First Sportive

[Ice2911]

just booked myself onto my first sportive, 70 miles. Been doing 40mile rides and have 6 weeks to get up to that distance. Just loving being out on my bike. Any advice?

 

[vickster]

Ride your bike, safely and enjoy. It's not a race you'll be fine to ride 70 in 6 weeks if 40 is comfortable. Just remember to eat and drink regularly. And know how to fix potential mechanicals

 

[vickster]

Oh and if it's on open roads, remember traffic rules still apply

 

[Shaun]

The 70 will probably feel like 40 if you've got company to ride with and you take it steady. May the day be dry, the sun shining, and the winds non-existent ...

 

[mjr]

Watch out for any nobber calling it a race or trying to scalp people and let them get out of your way. Learn the esoteric hand signals for potholes and moving left/right (several variants, not only the Brutish Cycling ones). Don't take it too seriously.

 

[helston90]

Take your time and enjoy it! So much build up, training, planning and anticipation, then 5 hours later its done and you are back in the car!

Which one have you signed up to?

 

[Ice2911]

Take your time and enjoy it! So much build up, training, planning and anticipation, then 5 hours later its done and you are back in the car!

Which one have you signed up to?

Spring Saddle Portive at Newmarket. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Ice2911]

The 70 will probably feel like 40 if you've got company to ride with and you take it steady. May the day be dry, the sun shining, and the winds non-existent ...

I like your thinking and I hope it's like that as well

 

[screenman]

Go flat out from the start, ride on the wrong side of the road, get in others people's way whilst riding erratically, throw as much rubbish away as possible.
Have lots of excuses as to why you could have gone faster, drive the 3 miles to the start to save yourself for the race!

Have fun and be aware if others doing the above.

 

[Dirk]

It's just like any other ride.
Apart from having to pay to ride on public roads.

 

[vickster]

If you use gels or energy bars, take the bloody wrappers home with you or stop and put them
in a bin!

 

[NorthernDave]

If you're already doing 40 mile rides, you'll be able to do 70 miles, just keep getting in the riding time and do it at your own pace and don't get tempted / caught up in any of the silly 'racing' nonsense that sometimes goes on with those jockeying to be in the first wave out. Don't be afraid to take a break at the food station and top up your energy levels.
And take a couple of spare tubes and the knowledge of how to change them if you need to.

 

[mjr]

If you use gels or energy bars, take the bloody wrappers home with you or stop and put them
in a bin!

And tubes and CO2 canisters and patch wrappers and any bits of broken bike... take only photographs and leave only wheel tracks.

 

[cyberknight]

If you're already doing 40 mile rides, you'll be able to do 70 miles, just keep getting in the riding time and do it at your own pace and don't get tempted / caught up in any of the silly 'racing' nonsense that sometimes goes on with those jockeying to be in the first wave out. Don't be afraid to take a break at the food station and top up your energy levels.
And take a couple of spare tubes and the knowledge of how to change them if you need to.

Indeed there can be some riders who are in a real rush and if your not used to group riding it can be a shock when a group comes past full bore about a foot from your bars .

 

[Lee gg]

just booked myself onto my first sportive, 70 miles. Been doing 40mile rides and have 6 weeks to get up to that distance. Just loving being out on my bike. Any advice?

Don't go down the lance armstrong route, ha ha seriously you will complete that.