Sportives - are they out of control?

[400bhp]

I was leafing through Cycling Plus yesterday, and they had some 'top sportive riders' giving advice about how to prepare ahead of a 'big race'. It made me laugh. A sportive is nothing like a bike race.

+1. That mag is getting odder.

 

[Hip Priest]

+1. That mag is getting odder.

It's terrible. Just a big advertising supplement aimed at the cycling-is-the-new-golf set.

 

[400bhp]

It's terrible. Just a big advertising supplement aimed at the cycling-is-the-new-golf set.

Absolutely spot on. So so true.

Have you noticed the subtle introduction of Decathlon stuff

 

[Hill Wimp]

I did an all female Sportive today in the New Forest. Only saw a couple of bits of daft riding and overall it was good but there were a few that insisted on riding 2-3 abreast and kept getting hooted at by cars and wondering why.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

I did an all female Sportive today in the New Forest. Only saw a couple of bits of daft riding and overall it was good but there were a few that insisted on riding 2-3 abreast and kept getting hooted at by cars and wondering why.

Impatient or illinformed driver who thinks riding 3abreast is illegal?

 

[Linford]

I agree that it is not either/or. I just get a little bit fed up with calls for cycling to put its house in order lest drivers and/or wider society take against us. It is such a mote beam issue that our side of it is almost insignificant.

The bottom line is that there a 2 different types of cyclist. One which has had some sort of train in road craft, and plays the game, and the other sort who has learned ride a bike but is an accident waiting to happen and either ignores the obvious dangers which they create to themselves and others around them, or just doesn't see them.

 

[Hill Wimp]

Impatient or illinformed driver who thinks riding 3abreast is illegal?

It is if the conditions don't allow for it.

Riding dangerously or carelessly
If a cyclist is on a ‘road’ (that includes a pavement on a public highway) and is riding dangerously or carelessly, they are committing an offence under sections 28 and 29 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, as amended.
The definition of ‘dangerous cycling’ given in section 28 is if the way one rides “rides falls far below what would be expected of a competent and careful cyclist, and it would be obvious to a competent and careful cyclist that riding in that way would be dangerous”. In this context, “dangerous” refers to danger either of injury to any person or of serious damage to property. What would “be obvious to a competent and careful cyclist” in a particular case includes not only the circumstances of which he could be expected to be aware but also to any circumstances shown to have been within the knowledge of the accused.
The definition of ‘careless and inconsiderate cycling’ given in section 29 is that “if a person rides a cycle on a road without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road, he is guilty of an offence”.
The maximum fine for dangerous cycling is £2,500 and for careless or inconsiderate cycling it is £1,000. It is also an offence under section 31 of the 1988 Act for a person to promote or take part in an unauthorised race or trial of speed of cycles on public highways. It is an offence to cycle through red traffic lights under section 36 of the Act.

They were not being considerate to the drivers coming face on and behind, in effect they were blocking the road. The drivers were not being impatient at all.

 

[jdtate101]

I think that starting to ride a bike in groups is also a bit like starting out your driving career. You tend to act rashly and a bit of a tit until you have an accident or close shave, then you calm down a bit and behave.

 

[User6179]

It is if the conditions don't allow for it.

Riding dangerously or carelessly
If a cyclist is on a ‘road’ (that includes a pavement on a public highway) and is riding dangerously or carelessly, they are committing an offence under sections 28 and 29 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, as amended.
The definition of ‘dangerous cycling’ given in section 28 is if the way one rides “rides falls far below what would be expected of a competent and careful cyclist, and it would be obvious to a competent and careful cyclist that riding in that way would be dangerous”. In this context, “dangerous” refers to danger either of injury to any person or of serious damage to property. What would “be obvious to a competent and careful cyclist” in a particular case includes not only the circumstances of which he could be expected to be aware but also to any circumstances shown to have been within the knowledge of the accused.
The definition of ‘careless and inconsiderate cycling’ given in section 29 is that “if a person rides a cycle on a road without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road, he is guilty of an offence”.
The maximum fine for dangerous cycling is £2,500 and for careless or inconsiderate cycling it is £1,000. It is also an offence under section 31 of the 1988 Act for a person to promote or take part in an unauthorised race or trial of speed of cycles on public highways. It is an offence to cycle through red traffic lights under section 36 of the Act.

They were not being considerate to the drivers coming face on and behind, in effect they were blocking the road. The drivers were not being impatient at all.

Sounds like to many riders bunching up , pedal for Scotland was like this but the roads were quite empty of cars so was not much of a problem.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

Sounds like to many riders bunching up , pedal for Scotland was like this but the roads were quite empty of cars so was not much of a problem.

a few suzuki 650s though

 

[Boris Bajic]

Yes they do seem to be taking off quite well, and the demand is outstripping supply. But please don't call them a race, how can we get the general public to accept them as a "run ride" (same concept as the fun runs I used to take part in), if we (the people who should know) refer to them as races.

I know nobody who does sportives who does not tacitly accept that they are races. They are races.

That is why people call the races.

As some very astute poster above said, there are plenty of club runs for people who want a group ride that is not a race.

One day the bubble will burst and supply will again outstrip demand, but for now there is a market for these races and nature (and commerce) abhor a vacuum.

 

[DRHysted]

I know nobody who does sportives who does not tacitly accept that they are races. They are races.

That is why people call the races.

As some very astute poster above said, there are plenty of club runs for people who want a group ride that is not a race.

One day the bubble will burst and supply will again outstrip demand, but for now there is a market for these races and nature (and commerce) abhor a vacuum.

Well now you know there is at least one who doesn't call it a race, There are many others that I know who don't think it's a race, and that includes organisors.
But then that is because Sortives are not races!

 

[Berties]

Three events in the new Forest yesterday ,and other than the weather was a great day saw no littering,even poked my head in at another food stop and was offered a drink whilst waiting for catch up,I always descend with care and respect and give it beans in open areas ,I did see a rider not bother to slow for animals,the ponies are curious and do come towards you and the sheep congregate in the road,dropping speed for 20 seconds won't affect your time,I still kept a good average time,and still took time to pose for piccies with the black donkey!and tea with the other riders

 

[Dusty Bin]

I know nobody who does sportives who does not tacitly accept that they are races. They are races.

That is why people call the races.

As some very astute poster above said, there are plenty of club runs for people who want a group ride that is not a race.

One day the bubble will burst and supply will again outstrip demand, but for now there is a market for these races and nature (and commerce) abhor a vacuum.

If they were actually 'races' then they would come under the 'Cycle Racing on the Highways Regulations, 1960' - but they don't. If they did come under those regulations, most of the sportive organisers would go out of business overnight. Most, if not all, sportives do not in any way conform to those regs and most sportive organisers are very careful to avoid references to 'racing' - because if they did, the police and the local BC region would be down on them like a ton of bricks.

Start calling them races - start making the organisers run them under the same rules and regs that real races have to abide by - and watch the organisers quietly disappear.

 

[Boris Bajic]

If they were actually 'races' then they would come under the 'Cycle Racing on the Highways Regulations, 1960' - but they don't. If they did come under those regulations, most of the sportive organisers would go out of business overnight. Most, if not all, sportives do not in any way conform to those regs and most sportive organisers are very careful to avoid references to 'racing' - because if they did, the police and the local BC region would be down on them like a ton of bricks.

Start calling them races - start making the organisers run them under the same rules and regs that real races have to abide by - and watch the organisers quietly disappear.

That is the sound of a nail being hit on the head. Dead centre. Very hard.

But they are races (literally) in all but name.

If a few participants buy into the flannel about them not being races, that's lovely and should be commended. But it is still flannel.