Top Dog Events organise challenging cycling events among the hills, forests, lakes and coasts of North West England
We recently took the difficult decision to cancel all this years sportives – see why – HERE
However, after a few days of soul searching and mountain biking in Scotland, plus receiving many overwhelming messages of love and support for both us and our events – LOOK
We now feel ready to re-examine the way non competitive cycling events such as ours are organized and run. With a view to find a better way to move them forward, offering the best riding experiences possible along with minimum inconvenience to local residents
The best solution we can find to the issues we, and most other cycling event organizers, face is to start using the modern technologies now available to us all, to bring Sportives into the 21st Century
The events we will be running from now on do not seem to fit into any current category. They are not Sportives, Audax’s, Reliabilty Rides, Randonnee or Brevet – so we intend to christen them “Bellions”
“Bellion”
A word used to describe the absolute epic-ness of an action, situation or person, designed to reflect the enduring class of one of the world’s finest footballers: the majestic David Bellion.
Source – Urban Dictionary
Our Bellions for 2022
A brand new style of cycling event – our Bellions are a cross between an Audax and a Sportive – using modern technology to reduce the need for event numbers, signage, marshals, timekeeping, mass starts and feed stations – using GPX, Strava and local facilities en route instead.



- All our rides will continue to start and finish in Lancaster
- They will be Sportives without signage, marshals, feed stations, medics etc vastly reducing overheads and therefore entry fees
- Organized for 1 day initially – then over a weekend next season
- No set start times or cut offs – start at your convenience and ride fast or make a day of it
- There will be “social start” between 0930 and 1000hrs for 60 + milers and 0730 and 0800hrs on 100+ milers for folks who want to form a group with other riders they don t know, which Chris + Lynn will see off
- GPX routes and route details, hazards, cafes, toilets etc will be sent to entrants in the week before the event
- Event routes will change annually
- Rides will be recorded by riders Strava – when these are shared with us, the time will be taken and published post event
- Emergency recovery on event day will be offered by several broom wagons being a phone call away
- Bespoke event completion certificates will be posted to every finisher on receipt of a Strava report
- Souvenir medals and merchandise will be available as optional extras when booking online, and will also be posted to finishers