southern sportive
Comments
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Brewsterwmb wrote:really looking forward to this one now... Might be my last sportive of 2009 what with moving house!
lets hope for dry roads and some team work! :P
The weather report for the weekend looks dry and sunny so should be a good ride. It'll be my first Southern Sportive but i've ridden a bit of the route and it's nice. Looking forward to it.0 -
Sampras, I'm with you on the food supplies. I've sent off a email asking if bananas and flapjack are particularly expensive, compared with the £25 I've given them.0
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Stuck on a Giant wrote:Sampras, I'm with you on the food supplies. I've sent off a email asking if bananas and flapjack are particularly expensive, compared with the £25 I've given them.
Haha..
To be honest I was half expecting a reply by the organisers to my original post but nothing came, so I guess they haven't really got an answer. And I made some very nice flapjacks at the weekend and they do indeed cost peanuts to make..;-)
And they won't post out the chips and numbers either, which is another inconvience for those that don't live local.
Still, if it's chaos at the registration they only have themselves to blaim..;-)0 -
And they won't post out the chips and numbers either, which is another inconvience for those that don't live local.
Surely you get given these when you sign on after you parked the car and got your bike ready and just put them on a few minutes before you start. How inconvenient is that exactly? It's not going to be like the Etape with 1000s of cyclists. Personally I wouldn't want a timerchip deposit reliant on the competence of my local postman.0 -
Le Commentateur wrote:And they won't post out the chips and numbers either, which is another inconvience for those that don't live local.
Surely you get given these when you sign on after you parked the car and got your bike ready and just put them on a few minutes before you start. How inconvenient is that exactly? It's not going to be like the Etape with 1000s of cyclists. Personally I wouldn't want a timerchip deposit reliant on the competence of my local postman.
Yeah, fair enough, it's no real biggy to pick it up the morning of the ride. it was just that at the Wales Dragon for example, it speeded things up to have the chip posted out.0 -
sampras38 wrote:To be honest I was half expecting a reply by the organisers to my original post but nothing came, so I guess they haven't really got an answer. And I made some very nice flapjacks at the weekend and they do indeed cost peanuts to make..;-)
And they won't post out the chips and numbers either, which is another inconvience for those that don't live local.
Still, if it's chaos at the registration they only have themselves to blaim..;-)
It didn't occur to you that we might be a little busy this week? