Support for Bike Oxford continues to grow
This June, Bike Oxford 2026 powered by Penningtons Manches Cooper will bring together over 700 cyclists for a day of riding, community celebration, and fundraising — with a record-breaking number of local charities taking part.
Title sponsors Penningtons Manches Coopers continue to champion the cause of promoting cycling, encouraging active lifestyles and the opportunity for charities to use the event as a fundraising platform.
Sobell House Hospice is Bike Oxford’s 2026 chosen charity and is encouraging riders of all ages and abilities to sign up and ride on 21st June. Tom Roby, pictured, who works at Walton Street Cycles, has committed to raising £230 and has already exceeded his target. The bike shop, which rents out bicycles through Bainton Bikes, is also providing a free hire bike to anyone who rides for Sobell House.
Mr Roby is one of over 20 cyclists gearing up to pedal 25, 45, or 75 miles for the compassionate end of life care charity, a cause close to many Oxfordshire residents’ hearts. “Sobell House does amazing work and supports so many people”, he said, “and means a lot to my family”. Speaking of how 2026 is also the charity’s 50th year, Mr Roby added: “I’m riding Bike Oxford to help Sobell House smash it for their anniversary.”
The event has seen a record number of UK and Oxfordshire charities getting involved this year. Seventeen organisations have gathered a total of over 70 cyclists who will ride for local causes alongside Team Sobell, including The Archway Foundation, Asylum Welcome, Cancer Research UK, Combat Stress, The Gatehouse Oxford, Helen & Douglas House, Home-Start Oxford, Maggie's, Oxford Breast Buddy Group, Oxford Food Hub, Oxfordshire Mind, Response, Restore, Ronald McDonald House Oxford, SeeSaw Grief Support, and The Twins Trust. Organisers Iconic Cycling Events are also championing a CyclAbility ride at Horspath Athletic Ground on Friday 19th June, supporting a large fleet of adapted bikes in a supported and safe environment.
Support for Bike Oxford is also growing from the business community. Decathlon, Royal Cars, and Invivo Healthcare have joined the event as official sponsors, along with B4-Business, an organisation that connects enterprise and ideas. B4 Chief Executive, Richard Rosser described the event’s growing appeal across the business community. “Bike Oxford is a fantastic initiative that not only promotes healthier, more active lifestyles, but also showcases the stunning Oxfordshire and Cotswold countryside to participants from across the region and beyond”, he said. “Events like this play an important role in bringing communities together, raising the profile of local businesses and creating valuable fundraising opportunities for charities. We’re proud to support an event that delivers such a positive impact on so many levels.”
Biddulph Wealth Management has also committed to supporting the event. In 2016, owner and founder Olly Biddulph was studying Sports Performance at The University of Bath while simultaneously training for the Great Britain Bobsleigh Team. After representing GBR at the Youth Olympics and World Championships, he received a Santander Sports Scholarship to work in a local business and spent two summers working at Iconic Cycling Events on their Bike Oxford and Bike Bath events.
It's a “full-circle moment”, as Mr Biddulph explains. "Roll the clock forward 10 years and you might say I’ve swapped the lycra suit for the business suit and I'm back again”, he said. “I’m keen to help the Iconic team raise the profile of Bike Oxford which brings cyclists of all abilities together. The event showcases the wonderful Oxfordshire scenery, promotes active lifestyles and gives businesses like mine the chance to raise our profile.”
If you’d like to take part and ride in a team, for charity, or just ride solo, head to the Bike Oxford website to find out more about the event. You can also sign up to ride with Team Sobell here, and if you need a free bike hire to ride with them, contact Walton Street Cycles on 01865 311610 or via https://spoke.co.uk/contact.
bike cotswold supported by invivo
We are very excited to announce a new Iconic Cycling Events portfolio partner and headline partner for Bike Cotswold 2026.
"Invivo Healthcare is proud to be an official sponsor of Iconic Cycling Events. We share a passion for health, performance, and what it takes to ride well - and we're here to support riders every step of the way. Using clinically informed nutrition and supplement expertise, we help riders perform at their best before, during, and after every event, with evidence-based microbiome support that promotes balance and recovery".
As well as being the new headline partner on Bike Cotswold, Invivo are also supporting Bike Oxford, Bike Bath, Bike Chester and the Canterbury Bike Ride and will be at some of the events sampling their clinically researched prebiotic fibre powder supplement.
