We are now taking bookings for our Essex Roads Autumn Leaves Sportive which is once again running out from our favorite venue - the Brentwood Leisure Centre. This is a late season event giving you one final opportunity to put your mettle to the test over the undulating topography of Essex. And, once again we’ve added an additional 100 kilometre route as well for those who prefer a shorter distance sportive.

With over 16 years of sportive management our expertise and ability to bring you a quality event will give you a truly memorable day in the saddle with all the trimmings you expect from the Essex Roads Cycling Club. This is truly an event built by cyclists for cyclists (not a commercial company).

Our event HQ is the Brentwood Leisure Centre located on country roads and easy to reach via the M25 and A12, and for Essex Cyclists, via Brentwood and surrounding towns. This is a major sporting venue in 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 at this event.

As per last year we will be using our fast track booking system which means you’ve just one stop to make when you book on at the venue, leaving you lots of time to make final mechanical adjustments, take a last minute pit stop and get organised before your great ride.

If you’ve ridden this event before you will know about our unique and famous post-ride feast. Well, this is now even better with multiple choices of hot pasta meals, lasagna and salad all home prepared on site. We also have our wonderful cake tables with lashings of tea and coffee on tap. We expect that you might be a bit tired on your return so we’ve also got masseuses from McKagans on hand to bring your body back to life after your mammoth effort. 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 on your return?

Both rides take a great loop within the county boundaries of Essex, taking in some beautiful towns and villages along the way. The Autumn Leaves is a great late season test for the Sportive Rider anxious to test their late season fitness after their summer gains.

Navigation is everything on events of this size and we’ve got everything covered with turn-by-turn instructions, GPX and TCX file downloads (see here) for your Sat Nav unit and signage at every major turn. We will also 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 labour free maintenance checks and any last minute purchases on the day - someone always forgets their cycle helmet! Momentum will also be providing mechanical assistance at our feed stops.

All our timing is provided by Results Base, 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.

Being a non-commercial organisation this sportive is low on price but very high on support. Sorry, but we don’t allow children to ride, as you’ll find on other events. This is an original sportive built by serious riders for serious riders.

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.

During long rides we can understand that you might want to stop off at a nearby toilet. We've got this covered too, with several. Portable units on route supplied by Blue Cube at all our feedstops. No more needing to use the hedges!

All riders are provided with bike numbers and Sportivephoto will be present on the day taking photographs that can be purchased for those who wish to remember their endeavour. All rider and team results will be available at the finish and afterwards from our sportive websitewww.essexsportive.com

Booking Information

The start time of the event is 08:00 a.m onwards for 150Km course riders and 09:00 onwards for 100Km riders. Please arrive early and from 07:30 to book on. All entries are online. 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 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.

HQ and Event Close-down time (when timing ceases): 17:00 Hrs