Zwift Chat

[CXRAndy]

I've never done anything but would really like to. This kind of event - relatively entry level, seems reasonable. Was also looking at the Lincoln 262 - longer but supposedly very flat.

Pete, I would be holding off on these big rides for 6-12months until, you have strengthened your riding. No disrespect intended, but trying long rides before your body has become accustomed can give you strain injuries. Keep extending your rides, fine tuning your bike fit(position) until you're at 5+ hours without discomfort(pain).

By the way, Lincolnshire isn't really flat, it is compared to Yorkshire, but there are the Wolds which have some steep climbs, Id be surprised if a big route like that didn't take in the Wolds too

 

[CXRAndy]

The Tour of Cambridgeshire is definitely worth doing at least once. Loads of the folks on here have previously done it and some have deferred entries for this year as you'll have seen. I've done it three times; once as a 100 miler, twice as an 80 miler (back in the days when that was the longest option).

The whole closed roads thing has certainly spoiled me though - I'm now not interested in travelling far for any sportive that's not closed road; it really makes a lot of difference.

One thing I will say though is that one of the major selling points of the ToC of the course being super flat so you can go really fast; that isn't actually all that appealing to me now I've done it a few times. Those 30-40 miles in the middle of the Fens were the most boring part and if you hit a headwind at the wrong time, you're stuck with it with no place to hide for ages. If I do go back and do it again in 2023 or 24, I'll probably do one of the shorter routes that skips that middle section - but you should do the full course at least one time.

Its the time for me to get superfit to be (in my tiny universe) fast enough to do myself justice. I'd probably just do the mid range sportive- I have certain misgivings though. Last time I did it, the feed stops were shocking. Completely disorganised, water was in short supply and food rapidly running out.

I've got an invitation to do a Lincs sportive mid May. Im awaiting routes to see if its interesting. If IOW happens too they might be back to back weekends.

 

[bridgy]

The Tour of Cambridgeshire is definitely worth doing at least once. Loads of the folks on here have previously done it and some have deferred entries for this year as you'll have seen. I've done it three times; once as a 100 miler, twice as an 80 miler (back in the days when that was the longest option).

The whole closed roads thing has certainly spoiled me though - I'm now not interested in travelling far for any sportive that's not closed road; it really makes a lot of difference.

One thing I will say though is that one of the major selling points of the ToC of the course being super flat so you can go really fast; that isn't actually all that appealing to me now I've done it a few times. Those 30-40 miles in the middle of the Fens were the most boring part and if you hit a headwind at the wrong time, you're stuck with it with no place to hide for ages. If I do go back and do it again in 2023 or 24, I'll probably do one of the shorter routes that skips that middle section - but you should do the full course at least one time.

I agree, the closed road part of TOC is great - nice atmosphere going through villages with people sat outside their houses to cheer you on. At least you feel like you're getting something significant for your entry fee, which is more than I can say for some other sportive events. As you say, it's relatively flat too so probably not a bad choice of event for a first "big ride".

I've done it in 2018 and 2019. In 2018 it was 80 miles, and 2019 100 miles. Both years quite warm and I didn't stop at the food stops at all either time - you tend to get dragged into following a group for the draft and then you don't want to stop and lose your group! Also, because of the terrain, the closed roads, and drafting in groups it's quite fast - not the 8/9 hour slog of the hilly Brecon Beacons Sportives (3.5 hours in 2018 and 5 hours in 2019)

In 2018 I got really dehydrated and got awful cramp with about 5 miles to go. Had to stop and then limp home. 2019 I took more water but still ran out and was saved by a family by the road outside their house offering to refill water bottles. That 2 minute stop did wonders for me and I finished in much better shape - but I remember catching up with Tommy soon after (who'd somehow got separated from me and Lee and gone ahead with a slightly faster group) who was at the side of the road in agony with cramps himself!

In 2019 there was really strong side and headwinds in the exposed flat sections which also really took it out of you.

I still enjoyed it though - but I'll be taking even MORE water this time

 

[bobinski]

I've never done anything but would really like to. This kind of event - relatively entry level, seems reasonable. Was also looking at the Lincoln 262 - longer but supposedly very flat.

I say go for it. You don't have to be uber fit. Just fit enough. You have 6 months to get ready. You are youngish, hugely motivated at the moment and good to have something to aim for. Ignore the naysayer below

 

[steverob]

Its the time for me to get superfit to be (in my tiny universe) fast enough to do myself justice. I'd probably just do the mid range sportive- I have certain misgivings though. Last time I did it, the feed stops were shocking. Completely disorganised, water was in short supply and food rapidly running out.

Yeah, 2019 was poorly organised. At the last two stops (if you were riding towards the back like me anyway) there was either no food, or it was being rationed - I got one tiny brownie, whereas in previous years you could load up with pocketfuls of stuff. And the only water was from a garden hose to fill up your bottles and you had to queue 20 minutes to get that.

But as all the previous years had been so well organised, I thought that maybe they were allowed one little blip and hopefully they'd learn from it - my plan was to give it a few more editions, check what people who rode have said about it, then re-enter (or not) based on those reviews. Of course there hasn't been another event since then, so I guess I'll have to wait until after this year's to find out!

In 2019 there was really strong side and headwinds in the exposed flat sections which also really took it out of you.

2016 and 2019 I really got hit hard by the winds in the Fens, although from completely opposite directions. '16 it was a headwind on the 4 mile long straight up to Pondersbridge, while '19 it was a tailwind there, but 20 miles later once you'd done the big loop, it hit you in the face then instead! One minute you're cruising at a 17-18 mph average, the next it's like your struggling through treacle barely able to hit 12.

