South Downs Spring Sportive

[neilbauer]

I'm doing the 61 mile middle route on Sunday as my first Sportive, is anyone else doing this event?

[neilbauer]

Bike oiled, extra bottle cage fitted, new small bag filled with tubes leavers pump and tool, energy gels x4 (one an hour) big pasta meal tonight. I think I'm ready

[S10GTA]

Rode part of it today. The road between the A272 and Steep is closed, but passable by bike.

[neilbauer]

Really looking forward to it



Bike ready.

Edited by neilbauer on Saturday 16th May 19:03

[neilbauer]

[Gruffy]

All that R&D time spent in the wind tunnel, honing helmet, shoes and bike to slippery heights. Then the sportive organisers ask you to fix a parachute to your stem.

[neilbauer]

It does look massive in a hat pic lol

[Zigster]

I did the Epic (85 miles) today. A bit slower than I had hoped at 6 hours but it was a lovely day so my mate and I took it easy and enjoyed the views. I enjoyed it - well organised and a good route, although the Epic loop got a bit hilly!

[neilbauer]

There were more hills that I was expecting especially after the first feed stop but as you say lovely day and well organised and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was 1.21 minutes outside a silver which was a shame, but all the medals are the same colour so don't really care

[Nutter99]

I road the standard route. Managed a bit under 4 hours - so quite pleased with that. Beautiful day, if a bit breezy in places.

[Zigster]

And the difference in weather compared with today ...

Aside from the odd breeze yesterday, the weather was near perfect. Today: cold, wet, windy, ... Six hours on a bike today would have been less enjoyable.

The friend who encouraged me to do this (it was my first sportive) now wants a return visit to one local to him: http://www.action.org.uk/essex-100

[neilbauer]

Yes lousy today, the guy I did mine with has another two or three lined up and said yesterday's wasn't too hilly before we did it then after said it's more hilly than I remember, hmm lol