The snobbishness displayed by some of the club riders on here is breathtaking. So you can't possibly be a proper cyclist unless you join a club, wear team kit and race? Well in that case I'm quite happy not to be one if it means having to be around the likes of you.

When I'm riding a sportive next weekend I'll now take even more pleasure in passing club riders on my shiny bike.

I rather enjoyed rolling up to a local club's timetrial starting at the bottom of our lane the other evening...wearing baggies and riding a 48:16 pompino. Im pleased with my 15 miles in 51 minutes but the phone has been surprisingly quiet from the UK Cycling Olympic Team Selector 🙁

I feel sorry for the guys out on their deep dish carbon rims and waffer-thin tubs though - the whole of the back 6 miles was on rattley-fresh marmite and grit laid earlier in the day 😉

Want to ride an organised race, join a club
WAnt to ride an organised social ride, join the CTC surely?

[i]WAnt to ride an organised social ride, join the CTC surely? [/i]

Or phone a few mates, go out riding. Or pay £30 to do a Sportive. Or join a club and go on a club run. There's so many ways to enjoy it, no need to pigeon hole.

I have no mates to phone

Dunno what the fuss is about.

OK there's some A-type on their blinglespeeds trying to annihilate each other out the front, but it's a nice way to get an easy century in with food, drink, and sweep vehicles.

I've only done one - the first Bealach on a SS Pompino, and I got to meet some nice people. Passing a blinglespeeder was occasion for a wee private smile.

What I don't like about a sportive is that it limits you to the road you're on (to state the bleeding obvious). I prefer a less structured day. I also don't like riding nose to bum style, and it was difficult to avoid that because people think you want to be on their wheel or them on yours.

When I go for a long "road" ride I often find myself way up a mountain on some track that took my fancy rather than following my original route. However that really says I'm unsuitable for sportives rather than anything about sportives.

He hee still going 😀

From what I can tell then, like me Sportives seem a bit pants if you go out and ride a few hundred good hard miles a week anyway?

The other thing I think, is the common distance seems to be 100Km..is that right? and I don't think that cuts it as a challenging distance, I mean that's London to Brighton territory. I think the folk that have invested time and money into entering and kit deserve something more.

The other thing I think, is the common distance seems to be 100Km..is that right? and I don't think that cuts it as a challenging distance,

Dunno if you'd call it a challenge or not but I'm doing the 100 mile version of this one [for the 5th year running] - there's some pretty big climbs and it certainly challenges me, so I'm happy
I really couldn't give two hoots what club riders think of it

Personally I couldn't give a monkeys what gear people have or how fast they go or how they get their kicks, I just look at sportives and think "that's a nice route, probably worth doing when there aren't 200 other people doing it at the same time".

The other thing I think, is the common distance seems to be 100Km.

Century is more common. Cotswold Spring Classic I did last week was 107 miles and the Hampshire Hilly Hundred I'll be doing next week is- wait for it- 100 miles. Dragon Ride in June 120 miles.

Have you heard of La Marmotte? 175km including the small matter of Col du Glandon, Col du Galibier and Alpe d'Huez which I'll be doing in July- is that challenging enough for you?

The other difference between sportives and races is that in a race riders are streamed according to ability. That way the good ones don't have to avoid the beginners. In a sportive we are all lumped together! Then it's up to the good ones to spot the imposters (confusing with their carbon wheels like a good rider may have) otherwise we will have to take avoidance action whilst they zig-zag over that nasty railway bridge.
Whilst doing the Forest of Dean sportive (for training & a laugh) I found it pretty strange that there were beginners with carbon wheels on a similar course to some of the Classics where the professionals themselves would not use carbon wheels.
So whilst trying to 'dick wave' their bling they are :
1) Making themselves look stupid
2) Confusing decent riders who may have to take avoidance action
3) Ruining their decent kit in rough conditions (good for the bike shops of course), thus annoying the 'inner engineer'
4) Giving themselves a rough ride over the gravel in the wet
5) Getting more punctures and then not knowing what todo with tubs

Their are plenty of long sportives (such as the Tour of Wessex 3 days for example) but so what ? There are far longer & tougher audaxes, road races and time trials with local club & biking community support. Sportives maybe good for beginners to get a 'race experience' a bit like a red letter day : perhaps sportive organisers should offer hire bikes (without carbon wheels) then good riders/cyclists can spot them a mile off and avoid them as they wobble aimlessly around the lanes.

what is peoples obsession with other people having carbon wheels?

