Spring Reliability
Date: 22nd March 2026
Time: 9am - last rider should be back by 1:30pm
Venue: Needham Market Football Club, Bloomfields, Quinton Road, Needham Market, IP6 8DA
Distance: 50, 75 & 100km routes
Cycling ability: All catered for.
Entry fee: £6 per rider, includes hot drinks before and after plus bacon roll. Veggie alternative available. Cash or card accepted
Open to: Anyone who can ride a bike (it must be roadworthy! and you should be able to ride at a minimum average speed of around 16mph)
How do I enter: You don’t. Just turn up on the day, pay your entry, sign in, download the route and away you go. (paper routes may be available but not guaranteed)
Summary: There will be 3 routes (50, 75 & 100 km) so there is something to suit every age and ability. See links below for gpx exports. Groups will be split according to expected average speed. The aim is for all people to finish their ride back at the venue at the same time to tuck into drinks, hot pasta and cakes.
100k fast group leaves at 9:00am (20mph average)
100k medium group leaves at 9:15am (minimum 16mph average)
75k leaves at 9:30am
50k leaves at 10:00am
What is a Reliability Ride?
A reliability ride is an organised ride but not a race. It is also NOT a club ride and doesn't follow normal club ride rules albeit all riders are expected to look after each other out of courtesy. The general idea of a reliability ride is that you should be "reliable" to follow the route by yourself, have a bike reliable enough to cover the whole route, and if not, to be able to fix your own mechanical issues by yourself with no reliance on anyone else. In reality it's rare that riders are left on their own but you should be prepared for that. You should also be able to ride the distance at your set average speed (not faster and not slower).
It is open to riders of all abilities and speeds (although we expect a minimum average of around 16mph). Routes are planned in advance, and all entrants given a gpx. There are no signs on the route. There is usually a choice of two routes. SDCC routes are planned for 50km (30 miles), 75km (46 miles) and 100km (63 miles). Entrants decide which route they would like to take, and then leave the venue in groups according to expected riding speed. For example, there may be a 16mph, 18mph, and 20mph group. Departure times are planned so that all riders end back at the start/finish venue at the same time. There will be no more than 12 people per group. Each group will tend to stick together for the bulk of the ride. If it is a big group it may split into two. Towards the end of the ride, faster riders may decide to pull away slightly, but there is no clock running. This is not a race, and there are no places allocated. We don't sign you in at the end of the ride, you are responsible for your own welfare so please be aware that if you suffer any problems it is your responsibility to sort yourself out although we would expect other members of your group to help you out as common courtesy. U18's should be accompanied by a responsible adult and should make the signing on person aware that you are U18. We regret that we cannot accept U14's on the ride. There is a strict cut-off time, please don't expect the HQ to be open after this time.
Needham Market-Great Blakenham-Barham-Otley-Helmingham-Pettaugh-Debenham-Mickfield-Middlewood Green-Stowupland-Creeting St Peter-Needham Market
Needham Market-Great Blakenham-Barham-Otley-Clopton-Charsfield-Wickham Market-Hacheston-Parham-Framlingham-Saxtead-Earl Soham-Kenton-Debenham-Mickfield-Middlewood Green-Stowupland-Creeting St Peter-Needham Market
100k route is here GPX here FIT file here
Needham Market-Great Blakenham-Barham-Otley-Clopton-Charsfield-Wickham Market-Hacheston-Parham-Framlingham-Dennington-Ashfield Green-Stradbroke-Horham-Eye-Yaxley-Mellis-Gislingham-Finningham-Bacton-Cow Green-Old Newton-Gipping-Saxham Street-Stowupland-Creeting St Peter-Needham Market
New for 2026 Gravel routes
45 miles here
28 miles here