Exclusive to Iconic Cycling Events riders: 20% off your first order at invivohealthcare.com. Applies to any product as a one-time purchase (excludes subscriptions). Use code ICONIC* at checkout (*code automatically applied).
bike chester fuelled by coffee king
We are very excited to announce a new headline partner for Bike Chester 2026.
As a family‑run business based in the North West, Coffee King has grown rapidly since its founding, expanding their operations across the region while staying true to their core values of quality, community and care. Their continued growth is driven by their commitment to delivering exceptional coffee experiences and supporting the people and places that shaped their business from the very beginning.
Coffee King will be keeping riders energised throughout the day by providing the food and drink stations along the route. From great‑tasting coffee to refreshments and encouragement, their team will be there to help ensure our participants enjoy an unforgettable experience.
A UNITED MISSION SUPPORTING CLATTERBRIDGE CANCER CHARITY
As part of our partnership, Coffee King has selected Clatterbridge Cancer Charity as the official charity beneficiary for this year’s event, a cause that holds deep significance for their team and many of their customers.
1 in 2 people are affected by cancer and 13,000 new patients are referred to Clatterbridge Cancer Centres each year from across the whole of Cheshire and Merseyside. With your help, we can continue to support the incredible work of The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.
Choosing to support Clatterbridge Cancer Charity will not only contribute to the significant work that they do, but by doing so you can make a meaningful difference to the lives of those affected by cancer, as they continue to fund life-saving research, invest in leading technology, enhance the patient environment and enable innovations in care for the 35,000 people treated by The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre each year.
JOIN TEAM CLATTERBRIDGE
For riders wanting to support the charity, we have a limited number of Bike Chester Clatterbridge Charity tickets availablefor just £20.
If you select one of these when you register, you pledge to raise a minimum of £100. This might feel like a big target, but we’re confident you can achieve it.
The Clatterbridge fundraising team will be on hand with helpful tips and ideas to support you along the way.
If you have any questions in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to contact them at events.clatterbridgecharity@nhs.net or call 0151 556 5566.
Record turnout as 15 local charities rally riders to pedal for good causes at Bike Oxford 2026
This June, Bike Oxford 2026 will bring together over 700 cyclists for a day of riding, community celebration, and fundraising — with a record-breaking number of local charities taking part.
This June, Bike Oxford 2026 will bring together over 700 cyclists for a day of riding, community celebration, and fundraising — with a record-breaking number of local charities taking part.
Fifteen Oxfordshire charities have already signed up to bring riders to the event to raise vital funds for their work. Alongside Bike Oxford’s main charity partner, Sobell House Hospice, charities including Oxford Health Charity, Home-Start Oxford, Oxford Breast Buddy Group, Response, Oxford Gatehouse, SSNAP (Support for the Sick Newborn and their Parents), Helen & Douglas House, the Archway Foundation, Refugee Resource, Asylum Welcome, See Saw Grief Support, Homeless Oxfordshire, Oxford Food Hub and Restore are assembling keen cyclists to take on the challenge, and pedal for good.
Organisers are now encouraging members of the public to get involved by riding for a cause close to their hearts, whether that’s health, youth services, the environment, local community projects, or joining Team Sobell and riding for the hospice’s compassionate end-of-life care that means so much to so many Oxfordshire residents.
“Seeing so many local charities come together through Bike Oxford this year has been incredible,” said Richard Best, Founder of Iconic Cycling Events and Bike Oxford’s Chief Organiser. “It shows how powerful this event has become — not just as a cycling celebration, but as a way for people to make a real difference for the causes and community work they care about.”
Sponsored by Penningtons Manches Cooper, Biddulph Wealth Management and Decathlon, The B4 networking group & Royal Cars, and taking place on Sunday 21st June, Bike Oxford includes three fully supported and signed routes. Riders can choose a scenic city pootle at 25 miles, taking in the architecture and town landmarks, or a more challenging 45 or 75 mile route out into the rolling Cotswolds hills. On Friday 19th June Bike Oxford is also championing a Cyclability ride at Horspath Athletic Ground, supporting a large fleet of adapted bikes in a supported and safe environment.
“Sportives are not a race”, said Cathryn Setz, Bike Oxford Ambassador, “they’re a day out. You ride for the love of it, maybe to beat your best, but mostly to just enjoy cruising along quiet country roads together, with a smile on your face.Whether you’re brand new to cycling or a seasoned pro, it’s a fun event with a great community spirit. The ample snacks at the two feed stations certainly help, too.”