[img] [/img]
It's their money so why not spend it on what they want and if you don't like the sportive mentality then don't ride or associated yourself with them. Simples innit. 🙄

Surely Sportives are great as an easy way of dipping into 'competitive' road riding, before taking the leap to racing or tt? Not sure of the fuss?!

Surely Sportives are great as an easy way of dipping into 'competitive' road riding before taking the leap to racing or tt?

no. the standard of other riders is much lower and you are hardly likely to gain experience of close bunch racing and trusting the other riders when cornering, not to mention the lack of tactics and the slower pace.

Easyrider

Do you have the same prejudices towards mountainbikers ? I am intermediate (on a good day) but am about to upgrade to a Cotic Soul frame.

Am i allowed to do this or is it just way too good for my meagre abilities 😕

Okay then it's my opinion then, but 'a challenge' most folk I guess will do these things knowing they'll do it wouldn't you say?

And again my age obviously has a baring on my opinion. At 15 riding out to meet the club, then riding 100 miles was the norm. And pretty much the norm up and down the country back then.

100 miles is more of a challenge than 100Km quite clearly. A hilly 100 miles is a proper tough one IME, short enouigh to have a good go at it, but hard enough for it to kick you back in the teeth.

And yes I know Aple d'huez well, two of my friends live at the base of it. It's tough out there, especially when it's hot.
But you know you'll be alright don't you? and I'd say your one is less about the miles.
My next big'ish ride is a 600Km not at all worried about the distance, just getting lost.

Out of interest, how tight are the cut off times in Sportives?

SPortives are streamed according to ability after the first hill. What bike are you riding so we can judge if you are worthy of it, If you're riding with all these "noobs" then maybe your not any better than they are.

Surely Sportives are great as an easy way of dipping into 'competitive' road riding, before taking the leap to racing or tt? Not sure of the fuss?!

Nah.

Well perhaps an easy 4th cat handicap thing. I'd say a few sessions with a local clubs fast road squad would be more like it.

Wunundred! 🙂

I don't ride sportives btw. Whatever they are.

Wunundred!

Miles or Kilometres?

Miles. Always miles, oldgit; none of yer nasty cheap foreign muck. Some proper, well made, high quality British miles.

Kilometres but I'm going to pretend it was miles. Also my average speed was in kmh but I'm going to pretend that was mph too.

Seems to be the normal thing on here. 😉

I'd have to try really hard to care about what someone else does unless it directly impacted me. Own a £6k mtb? Fine, that's nice. Leave it lying across the trail I'm on - I hate you.

I'm sure I would find many cyclists annoying if I chose to spend any time with them.

Elfinsafety - Member

Miles. Always miles, oldgit; none of yer nasty cheap foreign muck.

racist!

If you ever lower yourself to attend another sportive, why not go and tell these trouble makers how silly they look and explain to them how much it's ruining you day and how they should do as you say so as not to embarrass themselves any further.
Or you could come on here and show how trendy and hardcore you are.
Or you could concentrate on your own business and riding and let others worry about themselves.

So what bike should a fat middle aged slow biffer be riding? It's just so confusing. I know, i'll ride whatever i like because i bought it and if i suddenly become rich i'll ride something a bit nicer.

racist!

Woohoo!

[img] [/img]

So what bike should a fat middle aged slow biffer be riding?

i did a sportive once. I turned up late, missed "the start", took no food and still won everybody and everything. It was 100 miles of boring.

hth.

and still won everybody and everything

😆

No I won you so ner.

