2018 Sportives

[idiotgap]

Good luck with HOTA! it covers a lot of my local challenging bits.

[ALawson]

Pain locker from the first 10km, great event.

Well marshalled and a cracking route, even if some locals removed some signs.

Legs feel as bad as after Marmotte, that's training for you.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1414282718/overv...

[Rolls]

I didn't think HOTA was actually that bad... Weather was nice, only 1 bit of ice on the whole ride, and a very pretty route!
Hogstrough was a bit of a pain in the ass towards the end, but thought it would be worse tbh (and i've not done any proper length rides for the best part of a year because of Little Rolls arriving!)

[ALawson]

I think chest infection a fortnight ago didn't help. Ironman GP i know reckons I should exceed 140hr for a maximum session of 45min!

All good stuff.

[ukbabz]

I've yet to sign up to any sportives on the road this year. I did one of the evans ride it MTB sportives in Newbury in January (wished I didn't due to the weather). Last year managed quite a few but the prices do seem to be creeping up, along with the numbers, without any real benefit improvements.

However, I am doing a London to Paris ride in June - aiming to complete in 24hr's with a friend and a group he rides with. They've even arranged a mechanical support van to come with us :-)

I'll probably sign up to a couple of longer sportives on the build up to it as training but the weather at the moment isn't helping motivation.

[Sk00p]

Missed Ride London again. Looking for a longer MTB event to go ride

This is a possible

https://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/events/27th-may-201...


Any other longer MTB events in the South anyone could recommend?

[wobert]

Signed up to Ride Clwyd as the rest of my FB group are doing it.

Local roads for me, although the route takes in some roads I’ve not been down before....

[Goosey-itr]

Not a road person myself but got into MTB stuff nearly 2 years ago and went a bit mental last year, thought i was going to die on a couple of rides

So moors and shores adventure cross again 1st https://www.ukcyclingevents.co.uk/events/moors-and...
Dyfi Enduro http://www.dyfievents.com/events/dyfi-enduro/
Boltby Bash Enduro, fell off 4 times last year https://www.boltbybashenduro.com/
Ard Rock Enduro, finish this with luck or air ambulance http://www.ardrockenduro.co.uk/
Wild boar challenge, local ride for charity https://www.wildboar-challenge.co.uk/
Lakeland Monster Miles, was really looking to try my biggest distance last year but i ruined my ankle so had to cancel https://www.ukcyclingevents.co.uk/events/lakeland-...
Top of the Rock Sportive https://www.suttonbankbikes.co.uk/top-of-the-rock/

Might do some others but nothing planned, the pennine event last year had some stunning views but too much hilly tarmac for my liking.
Thought this would be cheaper than motorsport but clearly i was wrong

[gifdy]

Signed up for my first ever Sportive this year, the wiggle Mega Meon in July. Might try to find another one before that if I can find something nearby in Hampshire.

[hyperblue]

What was going to be my first sportive of the year, Haywards Heath Howler, this weekend has been cancelled (surprisingly!).

Have signed up for Velo South (100 mile closed roads) as something to aim for over the summer.

[lauda]

I signed up for the new Velo South event today. Really looking forward to it as it will be my first ride on closed roads. I’m not looking forward to hitting Harting Hill at 90-odd miles.

Last time I rode it was only about 20km into a tri ride and it nearly killed me.

[Nikolai]

Just signed up for velo south too. Bit steep but never done a closed road and a 2yr old son means a selfish holiday to a European sportive is not going to happen. Couldn't stomach the car park charge, hope parking nearby won't be too bad...

[lauda]

Nikolai said:

Just signed up for velo south too. Bit steep but never done a closed road and a 2yr old son means a selfish holiday to a European sportive is not going to happen. Couldn't stomach the car park charge, hope parking nearby won't be too bad...

I didn't pay for the parking either. £25 - talk about a piss-take!

There's loads of public car parking in Chichester city centre and it's only about a 5-10 minute ride from the centre out to the Goodwood circuit so you'll be fine. There is some free on-road parking if you know where to look but the long-stay car parks are £3 for over 4 hours on a Sunday.

[Dannbodge]

Also signed up for Velo South.

Don't need to worry about parking (Luckily), I live in Portsmouth so the wife will drop me off/pick me up

[Chrisgr31]

I am doing the Velo South as well, did the Birmingham one last year, and sort of enjoyed it! Did sign up for parking, mainly as it came with the very expensive option which saves registration the day before. For Birmingham registering day before was fine as I stayed up there, for Velo South I am the other side of Sussex and dont fancy driving all that way on both Saturday and Sunday but am too close to stay!

[Sierra Mike]

If you're in the North East, this is a good one. I'm a novice rider and did it for the first time last year. Thoroughly enjoyable.

http://www.cyclonecycling.com/

[ALawson]

I will be doing the SWRC Mayflyer circa 100m sportive this weekend.

Fingers crossed for some decent weather.

http://www.swrc.org.uk/mayflyer-sportive/

[ShortShift811]

Struggle The Dales for me in a couple of weeks:

https://ridethestruggle.com/products/struggle-dale...

I'm a regular rider, and local, so I'm familiar with lots of the terrain. Completed a few flat centuries last year, but this will be the toughest, hilliest one by some distance.

109 miles. Just under 10K feet of climbing. Nice.

A final training ride on Thursday to test the legs and make sure I've got what it will take...

[flight147z]

I did the Lincoln GP Sportive last weekend. First century for 3 years.

The Nottingham Sportive is next month - might enter that one too

[murray]

Doing day 3 of the Tour of Wessex then this http://www.tourdeljuguete.com/en/home the following week. Hopefully good training for the etape du tour.