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Got my first century coming up at the Birmingham velo. And in my head I can do it under 6 but would like to be closer to 5. Thinking closed roads will bump up the speed slightly as I'm not waiting or slowing at junctions etc and the course is fairly flat.
I've done a solo windy training ride all in zone 3 at 18mph for 75 miles
Will groups help me if I can get some drafting tow?
Anyone gone under 5 hours here ?
All depends on how flat it is. However the closed roads might not help. I did the first Velothon Wales which was closed roads and it was absolute bedlam. I tried to get a decent early start but still failed to get into a group that knew what it was doing. Instead, there were thousands of riders all over the roads, which meant that no-one could see anything. We set a decent pace but no-one could see any road furniture which meant people were hitting bollards and kerbs and stuff left and right, and going down, so any junction had to be negotiated with extreme care. Then when the roads narrowed the sheer traffic meant we slowed right down. And when we hit some of the bigger descents it was just terrifying, it was worse than heavy city traffic.
Imagine the last few km of a flat TdF stage only slower, less skilled and with ten thousand riders. Hope yours is better 🙂
Will groups help me if I can get some drafting tow?
Yup. I see decidedly average riders getting far higher averages than usual at Sportives. However, if doing 75 @ 18, 100 @ 20mph is a fair change. Is it a flat or hilly route? You'd probably also be avoiding any stops, which makes things that bit harder again
That's quite a target unless you get in a very well organised group and carry all your fluid and nutrition with you so you don't have to stop
How much group riding have you done? Sub five hours is a good time for a club rider. Closed roads and a start at the front of the bunch could see you fine. More likely, with no previous time, a mid-pack start and usual chaos, you won't. You'll be well under six hours based on fitness.
For a century, I don't stop, take two 1L SIS bottles, five gels and a few easy to eat bars plus two packs of bloks. Still not under 4hrs in Ridel London (4:06 best so far), except for a 100 mile TT, and that's cheating really (flat course and aero position, but no drafting).
Well I shaved about 1 hr for an 80 mile closed road sportive off my solo time due to drafting. I found no shortage of people or groups at my level to get into and people are happy to work together as everyone benefits. The biggest problem with it was pacing myself because once you're in a group you want to stay in it so found myself pushing a lot harder than I interned earlier on. My wheels fell of in the last 6 miles or so and I dropped off the back of the group I was in at that point and just couldn't get back on and cramp was starting to set in. But I ended up doing 81 miles in something like 4hrs 15 mins or so (can't remember the exact time but under 4.5hrs) where I'd normally be looking at around 3hrs for 50 miles (though much hillier) on a normal solo weekend ride, so a lot quicker than riding solo.
Still, 5hrs (or the early 5hrs) for 100 miles is achievable if you get in with the right groups over the course of the ride.
But closed road sportives are so much better though. I'm not actually sure why people bother with sportives that are not closed road events...i'd just prefer to ride the route on my own or with a couple of mates at our leisure.
I've also seen riders put up surprising times after closed road sportives, Etape Loch Ness in particular.
Personally I always outperform myself in Sportives, closed roads or not. Drafting and just general motivation having lots of riders around me always pushes me.
For what it's worth, when I was comfortable with 17.5mph centuries, I still managed a 19mph Bealach na Ba Sportive.
Best solo century after that was just over 19mph on a relatively flat circuit.
I would say go for it, always nice to have an ambitious target in mind!
For a century, I don’t stop, take two 1L SIS bottles, five gels and a few easy to eat bars plus two packs of bloks. Still not under 4hrs in Ridel London (4:06 best so far), except for a 100 mile TT, and that’s cheating really (flat course and aero position, but no drafting).
Which reminds me, make sure to find out which products work for you in advance. Otherwise the effects could be dire!
13thfloormonk
Member
I’ve also seen riders put up surprising times after closed road sportives, Etape Loch Ness in particular.
haha, that was the very sportive that came to mind when I was writing that!
I don't plan on stopping unless I really need to. 2 big water bottles and nutrition in a top tube bag. And maybe a spare bottle in my pocket depending on the heat
In principle sounds very doable if you're knocking out 75 miles @18 on your own, just the luck of getting a good consistent group all the way round.
You'd also need to be mentally up for it, which may be difficult on a sportive - ie 100 in 5 hrs isn't just going to happen, you'd have to be very focussed.
Just as a side note: if I ever enter a sportive i’ll be smashing every single food stop on the way round. No way am I handing over a big wedge of entry fee and letting them off the hook!
Opportunities for drafting are plentiful, but it's a pretty lumpy course. Like others have said, you'll only do it if you don't stop for water or food.
I'm much more relaxed about my VeloBrum effort, I've not done masses of training so if I get in under 6 hours I'll be very happy. And, if I'm honest, quite surprised, I expect to be nearer 7...
Mashr. In that case, can I recommend the Tour De Lauder in the Scottish Borders? The only sportive I've done where I've has a calorie surplus after 89 miles and plenty hills. Proper homemade grub all the way around. They put the WI to shame.
