Just how competitive are sportives ?

[Broadside]

Booked in for a 105 miler at end of April. 10,000 ft of climbing......doh

Holy Moly! Straight for the tough stuff, what ride is that?

 

[derrick]

It's what you want it to be, when i do them i try to get a good time for the distance i am doing, got our first one in May, i hope to be faster this year.

 

[Doyleyburger]

Holy Moly! Straight for the tough stuff, what ride is that?

Tour of Pembrokeshire. 26th April I think........
Need to throw myself into it as much as I can as I'm cycling from London to Paris in September for my chosen charity

 

[coffeejo]

I did a sportive last year and at the start one of the organisers said "now remember it's not a race ... we can't afford the insurance".

I did an audax the following week and at the start one of the organisers said "see you back here for cake".

 

[Doyleyburger]

Very well organised I thought yesterday. All corners and turns were clear and a cake stop after 16 miles. Best part ....2k raised for Marie Curie

 

[Andrew_Culture]

I've not done an Audax yet (but plan to) but Sportives do make me smile. I have a very well loved but very cheap and battered metal bike and somewhere near the 'getting knackered' part of the ride I cheer myself up by doing one of two things:

Finding someone descending (preferably in aero tuck) on a £5k+ bike and using my considerable weight / gravity to build up speed and coast past them sitting upright, looking bored.

Tagging onto the end of a chain gang (preferably a chain gang wearing team kit) and calling out to ask if I can tag along while I'm sat upright absent-mindedly trying to find something in my pockets.

Neither activity is remotely sustainable but a little bit of reverse snobbery can be most cheering when morale is down. I'm not carbonist, some of my best friends ride plastic bikes

 

[MickeyBlueEyes]

Finding someone descending (preferably in aero tuck) on a £5k+ bike and using my considerable weight / gravity to build up speed and coast past them sitting upright, looking bored.

Tagging onto the end of a chain gang (preferably a chain gang wearing team kit) and calling out to ask if I can tag along while I'm sat upright absent-mindedly trying to find something in my pockets.

I wish there was a double-like button for these, excellent humour

 

[MickeyBlueEyes]

Booked in for a 105 miler at end of April. 10,000 ft of climbing......doh

Good man, no messing about, straight in for the ton.

 

[Doyleyburger]

Good man, no messing about, straight in for the ton.

Whether ill be ready for it is the real question though
Most iv done is 70

 

[MissTillyFlop]

I got my first ever sportif on Sunday and to be honest I'm not sure what to expect. .....
Are they generally competitive or just a good excuse for cyclists to get together for a spin ?

Although not a huge course, I would like advice on how to approach the 45 miler ahead of me....

I find it a real mix to be honest, if you're up front, thrn yes, probably quite competitive. I am usually... not at the front (haha) but not at the back either and usually end up having at least a couple of good, long chinwags xxx

 

[SquareDaff]

Don't get sucked into setting off at too high a pace at the start, then end up sufferring towards the end. Better to pace yourself early on, then after the 1st 20 miles if you feel in really good condition gradually increase the pace. You'll pass most people that set off like a scalded cat this way!

 

[Donger]

I've not done an Audax yet (but plan to) but Sportives do make me smile. I have a very well loved but very cheap and battered metal bike and somewhere near the 'getting knackered' part of the ride I cheer myself up by doing one of two things:

Finding someone descending (preferably in aero tuck) on a £5k+ bike and using my considerable weight / gravity to build up speed and coast past them sitting upright, looking bored.

Tagging onto the end of a chain gang (preferably a chain gang wearing team kit) and calling out to ask if I can tag along while I'm sat upright absent-mindedly trying to find something in my pockets.

Neither activity is remotely sustainable but a little bit of reverse snobbery can be most cheering when morale is down. I'm not carbonist, some of my best friends ride plastic bikes

Reminds me of a BHF chaity ride I once did in the Cotswolds with a mate who came all the way from Birmingham only to turn up wearing a coat and trousers and carrying a big bag of butties. His bike was clattering and complaining even before the starting line, and we soon slumped to the back of the field as he struggled with his gears. Just before one of the scheduled feeding stops we were overtaken by a little groupette of very fit looking spray-tanned lycra wearers on expensive racers who had stopped off at a pub. My mate suddenly speeded up in the casual bolt upright position, loudly asking "did someone say chips?" as he flew past the lot of them apparently effortlessly. Briefly reminded me of the tortoise and the hare......except of course the hare won. - and we ended up taking over 6 hours to do 40 miles!

 

[MickeyBlueEyes]

Whether ill be ready for it is the real question though
Most iv done is 70

You'll be ready physically, it's mentally where it can be lost. I did a 195 miler in summer of 2012, the furthest I'd done previous to this was an 83. I was attempting a 227 miler but I lost my concentration and focus a bit which made me lose the pace and rhythm. Once this had gone a knee niggle came in and there was no way I was making the full distance. I'm thinking of going back this summer for another shot at it.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Reminds me of a BHF chaity ride I once did in the Cotswolds with a mate who came all the way from Birmingham only to turn up wearing a coat and trousers and carrying a big bag of butties. His bike was clattering and complaining even before the starting line, and we soon slumped to the back of the field as he struggled with his gears. Just before one of the scheduled feeding stops we were overtaken by a little groupette of very fit looking spray-tanned lycra wearers on expensive racers who had stopped off at a pub. My mate suddenly speeded up in the casual bolt upright position, loudly asking "did someone say chips?" as he flew past the lot of them apparently effortlessly. Briefly reminded me of the tortoise and the hare......except of course the hare won. - and we ended up taking over 6 hours to do 40 miles!

Hero!

 

[bigjim]

Are they all bling bikes on Sportives then?