2018 Sportives

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Discussion

flight147z

960 posts

128 months

Tuesday 13th February 2018
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I might make this my first of 2018: http://www.sportive.com/events/igloo-sportive/2018...

Pretty cheap and not far from home. Anyone done it?

Chicken Chaser

Original Poster:

7,744 posts

223 months

Wednesday 14th February 2018
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MOBB said:
As a chubby complete newbie, I'm doing the Starley sportive in Coventry this weekend, just the 30 mile one as a taster
Excellent. Great distance to start, by the summer you'll be into the medium distance i'm sure. Best of luck with it.

MOBB

3,575 posts

126 months

Wednesday 14th February 2018
quotequote all
Chicken Chaser said:
MOBB said:
As a chubby complete newbie, I'm doing the Starley sportive in Coventry this weekend, just the 30 mile one as a taster
Excellent. Great distance to start, by the summer you'll be into the medium distance i'm sure. Best of luck with it.
Cheers :-)

BigBen

11,610 posts

229 months

Wednesday 14th February 2018
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Maracus said:
Chicken Chaser said:
Ace, I saw that and would love to have a crack at it one day. Not cheap though and I'd never get the sponsorship.

Please provide a diary if you can when you do it. I'm sure plenty of here would be interested.
Have a look at http://www.great-bear-tours.co.uk/.

Carl is a great guy. I've been with him on a LEJoG and to the French Alps and Swiss Dolomites.
Seconded on recommending Carl. I did LeJog with him a few years back.

For those that are interested here is my Blog from that trip http://bigbenslejogblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/

Ben

flight147z

960 posts

128 months

Wednesday 14th February 2018
quotequote all
BigBen said:
Seconded on recommending Carl. I did LeJog with him a few years back.

For those that are interested here is my Blog from that trip http://bigbenslejogblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/

Ben
Good read, I'm enjoying reading other peoples experiences before I do it myself!

idiotgap

2,112 posts

132 months

Thursday 15th February 2018
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Ha ha, hadn't pictured you on a bike Ben - great read!
There's a surprisingly big overlap between the barge and pedal communities on here.

So far this year I've done the Old Portlians Reliability Trial. I've signed up for the Burgess Hill Springtime classic in March and the Tonbridge Castle (epic 124 miler) in May.

R1gtr

3,423 posts

153 months

Thursday 15th February 2018
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Just the Loch Ness Etape in the calendar so far, it's in April tho which is a bit early for my liking, especially since I have done next to no miles thru winter!

Amateurish

7,696 posts

221 months

Thursday 15th February 2018
quotequote all
flight147z said:
I might make this my first of 2018: http://www.sportive.com/events/igloo-sportive/2018...

Pretty cheap and not far from home. Anyone done it?
I've done it. Fun but cold. Make sure you have a low gear, some of those hills are steeeep.

BigBen

11,610 posts

229 months

Thursday 15th February 2018
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I have signed up for this one this year

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%A4tternrundan


Pot Odds

287 posts

235 months

Thursday 15th February 2018
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I thoroughly enjoyed the Wiggle French Revolution last year - wife and mates wife colluded on our xmas presents which was nice. Weather as always can make or break a ride and we were blessed on the day:

https://youtu.be/uSTfYxV6L1w

https://youtu.be/znxjiepXa74

Have already put together a schedule of the local north hampshire / surrey borders charity sportives such as:

https://www.fleetcycling.org.uk/fleet_flyer/

https://3ccr.org

http://www.farnhambikeride.org.uk

Hoping to also get away to France for 3 days either in the Alps or the Pyrenees.

Its good to have some rides to look forward tosmile

Gruffy

7,212 posts

258 months

Thursday 15th February 2018
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Anybody doing the Spring Classics this year? I rode http://www.parisroubaixchallenge.com/en/ last year and that was spectacular. I got to race a closed-off Arenberg Trench again in the evening for a special event. Hard enough when you can see where you're going. Another level altogether when it's pitch black and you're three beers in hehe

The blog from that weekend: A glorious weekend in Hell.