If you’d like to take part and ride for charity, email info@iconiccyclingevents.co.uk and they can help you get a charity place. Alternatively head to the Bike Oxford website to find out more about the event.
Christmas gifts for cyclists
Here's our selection of some of the best gifts to treat the cyclist in your life without breaking the bank
Here's our selection of some of the best gifts to treat the cyclist in your life without breaking the bank
Whether it's for your mum, dad, brother, sister, friend, significant other or even... a nice little treat for yourself (you deserve it), you don't have to spend a ton of money to impress this Christmas.
This article contains links to retailers. Purchases made after clicking on those links may help support Iconic Cycling Events by earning us a commission but this list has been curated with care by the Iconic Team.
ICONIC gift vouchers
Of course we’re going to start our list here….what better gift is there for the cyclist in your life than an ICONIC Gift Voucher? This is the perfect hassle-free Christmas gift, just choose your price - £10, £30 or £50 (or any combination of the three), enter your recipients email address and voila! a thoughtful gift that doesn’t require any wrapping at all! Gift vouchers are valid for 6 months, so there’s plenty of time to pick an event (or be savvy, and wait until our sales periods), they can be used across all events - Bath, Oxford, Canterbury, Chester or Cotswold, and any monies left over after paying for an event, will automatically be held in credit on their account to go towards their next ICONIC Event!
CYCLING bOOKS
It’s the time of year for curling up in front of the fire and getting stuck in to a good book, and we know that. cyclists love nothing more on a cold winter’s night, than reading about cycling/cyclists.
Here are five cycling books that we’ve read recently which would make a fantastic stocking filler:
The Maurice Burton Way: Britain's First Black Cycling Champion - Maurice Burton
Bloody Minded: My Life in Cycling - Alex Dowsett
The Death of Marco Pantani: A Biography - Matt Rendell
CYCLING essentials
When you’re trying to find the perfect stocking filler for a cyclist, you can not go wrong with the cycling essentials: Think inner tubes, multi tools, pumps or even bottle cages. Here’s a quick shake down:
INNER TUBES
You always need more inner tubes, but you might not necessarily consider them an investment - that’s why they are the perfect Christmas gift. Pirelli P Zero SmarTubes are lightweight & compact: Made from TPU - they’re much lighter and smaller than standard butyl tubes, saving rotating weight and space in a saddlebag as well as being super puncture-resistant
multitool
The Prestacycle Prestaratchet Go is a very handy on-the-go tool. Covering pretty much every fastening need on a modern bike. It's also a quick-link breaker, valve core tool, tyre lever and tubeless plugger. With a five-year warranty and a decent price, it's a strong alternative to traditional folding multi-tools.
mini e-pump
Cycplus do a range of different electric pumps of varying sizes and powers, but for me, this AS2 Pro Tiny E-Pump is the perfect cycling companion. This pump fits in a jersey pocket, inflates to custom psi, has great battery life and is the perfect roadside inflator. OIF you’re looking for som thing to leave in the garage/garden shed Cycplus also do the slightly more reasonably priced Electric Air Pump A2 Pro.
bottle cages
This Side Release Bottle Cage from Restrap allows convenient access to your water bottle by featuring a side entry. This makes it ideal for bikes with compact frames, or for when using a frame bag may affect clearances on bottles.
With a foldable base, it offers the flexibility of being mountable in two different positions, giving you the choice to have the opening on either the left or the right side.
The cage also has a rubber retention loop which keeps bottles even more secure on rough and bumpy terrain. Adjustable fit means this cage can fit on any bike, using any bottle mounts available on the frame or forks.
Water bottle
Every cyclist has a cupboard full of water bottles that they’ve picked up over the years, that they really have thrown away by now. That’s why a sparkly new water bottle makes an ideal stocking filler. The Camelbak Podium Chill Sports Water Bottle delivers in every way you would want a water bottle to. The anti-leak lids really works, the double-walled construction keeps water cold twice as long and there are lots of colours to choose from.
SOMETHING EXTRA
Brick Caps
Brick Caps make a fun, quirky Christmas gift, especially for cyclists, by transforming genuine LEGO minifigure heads into unique tyre valve caps. vailable in various themes like superheroes or custom characters, they come in both Presta and Schrader valve types, with options to mix and match heads and hair for a custom look.
CUBE ACID Towingsystem
Go further and explore more places without a weaker rider / young rider having a meltdown! Cube's Acid Towing System is a handy and safe way of towing another rider.
