These rides, now entering their third season, aim provide a goal for those of you who want a challenge but don't have the time, the legs or maybe the confidence to get involved in serious racing or to travel across the UK and Europe to get to the big events.

These are essentially a reinvention of the traditional club reliability rides but without the capes and saddlebags! We have been a little concerned that calling them 'Sportives' may raise expectations of electronic timing, way marking, full support and lavish feed stations. You won't get any of that (yet) but, on the plus side, you won't need to pay £25 to enter either.

What you will get is a specially produced map with the route highlighted. The routes are planned to flow as much as possible to ease the navigation plus there will be extra notes to get you through the tricky bits.

Timing will be by good old fashioned stop watches with a massed start. There will be suggested refreshment stops at shops / cafes / pubs on route but, as the clock will be running, most riders will take the food and drink they need with them. No service or broom wagon will be provided so take the usual tubes, tools and mobile or, failing that, make sure your mates are better prepared than you. There won't be any check points on route, we will be relying on your honesty to pass up any obvious short cuts although some organisers may include Audax style information controls where temptation could otherwise prove too strong.

Entry will be on the day with a nominal cost of £2 for CCCC members and £4 for non-members. We hope to have all the results of all the finishers on the website but only rides done whilst a CCCC member will count towards the overall awards.

The points system will be tweaked to reflect the performances from last year. Details of the target times, points and routes will be circulated in advance of each event so that you can plan your strategy and/or Garmins