Edited by Gruffy on Thursday 15th February 22:37

yellowjack

17,065 posts

165 months

Thursday 15th February 2018
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Pot Odds said:
I thoroughly enjoyed the Wiggle French Revolution last year - wife and mates wife colluded on our xmas presents which was nice. Weather as always can make or break a ride and we were blessed on the day:

https://youtu.be/uSTfYxV6L1w

https://youtu.be/znxjiepXa74

Have already put together a schedule of the local north hampshire / surrey borders charity sportives such as:

https://www.fleetcycling.org.uk/fleet_flyer/

https://3ccr.org

http://www.farnhambikeride.org.uk

Hoping to also get away to France for 3 days either in the Alps or the Pyrenees.

Its good to have some rides to look forward tosmile
You can't be too far away from me in Farnborough then.

I've not been a fan of sportives thus far. Nothing specific against them, I just haven't seen the need to book and pay for a ride on a specific date when I can happily organise and navigate myself 160+ miles on a day when the weather better suits riding!

But I'm coming around to the idea of joining in one or two events, and something off this wee list of yours might be just the ticket, as I'll be able to ride from home to the start and back. I've just got to get organised now, and actually commit to one of them! Maybe see you there...

remedy

1,635 posts

190 months

Friday 16th February 2018
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yellowjack said:
You can't be too far away from me in Farnborough then.

I've not been a fan of sportives thus far. Nothing specific against them, I just haven't seen the need to book and pay for a ride on a specific date when I can happily organise and navigate myself 160+ miles on a day when the weather better suits riding!

But I'm coming around to the idea of joining in one or two events, and something off this wee list of yours might be just the ticket, as I'll be able to ride from home to the start and back. I've just got to get organised now, and actually commit to one of them! Maybe see you there...
I was and sort of still am of the same mindset. I'm not a huge fan of riding with others and prefer to push myself, as well as take up less space on the road. However, I thoroughly enjoyed finding a group that rode at my pace when I did last year's Tempest. I have changed my opinion on sportives but am still not a fan of general group riding on the road.
A cycling friend of mine cajoled me into signing up for the RB next week and I'm glad he did. I'm sure I would have found a reason not to do it otherwise.

Pot Odds

287 posts

235 months

Friday 16th February 2018
quotequote all
remedy said:
yellowjack said:
You can't be too far away from me in Farnborough then.

I've not been a fan of sportives thus far. Nothing specific against them, I just haven't seen the need to book and pay for a ride on a specific date when I can happily organise and navigate myself 160+ miles on a day when the weather better suits riding!

But I'm coming around to the idea of joining in one or two events, and something off this wee list of yours might be just the ticket, as I'll be able to ride from home to the start and back. I've just got to get organised now, and actually commit to one of them! Maybe see you there...
I was and sort of still am of the same mindset. I'm not a huge fan of riding with others and prefer to push myself, as well as take up less space on the road. However, I thoroughly enjoyed finding a group that rode at my pace when I did last year's Tempest. I have changed my opinion on sportives but am still not a fan of general group riding on the road.
A cycling friend of mine cajoled me into signing up for the RB next week and I'm glad he did. I'm sure I would have found a reason not to do it otherwise.
Im similar but prefer to routinely ride with 1 or 2 other buddies to keep longer rides social etc. Having a few dates in the diary helps keep us committed to do a ride at a certain date/time and this helps with general motivation throughout the year. We did a C2C towards the end of last year and by having a schedule of rides planned (self organised and sportive) this helped build fitness so that when we arrived at the C2C it was more enjoyable.

The fleet flyer should be good to get me motivated to get in some miles beforehand if i aim to do the 84.

