UK Sportives had their day?
Discussion
After the announcement that the sportive company Kilo To Go have recently filed for Insolvency, do we think UK Sportives are on the decline? I noticed the prices started to increase last year and wondered how much people would pay.
Is it possible that over that past few years, as more people have come to the sport, they've moved on to cycling clubs and no longer feel the need to pay for a day out in the hills?
Nonetheless it's pretty disappointing to all those who've lost money as a result.
Is it possible that over that past few years, as more people have come to the sport, they've moved on to cycling clubs and no longer feel the need to pay for a day out in the hills?
Nonetheless it's pretty disappointing to all those who've lost money as a result.
Signed up for Velothon Wales, only thing that's stopping me abandoning it is the closed roads, all a right hassle to sign on & now messed people about that wanted the shorter route as well, I'm not bothered about that but it's upset a lot of people it will only put them off thinking of doing it again.
For many of them I too struggle to see the appeal.
Closed roads is different, and I can see the appeal of things like Paris Roubaix/Flanders etc - I'm doing Leige next week, but mainly for the booze. I can not really see the draw to paying £25 to ride round Surrey for a few hours, you can do that whenever.
I'm convinced that for many it's about the competition and if they got rid of the stupid timed segments and gold/silver/bronze times and just made them purely fun/participation events we would see more people join clubs and get their competitive kick in an actual race.
Closed roads is different, and I can see the appeal of things like Paris Roubaix/Flanders etc - I'm doing Leige next week, but mainly for the booze. I can not really see the draw to paying £25 to ride round Surrey for a few hours, you can do that whenever.
I'm convinced that for many it's about the competition and if they got rid of the stupid timed segments and gold/silver/bronze times and just made them purely fun/participation events we would see more people join clubs and get their competitive kick in an actual race.
That's a real shame, their sportives are very good in my experience. I hadn't booked for the Cheshire Cat this year, but in previous years despite indifferent weather at times due to it being late March it was excellent especially being very local to me. Had always fancied trying their Flat Out in the Fens and Tour of the Peak events. Echoing some of the comments on Cycling Weekly though, be interesting to know where the money has gone, surely it's a low overhead, up front payment business model.
For many people, they are a great introduction to the sport. It's also a good training target, not everyone has the time or inclination to train sufficiently to give racing a shot so sportives offer a nice way of achieving a goal. I've done a few to ride new places and meet friends, these days I'd rather spend the money on a train ticket somewhere and ride back. I don't belittle anyone who chooses to do them though, each to their own.You could argue there is no point in track days either, there's nothing to win etc but thousands prefer it to actual racing.
Sportives, put simply, are not for seasoned road racers. You don't get it because you're not supposed to get it!, you'd be out of place and hate it.
Sportives, put simply, are not for seasoned road racers. You don't get it because you're not supposed to get it!, you'd be out of place and hate it.
Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 16th April 13:13
pablo said:
For many people, they are a great introduction to the sport. It's also a good training target, not everyone has the time or inclination to train sufficiently to give racing a shot so sportives offer a nice way of achieving a goal. I've done a few to ride new places and meet friends, these days I'd rather spend the money on a train ticket somewhere and ride back. I don't belittle anyone who chooses to do them though, each to their own.You could argue there is no point in track days either, there's nothing to win etc but thousands prefer it to actual racing.
I think that's a bad analogy. With track days, you're paying for closed circuit, wagon in case you crash, track hire etc. On a sportive you're paying for........Some out of date gels every 30 miles..........that's it.
I think a better comparison is something like going to the Evo triangle for the morning hoon, or someone coming along and asking for £10 to go round it.
Fair point, it's not the best analogy. i know people who spend thousands to make a track car as fast as it can be without ever wanting to race whereas some racing drivers are racing on a shoestring....
I jut don't get the snobbery, I'm not sure racing drivers look down on track day drivers quite like some cyclists who race look down on those who prefer sportives.
I do follow one guy on Twitter who describes himself as "a good sportive cyclist" which makes me cringe but after all, it's just cycling and people spending money on kit, in shops etc etc isn't a bad thing.
I jut don't get the snobbery, I'm not sure racing drivers look down on track day drivers quite like some cyclists who race look down on those who prefer sportives.
I do follow one guy on Twitter who describes himself as "a good sportive cyclist" which makes me cringe but after all, it's just cycling and people spending money on kit, in shops etc etc isn't a bad thing.
Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 16th April 13:22
I think I can see the Gran Fondo market growing in place of the sportive market, I've never taken part in a sportive because I don't see the point in paying for a ride on open roads.