The system easily attaches to the underneath of your saddle, and the 1.9-metre cable is a self-retracting system to keep tension for stress-free towing. It's great for kids who are building confidence but perhaps struggle with longer climbs or tougher terrain, but it can also handle adults too.
Le Col x Wizard Works Lil Presto Barrel Bag
The Le Col x Wizard Works Lil Presto Barrel Bag is an ergonomically designed and water-resistant handlebar bag made to keep you prepared for anything the ride brings. Sized to carry extra layers, lunch, snacks and phone within easy reach, it’s the perfect companion for a sportive. This limited edition reflective design will also add an extra bit of visibility when the nights draw in.
6 top tips for your first sportive
The key to having a good sportive is in the preparation. Not only in training for the event, but also what you do on the day. From the spares you pack, to your pacing strategy, even what you wear and what you eat - we've got a few tips that will help you get the best out of yourself on the day.
6 top tips for your first sportive
The key to having a good sportive is in the preparation. Not only in training for the event, but also what you do on the day. From the spares you pack, to your pacing strategy, even what you wear and what you eat - we've got a few tips that will help you get the best out of yourself on the day.
Bike set-up
If you’re new to cycling or are building up your mileage, you should expect to be a little achy – it will take a period of time for your body to adapt to the new strains and positions that riding demands. However, you shouldn’t be in pain or picking up cycling injuries while riding your bike. Either is a sure sign that something is wrong.
There are a number of easy ways you can tweak the fit of your bike and making sure your saddle and handlebars are set up correctly will give you a much more comfortable and efficient ride and avoid picking up an injury.
Getting your saddle height right is possibly the most important aspect of road bike positioning and is the first adjustment for building a new position. As a general rule of thumb, your knee should have a slight bend in it when you’re at the bottom of the pedal stroke. As a starting point, you can achieve this by setting a saddle height that, with your heel on the pedal and pedalling backwards slowly, your knee just barely locks out at the point of maximum extension. If you have to reach, it’s too high. If you don’t quite lock out your knee, it’s too low.
Well-positioned handlebars are crucial for your comfort and important for control of your steering and brakes. A good position to start is with your handlebars at the same height as your saddle. For a more ‘head up’ riding position that’s easier on your back and gives confidence in traffic, you can raise the bars a little.
Bike maintenance
You want to make sure your equipment is on point for event day, your bike needs to be in tip top condition. This is the big day you’ve been training for so you don’t want to ruin it by having a mechanical 5 miles in. If you’re mechanically minded you can check the bike yourself but if not, your local bike shop will happily check it over for you.
You want to make sure your brake pads aren’t worn down, your chain is lubed, the tyres aren’t getting too thin and you have them pumped up to the right level, and your gears are indexed or if required, you have your di2 charged up because, believe me, you don’t want to be mid-ride with no gears and a hilly ride home.
Carry spares
Spare inner tubes on a sportive are absolutely essential but very easy to forget. If you do get a puncture there is often a mechanical support vehicle trailing the route but you don’t want to be waiting on the side of the road for them to come past. A saddle pack is ideal for carrying spare tubes, tyre levers and a multitool. If you haven’t changed a tyre before it would be a great idea to get a bit of practice in before your big event.
Fuel right
The night before you want a high-carb/low-fat meal. Good examples are: pasta with grilled salmon/chicken or the traditional pre-ride favourite spaghetti bolognese. In the morning you want to try to ensure you have your pre-event breakfast 2-3 hours before to allow enough time to digest it before you set off. Opt for something that’s light on the stomach and high in carbohydrate. Good examples are: Porridge, scrambled egg on toast or cereal with semi skimmed milk.
On the ride you want to ensure you are carrying enough water so you can drink whenever you get thirsty and enough provisions to eat little and often - stick to what you’re used to, be that energy bars, flapjack, bananas, sweets - don’t use the big event as your test bed for trying out new exotic gels.
Pace yourself
Don’t get carried away starting your ride in a big group and wanting to go at a pace that’s too much for you. You don’t want to get drawn into riding hard on climbs or riding at a pace with a group that’s way outside of your comfort zone, especially if you are tackling a distance you are either not used to or have never done before. Take it steady and build up to the back end of the sportive if you’re feeling fresh.
Clothing
Clothing is really important, it has the potential to make or break your ride. Depending on the weather, a packable rain jacket, a gilet or a set of arm warmers can go in the back pocket or a top tube bag to give you the versatility of layering up or down and maintaining an optimum temperature to enjoy your ride.