Triennial Veterans’ Rides
Triennial Veterans’ Rides – or ‘Tri-Vets’ as they’re affectionately known – have been organised by our member groups since Cycling UK’s 50th anniversary in 1928. They are aimed at people aged 50 and over and take place every three years.
The rides are popular social events, with hundreds of cyclists taking part all over the UK. The rides are fun and non-competitive, with participants having 12 hours to complete a 100-mile ride; some groups also offer a 100km route to be more inclusive.
They often include tea, coffee and lunch stops, following lovely routes through pleasant countryside on quiet roads.
I absolutely loved today’s cycle. There was a real buzz about the whole event, which I think helped us all cycle faster over that distance than we thought possible
Advice for putting on your Tri-Vets ride
Tri-Vets rides are designed to be fun, informal events accessible to all riders aged 50 or above. They’re open to Cycling UK members and non-members. They are organised by our member groups. If this is your first time organising a Tri-Vets, here are some tips.
- If possible, plan routes that avoid main roads and are not too hilly
- If you can, offer both 100-mile and 100km route options to make the ride accessible to riders of all abilities
- Include refreshment stops and a lunch break; plan refreshments every 20-25 miles
- Organise participants into small groups of around 10-12 riders, ideally grouped by ability
- Volunteer ride leaders, backmarkers and marshals will ensure the groups stay together and no one gets lost; ideally they should be experienced riders who know the route
- Provide a route sheet, map or GPX file, available to access before the ride and on the day
- A figure-of-eight route with the start and finish points at the same place and the same venues for breaks will help keep riders on track and ensure no one is too far from base
I asked someone why it was held was once every three years – they wryly suggested that was enough time to forget what it was like to cycle the 100 miles! I appreciate the humour, however I would have no hesitation in doing another Tri-Vets
Tri-Vets 2025
The next Tri-Vets takes place in 2025. Rides will run throughout June and July. Groups are encouraged to organise their own rides and add them to their groups pages in the usual way, remembering to select ‘Tri-Vets’ in the Event Series.
Reward your riders
Editable certificates can be downloaded for groups to give to entrants on the event day. Tri-Vets badges and date bars will be available to order for groups to award to participants after the event.
Contact us
If you’re interested in organising an event for 2025, please contact the membership team for more details. Call us on 01483 238300 or email us at [email protected]. You can also download the registration form and our organisers’ guidelines.
