The London Phoenix Cycling Club invites you to their Easter Classic - Easter Monday, 10th April 2023. 

The gravel route is back c.65-70k

There are two road routes on offer as well – 113km and 54km. Both routes will be fully signposted and will take you through quiet, flat and green country lanes of Essex. Lycra or no lycra, Dogma F10, tandem or unicycle, all welcome. Yes, the sportive is timed. The event is usually a sell-out because of the great route, the relaxed ambience and the homemade baked goods, so register early to avoid disappointment.

Info for Riders

Now including a gravel route! - see below for details! 

The longer route will pass through the villages of Good Easter and High Easter, and features a mid-way feed station at Pleshey village hall where you'll be able to enjoy free hot/cold drinks and our legendary oat bars and other wholesome goodies. Indoor space in the hall and a big field behind are your options for relaxing, whatever the weather. Toilets also available.

Long route: https://www.strava.com/routes/4392188

Short route: https://www.strava.com/routes/4404564

Gravel route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3078390411711562426

HQ is the Boat House Bar at Fairlop Outdoor Activity Centre, situated between Fairlop Underground and the Redbridge Cycling Centre (Hog Hill). Plenty pay & display parking is available.  For a map and address of the HQ, see above. Helmets are compulsory.

Registration
8:30am – 9:30am

Start time
from 9.00am

After the ride, you can chill at the licensed Boat House Bar before making your way home. Or rent a boat and do some rowing. Or hire golf clubs and play a few holes. Or have lunch at the adjacent Greek restaurant.

The gravel season starts Easter Weekend! This is a fast gravel route through Essex with miles of bridleway. Ride this classic 69km loop from Fairlop, a perfect early season ride that's challenging enough to make sure you know you have had a good day in the saddle but not technical and suitable for all riders. 

DISTANCE: 69KM | ELEVATION: 750M

RIDE DIFFICULTY 3/5

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY 2/5

PERCENTAGE OF ROUTE OFF ROAD 75%

Bike & Tyre Choice: The route is almost all off road on plenty of fast gravel. Absolutely not suitable for road bikes, gravel bikes with 42mm tyres or greater are recommended, mountain bikes will be fine but a bit slow for this type of off road.

A good part of this ride is on hard packed gravel through Whitehall Plain, Epping Forest, with views across Essex countryside and a panoramic of London City from the high ground.

Starting from Fairlop we are straight onto hard packed gravel in Fairlop, the rest of the ride to Toot Hill is smattered with various off road sections. Then at approx. halfway there will be a variety of refreshments to refuel you for the home run back to Fairlop. Then it’s a mixed terrain spin home for a well earned beer.

FEED STOPS

We have a single feed stop at approx 35kms into the ride with homemade cakes, fruit, savoury sandwiches, coke & water.

START/FINISH

Where is the start finish- The ride starts and finishes at Fairlop Waters IG6 3HN, there is parking on site as well as a bike wash (TBC), mechanic (TBC) toilets and refreshments.

GPX FILE

When will I get my GPX file - Our local team will do a final recon 1 week before the event and include any final tweeks if necessary. We will then send out the route GPX within one week of the ride.