Pot Odds

287 posts

235 months

Friday 16th February 2018
quotequote all
Gruffy said:
Anybody doing the Spring Classics this year? I rode http://www.parisroubaixchallenge.com/en/ last year and that was spectacular. I got to race a closed-off Arenberg Trench again in the evening for a special event. Hard enough when you can see where you're going. Another level altogether when it's pitch black and you're three beers in hehe

The blog from that weekend: A glorious weekend in Hell.

Edited by Gruffy on Thursday 15th February 22:37
I have to say that Paris-Roubaix has a certain romance and allure for me after reading 'To Hell on a Bike' by Iain McGregor last year as well as your hugely enjoyable blogs - one day smile

Harpoon

1,859 posts

213 months

Friday 16th February 2018
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I've entered the Tour de Yorkshire Sportive again this year - long route which is 129km. Don't know the climbs, so expecting a couple of leg burners. Entered on the early-bird pricing, but otherwise I think it's pricey at £50 for open roads.

Will also enter the Nova Raiders Router 66 (http://www.novaraiders.org.uk/route-66) again. Rode to/from the start to make it a 100 mile day out. Good value at £17 with two water stops and one food stop.

Chicken Chaser

Original Poster:

7,744 posts

223 months

Friday 16th February 2018
quotequote all
Harpoon said:
I've entered the Tour de Yorkshire Sportive again this year - long route which is 129km. Don't know the climbs, so expecting a couple of leg burners. Entered on the early-bird pricing, but otherwise I think it's pricey at £50 for open roads.

Will also enter the Nova Raiders Router 66 (http://www.novaraiders.org.uk/route-66) again. Rode to/from the start to make it a 100 mile day out. Good value at £17 with two water stops and one food stop.
That's the issue I have with Sportives. I know that a few years ago, there seemed to be a glut of Sportives where organisers saw the £££s and simply printed a few way markers and set up a couple of stalls on the route with stuff close to its sell by date. A lot seem to have fallen away for the better events, but at £50 for open roads, thats still pretty expensive for a ride which is close by and can be done on any given date. I dont mind riding with others, and in these events you can fall into a good group if you're prepared to work hard. Its always better to get up the road and tag onto a group going past rather than catching up with one going slower.

Harpoon

1,859 posts

213 months

Friday 16th February 2018
quotequote all
Chicken Chaser said:
That's the issue I have with Sportives. I know that a few years ago, there seemed to be a glut of Sportives where organisers saw the £££s and simply printed a few way markers and set up a couple of stalls on the route with stuff close to its sell by date. A lot seem to have fallen away for the better events, but at £50 for open roads, thats still pretty expensive for a ride which is close by and can be done on any given date. I dont mind riding with others, and in these events you can fall into a good group if you're prepared to work hard. Its always better to get up the road and tag onto a group going past rather than catching up with one going slower.
Agreed. Some of the USP for the TdY Sportive are a little thin IMHO...

TdY said:
Ride the same roads as the pro race
Finish on the Tour de Yorkshire finish line
Yorkshire style support through the towns and villages
Mechanical support like the pros
Medical support
Sweep vehicle for those who cannot complete the route
Energy products provided at feed stations
Electronic chip timing
Results texted to you as you cross the line
Finisher's medal
Finishing on the race finish line last year was cool but probably 30 seconds of the whole day. The second feed station was small and a right bun fight to pick anything up.

Edited by Harpoon on Friday 16th February 13:56

wobert

5,009 posts

221 months

Friday 16th February 2018
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If you swap “Sportive” for “Audax” you get similar for quite a lot less money, plus the added benefit that most provide a hot meal at the finish!

Most of the ones I’m looking at for this year are no more than £10!

ALawson

7,814 posts

250 months

Saturday 17th February 2018
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Also doing Fleet Flyer (mile from the house), Farnham Charity rides (probably both).
Ride London.

Doing Hell of Ashdown tomorrow.

Will be doing one of the Dragon Ride, either 240 or 305km.