Event: 24 February 2013
Location: Warwickshire
The Rawlinson Bracket ride is a hilly ride in the ‘Wilds of Warwickshire’ taking in the gradients of the Edge Hill escarpment. This ride marks a year since Nick Rawlinson, passed away in his sleep on the 24 February 2012, aged 30.
This event has two objectives - the first is to raise funds for research into, and awareness of, Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS) for the cardiac charity SADS UK, the second is to allow fellow riders to experience the type of riding that Nick enjoyed with a passion.
Nick was a local lad, born and bred in Kenilworth and worked at Jaguar Land Rover. Nick loved cycling, especiallythe suffering aspect. The Hilly Route in the Rawlinson Bracket Cycling Event, taking place on 24 February 2013, goes over some of Nick’s favourite local climbs and training routes. He was using these roads in preparation for the Maratonadles Dolomites in July 2012 and his first season of road racing.The hilly route (The Top Bracket) is 82km in length and has over 870 metres of climbing packed into it. Think of it as a mini Liege-Bastogne-Liege in terms of gradient and length of climb.
Here are some of the climbs you will encounter:
Climb#1 Burton Dassett – A short climb where you will find it difficult to stay out of the red, you will have an audience on the way up, the sheep are always curious.
Climb#2 Shotteswell – The rural version of the Côte de Saint-Nicolas, a short steep climb encompassed by houses but no screaming Belgian cycling fans (possibly).
Climb#3 Edge Hill (Knowle Hill) – This climbs appears in ‘Another 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs’ by Simon Warren. It’s only 600m in length but has a maximum gradient of 14% which makes for a gruelling climb. Nick enjoyed this one and always found some extra power to sprint over the top.
Climb#4 Lady Elizabeth Hill – A relatively long steady climb to allow you to settle in a rhythm (unlike the proceeding climbs).
Climb#5 Compton Winyates Hill – Another relatively long climb with some interesting kicks, enjoy the scenery – imagine you’re climbing the Côte de La Redoute.
Climb#6 Sunrising Hill – Same height gain as the Edge Hill climb but a different character, a max gradient of 16% and a rough road surface make for an attritional climb with an alpine style switch-back at half-way. Nick would always smash his way up this climb.
Think you can take on the challenge? Enter the Hilly Route today!
Not a climber? Don’t worry there is a shorter, less hilly option as well...
The second route on the day - the flat route (The Bottom Bracket) is 45km in length and has 276 gentle meters of climbing. To some this one is reminiscent of the rolling fields of northern France, a little Paris-Roubaix but without the cobbles. Nick used this route as his endurance building route in preparation for circuit racing. Enter the flatter route here.
Exclusive Offer...
Anyone that enters online here before 10 February will be entered into a draw to win a genuine Rapha Replica Team Sky Short Sleeve Jersey. The draw will be done on the day and the shirt will be sent out when available in April. So Don’t Miss Out!!