On the Velo course it's doable, but it'll take a good effort. If you're in an early start pen, and get in the wheels of a fast group then maybe, but any disruption, any faffing or even picking the wrong group will make it harder.
And if you do need to stop, I highly recommend not using the feed stations and just diving into a shop for water and a sausage role.
slowpuncheur
Member
Mashr. In that case, can I recommend the Tour De Lauder in the Scottish Borders? The only sportive I’ve done where I’ve has a calorie surplus after 89 miles and plenty hills. Proper homemade grub all the way around. They put the WI to shame.
Now this ^ is more useful Sportive info
Slight hi jack, has anyone ridden Velo Brum under another rider's name? I have the opportunity to ride due to a friend breaking his foot, but despite my best efforts they won't change the name on the entry.
Hoping for around 5 hours, there's a few of us together starting from Green 4 if you happen to be in that pen?
Not sure what to expect regarding early traffic, hopefully we can get through sharpish and avoid any hold ups. Hopefully not stopping unless someone really needs to.
If it's flat and you can already manage 75 miles at 18mph solo then you will have no bother doing sub 5 hrs if you push yourself, find a group, and don't stop. Averaging 20 mph on a calm day on the flat is well within capabilities of most reasonably fit cyclists, so in a group id expect more than that
If it's remotely hilly however that's a whole different story but you'll still go faster than on a solo ride.
For example I remember doing a 70 mile hilly sportive about a year ago having not been on the bike in about 12 months previously. I'd say my ftp was around 200 at the time. I averaged 17 mph. I'm hugely fitter now, ftp is over 260 watts, and i struggle to manage 17mph on the same route riding solo.
haha, that was the very sportive that came to mind when I was writing that!
You getting defensive after seeing a buddy's 22mph average as well then? 😉
Opportunities for drafting are plentiful, but it’s a pretty lumpy course. Like others have said, you’ll only do it if you don’t stop for water or food.
[controversy]
Doesn't everyone work to riding time only? I mean, obviously not taking the piss and stopping for a half hour breather, but if you take ten minutes to get through the queue in order to top up water and fill pockets, I don't feel that should be held against you, especially since you need to expend some effort getting back up to pace after!
[/controversy]
You're not giving a lot of info to go on but it sounds like you can go sub5.
I did PRL in 5:15 last year on an Arkose with puncture, food and toilet stops. Felt like I could have gone sub 5 without bother. I was in a good trio rotating well for around the first third but then solo or hopping between riders. I mostly did 100-110km solo training rides at a similar speed (occasionally quicker) so reckon you'd have the legs. If you can get in a reasonably disciplined group it'll obviously help a lot.
I'm doing the 42 mile VB route but it'll be a good 105km including riding into Birmingham and back from Coventry. I am originally from near Corley/Fillongley so am looking to a good smash up on closed roads I'm familiar with!
@tired - that's a great time for the PRL100! Out of curiousity are you racing and if so, what cat?
Getting the right group is key. A few years ago I did the Ripon Revolution, the first part of the ride was hilly so for me being solo was fine as I could go at my own pace. At the last food stop I realised that the last 25 miles or so were in to a head wind back up the Vale of York so needed to get in a group.
The first group that went past were way too quick for me but the second group of three or four looked about right. It took 3 miles to catch them. We worked pretty well together and picked up another rider or two on the way and ended up doing 20mph+ into the headwind. From the speed we passed solo riders it was so obvious the difference even a small group makes. It's the only time I've managed a gold standard on a sportive - I was about two minutes inside the time limit!
13thfloormonk - nope it's total time sorry!
13thfloormonk
Member
You getting defensive after seeing a buddy’s 22mph average as well then? 😉
22 does seem to be the magic Loch Ness number!
My first road century was in South Downs with circa 8000 feet of climbing and it took me a shade over 6 hours. Could have gone a bit quicker but was holding back for the 2 steepest climbs (Turkey Island and Harvesting Lane for those who know them) in the last 20 miles.
Slight hi jack, has anyone ridden Velo Brum under another rider’s name? I have the opportunity to ride due to a friend breaking his foot, but despite my best efforts they won’t change the name on the entry.
Look at Page 3 here:
https://online.flippingbook.com/view/346451/4-5/
Register 'for him' on the Saturday, the ride using his name/number on the Sunday.
yep, like when Wiggo stopped during the middle of his hour to sit down, have a smoke & flick through a copy of STW!Doesn’t everyone work to riding time only?
Rats, I guess my sub 5-hour Bealach na Ba doesn't stand then, 5:05 it is 🙁
I'll just tell myself that I would have gone quicker if my computer was telling me total time and not riding time 😉
Personally, being honest I know I couldn't do sub 5hrs for a 100miles, a 20mph Avg would have my HR up too high to be sustainable.
I'd try my best to ignore Avg speeds or elapsed time and just manage HR and occasionally check distance covered...
As you say if your chopping along nicely in a bunch and it drags your Avg speed up great, so long as it's at a sustainable work rate, but trying to hold onto some He-Man's wheel on a climb, putting yourself deep into Z5 when you have another 65 miles to go is a sure-fire way to blow yourself up...
