Once again the increasingly popular, tried and tested, Little Lumpy is back for 2017. Now in its 9th year, we offer you the chance to experience the charms and challenges of the proven designated routes. Setting off again from Haslemere, we take you through the prettiest parts of the Sussex and Hampshire Weald to the South Downs at South Harting where the Challenge and Epic routes branch off to take you over some testing little climbs.

Little Lumpy is a ‘not-for-profit’ event, with monies raised being distributed between Haslemere Festival and an elected partner charity. We are very pleased to announce that 2017’s partner charity is Macmillan Cancer Support, with monies going specifically to the Macmillan Midhurst Palliative Care Service that covers parts of Surrey, Hampshire and West Sussex. We have four routes to choose from, ranging from 20 to 100 miles including the Taster route, for families and those new to cycling, where we have made the ride as flat as we could possibly make it. Please note those under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

As in previous years, you will be able to enjoy the warm welcome and home baked cakes at the feeding stations around the course. This is only possible due to the dedicated group of volunteers and Haslemere bakers, whose efforts seem to have become legendary, with the tempting selection probably the best to be found at any Cycling Sportive throughout the country.

In addition, at the start there will be a free breakfast on offer, comprising tea / coffee plus a bacon butty or equivalent vegetarian option. At the finish, the bar will be open and a hot meal will be available at a small price. So stay and linger to enjoy the company of your new found cycling friends and share your experience of what is one of the top Sportives in the South East of England.

Info for Riders

Little Lumpy - Four courses in one.

Taster - 20 miles with 1435 ft of climbing, keeping within sensible range of Haslemere in case it proves too much, this attractive route nevertheless is almost entirely on the same route as your madder colleagues, including the testing Blackdown. There is one-feed stop at Lurgashall.

Sport - 39 miles with 3131 ft of climbing and two feed-stops. From Haslemere you cycle to South Harting where you will wave goodbye to your madder colleagues doing the Challenge and Epic routes as they face the first of their daunting climbs, the North Face of Harting Down. Your route will take you back through the pretty villages of Elstead, Iping and Linchmere, with a couple of testing climbs at Woolbeding Common and Blackdown, before finishing at the top of Woolmer Hill. You will encounter two food stops on route.

Challenge - 59 miles with 4587 ft of climbing, over the South Downs four times and with three feed stops. The Challenge follows the same route as the ‘Sport’ to South Harting. There you will encounter your first ascent of the South Downs up the North Face of Harting Down, we then send you back over the Downs three more times before you return towards Haslemere via, Blackdown, the highest point in the South Downs National Park before finishing with a last hurrah at Woolmer Hill. You will encounter three food stops in total

Epic - 100 miles with 8434 ft of climbing, eleven climbs and five feed stops. Follows the Challenge route to South Harting, up the North Face of Harting Down, back over to South Harting, before climbing Holt Down, Butser Hill, Stoner Hill, Teglease Down (feed stop), Wheely Down, Wether Down, Butser Hill again, before returning towards Haslemere via South Harting and Lurgashall with a last hurrah over Blackdown. You will encounter five food stops in total.