CLIC24 - supporting CLIC Sargent, is the UK's only 24 hour charity mountain bike endurance event. First held in 2002 when 50 riders, mostly from the local club, raised £4,500. The event has come a long way in a very short time. In that first year the event base camp was a narrow strip of land along the edge of a field bordering a busy main road. Just one portable toilet, a handful of local sponsors and a weekend of riding along dusty bridleway. Those who were part of the event knew they had experienced the start of something that could only grow.
2003 saw national publicity, a new base camp, an extended course and 250 riders, who between them raised over £19,500. There were still not enough portable toilets, but the massage therapists and laid back atmosphere ensured the event remained special in the memories of those who took part.
In 2004 CLIC24 moved into full race status as a sanctioned 24 hour race by British Cycling. A hot new venue high on the Mendip Hills with a hill climb to beat all hill climbs. There were some astonishing performances with solo and team riders notching up countless laps despite the intensity of the short course, and at last we found the best event toilet block, with warm running water and real flushes! By the end of the event we had generated over £40,000 over the three years of fundraising for CLIC Sargent.
From 2005 the event moved just along the road to the Charterhouse Centre, a fully equipped outdoor centre with great camping and catering facilities to restaurant standard. The toilet blocks were back and as we returned to a charity ride rather than race status, gone were the electronic timers and back came the laid back vibe and great site atmosphere. This is not a race. You weren't be given a number board for your bike, you were not be timed and the number of completed laps was displayed in rider or team alphabetical order. You were given a little tag to identify you in case of emergency and to help us keep a record of the number of laps of the course you have completed.
2008 to 2010 saw the popular format repeated with the same course, same facilities plus hot showers and same great atmosphere! Up to £300,000 now generated from past years, in 2011 we are aiming for a massive £50,000, 90% of which goes to CLIC Sargent, and with your help we can do it.
We have learnt so much about good course design over the few years of CLIC24 and listening to the useful feedback of many of the regular riders we have a very special course based around the very best the Mendip Hills has to offer.
The team event is usually the most popular category. This category allow for teams of up to four riders to ride relay laps around the course, to complete their laps no later than noon on the Sunday, 24 hours after the start of the ride. The solo event is a true endurance test for only the very fittest of riders. With the intensity of 24 hour riding please don't ride this event solo unless you are an experienced endurance rider. CLIC24 is limited to 500 riders. Entry Forms are available towards the end of the year.
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