2017 the wind really only affected the early rolling section of the course and unsurprisingly, that was the year where I did my best average speed and even when crossing the finish line I still felt reasonably fresh.

 

[Sittingduck]

Oh wow.....my stage 2 better be on zwiftpower as my screen crashed after I looped round again to freewheel down. Someone commented that the same happened to them. I will be devastated! Nearly died and sub 60 min up the alpe...I think. Least I have a screenshot so my time is this minus a little bit. Devastated

A workout is a workout I guess but I'll be a bit miffed it that's not on Strava or zeift as a marker

View attachment 626643

It's a known bug but thought it was fixed about 3 months ago with an update, apparently not. Is this on ATV?

 

[berty bassett]

Bloody horrible pancake flat mind meltingly boring straights into violent headwinds - even though I am the one with memory issues , you lot are looking at it thru rose tinted glasses - it’s horrible - standing at side of road thinking , well that’s it - I’ve bust my body ! And having to be coaxed back in by Paul , seeing fellow comrade in agony further down the road (😁oops I mean ☹️) - only good thing was the free beer at end
I hate the fens

 

[berty bassett]

Thanks for sorting this out Al 👍
Pete - flat routes are very appealing but take it out of you just cos there’s no rest like on turbo , no freewheeling down a hill - if you feel you can do it , go for it !
Maybe have a back up plan in reserve though

 

[straas]

I haven't done many sportives because I'm a bit tight - and it can seem a bit pointless on open roads vs just going out with a club.

But

The tour de manc a few years back had an incredible feed stop offering; proper sandwiches, hot pies, scones with clotted cream and jam, bananas, gels, then a pint and a pie at the end. Only 170km with 2600m elevation though.

Really appreciated the proper food - the year before I did a wiggle sponsored event and it was all gels and sugar at the feed stops, felt absolutely awful at the end.

 

[steverob]

I don't know if anyone on here has tried to cross off as many of the hills in Simon Warren's 100 Climbs books as they can - I think @Joffey might have been from memory?

Anyway, have just seen that he's got a new entry out (although only in the app, not in book form) called X-Climbs. It's all about the hidden and unheralded climbs around the country - the ones that you might know about as a local, but aren't as famous or well travelled as the ones in his first two books.

Looked at the list and found that there were four in my neck of the woods and I'd already done them all! Considering there was only one near me in the first 100 list and just one more in the second book, it was nice to see some recognition for my area. I think the previous lack of climbs listed is because the Chilterns has so many similar hills and few of them stand out as particularly notable over the others - imagine filling up a pro-cycling team with only domestiques.

Now to work out a route that encompasses them all so that if we ever do get round to doing a CC meetup in Bucks/Herts/Beds, I'll have something to frighten even the most intrepid of climbers on here!

 

[steverob]

Bloody horrible pancake flat mind meltingly boring straights into violent headwinds - even though I am the one with memory issues , you lot are looking at it thru rose tinted glasses - it’s horrible - standing at side of road thinking , well that’s it - I’ve bust my body ! And having to be coaxed back in by Paul , seeing fellow comrade in agony further down the road (😁oops I mean ☹️) - only good thing was the free beer at end
I hate the fens

Yeah, that's the reason why if/when I do it again, I'd be quite happy to skip the flat loop and just do the 70-75 mile course that's mainly rolling and fewer boring straight roads!

Still for me, the gold standard for closed road events is now Etape Loch Ness. Bit of a faff getting up to Inverness with a bike, but the ride is just wonderful.

 

[bridgy]

Bloody horrible pancake flat mind meltingly boring straights into violent headwinds - even though I am the one with memory issues , you lot are looking at it thru rose tinted glasses - it’s horrible - standing at side of road thinking , well that’s it - I’ve bust my body ! And having to be coaxed back in by Paul , seeing fellow comrade in agony further down the road (😁oops I mean ☹️) - only good thing was the free beer at end
I hate the fens

I quite enjoyed the scenery 🤷‍♂️

Rose tinted spectacles - probably. But the same could be said of the Double Devil and I keep going back for more of that too!

 

[Norry1]

I really enjoyed the ToC both times I did it.

This year I will have to do the 70 mile route - because I'm racing in the 60-65 Age Group. I'd prefer to do the 100 miler but heyho.

 

[Joffey]

I don't know if anyone on here has tried to cross off as many of the hills in Simon Warren's 100 Climbs books as they can - I think @Joffey might have been from memory?

Anyway, have just seen that he's got a new entry out (although only in the app, not in book form) called X-Climbs. It's all about the hidden and unheralded climbs around the country - the ones that you might know about as a local, but aren't as famous or well travelled as the ones in his first two books.

Looked at the list and found that there were four in my neck of the woods and I'd already done them all! Considering there was only one near me in the first 100 list and just one more in the second book, it was nice to see some recognition for my area. I think the previous lack of climbs listed is because the Chilterns has so many similar hills and few of them stand out as particularly notable over the others - imagine filling up a pro-cycling team with only domestiques.

Now to work out a route that encompasses them all so that if we ever do get round to doing a CC meetup in Bucks/Herts/Beds, I'll have something to frighten even the most intrepid of climbers on here!

Yeah, I'm trying to complete as many as I can. Saw the new option in the app - my mate bought it and sent me the locations and none are near me so I won't be buying the add on. Then again we have enough close by so we shouldn't be greedy!

 

[CXRAndy]

I really enjoyed the ToC both times I did it.

This year I will have to do the 70 mile route - because I'm racing in the 60-65 Age Group. I'd prefer to do the 100 miler but heyho.

You looked fresh as a daisy Martin🌷. Then there were what, five of us, looking thoroughly beaten up with the heat