The Essex Roads Autumn Leaves Sportive

Our Autumn Leaves Sportive is booked for Sunday 24th September 2017 and we would like to invite you to this tried and tested season ending event which has been on our sportive calendar since 2009. You have the choice of either a 100 or 150 Kilometre ride both covering the very best of Essex. Unlike other mainstream sportives, this is organised by a cycling club - Essex Roads CC, with over 17 years event management experience - instinctively knowing what cyclists look for and enjoy, making it a truly memorable day in the saddle. Just like our Spring Lambs Sportive this may be the best UK sportive you've ever ridden!
Our very high-Spec HQ!
The Brentwood Leisure Centre is our HQ - start and finish point and it's easy to reach via the M25 and A12. This is a major sporting venue within the Southeast, with all the facilities you’ll need including changing rooms, showers and extended free car parking on-site. As a result we can cater for up to 1000 cyclists on this ride.

As per last year we will be using our fast-track booking system which means you’ve just one stop to make when you arrive at the venue, leaving you lots of time to make final mechanical adjustments, take a last minute refreshment pitstop and get organised before your memorable day in the saddle.

Where do the rides go?
The rides take in great loops within the county boundary of Essex, featuring some lovely towns and villages along the way. We choose lovely winding topography to add challenge to your chosen route and actively seek out hills to add to your experience. The 150Km route leaves the 100Km ride to rejoin later.

​The Autumn Leaves is a great test for the Sportive Rider anxious to test their hard earned fitness gains earned during the summer.

Bountiful cycling food along the way!
Unlike other more expensive sportives all the food we give you is within the the price you pay. How many sportive organisers want to charge you more on your arrival at feedstops and the finish? This is all too common. We are different from company run sportives so we're not driven by profit. Both our feedstops have volume food, fruit and energy food including bars and gels. We also supply you with water and energy powder - all through High5. All our feedstops are instantly recognisable adorned with our Essex Roads Cycling Club livery.

So. we've got your hunger covered all the way round - seriously!

Will there be hot food provided after the ride?
If you’ve ridden this event before you will know about our famous post-ride feast. Well, this is now even better with multiple choices of hot pasta meals and salad all home prepared on site. There's a vegetarian option too. We also have our wonderful cake tables with lashings of tea and coffee on tap. This is all in the price you pay.

There’s lots to do at the Brentwood Centre too – why not meet your family at the finish afterwards where they can wave you in cheering on your return?

What about rider services?
Navigation is everything on events of this size and we’ve got everything covered with turn-by-turn instructions, GPX and TCX file downloads for your Sat Nav unit and signage at every single  turn. We have a rider-finder service too, just in case you can’t figure where you are.

​Our ride will also be supported by Momentum Cycles for maintenance checks and any last minute purchases on the day - someone always forgets their cycle helmet and its a rule of entry that you are wearing one!
 A welcome home massage
Its great to get a massage when you're back from a long ride. Our expert masseurs are on site from McKagans and are there to breath life in to your aching body before you finish with our post-ride pasta feast. There's no need to book - just turn up for your treatment.

​The cost is not part of your sportive fee but for £5 this is unbeatable value and service. McKagans may be found in our Essex Roads Marquee located within the Pool Garden behind the Brentwood centre.
Team Riding in teams of 5
This year we are encouraging designated teams of five riders to take part too. This means that if you identify your team of five on booking then we can give you an average team time too. This is not an encouragement to race but will enable you to work as a group to improve your overall time together. This concept is entirely new in the UK.

Timing systems
All of our rider timing is provided by ResultsBase a prestigious events timing company within the UK. All individual and team results will be available post the event and all individual times will be provided at the event. Timing of this event is either by 'chip' or 'android' system.

Toilets in all the right places
We've got your toilet needs all covered at the HQ and all feedstops so there are no need to use the hedges like you often see at other sportives - and this can make the neighbours cross understandably. So we have brand new loos supplied by Blue Cube complete with hand wash facilities too.
How to get there
The event HQ at the Brentwood centre is also easily accessed from the mainline Brentwood or Shenfield railway Stations (Liverpool Street line) and by road from the M25/A12 - click here for more information. 

One of our previous Sportive rides was reviewed by Cycling Weekly in 2009. They said; ‘this was an event superbly organised, run on idyllic country cycling roads with virtually no traffic’, - ‘the amazing thing is that the ride start/finish is only 20 miles outside London!’ 
High Standards are our standard
We take great pride in running our sportives and we set our standards at Excellent! Many Sportives these days are pitched at £35 or more but give you a whole lot less, particularly around rider feeding. They also run out of poor quality HQ buildings such as community halls and sports clubs. We set the bar in these areas. Have a look at our rider comments page for just some of the supporting complements we've received.

Booking information

The start time of the event is 08:00 a.m. for the 150Km riders, and 09:00 a.m. for the 100Km riders. Please arrive early and from 07:00 to book on. All entries are via the SiEntries website. Please note that due to the increasing popularity of this sportive:

THERE WILL NOT BE ANY FACILITY TO PAY OR ENTER THIS EVENT AT THE VENUE ON THE DAY 
YOU MUST PRE-BOOK VIA THE SiENTRIES LINK TO RESERVE YOUR PLACE.

The maximum number of entrants to the sportive is as stated 1000, so please book in advance to save any disappointment on the day.

Warning – due to some riders taking advantage and cycling this event without payment at previous events, additional safeguards have been put in to place to check the validity of participants. Please do not take advantage of our hospitality and disadvantage others on the day.

Entry fees

For Individual Riders and each member of a 5 member team:
£17 Essex Roads CC members (checked on Registration)

£27 non-Essex Roads CC members

Course information

Event Date: 24th September 2017 
Entries closing date/time: Midnight 18th September 2017

Event Start Time for 150Km riders: 08:00 Hrs 
Event Start Time for 100Km riders: 09:00 Hrs
HQ opening time for registration: 07:00 Hrs
HQ and Event Close-down time (when HQ closes and timing ceases): 17:00 Hrs 
Distances available: 100 km and 150 Km
Maximum rider number: 1000

For further information please contact: secretary@essexsportive.com
 Please see our other sportive Essex Roads Spring Lambs Sportive on Sun 8 Apr 18

Event Website: - www.essexsportive.com
©2017 Essex Roads Cycling Club - Sportive Website