakes & Lumps route this year, and the main effect will be to increase the total distance for the standard route to 45 miles (as opposed to 43 miles previously).

This also means that the overall distance will now be 50 miles (instead of 48 miles) for those who choose to take on the additional – and entirely optional! - section that we offer.

This change is actually on a section of the route that overlaps briefly with our GWR route, and when we made the same route change for the GWR in 2024 it received pretty much universal approval in the post-ride feedback – and we’re sure it will be the same for the Lakes & Lumps in 2025.

So the upshot is that there will be a bit more distance to pedal in 2025, but at the same time riders will be pleased to hear that it will have negligible impact on the overall amount of climbing involved – that remains pretty much unaffected by this route change 😊

We’ve updated our Route Details page on the website to reflect the alteration we’ve made so feel free to take a look, however also please just bear in mind that the route is still only provisional at this stage and we’d expect to confirm the exact route for 2025 towards the end of May.

This is our second noteworthy change for 2025 (having already moved to a Saturday for the first time ever) and there may well be more positive news to come – so watch this space!

And, of course, in the meantime please make sure to get your entry in via our Online Entry page if you haven’t done it yet!

January 2025

2025 Rider Medals

We're pleased to say that we've settled on our rider medal design for 2025 - it's another fab-looking bespoke ‘bike wheel’ medal specifically designed for what is the 6th year of the Lakes & Lumps, and one of these will be waiting at the finish for everyone who completes the 2025 Mendips Lakes and Lumps Ride in June.

The Lakes & Lumps route is spectacular with some fabulous scenery along the way and, while it's not without its challenges, it isn't overly long and so it's a really nice way to start the Summer.

However, it's just worth noting that a good chunk of the climbing comes in the latter stages of the route - so it's definitely a good test, and you will KNOW that you've well & truly earned your medal when you cross the finish line.

And all you need to do to get your hands on one of these is to make sure that you get signed up for the Ride via our Online Entry page, then get some training in over the coming weeks if you can (the more you can do the easier it will feel!).

Thereafter it's just a case of going out and enjoying the challenge on the day, so please do come and join us if you haven't entered already and bring as many friends, colleagues, family, etc with you as you can.

December 2024

2025 Events Schedule

We’ve got three great West Country cycling challenges coming up again in 2025 – the dates have now been set and we’re pleased to say that they’re ALL open for entry.

Here’s a very brief summary of how they shape up:

Saturday 7th June 2025 – Mendips Lakes and Lumps Ride

Our Summer 2025 series starts with this wonderful event, taking place on a Saturday for the first time ever next year.

Described as “a perfectly balanced route with varied countryside, quiet lanes, decent climbs, and stunning views” the Lakes & Lumps is a fabulous outing that takes in the very best bits of the magnificent Mendips Hills National Landscape.

It’s what we’d describe as a ‘moderate’ challenge – not overly long but still a decent test for most people, especially with a large part of the climbing towards the back end of the route. Plus there’s a very testing additional (but entirely optional!) section for anyone who’s looking for an added degree of challenge!

The Lakes & Lumps is actually part of a whole weekend of outdoor activities that also includes mountain biking and trail running challenges (among other things), and there’s also an on-site camping option for the weekend so there’s plenty going on for all you active, outdoorsy types – check it out!

Sunday 27th July 2025 – Great Weston Ride

Then in the middle of Summer we’ve got our crown jewel event – the 16th edition of the magnificent and hugely-popular GWR.

This one was described this year as “a bloody amazing day, one of THE BEST rides we’ve done (including Ride London three times)” and it really is one not to be missed.

With EIGHT route & distance options on offer from 58-76 miles there’s something to suit pretty much everyone and, whatever route you choose, it all finishes with a fabulous reception and BBQ by the sea with family and friends. It’s a very relaxed event and a wonderful atmosphere is guaranteed throughout.

Sunday 21st September 2025 – Great Exmoor Ride

And we take it up another level to round off the Summer with what will be the 9th edition of our mini ‘leg-burner’, the GER.

It has been described as “brutal”, “a beautiful but challenging route” and also “a real challenge of my mental fortitude and legs”, but riders also agree that it’s a fantastic personal challenge that delivers a huge sense of achievement and enjoyment, both along the route AND at the seafront finish.

The scenery is stunning along the way, and it’s definitely one for anyone who wants and/or is up for a seriously BIG (but eminently achievable) challenge to finish the Summer with – so many of our GER riders surprise themselves with what they’re actually capable of doing on a bike!

**********

So please take a good look at each of our events and, who knows, you may decide to join the growing number of people who are choosing to take on ALL THREE of these wonderful West Country cycling challenges!

073-L-ML&L05

Mendips Ride rider

091-043-C-ML&L05

Mendips Ride riders

232-S-GER

GER Exmoor pony

073-L-ML&L05

Mendips Ride rider

1/9

October 2024

Lakes & Lumps Withdrawal Policy

We want to do everything we can to make it easy for people to enter our events at the earliest opportunity, because it can make a big difference to us AND to our riders:

FOR US

Having a good idea of likely numbers helps us massively with our planning and preparations, especially when so many elements have to be booked/ordered/paid for well in advance in order to be able to deliver the standards, services & facilities that we want to offer.

FOR RIDERS

Entering early gives people plenty of time to prepare & practise for their challenge; it can provide the motivation that's sometimes needed to get out & ride; it's definitely something positive to look forward to over the winter months; and, for those who make good use of the available preparation time, it should hopefully lead to those people generally feeling fitter, happier and healthier as a result.

So, to encourage & facilitate early sign-up, as well as freezing the entry fee for 2025 we've also got a very clear and transparent 'withdrawals policy' for our riders for 2025 that we believe is both fair to riders and to us.

Obviously, hopefully everyone appreciates that there comes a point at which we have to fully commit on all our services & expenditure etc (exactly the same as any other event) so the options available to us inevitably reduce as the event date approaches, however if anyone who's entered for any of our events in 2025 needs to withdraw for ANY reason then the following options will be available:

ANY TIME UP TO 8 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE EVENT DATE

Entry fee refund (minus £5 admin fee);
or

Entry transferred to one of our other events in the same year, if still available (FREE);
or

Entry carried forward to the same event for the following year (FREE);
or

Entry transferred to another person (FREE).

UP TO 3 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE EVENT DATE

Entry transferred to one of our other events in the same year, if still available (FREE);
or

Entry carried forward to the same event for the following year (FREE);
or

Entry transferred to another person (FREE).

UP TO 72 HOURS PRIOR TO THE EVENT

Entry transferred to another person (FREE).

So, as you can see, if something unexpected happens or crops up after you've entered with us there are options available right up until just THREE DAYS before the event - our view is that this is a fair & reasonable approach to take; we believe it's more flexible & accommodating than most other equivalent events offer; and hopefully it will give you the confidence & the peace of mind to get your entry in NOW via our Online Entry page.