Closed road events like the Tour of Cambridgeshire though I do see the appeal of. (having taken part in last years and entered this years) If it wasn't closed roads I definitely wouldn't have bothered!
Closed road events like the Tour of Cambridgeshire though I do see the appeal of. (having taken part in last years and entered this years) If it wasn't closed roads I definitely wouldn't have bothered!
I don't look down on people that do them. It's the delusion that they're 'racing' that often prompts a few digs.
Sportive organisers have pandered to this with the grading and timed segments and such. Personally I think there should be no timed element to them, sure time yourself but I don't think it should mean anything at the end of the event.
What most don't realise is that if they joined a club they could have the same enjoyment every weekend with other riders for free. This bulls
t that gets spouted about clubs being intimidating is rubbish IMO.
I ride with people I met 5 years ago, they're not in my club now but I still ride with them and we have fun.
Sportive organisers have pandered to this with the grading and timed segments and such. Personally I think there should be no timed element to them, sure time yourself but I don't think it should mean anything at the end of the event.
What most don't realise is that if they joined a club they could have the same enjoyment every weekend with other riders for free. This bulls
t that gets spouted about clubs being intimidating is rubbish IMO. I ride with people I met 5 years ago, they're not in my club now but I still ride with them and we have fun.
I'm sure some people do start racing after sportives. Rightly or wrongly, the pseudo competitive edge applied to a sportive by the organisers gives some people a buzz and they then go on to race having found they quite like it.
The fastest times at most wiggle sportives will be categorized racers, seems like expensive training ormaybe it's bragging rights I don't know but it amuses me that they have such fragile egos they need to prove themselves against chubby dads like me!
The fastest times at most wiggle sportives will be categorized racers, seems like expensive training ormaybe it's bragging rights I don't know but it amuses me that they have such fragile egos they need to prove themselves against chubby dads like me!
Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 16th April 14:24
I did a couple and really enjoyed them, pay the money and ride a nice route, no hassle about where to go and avoiding certain areas.
When I used to ride out on my own, I'd struggle with places to go, with these, it's all sorted for you and the rides are great fun (including drink stops and freebies)
When I used to ride out on my own, I'd struggle with places to go, with these, it's all sorted for you and the rides are great fun (including drink stops and freebies)
Not everyone wants to race, and not everyone wants to commit to a club where you may ride 2 or 3 times a week.
I've done a few, and some have been a lot better than others. The Dartmoor Classic was a great day out, really friendly, marshalls were great, route was lovely and pretty hard.
I love the Legs of Steel, but it is smaller than most sportives and I would say attracts people who are more serious about their cycling. I'm not racing anyone else that is doing it, I'm pushing myself as hard as I can for 3 and a bit hours. Most of my longer bike rides I focus on the endurance side of it, keeping going, rather than blitzing sections.
I've done a few, and some have been a lot better than others. The Dartmoor Classic was a great day out, really friendly, marshalls were great, route was lovely and pretty hard.
I love the Legs of Steel, but it is smaller than most sportives and I would say attracts people who are more serious about their cycling. I'm not racing anyone else that is doing it, I'm pushing myself as hard as I can for 3 and a bit hours. Most of my longer bike rides I focus on the endurance side of it, keeping going, rather than blitzing sections.
I've done a few now. I like them. I'm almost 50 and they give me a chance to compare myself (badly!) with others over a distance. They also provide a motivational incentive - TR throughout the winter has been with the intention of completing several this summer.
I can't see the appeal for those who race, but for fat blokes who are trying to get thinner, they represent a good opportunity to feel part of a bigger ride (and also for me at least, the 'proof' that the training has been worth it).
I can't see the appeal for those who race, but for fat blokes who are trying to get thinner, they represent a good opportunity to feel part of a bigger ride (and also for me at least, the 'proof' that the training has been worth it).
I'm not suggesting racing bikes is for everyone, but what would be the barrier to joining a local club for the folks above, there is no commitment with most of them beyond maybe helping out with a couple of events a year or similar, you then have 50-500 people to ride with and explore new routes with?
Most of the ones I do are fundraising events for local stuff, one is for our youth's scout group, one for a local cycling academy, one of the off-road ones is organised by a church, funds raised go towards the running and upkeep of the church. These I approve of.
I've tried others, but as said, you don't get much for your money, and some of the riding is shocking, including me being flattened by most of the group I was in when I stopped at a mini roundabout as there were a few cars waiting to cross our path, most of the riders just plowed across against priority.
I've tried others, but as said, you don't get much for your money, and some of the riding is shocking, including me being flattened by most of the group I was in when I stopped at a mini roundabout as there were a few cars waiting to cross our path, most of the riders just plowed across against priority.
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