Are sportives competitive?

[Andy_G]

My first one in April too. it wasn't going to be competitive but one of my colleagues from work has just signed up for it too, so there will now be a little bit of needle

Which one are you doing, im doing the ride it Woking on.

 

[ACS]

Don't know I never been close enough to the lead riders to find out.

 

[Spartak]

I rode the 'Ronde Picardie' sportif in France last September, and unlike British sportifs it was a mass start on 'initially' closed roads, so this lead to the feel of a race from the off !
Once you seperated out into small groups it was then your decision to stick with them or attempt to jump across to the next group.

It was a great ride and I managed to post my fastest time for a sportif - 80 miles in 4 hours 9 mins
( Probably helped by every junction being controlled by marshalls, therefore allowing you to keep moving at a fast pace, unlike here where you have to abide by the laws of the road )

 

[Phil485]

Wiggle one in the New forest 60 miles. 15/16 April

 

[MattHB]

Wiggle one in the New forest 60 miles. 15/16 April

Me too. I did the standard last year as my first one ver, going to do the epic this time. Hope the weathers better this year, last year we had snow north of ringwood!

 

[ianrauk]

Im doing my first proper sportive in 7 weeks, its a 95 mile ride so im hoping its not competitive because ill be fubar.

It will be as competitive as you want it to be.
If you want to race others, then do so.
If you want just to pootle along at your own pace. Then do so.

Remember it's not a race rather then a timed circuit.

 

[Rob3rt]

Not really no (other than beating a personal aim) and there will not be a bunch sprint at the end. It will just be a load of people of varying abilities riding the distance. Some people will try to complete in a "fast" time but it is NOT a race and finishing fast won't count toward anything other than your own list of personal goals.

You won't get any points on your race license, you don't even get to list your time on a time trial entry form, well you can write it on there if you want, but they will just treat it as a "no time" and assume you to be slow.

 

[DCLane]

I rode the 'Ronde Picardie' sportif in France last September, and unlike British sportifs it was a mass start on 'initially' closed roads, so this lead to the feel of a race from the off !

The Brian Robinson Challenge ride in Huddersfield has a closed road mass start; 75 miles of hills.

I did it in April last year, but probably won't be doing this year's.

 

[Wigbank]

Myself along with 8 of my work mates are doing the utoxiter 76 mile sportive 21st April.

 

[gavroche]

The only sportive I do has only one rider, no entry fee,varying circuit lenght according to my mood, occurs according to the weather and is definitively not competitive.

 

[frank9755]

If they are not competetive why are they timed,

People can behave very competitively in a non-competitive event. Just look here at the Bike Radar commuter racing stuff. But a competitive event requires that the other people compete back!

 

[Mapster1989]

I'll probably set off wanting to race with all the adrenaline...

...then end up dying on my arse wishing I hadn't.

 

[billy1561]

I and my mates try and better previous years times, but if any of us puncture then we all stop together before regrouping and starting over. We all attempt the hills to our best ability then wait at the top for the rest to catch up. Usually me!

 

[Wigbank]

I and my mates try and better previous years times, but if any of us puncture then we all stop together before regrouping and starting over. We all attempt the hills to our best ability then wait at the top for the rest to catch up. Usually me!

Can I come riding with you lot please? :-)

 

[dan_bo]

To answer:

No. Yes.