Our blogger Richard Gorman reports from Cape Town and is joined by Cervelo co-founder Gerard Vroomen and 1987 Tour de France winner Stephen Roche. Cape Town has great weather, incredible scenery, delicious wine and the biggest mass participation cycling race in the World - The Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Tour. And this year Cape Town also has something else; Lance Armstrong is in town.

Where does the time go? One minute I am sat at the computer planning events and  thinking March is never going to arrive, the next minute its here and I am struggling to get miles in the bank for what will be my busiest year yet, writes Howard Johnson.

Every Wednesday, Cyclosport.org will be offering desktop wallpaper to decorate your PC or Mac with some inspirational cyclosportive photographs from some of the UK's biggest events. The photographs are courtesy of leading sportive photography company, Sportive Photo. Wallpaper 10/03/2010 now online.

Regular Cyclosort.org Twitterers will know that we've given out plenty of swish white Cervelo kit out over the past few months. But to mix things up a bit, we're giving away a black training jersey and aero race bib shorts in size medium. Cervelo are one of the most popular teams in the peloton today, so here's your chance to get your hands on some cool kit ready for the summer sportives over on our Twitter.

Cyclosport.org has been working hard to bring you some new and exciting features over the past few months. Now, you can export each (or all) of our events into your own work calendar to make sure you can effectively plan your events with other commitments. The new, and free service is compatible with Microsoft Outlook, Google Calendar and iCalendar. You can also now subscribe to our new, Cyclosport news feed, via RSS.

Hi, I'm David. I’m 46 years old, devilishly (ahem) good looking but I’ve popped on a few kilos over the last few months with end of year merriment. Follow me on my new Cyclosport blog where I receive top advice and testing from experts at F.I.T as I train for sportives this year such as the Tour of Flanders, Verenti Dragon Ride and The London-Paris Cycle Tour. This week, I'm assessing my goals and being analysed by Simon at F.I.T.

Southern Sportive are launching a brand new Sportive event concept on March 28th, with the first of their Sportive Training Days from Duncton on the South Downs. The sportive scene is becoming more sophisticated, and the Training Days are designed to cater for the growing number of riders who want to make smart performance gains in their riding.

Cyclosport blogger Howard Johnson looks back at his recent bike fit at RaceScene in Barnsley and discovers it's more than just choosing a bike he thinks will get on with him. What about his background? Did he have any medical conditions? Was he suffering from any injuries? What were his realistic expectations and goals? They're all questions the bike fitters attempted to take into consideration.

England and New Zealand rugby legends, Will Carling and Zinzan Brooke will be riding The London-Paris 2010, a professional event for amateurs which features rolling roads and full logistical support. Carling and his team will be riding for the international children’s charity Right To Play, which aims to improve the lives of the world’s children by using the power of sport and play for development, health and peace.

Traidcraft has announced that it is to sponsor the Northern Rock Cyclone Challenge sportive for the third year running – and that it’s looking for riders to raise cash to help people work their way out of poverty. The organisation will also be giving out its yummy Geobar fair trade cereal bars at feed stations on the 33, 63 and 104 mile Northern Rock Cyclone Challenge routes to give riders a tasty energy boost.

It’s fair to say that getting excited about a woolly hat is rather difficult. I was of that opinion, until I received the Etxeondo 3-in-1 Winter Hat, available from Prendas and as used by some bloke called Alberto Contador. With a drawstring at the top, it can act as a scarf, a neck and face buff as well as a winter hat. And it's rapidly becoming one of my favourite pieces of kit, writes Adam Tranter.

The Organisers of the Southern Sportive have announced a major new sportive for this summer. The Great Western Sportive on June 20th is the headline event of the Great Swindon Bike Ride weekend, and will stand alongside the Southern as one the seasons premier events, with a 2000 rider limit.

The Cyclosport.org team took a trip up to Manchester for the 50th Anniversary British Cycling Gala Dinner on Saturday 20th February. Along with Director Sven Thiele, Editor Adam Tranter and Administrator Jane Blanco was regular Cyclosport blogger Howard Johnson, who has this report of the evening’s shenanigans.

Specialized will be organising a new Sportive event in 2010 called the Specialized Silverstone Sportive. The multi choice distance challenge will be held at the Porsche Experience Centre and will start from the exclusive Porsche tracks next to Silverstone Formula 1 Grand Prix Circuit on July 4th, 2010.

VC10 is an exciting new internet based club formed to provide cyclists at every level with a club they feel is their own regardless of their location in the UK. VC10’s 66 mile and 100 mile Sportive is the one to ride if you are considering doing the Fred Whitton or the Etape this year. There is some serious climbing in the route. Plus there is a sting in the tail, one of the toughest climbs in the Chilterns, White Leaf Hill. The new sportive takes place on 18th April this spring.

