Would this work?...
Discussion
So as sportives get faster and more competitive and riders want to stop less often for fear of losing the fastest bunch, is there any way a neutral bottle exchange would work? the idea is you drop off an empty bottle and pick up a new one full of water, you get a bottle, I get a bottle, I take it home, sterilise it and then at the next event do the same thing? I site it on the road side so you dont have to stop, fight through a large bunch of people stood chatting to get more fluid losing time in the process? Not sure if its a money making exercise or just a random thought?!... book in advance? label bottles with names?
I thought sportives were supposed to be a fun event , rather than trophy hunting? I know the ones I have done have been more that way than getting to the point of doing this. Maybe its the next stage of them being stopped also if it gets to the competitive edge of 'racing' . I enjoy beating previous years times , don't get me wrong, but this then gets beyond the sportive idea of getting people out riding bikes.
pablo said:
So as sportives get faster and more competitive and riders want to stop less often for fear of losing the fastest bunch, is there any way a neutral bottle exchange would work? the idea is you drop off an empty bottle and pick up a new one full of water, you get a bottle, I get a bottle, I take it home, sterilise it and then at the next event do the same thing? I site it on the road side so you dont have to stop, fight through a large bunch of people stood chatting to get more fluid losing time in the process? Not sure if its a money making exercise or just a random thought?!... book in advance? label bottles with names?
Have always hated sportives with a passion. Full of d
heads on dogmas or riders who think its a race. This post just makes me hate them even more. If you want to race go get a license and race and let everyone else enjoy riding for the sake of riding.I was thinking of the closed road events like Ride London and the recent Velothon Wales and the Tour of Cambridge etc not your local charity sportive but thanks for your feedback! 
Incidentally I'm willing to bet the top twenty fastest times in velothon were all license holders too...
Incidentally I'm willing to bet the top twenty fastest times in velothon were all license holders too...
Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 20th June 12:44
paulmon said:
pablo said:
So as sportives get faster and more competitive and riders want to stop less often for fear of losing the fastest bunch, is there any way a neutral bottle exchange would work? the idea is you drop off an empty bottle and pick up a new one full of water, you get a bottle, I get a bottle, I take it home, sterilise it and then at the next event do the same thing? I site it on the road side so you dont have to stop, fight through a large bunch of people stood chatting to get more fluid losing time in the process? Not sure if its a money making exercise or just a random thought?!... book in advance? label bottles with names?
Have always hated sportives with a passion. Full of dheads on dogmas or riders who think its a race. This post just makes me hate them even more. If you want to race go get a license and race and let everyone else enjoy riding for the sake of riding.paulmon said:
Have always hated sportives with a passion. Full of dheads on dogmas or riders who think its a race. This post just makes me hate them even more. If you want to race go get a license and race and let everyone else enjoy riding for the sake of riding.
Hard to disagree.heads on dogmas or riders who think its a race. This post just makes me hate them even more. If you want to race go get a license and race and let everyone else enjoy riding for the sake of riding.The european gran fondo's I guess are similar, but often closed roads over proper terrain attended by good riders. There are often not that many good riders at UK sportives.
I guess to some extent I agree with the whole "if you think you are fast go prove it racing" but....
I was thinking specifically of closed road events, to me it is no different to a trackday, in fact you even get a time on a sportive which you dont on a track day. Track days are full of people who may or may not have a race license but choose to spend all day lapping a circuit in some very expensive cars with no (official) competitive element to the day. For them they just like driving fast, I've seen specialist tyre people turn up so the guys can have slicks etc fitted for the day and then go back home on road legal tyres. .
A sportive is much the same, some riding have a race license and some dont and whilst there is no race per se given the start times are all different, we all get a time at the end of the ride and then compare it on strava all evening... I'm just thinking aloud with similar ideas for the closed road sportives where a fast time can actually earn you something. Maybe a musette full of gels then, just hold out your contactless credit card as you come past?
When people complain about sportive riders bikes though, I tend to stop listening. High end bike kit is comparatively cheap compared to other sports. For £10k you can have pretty much the same kit as the pros. How much is a competitive racing car going to cost you? So for some people dropping £8k on an F8 isnt that much, it makes them feel good and the only people moaning are the ones who cant afford it or think he shouldnt be allowed to buy high end kit unless he is the fastest guy out there. Back to the trackday, if the guy in the Caterham is getting lapped by the guy in the Clio, who really cares providing both are safe and enjoying themselves...