It might be worth looking at the course profile (if you have one) to know where the bigger climbs are, where you need to keep something in the tank and/or where (if your still feeling fresh, towards the last 20-25 miles) you could possibly bump the pace up and improve your finishing time with less risk to your overall chances of finishing at all...
Around 1300 metres of elevation, so I'd guess a mixture of flat/undulating.
A controversial view perhaps but why don't you just ride it, enjoy it and then see what time you did at the end?
Otherwise it's a bit like the London marathon. Last year I managed 3 hours 12 minutes.
On Sunday I tried to beat that but inevitably I got bored and switched over to something else.
Haze I think I'm meant to be in green 4 but I told a lad I used to work with I would drop back and start off with him. Not sure it's going to help my time though as he's slower than me and is in the last starting pen purple 2. Going to have to have a word with him later I think cause I'm pretty set on getting a good time
MTB idle for me the enjoyment is from pushing myself to see what I'm capable of.
No idea how many are each pen - a fair few I guess - but you're welcome to jump onto our little bunch. I'll be with the Stourbridge guys (orange jerseys)
Averaging 20 mph on a calm day on the flat is well within capabilities of most reasonably fit cyclists,
I know we've done this before, but your expectations of "reasonably fit" are WAY too high.
You probably stand a good chance. When I was preparing for ride London in 2015 most of my training rides of 60-80 miles were a sedate 14/15mph. I started to worry I may end up missing the cut off for the full distance esp if any mechanicals happen.
Some advice from here helped- I ended up doing the 100 in 5.43 (total time with no stops) so an average speed just over 18mph.
I did the first 40 miles in just under 2 hours- panicked when I realised that was an unknown to me 20mph so eased off in case I had gone off too fast. Sometimes wonder if I backed off too much. I struggled to get into a group for any drafting- they were either too fast or too slow.
I carried 2 1l bottles on the bike and a .75l in my pocket so I'd not need to stop and top up. Didn't need the 3rd bottle and actually had drink left in the 2nd bottle at the end.
Haze I'll look out for you then. And try and tag along if that's okay
I'll be in Red 2 @ 0705 so might see you there!
As others have said - getting on a good group near the front will set you up much better than dealing with the carnage toward the back end.
I've done Ride London twice and had approx 90 mins of stopped time on both efforts - mostly due to Waiting around behind crashes in the Surrey hills.
Assuming you mean total time, from crossing the line to the end (i.e. not just moving time)...
20mph is about 220w on the flat on the drops I think. Maybe 180 if you're drafting at that speed.
It's perfectly doable if a) you don't stop for food (fine) b) you manage to find a group of riders that also don't want to stop for food and are smashing it for the entire thing (in my experience unlikely) c) you're pretty fit (how long can you sustain 20mph by yourself?)
I've done a lot of sportives, it's very rare to find people sustaining more than 20mph for any decent length of time. So basically, unless you're fit enough to do a solo effort at that power, I think it's unlikely.
Edit: the only time i've found groups that are actually going quickly in sportives are in the first few pens.
Interesting. I just checked out an Etape Caledonia ride I did. 81 miles and 4h12m, so just under 20mph average.That was a notable day as around 1/4 of the route I was in a big group - maybe 50-60 riders. I'd say that upped my average pace a wee bit for that part of it and helped save energy for the last 1/2. Not sure I could have sustained that pace for another 19 miles either 😉
My FTP is around 310 320 ish I think it it was the last time I did a ramp test. On an aero bike with carbon aero wheels if that makes any odds. Every little helps
I think you could do it providing you get in the right group. I managed a 19.3mph average for the 2015 welsh velo. At that time (or now) there's no way I could have managed a solo windy 75 miles at 18mph. When you enter you've got to be optimistic about your estimated finnishing time. Otherwise your stuck back with all the riffraff like MG experienced 😉. With a bit more prep I could have done 20mph+ easily. The group I was in were over 22mph untill the bottom of the Tumble when it all fell apart. It was leapfrogging from group to group for me then.
I'm riding for charity, and they've put us all in Red 1. I did 15.4 for 83 miles on Sunday, and judging by the charity's FB group I'm one of the quicker ones. So you've got to get past all of us for a start.
Anyone got a snow plough I can use ?
13thfloormonk
...For what it’s worth, when I was comfortable with 17.5mph centuries, I still managed a 19mph Bealach na Ba Sportive...
That was the event that put me off sportives. My first and only.
I don't like folk riding close to me, and of course, that is an expectation in an event like that - as I discovered.
Part of the problem is I ride singlespeed so my approach to hills etc is different - standard SS - peel off and go like the clappers on the approach and gradually die as speed fades away up the slope.
The problem is it looks like grandstanding to gearies so there's shaking of heads as they pass, whereas attacking the hill to gain as much help from your momentum is standard SS practice because you know you're going to suffer.
19mph average on that circuit is better than respectable. Well done.