The Sydenham Reliability that was meant to take place on Sunday 15th February had to be cancelled on the morning due to snow and poor weather conditions. The event is on rescheduled and will take place on Sunday 7th March. Hopefully next time the weather will be a lot better!

 

Mad March Hare

The Surrey Rumble

Puncheur

Kentish Killer

Ride It! - TCR

Hell of Ashdown


 

14/03 SWRC Spring Onion Sportive

14/03 Evesham & Dist Wheelers Reliability Trial

14/03 Harry Reynolds Spring Sportive

14/03 Jodrell Bank Cyclosportive

14/03 VC10 60 Mile Reliability Ride

20/03 Epic Cycles Spring Challenge

21/03 The Burgess Hill Springtime Classic Cyclosportive

21/03 Evans Cycles Ride it! - Harewood

28/03 The Verenti Cheshire Cat

28/03 Outdoors Show 100


 

UK Calendar

US Calendar

French Grand Trophee

Training Camps

Euro Classics

Medical Certificates


 

Jodrell Bank Cyclosportive

SWRC Spring Onion Sportive

The Verenti Cheshire Cat

Wiggle Super Series - New Forest Spring Sportive

PUNCHEUR Sportive

The Chiltern Dipper Sportive

Wiggle Super Series - South Downs 100 Sportive

The Burgess Hill Springtime Classic Cyclosportive

Cycle Club Luton Reliability Ride

The Surrey Rumble


 

Cyclosport.org Twitter Competition: Castelli Cervelo Test Team Kit

Cyclosport.org Wednesday Wallpaper

David Kirkby: Fitness and Training Blog Chapter 1

March Madness by Howard Johnson

Mad March Hare


 

Newbie !

Back in training

Luton Reliability Ride -100k

Costa Cold Mayo Training Camp

Out On The Hills Again

Still Climbing

Its been a while

UK Hills - Record your Best Time


 

NEW ROUTE MAPS JODRELL BANK CYCLOSPORTIVE

Facet joint injections

Bike upgrade or new bike?

Tour Ride in the South West

Entry for Etape du Dales for sale

Deep Rim wheels

Gearing for the Alps?

Space up for grabs in Dartmoor Classic

Mad March Hare

Spring gloves

Dragon Ride & Etape du Dales Entry Wanted

Surrey Rumble Accident


 

Cyclosport.org REVIEW: Etxeondo 3-in-1 Winter Hat

Cyclosport.org REVIEW: Le Col Clothing

Cyclosport.org REVIEW: Magnus Maximus Coffee

Cyclosport.org REVIEW: Garmin Edge 705

FIRST LOOK: BMC Street Racer SR01 (£1399.99)

Cyclosport.org REVIEW: Les mémoires du peloton 2010 Calendar

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Le Col Clothing

The Time Crunched Cyclist

Zinn & the Art of Road Bike Maintenance

Prepare for Any Bike Ride with Training Plans for Cyclists


 

David Kirkby: Fitness and Training Blog Chapter 1

Magnus Backstedt: Classic Cyclosportive Advice

Calling All Sportivers

Why not to stop?

Ten Tips for the Winter

Successful Sportives

2009 Starts Here!

Climb Like a Pro

Keeping Healthy

Season Recovery

Power Like a Pro

Energy Gels

 

The Verenti Cheshire Cat

Jodrell Bank Cyclosportive

Etape du Dales

The Chiltern Dipper Sportive

Verenti Dragon Ride Wales

Forest Of Dean Spring Classic

SWRC Spring Onion Sportive

Saddleback Fred Whitton Challenge

The Surrey Rumble

Lakeland Loop


 

La Marmotte

Paris-Roubaix Cyclosportive

Tour Of Flanders (De Ronde van Vlaanderen)

Etape 2010 - Ride a stage of the Tour de France

Tilff-Bastogne-Tilff

Kelloggs Tour Of Ireland Cycling Challenge

Amstel Gold

Milan SanRemo

La Ronde Picarde

Maratona dles Dolomites


 

Climbs of Europe

Virtual Pyrenees

Virtual Alps

Grenoble Cycling Pages

OCD Cyclo Climbing

The Mountain Site

The Bike Show

Dave Rayner Fund

UCI Golden Bike

Cycling Hall Of Fame

Climb By Bike

Met Check

100 Cols Club

Cycling Cols

Flamme Rouge

Mike Cotty

Etape.org.uk