Local sportive?

I am looking to do a sportive before the weather turns really grim. Does anyone know of any fairly local ones in October or November?

And also - what's the best website to search them on ? I've not found one

Have a look here:
http://www.cyclosport.org/

Also Mansfield RC are organising a sportive:

MANSFIELD ROAD CLUBS BIG RED RIDE
The Club has been reformed for almost a year now with some 36 members and wants to put something back into cycling, but funds are low therefore we have decided to put on a Challenge Ride on December 4th 2011 from the Lady Margaret Hall between Mansfield and Worksop.
There is a gap in the calendar created by the demise of the Xmas 10 and its a good time to get that last ride in before you are dragged off christmas shopping.
Entry Fee is £5.00 with all riders getting free refreshments at the end of the ride.
Maps will be provided or a link for those with Garmins etc
Entry forms can be found at
http://www.facebook.com/groups/167776853234546/doc/293180960694134/
or
http://www.mansfieldroadclub.co.uk/site/?cat=3

Interesting..also fits a gap in the CX calendar.

Might well put an entry in for this..seems good value at £5.
Would cost me far more than that if we went Christmas shopping :-)

i think im in...........can you enter on the day? not sure if i want to take the new wilier out in the wet!

i think im in...........can you enter on the day? not sure if i want to take the new wilier out in the wet!

For the garmin users out there, this is the route map for Big Red Ride
http://connect.garmin.com/course/172411

Strange..the Garmin site seems to continually say it's down for maintentance when I try the link but when you navigate to Garmin Connect directly it works...still can't see/find the course though.

I've put an entry in..anyone else going?

I see they are starting three groups 18, 15 and 12 mph...might try the 18mph group and see how long I last :o)

After all that im now not doing Big Red as I think its the day were opening our new cafe at ARC Leisure (sorry for the shameless plug!) I have entered cheshire cat instead but thats not till march!

Don't forget to check out the Audax UK website. Very good value for money IMO.

It was a good ride out yesterday though I think I was the only Matlock rider in attendance. Apologies if you were there and I missed you in the bunch.

A good turn out at around 70ish riders I would guess and great weather for it too. The rain only reached us about 15 minutes after we finished.

I didn't start with the fast boys but went off in the second small group to start.
This gradually became larger and larger as our 'leaders' took us on some minor detours and others caught up :o)

Speed wasn't massively high at around 17mph average as the group were sticking together, including stopping for punctures (3 stops).

Excellent tea and cakes afterwards too (the real reason I was there)

All in all a good days ride so thanks Woolfie for the pointer.