Sportive cycling

Tino4444

Hi all,

To take part in a sportive do you need a have a minimum average speed?

I can cycle long distance but not sure as to what average speed I could maintain for say 100 miles.

Thanks,

Tino

LeighB

The Sportive rides I have done have a cut off time at a point in the course. If you think you may need extra time you can set off early. If you look on the web site of the ride you are thinking of doing they may have last years results to give you some idea of the times set by other riders. The last event I did was 80 miles (my odo said 90) and the times went from the fastest at 4 hours 55 mins to slowest at 8 hours 48 mins; this shows the events cater for all levels of rider.

Booboocp

Some sportives will offer different routes, to cater for all riders.

My event, the White Rose Challenge has 3 different routes, roughly 50 miles, 80 miles and 110 miles.

While I wouldn't want novices to take on the long route because it really is quite a tough challenge, I will allow more than 13 hours for riders to complete it. If that is not enough, then riders really should be looking at the 80 mile option.

http://www.whiterosechallenge.co.uk

Gav888

There is a sportive I want to try in May in Suffolk and they offer a 50m and 100m route, being a newbie and having never done a sportive, im going for the 50m if work / personal commitments allow, but are you allowed to stop for a rest, or do you have to ride the event none stop for 50m? I guess as there is a time limit, its ok to rest every so often?

Booboocp

Gav, sportives are primarily FUN events.

There is no need to race round, you take your own time and stop as often as you like. There are those (myself included) who may well wish to go for a fast time/non stop ride in some of the sportives, but it is entirely up to you how you want to tackle them.

They really are great events for beginners as you'll almost always find someone of a similar level to yourself to ride sections with in many of the larger events. Enjoy.

Brian B

The great thing about sportives is that there are different levels of fitness, abilities and a wide diversity of bikes and equipment. EVERYBODY suffers on the long distance events but the quicker you are you just get round it faster.

Its just for fun or perhaps setting a personal goal and cycling in a different area to which you normally do.

sazzledazzle

Apologies if this is a thread hijack and it's probably a dumb question but is it normal for sportives to be done Solo? I'd love to try one but I've failed to get the OH on a bike so it'll just be me trying to make it round in one peice.

GeorgeShaw

It depends on the size of the entry. My first was the Trans-Cambrian, so while there was the usual range of ability, with an entry of only 180 and the start spread over an hour, I spent most of the time on my own - albeit saying hello to people as they passed me ... :x

On bigger sportives, like the Tour of Wessex, that takes up to 1000, then it shouldn't be a problem to find people to ride with most of the way round.

Of course, if you join a club, then you might have ready-made companions