I was thinking specifically of closed road events, to me it is no different to a trackday, in fact you even get a time on a sportive which you dont on a track day. Track days are full of people who may or may not have a race license but choose to spend all day lapping a circuit in some very expensive cars with no (official) competitive element to the day. For them they just like driving fast, I've seen specialist tyre people turn up so the guys can have slicks etc fitted for the day and then go back home on road legal tyres. .
A sportive is much the same, some riding have a race license and some dont and whilst there is no race per se given the start times are all different, we all get a time at the end of the ride and then compare it on strava all evening...
I'm just thinking aloud with similar ideas for the closed road sportives where a fast time can actually earn you something. Maybe a musette full of gels then, just hold out your contactless credit card as you come past? When people complain about sportive riders bikes though, I tend to stop listening. High end bike kit is comparatively cheap compared to other sports. For £10k you can have pretty much the same kit as the pros. How much is a competitive racing car going to cost you? So for some people dropping £8k on an F8 isnt that much, it makes them feel good and the only people moaning are the ones who cant afford it or think he shouldnt be allowed to buy high end kit unless he is the fastest guy out there. Back to the trackday, if the guy in the Caterham is getting lapped by the guy in the Clio, who really cares providing both are safe and enjoying themselves...
Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 20th June 20:34
Fair points both, the analogy doesnt really work given the track isnt a public road hence the comparison to closed road sportives. I was thinking of the more upmarket open pit lane trackdays not the action day type events where you pay for a single session which from experience attract a different type of clientele...
Its a bad idea I get it the future of sportives is something I find interesting though. What we lack in the UK is complete resistance to any road closures for such events, as you say even high level road races are on open roads with motorcycle out riders and course cars, I dont know what resistance to road closures there are in Europe for their big sportives but they seem to be a little more accommodating. A friend was stunned when I told him towns in France paid to host le tour...
Its a bad idea I get it
the future of sportives is something I find interesting though. What we lack in the UK is complete resistance to any road closures for such events, as you say even high level road races are on open roads with motorcycle out riders and course cars, I dont know what resistance to road closures there are in Europe for their big sportives but they seem to be a little more accommodating. A friend was stunned when I told him towns in France paid to host le tour...Magic919 said:
Track days often get spoiled by dheads who think it's a race. Many of them can't even spell licence.
You mean track days are often spoilt by some people with deep enough pockets to have a racing car and race because they like the kudos but go to track days to practise as they are sheads who think it's a race. Many of them can't even spell licence. t and get in the way of other people?Motor racing and track days, the biggest thing that separates them is bank balance, certainly not driving ability. A friend on here who I used to have fun lapping with on track days decided to go racing as wanted to see what it was like without the track day rules and confirmed what we already knew, it's another league in cost, doesn't know how long he can keep doing it due to the cost, 1st season 'real racing' he was on the podium several times including a win and he enjoys it. Is he suddenly a different person than he was when he did track days? Of course not.
Anyway back to cycling, why do some people seem to think they are special because they race? I've raced crits, TT's, XC MTB, DH over my time cycling, so what, off tomorrow to do my 1st sportive and really looking forward to it precisely because it's not a race - however I have no problem if someone else really wants to go for it to try and be fastest, someone always is fastest after all.
Goodness me, much love for the sportive 
As to the initial idea, bit of a waste of time. Not seen many sportives that you actually need a feed station for if you're going for it - just carry your own stuff. Alternatively, add the cost of a couple of cheap bottles (about a fiver) to the entrance fee, chuck what you brought in the drop zone approaching feed and pick up new ones from the hand-up person. That's what happens at most ironman branded tris - start with cheap bottles, keep whats left over.
Plenty of stupid riding on sportives, but they don't have the monopoly on it. I'd also suggest that many are there to go as fast as possible, not to 'race'. Difference being that a race is about being the first over the line (as slowly as possible while being ahead of everyone else). Going fast/far is about being in a group and pushing yourself.
As perhaps an indicative point, I (sample of one) have no idea how I'd go about road racing - starting with TTs, don't want to join (another) club (my main game is tri), and you can shove your crits - too short and dangerous. So is it any wonder the folks that want to ride far/fast go sportives? Maybe something that needs addressing.
