First Sportive - what to expect

steerpike

Hi,

In training for the Etape 09 and thinking about a few Sportives to get under the belt as good practice for riding in groups. I'm in the South West so have considered Forest of Dean Classic and Tour of Wessex.

Any advice for a first timer on do's and dont's (aside from not training properly!). Anything I should know before clicking on the entry forms? Will I be laughed at if I'm not wearing the right colour socks, for example?

Cheers

softlad

ride what you like, wear what you like - and most of all - ride at your own pace, not someone else's. Tha just about covers it..

deal

I certainly wouldnt worry about the socks - as a proud wearer of black socks i have never received any negative comments

steerpike

thanks - do I need to be affiliated to any national bodies?

McBain_v1

What to expect?

PAIN!

Especially if you ride at someone else's pace, wear brand new clothing for the first time on the ride, don't eat properly, don't pay attention to other riders around you, don't check your bike over beforehand...

softlad

steerpike wrote:

thanks - do I need to be affiliated to any national bodies?

no..

BaildonBob

Remember to be nice to people. Otherwise you'll come on here and find out who's said thanks to the organisers and helpers while you remember nodding at someone while covered in dribble and sweat.

rpmk

Especially if you ride at someone else's pace, wear brand new clothing for the first time on the ride, don't eat properly, don't pay attention to other riders around you, don't check your bike over beforehand...

First season of sportives for me ... rode the Puncheur and did it in a non-stellar time, but finished feeling ok. Got my fueling right, checked the bike ... all good stuff.

Two weeks later doing to the Spring Epic, but had a car accident on the Thursday, so had to sort out replacement transport, so didn't eat properly on the Friday or ride with my new 12-27 cassette to check it was ok, had a very late night, long drive to the event, stupidly didn't eat or drink properly whilst riding ... can you guess where this is heading?

Ended up with two chain incidents (one on the second biggest climb of the day), a dose of cramp about 200 metres from the top of Clee Hill (but struggled through it) and then bonked about 12 miles from the end, so suffered all the way in. After all that finished in 3hr50m, but was just soooooo happy to see the Epic Cycles shop!!

That'll teach me not to pay attention to everything McBain said! :oops:

Have to say though, that if these two events are representative of what I have to come this year, then I'm looking forward to it as they've both been really well organised.