In MTB the direct equivalent to the sportive is the enduro : but the attitude is different they are less serious. I honestly don't care what bike people ride on : its the attitude of the riders that counts.
Oh jonb by the way I raced Elite MTB and when I retired from that Cat2 road (with a young family in tow), 'winning' 120 mile sportives was relatively easy in comparison.
So these days just do stuff for a laugh really, like enduros and XC, cyclo-cross..touring...but not a sportive 🙂

I am going to own a sportive with bombers.

sounds like a lot of jealously what with your average road rider being loads fitter than average mtb'er!

damo2576 - Member
sounds like a lot of jealously what with your average road rider being loads fitter than average mtb'er!

Fight!

I've no idea whether I'd do a sportive

But I had a big warm feeling when I see the Oxford Cambridge charity ride go through here. I've seen it all. Flash kit and shaved legs. Very nice but out of place FS bikes with slicks. Folding bikes. Bikes with baskets.

I think those people needed an event to get them out. I think many needed the support and comfort of an event. I think they enjoyed it and their lives were better for it

I think we need more live and let live.....

think we need more live and let live.....

HIPPY.

Easyrider;
so what if some used carbon wheels today at Forest Dean, why should it matter ? I rode around on a winter Ti bike with full mudguards and Mavic 32 h Open Pros, thoroughly enjoyed it and being passed by / or passing those with carbon wheels did not in the least make any difference to enjoyment of the ride 🙂 ---and I nearly got Gold standard (9 min adrift) too which pleased me 🙂

But you know you'll be alright don't you?

Er no I don't particularly if its hot. Its possible to have your best day on a bike doing La Marmotte- or your worst.

or your worst

As with any event. On one of my 24 solos I rode for just 50 minutes.

jamesb : good for you, well done on the gold standard.
Any thoughts about entering a real race?

Apologies for being nosey but out of interest where and when did you race as a cat2 easyrider?

Easyrider, you are a piss poor troll. Are you smurf matt?

The real question is how can anyone ride for 100 miles on a road without dying of boredom? It's just a big gang of sweaty men in Lycra showing off their pert backsides and lunchboxes isn't it?

Oh

Ed2001 : Wales and South/ South West regions, gave it up a just over a year ago, couldn't be arsed to move up to Cat1 due to family commitments.
Tour of the Marshes, Tour of the Blackdowns (god that was cold), Betty Pharaoh legstretchers, Ham Hill / Pittards etc etc etc.

partyboy: No & Any suggestions for improving my trolling? Am I missing a trick?

random : That's sportives for you. Road races are completely nuts, sometimes they can be boring though.

Easyrider,

I'm turning forty this year and I want to get a decent wheelset for my spesh road bike. Can you recommend me something so I don't look like an "all the gear, no idea" idiot.

A little bit about myself. I am a member of a road club and just waiting for my license so I can start racing Cat4, I also take part in and enjoy sportives and I bought a Saxobank race jersey yesterday to match my bike.

Yours gratefully,

MM.

I've only ever done one sportive, did it with a guy in a shirt, waistcoat, neck tie, and some checked trousers his tailor has sewn a chamois into, he had more style than the average cat2 wannabee hating STWer 🙂

Oldgit

you are so right

but I had to have my hair cut off as it was starting to fall out...

Easyrider;
no, no thoughts about entering a real race I just do Sportives as a challenge and a target for getting fit. Just like to trundle along at my own pace; did a few TTs / short road races back in 80s when at univ, didnt enjoy them as much as Sportives---anyway Id be super vet category 🙂

Ah well : have fun what ever riding you do.
As the thread of the title says 'Serious sportive riders' .....
The thread has become something like chinese whispers now anyhow.

Hey : serious sportive riders : remember to say hello back when another cyclist waves at you : eh.

can you get red & white polka dot carbon rims? - they'd be a lovely match for my top

The most miserable riders I ever saw were those at the front of the Selkirk Merida a couple of years back.

For what its worth, I've got a couple coming up, but I'm beginning to wonder why I've entered them:

I don't train, I smoke (occasionally) and all my weekends in the run up to the event will be spent hillwalking.

The course looks a bit weak compared to numerous rides I've been on by myself in the area.

