First Sportive tomorrow......should i take.....
First Sportive tomorrow......should i take.....
Author
Discussion

E38Ross

Original Poster:

36,729 posts

242 months

Friday 26th July 2013
quotequote all
My Camelbak.

Now, i've got bottles and cages to carry 1.5 litres of fluid with me, and there will be 3 drink stations with food (e.g. flapjack, bananas etc) throughout the route. If going for that distance on my own, i'd definitely take the camelbak but i'm thinking if i can fill my bottles up again at the drink stops, and i can take flapjacks etc on those too then surely (?) if i can carry 2-3 ham rolls, a couple of energy bars and some energy gels in my jersey pockets then i shouldn't need to take the camelbak?

can fit 2 tubes and tools etc in my saddlebag.

or is it worth taking the camelbak as well. if at all possible, i'd rather ride without it, but it's there if i need it.

not done one of these before so not entirely sure what to expect.

thanks

Ross.

Eddh

4,656 posts

222 months

Friday 26th July 2013
quotequote all
I wouldn't bother, I like to drink a lot when I ride and did 32 miles in the sun before we stopped for water, I had only drunk around a litre of water at that stage.

TwistingMyMelon

6,514 posts

235 months

Friday 26th July 2013
quotequote all
No , No and no!

I cycle with a light rucksack every day and its OK for 30 minutes, but:

My back gets very sweaty and is a complete PITA
It interferes ever so slightly with my position on the drops, which grates after a while, in that my back slightly compensates for having weight on there

2 bottles will be fine, I ride out in the middle of nowhere and only take one bottle, I imagine you will pass loads of small shops and garages on the way round. Remember all the liquid adds up in terms of weight!

If there aren't many options, you can always shove a bottle of water in your jersey pocket, or ask strangers for a top up

E38Ross

Original Poster:

36,729 posts

242 months

Friday 26th July 2013
quotequote all
Eddh said:
I wouldn't bother, I like to drink a lot when I ride and did 32 miles in the sun before we stopped for water, I had only drunk around a litre of water at that stage.
that's my thinking.....i usually don't drink a great deal on rides to be honest. a little while ago i did 87 miles and drunk 2.5 litres meaning by the time there is a stop i should still have plenty of my 1.5 litres left anyway....

GaryGlitter

2,289 posts

213 months

Friday 26th July 2013
quotequote all
What distance?

< 100 miles you'll be fine without the Camelbak.

> 100 miles you'll still be fine without the Camelbak.

Disco You

3,749 posts

210 months

Friday 26th July 2013
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How long is the sportive?

Regardless, don't take a camelbak.

TwistingMyMelon

6,514 posts

235 months

Friday 26th July 2013
quotequote all
Often people "Over pack" for first Sportive (which is prudent and well thought out) but the whole point of the SPortivesis they offer support and facilities that mean you shouldn't need to

E38Ross

Original Poster:

36,729 posts

242 months

Friday 26th July 2013
quotequote all
typo in the thread.....it's not tomorrow it's sunday hehe

Sportive is 100.4 miles - mega meon so probably quite hilly being around the South Downs.

Think i'll avoid taking the camelbak then. I'll just make sure i will have at least 1 bottle totally filled at each food station.

GaryGlitter

2,289 posts

213 months

Friday 26th July 2013
quotequote all
I did this with a bottle of energy and a bottle of zero tab, topped up the zero tab bottle at 50 miles:

http://app.strava.com/segments/4568657

Got back and still had a bit left in both bottles.

BPC7

391 posts

267 months

Friday 26th July 2013
quotequote all
Nothing like jumping in at the deep end, 100 miler for your first sportive, good on ya fella!

Personally I wouldn't bother with the ham rolls as they will get squashed in your jersey pocket. Take a couple of energy bars and maybe a gel or 2 just in case you get really low between pit stops.

Defo no need for the back pack so leave that at home. I would usually take some food and leave it in a cool box in the car so you have something proper to eat before you drive home. Peanut butter and strawberry jam sarnies have worked well for me when riding long distances with no stops. This wa sin the winter though when everything didn't go runny and sticky. I don't eat for the first 2 hours then something every hour drinking whenever I can especially in the heat we have at the moment.

