Sportive ... 60 or 100 miles
Sportive ... 60 or 100 miles
Author
Discussion

JEA1K

Original Poster:

2,747 posts

252 months

Wednesday 13th March 2013
quotequote all
I'm going to enter into my first sportive this year which is on 4th May and am considering the 60 miler (which doesn't really phase me) or the 100 miler (which does phase me!).

Its local to me and I really fancy pushing myself but don't want to fall apart, so should I go for it or just take the first one stead and do the lower mileage?? Thoughts appreciated.

benny.c

3,775 posts

236 months

Wednesday 13th March 2013
quotequote all
Go for the 100 thumbup

I did my first one last year and until about 8 weeks before I'd done no more than around 35 miles (for at least 10 years anyway). Just gradually increase the mileage in the lead up and I'm sure you'll be fine smile

GaryGlitter

2,287 posts

212 months

Wednesday 13th March 2013
quotequote all
What mileage are you covering on a normal ride at the moment? I did a 70 mile audax last October, previous max ride distance was 50 mile so it was a bit of a jump but still covered it easily.

I'm signed up for the AMR Peak 100 at the end of June, gone for the 105 mile option which will probably kill me but hey-ho!

JEA1K

Original Poster:

2,747 posts

252 months

Wednesday 13th March 2013
quotequote all
benny.c said:
Go for the 100 thumbup

I did my first one last year and until about 8 weeks before I'd done no more than around 35 miles (for at least 10 years anyway). Just gradually increase the mileage in the lead up and I'm sure you'll be fine smile
I'm tempted but need convincing. biggrin

Got 5 weeks to train and similarly have only managed rides of up to 45 miles this yr, hence why I think the 100 might break me!

Rob_T

1,916 posts

280 months

Wednesday 13th March 2013
quotequote all
Personally I would go for the 60 miler but at an aggressive pace. I find 100 miles boring towards the end. The last 20 miles I'm just riding to finish and the enjoyment factor has gone away. 60 miles represents a good opportunity to really push yourself. Having said all that I'm doing a couple of 100 milers shortly.

Tallow

1,633 posts

190 months

Wednesday 13th March 2013
quotequote all
It depends how much training you plan to do. I did my first of each last year. The 60 was pretty straightforward, despite being much hillier than the 100.

I did the 100 miler 2 days after returning from several weeks in China, consequently with next to no preparation or training. It was significantly harder to do the extra miles, but the first 60 were pretty easy.

If you do a few weeks prep beforehand, I think the 100 is fairly readily achievable. If you don't prepare, you might find fatigue kicks in for the latter stages of the event, which completely saps any fun out of the process.

bert11

286 posts

207 months

Wednesday 13th March 2013
quotequote all
Rob_T said:
Personally I would go for the 60 miler but at an aggressive pace. I find 100 miles boring towards the end. The last 20 miles I'm just riding to finish and the enjoyment factor has gone away. 60 miles represents a good opportunity to really push yourself
yeah me too

scubadude

2,619 posts

226 months

Wednesday 13th March 2013
quotequote all
JEA1K said:
Got 5 weeks to train and similarly have only managed rides of up to 45 miles this yr, hence why I think the 100 might break me!
How hilly is it?

I've done 60's that where practically flat (less than 1000ft climbing) where you can hit the whole thing with maximum attack and be finished mid morning and I've done 60's with eternal climbs, one after another that break you down to mush and spit you out a broken man :-)

If the 100 is less than 2000ft of climbing you should be okay with a bit of training and taking your time and good food and drink.

If the 60 is 5000ft+ be afraid :-)

benny.c

3,775 posts

236 months

Wednesday 13th March 2013
quotequote all
JEA1K said:
I'm tempted but need convincing. biggrin

Got 5 weeks to train and similarly have only managed rides of up to 45 miles this yr, hence why I think the 100 might break me!
If you can already do 45 then 60 wont be much of a push I'd have thought (subject to terrain, pace etc obviously). For what it's worth, for my training I did a few quick 20 mile rides in the week with a longer one at the weekend, adding about 10 miles per week. I can't remember the last ride I did before the 100 but it was around 85 miles IIRC. I can see the attraction in doing a good, fast 60 but it's a nice feeling doing a century, especially if like me you don't regularly do long rides.

JEA1K

Original Poster:

2,747 posts

252 months

Wednesday 13th March 2013
quotequote all
Its fairly hilly with the 60 miler being 4,500ft + - and the 100 miler 6,300ft + -.

Its local to where I live so I ride some of the roads presently ... maybe I'll give both of them a try beforehand.

itsnotarace

4,685 posts

238 months

Wednesday 13th March 2013
quotequote all
Enter the 100 and see how your legs feel on the day, you can always bail and do the short route if required

JEA1K

Original Poster:

2,747 posts

252 months

Wednesday 13th March 2013
quotequote all
itsnotarace said:
Enter the 100 and see how your legs feel on the day, you can always bail and do the short route if required
Yeah I don't think the routes run entirely together so if I bail, it could be game over for both.

Here is the route for the 100 miler. http://www.pockpedal.co.uk/#!mega-route/c23e9

GaryGlitter

2,287 posts

212 months

Wednesday 13th March 2013
quotequote all
Could be worse, this is what I've signed up for:

http://www.mapmytracks.com/events/action-medical-r...

itsnotarace

4,685 posts

238 months

Wednesday 13th March 2013
quotequote all
Assuming the routes are run anti clockwise it looks like the mega route splits from the midi route just before Welham around the 35 mile mark, so it should be ok

JEA1K

Original Poster:

2,747 posts

252 months

Wednesday 13th March 2013
quotequote all
GaryGlitter said:
Could be worse, this is what I've signed up for:

http://www.mapmytracks.com/events/action-medical-r...
wobble 8,817ft ... ouch! I hope you're training is more advanced than mine is.

GaryGlitter

2,287 posts

212 months

Wednesday 13th March 2013
quotequote all
JEA1K said:
wobble 8,817ft ... ouch! I hope you're training is more advanced than mine is.
Last weekend was 50 mile with 3500ft total climb, biggest single climb was about 720ft and just over 2 miles long. Like I said, it's gonna kill me.

JEA1K

Original Poster:

2,747 posts

252 months

Wednesday 13th March 2013
quotequote all
When is it?

It just comes down to the time for me. I have a weeks holiday next week so will be away snowboarding so unable to use a bike, then its 5 weeks away. If it was a couple of months, i would sign up for the 100 as I'd be more confident of getting the miles on the bike beforehand.

GaryGlitter

2,287 posts

212 months

Wednesday 13th March 2013
quotequote all
End of June, the clock is ticking.


DrMekon

2,493 posts

245 months

Thursday 14th March 2013
quotequote all
Audaxes start properly at 200km. The youngest person to do a 200km is a 9 year old girl.

Meditate on that, then pick the 100 miler.

GaryGlitter

2,287 posts

212 months

Thursday 14th March 2013
quotequote all
DrMekon said:
Audaxes start properly at 200km. The youngest person to do a 200km is a 9 year old girl.

Meditate on that, then pick the 100 miler.
The problem there is that an audax doesn't have a broom wagon, whereas at lot of sportives do.