However, I know fine well that so long as there are riders to try and overtake, I will run myself into the ground and will post the fastest time it is possible for me to produce. Thats about the only advantage of riding a Sportive for me I think, extra motivation (even if its the cheap and nasty motivation to be found from overtaking riders with cheaper wheels than me 😀 )

All I need to do is figure out who the fast boys are and avoid them like the plague, wouldn't want a thorough caning at the hands of someone fast to spoil my day...

The most miserable riders I ever saw were those at the front of the Selkirk Merida a couple of years back.

Really? You obviously weren't very close to the front, as Nick Craig is always a good chat. Before he disappears half way round.

Lots of willy waving here I see - Who cares what people spend their money on - smells of jealousy to me 🙄

I think it depends what side of the fence your stood on.

For example, if you were stood on the side of the fence with the other "all the gear, no idea" cyclists, I could be classed as "the most annoying type of cyclist" as I'm incredibly quick yet spend next to no money on flash bicycle components.

The real question is how can anyone ride for 100 miles on a road without dying of boredom?

😆

The real question is how can anyone ride for 100 miles on a road without dying of boredom?

I only get bored of the pain 😉

If someone with a £6k bike is taking the piss out of other people's gear on a sportive then yeah they're an idiot but if they're just enjoying their sport and earn enough money they can afford a £6k bike then what's the harm?

I do think white lycra shorts should be banned (at least on men and especially anyone with a 40"+ waist), at least that's my view after having seen someone doing a Michelin man impression on a sportive. What's been seen can't be unseen 🙁

I do think white lycra shorts should be banned (at least on men and especially anyone with a 40"+ waist), at least that's my view after having seen someone doing a Michelin man impression on a sportive. What's been seen can't be unsee

Could be worse, there's a guy in my spinning class who wears decathlon 3/4s running tights, which come with a strategically placed ventilation mesh right at the top of his crack... Fine when you're running and the t-shirt covers it up, not so good when you lean forward...

I've done MTB sportives, bit of a chat with other people, ride somewhere new, why not? I like road riding and would happily do the same on a road bike too. And if want to spend 6K on a bike, WGAF what someone else thinks?

I've done one Sportive and enjoyed it. It was run by a club for charity however. Seems to me there are a lot around jumping on the bandwagon and offering not much for quite a lot of money. But, then again, each to their own.

One thing that hacked me off in the sportive I did (Ken Laidlaw) was a boy in full Hawick CC kit getting a tow up the first big climb off a van with a Hawick CC sticker on the back! I was just about to catch the bugger as well! Nightmare - s'pose some folks would sell their Granny for a win at tiddlywinks though....

Done a couple of sportives not paid a huge amount to do them. A good time was had by all who attended from the guys on shopping bikes to the all the gear guys and a few mtb riders on borrowed road bikes. Good way to meet people and ride somewhere new and give yourself a challenge.

There was something going on round my way on Monday. Firstly I wouldn't envy anyone with carbon dish rims that day, the wind was biblical.
Secondly I felt like playing mother, stopping all the messy groups and getting them to ride nicely together. They were riding in groups but sooo loosly, perhaps they were worried the guy in front might be a STW'er
And not a single one gave me a nod or a wink 😕 in fact they sneered at me 😥

Right......
These Sportive riders, you're absolutely right, they don't race at all do they..... oh wait, I just remembered this!!!!!

[url= http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/469450/elliott-sets-new-etape-du-dales-record.html ]Maclolm Elliot sets new etape record[/url]

Dave Lloyd is the first big name I think of in the world of Sportives.

They ain't all Malcolm Elliot though are they, that's like saying Robert Heras represents all Brompton riders.

Ah, but oldgit, maybe you've hit the nail on the head there, I don't really want to enter a sportive only to have to ride it like a full on race.

I don't mind admitting raddogair and bigdugsbaws had to tow me over the line last weekend, but normally I'd rather ride at a decent pace, but side by side, enjoying the surroundings etc. I don't really care about having to concentrate on someone else's back wheel for 100 miles.

True. Side by side at tempo and chatting is a lovely way to ride a distance though