Mass moor cycle

DEVON cyclists are being urged to apply early for next year's Dartmoor Classic cycle challenge. The event on Sunday, May 11, is a long distance, mass participation challenge for cyclists over demanding terrain, where riders can choose a 100 mile or 100km route. Devon County Council TravelWise has arranged with the organisers for three hundred of the 1,300 places in the event to be reserved for local residents, who will compete for the Corporate Trophy. The reserved places are for Devon residents whose employers encourage cycling to work with Bicycle Users Groups or cycle purchase schemes, or in any other way promote and support cycling for their staff by providing cycle storage facilities and showers. The places, which cost £25 for either route, will only be set aside until February, so it is never too soon to apply. Last year's inaugural Dartmoor Classic was a sell out and proved to be a hugely popular event, despite taking place on the same day that the Ten Tors was cancelled because of severe weather conditions. Probably the most important changes, particularly for those who rode the first edition of the Dartmoor Classic, are the two new routes which will give you "more moor for your money"; 70 per cent of the 100 mile route is over parts of the moor not covered in 2007. To book a place log on to www.dartmoorclassic.co.uk