As to the initial idea, bit of a waste of time. Not seen many sportives that you actually need a feed station for if you're going for it - just carry your own stuff. Alternatively, add the cost of a couple of cheap bottles (about a fiver) to the entrance fee, chuck what you brought in the drop zone approaching feed and pick up new ones from the hand-up person. That's what happens at most ironman branded tris - start with cheap bottles, keep whats left over.
Plenty of stupid riding on sportives, but they don't have the monopoly on it. I'd also suggest that many are there to go as fast as possible, not to 'race'. Difference being that a race is about being the first over the line (as slowly as possible while being ahead of everyone else). Going fast/far is about being in a group and pushing yourself.
As perhaps an indicative point, I (sample of one) have no idea how I'd go about road racing - starting with TTs, don't want to join (another) club (my main game is tri), and you can shove your crits - too short and dangerous. So is it any wonder the folks that want to ride far/fast go sportives? Maybe something that needs addressing.
This next statement is not ver PH so I will hand in my card on the way out.
I'm not good enough to race.
My burgeoning TT career is testament to that. So, I enjoy sportives as they allow me to ride with others and often in areas where I don't ride often. They also allow me to push and test myself, either during the event or in the training leading up to the day.
If sportives didn't exist, I would never have 'raised' my game to ride the Fred Whitton in less than 8 hours, an achievement I am quietly proud of.
Steve
I'm not good enough to race.
My burgeoning TT career is testament to that. So, I enjoy sportives as they allow me to ride with others and often in areas where I don't ride often. They also allow me to push and test myself, either during the event or in the training leading up to the day.
If sportives didn't exist, I would never have 'raised' my game to ride the Fred Whitton in less than 8 hours, an achievement I am quietly proud of.
Steve
Opinions on Sprtives aside, in answer to the OP, would it work: Maybe. Could you make money out of it: No, too much effort for too little money
Some people don't give a st on bottles, others have quite specific/expensive ones that go with their bike, so lots wouldn't fancy swapping their specific bottles for anything.
I think there is money to be made @ sportives, for example recruit a network of freelance cycle mechanics that don't work sundays and offer your own branded mechanical support to sportives, in that the Sportive organiser contracts all mechanical aspects to you the agency. This just came off the top of my head. Or perhaps do the same in regards to food and drink.
Some people don't give a s
t on bottles, others have quite specific/expensive ones that go with their bike, so lots wouldn't fancy swapping their specific bottles for anything. I think there is money to be made @ sportives, for example recruit a network of freelance cycle mechanics that don't work sundays and offer your own branded mechanical support to sportives, in that the Sportive organiser contracts all mechanical aspects to you the agency. This just came off the top of my head. Or perhaps do the same in regards to food and drink.
okgo said:
If you joined a club you likely would, Steve.
More people should join cycling clubs, they do free sportives most weeks, AND they offer you a path to more if you want it.
I am a member of a local club, I joined mid 2014. They have got me into TTs and chain gangs. I do ad-hoc rides with some members but their club rides are on a Saturday and Sunday morning when I have dad's taxi duties. That said, I should and could make more of an effort to get involved.More people should join cycling clubs, they do free sportives most weeks, AND they offer you a path to more if you want it.
Steve
Barchettaman said:
Eh? Two bottles on the frame, two bottles on the seattube in a Profile Design Aquarack, how much more do you need?
Do UK sportives have some sort of rule that you're not allowed to take more than two bottles on the bike?
Also you can buy the 1ltr bottles that fit into normal cages, 2 litres is likely enough for all but the most challenging events, like Dragon or Fred, where stopping is going to likely be on everyones agenda at some point.Do UK sportives have some sort of rule that you're not allowed to take more than two bottles on the bike?
Pablo, I've only done a couple of sportives* but on both they gave out empty promotional bottles at sign-on. It would meet your objective if they held them out, filled, half way round instead. Wouldn't be hard to organise with a a couple of volunteers on filling duty.
*In response to your later post referring to the Tour of Cambridgeshire, I don't count that as a sportive. Mainly because it was a mass race and not a sportive. But, FWIW, they held out 25cl bottles of water on the route that you could either drink in one or use to refill a bidon without stopping, depending on your handling skills.
*In response to your later post referring to the Tour of Cambridgeshire, I don't count that as a sportive. Mainly because it was a mass race and not a sportive. But, FWIW, they held out 25cl bottles of water on the route that you could either drink in one or use to refill a bidon without stopping, depending on your handling skills.
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