Good luck for Sunday and don't forget to post a review/report on here smile

E38Ross

Original Poster:

36,729 posts

242 months

Friday 26th July 2013
quotequote all
BPC7 said:
Nothing like jumping in at the deep end, 100 miler for your first sportive, good on ya fella!

Personally I wouldn't bother with the ham rolls as they will get squashed in your jersey pocket. Take a couple of energy bars and maybe a gel or 2 just in case you get really low between pit stops.

Defo no need for the back pack so leave that at home. I would usually take some food and leave it in a cool box in the car so you have something proper to eat before you drive home. Peanut butter and strawberry jam sarnies have worked well for me when riding long distances with no stops. This wa sin the winter though when everything didn't go runny and sticky. I don't eat for the first 2 hours then something every hour drinking whenever I can especially in the heat we have at the moment.

Good luck for Sunday and don't forget to post a review/report on here smile
Distance wise it's not THAT much further than I've done recently, as said, did 87 quite hilly miles a while ago and didn't feel TOO bad so hoping I'll be alright!

Hoping hehe

Jayfish

6,795 posts

233 months

Friday 26th July 2013
quotequote all
GaryGlitter said:
What distance?

< 100 miles you'll be fine without the Camelbak.

> 100 miles you'll still be fine without the Camelbak.
smile

E38Ross

Original Poster:

36,729 posts

242 months

Saturday 27th July 2013
quotequote all
all packed for tomorrow now smile bike in the car along with helmet, gloves, shoes etc as well as spare clothes etc etc

food wise i'll be taking around 4 energy gels, 2 SIS GO energy bars and also 2 ham rolls (i don't mind if they get squashed a bit, have ridden with a couple before and find they're alright) and i'll be taking 1x750ml bottle of squash with a high five "neutral" electrolyte tablet and 1x750ml bottle of High5 energy source drink.

possibly over-kill considering i'll also be topping up energy drink at the feed stations along with eating flapjacks, bananas etc but i'd rather eat too much than too little.

also got 2 spare inner tubes, levers, multi-tool, 3 CO2 cartridges etc.

i'll be using my Garmin Forerunner which has the route saved so will be following that as well as the signs etc. can't think of anything else i'll need.....? oh - decent helping of SIS REGO recovery for afterwards too smile and some Banana soreen malt loaf biggrin

anything i've forgotten?

anyone else doing it? if so....if you spot a chap in or around an E38 with a PH sticker on the boot do pop over and say hi biggrin

Some Gump

13,018 posts

216 months

Saturday 27th July 2013
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Suncream mate.

I'm still pink from my extended Manchester - Blackpool 9 hour day out =)

joema

2,754 posts

209 months

Saturday 27th July 2013
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Hope the weather improves for you. Raining and I'm localish!

Gels are disgusting. Either a bar or jelly babies for me.

Jayfish

6,795 posts

233 months

Sunday 28th July 2013
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think you've got it right, maybe a little more then I'd take but you're going to make it to the end with that lot, you'll probably get free gels and go home with more than you left with but hey-ho. 3 CO2, 2 inners? my only question, dump a CO2.

nammynake

2,658 posts

203 months

Sunday 28th July 2013
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Definitely overpacking but at least you'll have piece of mind and you'll quickly learn how much (less) to carry on future rides. Besides an extra kilo of kit is not going to drastically slow you down over such a course.

Some Gump

13,018 posts

216 months

Sunday 28th July 2013
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How did it go?

yellowjack

18,461 posts

196 months

Sunday 28th July 2013
quotequote all
Some Gump said:
How did it go?
Give the guy a chance. He's doing a 100 mile sportive today, and already you're asking him how it went. Before 1000hrs rolleyes

At least give him until midday before badgering him for a review of the event wink

Hackney

7,433 posts

238 months

Sunday 28th July 2013
quotequote all
GaryGlitter said:
What distance?

< 100 miles you'll be fine without the Camelbak.

> 100 miles you'll still be fine without the Camelbak.
This.