Please explain the attraction of sportives...
Discussion
Having returned after being involved in the traditional disciplines of roadracing, time trialling and track, with a bit of mtb summer series and winter 'cross, I'm struggling to get my head round the current fixation wih sportives. What is the appeal of parting with 30 quid to toddle round on public roads that can be ridden for free? Im guessing there must be much more to it than fat business men on easy geared comfi-racers 'competing' for placcie medals? Wouldn't these guys be better off joining a club chain-gang and racing as vets in the local handicaps when fitness permits?
You (usually) get:
- a well-researched route (usually off the main roads)
- a well marked route with arrows by each junction (no need for expensive GPS systems or stopping to read a map)
- Water and food stops (no having to go to shops and buy stuff)
- Many other people of varying ability to ride with
- Ride in pelotons or on your own, or a bit of both
- Meet new people and have a good natter
- Be with a bunch of like-0minded paiple out for some organised fun
You could always do an Audax, as they are usually cheaper, but you don't get a signposted route or food stations. Chacun a son gout.
Saying that, the last sportive I did (2 weeks ago) was only £15. The last race I did (2 days ago) was £18.
- a well-researched route (usually off the main roads)
- a well marked route with arrows by each junction (no need for expensive GPS systems or stopping to read a map)
- Water and food stops (no having to go to shops and buy stuff)
- Many other people of varying ability to ride with
- Ride in pelotons or on your own, or a bit of both
- Meet new people and have a good natter
- Be with a bunch of like-0minded paiple out for some organised fun
You could always do an Audax, as they are usually cheaper, but you don't get a signposted route or food stations. Chacun a son gout.
Saying that, the last sportive I did (2 weeks ago) was only £15. The last race I did (2 days ago) was £18.
i think its a lot to do with the organisation. sure they are roads you ca neride any other day of the year but when there is access to changing facilities, chip timing, food stops and a well thought out route but really its just about the camaraderie and the fun of it. its a big achievement as most are centuries too.
plus you can get a new bike as a treat!
plus you can get a new bike as a treat!
From the ones I've done and talking to people there, the appeal is for busy people to do some hassle-free riding on decent roads somewhere different from usual. And they're more like £10, not £30.
The alternative is obtaining mapping for your chosen area, spending hours poring over maps to build a route, then likely end up on dual carriageways and farm tracks rather than decent tarmac. Then either buying a GPS to help you round or stopping every 10 mins to check the map.
That or learning all the etiquette so you can ride with a bunch of sour-faced, leg-shaving grumps who'll probably drop you half way round anyway.
The alternative is obtaining mapping for your chosen area, spending hours poring over maps to build a route, then likely end up on dual carriageways and farm tracks rather than decent tarmac. Then either buying a GPS to help you round or stopping every 10 mins to check the map.
That or learning all the etiquette so you can ride with a bunch of sour-faced, leg-shaving grumps who'll probably drop you half way round anyway.
Muzzlehatch said:
You (usually) get:
- a well-researched route (usually off the main roads)
- a well marked route with arrows by each junction (no need for expensive GPS systems or stopping to read a map)
- Water and food stops (no having to go to shops and buy stuff)
- Many other people of varying ability to ride with
- Ride in pelotons or on your own, or a bit of both
- Meet new people and have a good natter
- Be with a bunch of like-0minded paiple out for some organised fun
^^all this, plus mechanical support on the route via an emergency phone number, and a cleanup wagon that follows round to make sure everyone gets back safely. There will also be medical support (St Johns) and even sports massages at the finish line on some events!- a well-researched route (usually off the main roads)
- a well marked route with arrows by each junction (no need for expensive GPS systems or stopping to read a map)
- Water and food stops (no having to go to shops and buy stuff)
- Many other people of varying ability to ride with
- Ride in pelotons or on your own, or a bit of both
- Meet new people and have a good natter
- Be with a bunch of like-0minded paiple out for some organised fun
Some sportives are better organised than others of course. Although I don't take part myself, I do attend 2 or 3 sportives per month as a photographer and the majority of participants really enjoy themselves
Muzzlehatch said:
Saying that, the last sportive I did (2 weeks ago) was only £15. The last race I did (2 days ago) was £18.
Judging by your profile location I am guessing Evans King of the North Downs? Was a great day, weather was good and the scenery was lovely. I was on Zig Zag Hill most of the dayitsnotarace said:
Muzzlehatch said:
Saying that, the last sportive I did (2 weeks ago) was only £15. The last race I did (2 days ago) was £18.
Judging by your profile location I am guessing Evans King of the North Downs? Was a great day, weather was good and the scenery was lovely. I was on Zig Zag Hill most of the dayIn PH terms, I tend to think of a Sportive as a "trackday". Organised fun for people wanting to explore their personal limits without worrying about competition.
Road racing is enormous fun, but much harder work, even on flat circuit courses, due to the intense accelerations and mental focus required. Plus it's much more dangerous than a Sportive. In the sprint for the line on Sunday's race at Goodwood, there was a crash taking out 5 people, 2 of whom were taken away in ambulances
. It happened behind me, so I didn't know about it until I'd done the warm down lap and saw the 2 chaps lying down on their backs with broken bikes scattered around. I guess 80 people doing 35mph an inch apart from each other is a recipe for such an incident, but we all like to think it won't be us.Muzzlehatch said:
Road racing is enormous fun, but much harder work, even on flat circuit courses, due to the intense accelerations and mental focus required. Plus it's much more dangerous than a Sportive.
Sadly, this is pretty much what I'd expected the answer to encapsulate. Heaven forfend that anyone actually expects to take a risk or put in any effort for their sport these days... It's cycling Jim but not as we know it Pupp said:
Muzzlehatch said:
Road racing is enormous fun, but much harder work, even on flat circuit courses, due to the intense accelerations and mental focus required. Plus it's much more dangerous than a Sportive.
Sadly, this is pretty much what I'd expected the answer to encapsulate. Heaven forfend that anyone actually expects to take a risk or put in any effort for their sport these days... It's cycling Jim but not as we know it Not everyone likes competing.
The trackday analogy isn't bad either - I'm sure plenty of race drivers wonder why trackdays are attractive. I like trackdays because I can't afford the time or money required to race.
Pupp said:
Muzzlehatch said:
Road racing is enormous fun, but much harder work, even on flat circuit courses, due to the intense accelerations and mental focus required. Plus it's much more dangerous than a Sportive.
Sadly, this is pretty much what I'd expected the answer to encapsulate. Heaven forfend that anyone actually expects to take a risk or put in any effort for their sport these days... It's cycling Jim but not as we know it Everyone has their priorities in life. Hell, I can only fit in 1 ride a week, so if I'm going to do a century ride, it has to be a sportive rather than a road race. Sure, I can do a dig off the front of a 4th cat event, but I simply don't have the depth of fitness required to maintain that for doing 3rds and upwards.
Besides, any other spare training time I have, I do a 10k run or a 1.5k swim in preparation for the occasional triathlon.
And to think I only do all this as a way to stay fit for motor racing!
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