A NEW cycling sportive is coming to Salisbury with the hope of raising money for the Salisbury and District branch of the Samaritans.

SAMS Ride is taking place on Sunday, May 17, and the team behind the project say that they have listened to the views of experienced cyclists to help make the event a success.

Organiser Matthew Gimlette said: “Not only have our organising team participated in many Sportives ourselves, but we took the advice of British Cycling as to what really made a good event.

“The key elements that came out were a friendly atmosphere, a variety of attractive well signed routes to suit the challenges of allcomers and good facilities at the Ride HQ and Rest stations.”

The event will include three courses, 25, 50 and 100 miles, with instructions, maps and .gpx files all available online.

There will be mechanical and medical support, male and female toilets, and a wellstocked range of snacks and drinks at the rest stations and a hot lunch for all at the finish.

All riders are additionally encouraged to open a fund raising page to supplement the money they raise.

The event hopes to go towards the £70,000 needed to keep the Salisbury branch open.

For more information email info@samsride.co.uk.