Sportives

Ken Night · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Jocksyboy

I'm relatively new to the sportive scene but am amazed at the number of people on the rides that i have been on have either:

1) sat on and not done any work (in some cases for 30-40 miles)( actually that was me last sunday at highclere Sorry hevipedal!)
2) stopped in the middle of the road with no warning

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I'd add littering to this list

It's easy enough to ask someone if they'd like to take a turn, or to point out, politely, that stopping suddenly is an inconvenience to all and danger to themselves.

Don't shout at another rider-it just sets up a confrontation.

"hold your line, you jerk" or similar,doesn't win friends or encourage further conversation

"I once prayed to God for a bike, but quickly found out he didnt work that way...so I stole a bike and prayed for his forgiveness"

SteveR_100Milers · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by oldwelshman

The idea of a sportive is to ride at the pace you wish. It is not a race after all.

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Totally agree, and I cant really understand why people get annoyed with wheel suckers and those that wont "take a turn". It's not race against each other, its against the clock should you wish to treat it as such, and therefore you can ride however you wish. The important bits are the safety issues of riding in a bunch: not swerving, sudden braking, call out / point out hazards unsighted to those behind you, and most of all dont blow your nose all over the bunch behind you. Its an acceptable tactic in a road race maybe, but a sportive is a much more social affair. Anyone that treats them as anything more seriously really ought to be doing a proper RR instead, and treat a sportive as a training ride.

Time! Time! It's always too long and there's never enough!

JWSurrey · June 2007

Timeless - thanks for the info.
I didn't know about the elbow thing.
So do you just point down at the pot-holes?
Is there a different signal for parked cars / other obstacles?
Is the "slowing" signal used with the outside hand palm-down?

So when you've done your turn on the front, you pull out to the outside, to re-join at the back, and the rider immediately behind becomes the leader? (Pulling over to the left is only if being overtaken)?

Yeah, totally agree with the no-littering thing.

Unknown · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by SteveR_100Milers

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by oldwelshman

The idea of a sportive is to ride at the pace you wish. It is not a race after all.

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Totally agree, and I cant really understand why people get annoyed with wheel suckers and those that wont "take a turn". It's not race against each other, its against the clock should you wish to treat it as such, and therefore you can ride however you wish. The important bits are the safety issues of riding in a bunch: not swerving, sudden braking, call out / point out hazards unsighted to those behind you, and most of all dont blow your nose all over the bunch behind you. Its an acceptable tactic in a road race maybe, but a sportive is a much more social affair. Anyone that treats them as anything more seriously really ought to be doing a proper RR instead, and treat a sportive as a training ride.

Time! Time! It's always too long and there's never enough!
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Couldnt agree more, but if someone wants to use you as a tow, then they should at least try and do a turn on the front or ride at their own pace.

I use sportives as a training ride and just go all out from beginning to end. If you are taking a tow and you dont know how to ride at pace then you cause danger by being in there. But I agree most of its common sense. [:o)]

First time I rode in Richmond Park I remember the guy I was following doing this funny flick thing with his elbow, I assumed it was just a "quirk" untill he blow his nose out behind him and on to me. [:D]

"People setting the pace too fast on the front are abused to slow down. Riders that do not share the work are abused. Riders that need abuse get abused and the abuse is done in every language so they get the message"

Unknown · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by JWSurrey

1. So do you just point down at the pot-holes?
2. Is there a different signal for parked cars / other obstacles?
3. Is the "slowing" signal used with the outside hand palm-down?
4. So when you've done your turn on the front, you pull out to the outside, to re-join at the back, and the rider immediately behind becomes the leader? (Pulling over to the left is only if being overtaken)?
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1. Yep, point at the hole and shout "Hole left" or whatever - and remember to repeat warnings from the rider in front so that those behind you get them too.
2. Varies but a hand behind your backside and "Car left" does the trick
3. Yep, and a call of "Easy" or something along those lines
4. Depends on which way the group is riding.....sometimes it's easier to ride 2 riders out from the kerb and drop back down the inside (ie you swing off left having done your turn).....it's safer this way with cars overtaking as you don't suddenly pull out right to drop back......you'll soon get the hang of things if you talk to whoever are the most experienced looking riders in the group.

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SteveR_100Milers · June 2007

Don't forget the well understoodd "Oh FFS" which signals the start of an unsighted very steep climb [:)]

Time! Time! It's always too long and there's never enough!

oldwelshman · June 2007

Oh and one very important one, if your lucky enough or fit enough to pass otheres especially on climbs, give them some words of encouragement.
I passed many on the cymru gran fondo and gave encouragemnt to every one I passed, except on one of the climbs where I was gasping for breath and hanging over the bars [8D]
A few words of encouragement does wonders for moral when struggling weather its from spectators or other riders.

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SteveR_100Milers · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by oldwelshman

Oh and one very important one, if your lucky enough or fit enough to pass otheres especially on climbs, give them some words of encouragement.
I passed many on the cymru gran fondo and gave encouragemnt to every one I passed, except on one of the climbs where I was gasping for breath and hanging over the bars [8D]
A few words of encouragement does wonders for moral when struggling weather its from spectators or other riders.

Feel free to browse and donate:
http://www.justgiving.com/davidbethanmills
My winter and summer bike pics

http://oldwelshman.myphotoalbum.com

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That's not what you shout in my ears when we have been out..[:)] We're doing the valleys end of the dragon tomorrow, wahey!

Time! Time! It's always too long and there's never enough!

Sportives

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