First sportive

[2volvos]

Looking to enter this later in the (hopefully) summer

https://www.ukcyclingevents.co.uk/events/wiggle-st...

I'll be doing to 60 mile route which is about 20 miles further than my llongest so far. I'm on an old 70s 6-speed Peugeot so any advice welcome. And will I look like a bit of a ninny surrounded by modern machinery?

[2volvos]

Cool, thanks.

I'll not be on my own, my brother is also doing it (he's all Cannondale'd up) and another chap who has an old steely as well.

Looking to take it steady and have fun!

[nammynake]

If you can already do 40 miles then 60 will be fine. Don't worry about your bike, it'll make a nice difference from all of the generic bland carbon bikes you see at sportives.

[Jimbo.]

Turn up.
Ride.
Done.

And ignore any overly-inflated BS you may hear about "competing" in sportives: they're not a competition

[Furry Exocet]

Did my first one last weekend,62 miles with some killer hills! My furthest before this was 40 miles and if it wasn't for the hills,I would have done the 80 mile section.
There was a big selection of bikes, including a few full suspension mountain bikes.
It was hard work but really good fun, looking forward to the London to Reading ride this weekend.

[Slaav]

Above all - remember that these are fun!

At the start or middle of the second last climb, you will want to give up and 'believe' that you have done quiet well.... finish!

You will tell everyone for months

That jump in miles and also doing a 'proper' Sportive with 'real' cyclists will gibe you such an almighty buzz you will never replicate it unless you ramp things up stupidly again.... you will most likely always remember it! For GOOD REASONS

And a nice 'proper bike porn' bike as well...

[Longers]

I did my first one last w/end. Previous longest rides were 4 of 66 miles each so booked in for the 75 mile route. The day before I thought that wasn't enough of a challenge (!!) so swapped to the 100 with 6615ft of climbing. I LOVED IT!!

Having completed it the following comments are very very true

Slaav said:

You will tell everyone for months

That jump in miles and also doing a 'proper' Sportive with 'real' cyclists will gibe you such an almighty buzz you will never replicate it unless you ramp things up stupidly again.... you will most likely always remember it! For GOOD REASONS

Those on the long route seemed to be taking it a bit more seriously, without being too serious (i.e. some seemed to be chasing a time), than those we came across towards the end on the medium 75 & short 54 mile routes but everyone was very relaxed and friendly.

And you'll be amazed how much quicker you can go and how much easier it feels in a sportive than when riding the same roads on your own

Enjoy!

[2volvos]

Thanks for the support and encouragement. Can honestly say I am looking forward to it even more now...and the weather is on the up to make the build up rides a bit more welcoming.

I may have to come back here closer to the time for some tips on what to take along with me. I've got the obvious puncture kit/spare tube, comp air cannister, multitool and I guess the rest is food & drink.

Cheers

[Furry Exocet]

2volvos said:

Thanks for the support and encouragement. Can honestly say I am looking forward to it even more now...and the weather is on the up to make the build up rides a bit more welcoming.

I may have to come back here closer to the time for some tips on what to take along with me. I've got the obvious puncture kit/spare tube, comp air cannister, multitool and I guess the rest is food & drink.

Cheers

Don't take too much. I dressed for the weather for the time I was up, which was cold. I then had too many layers on for the ride. I did check the forecast, but surprisingly it was wrong! It caught a few people out, as at the first feed stop people were removing base layers and jackets!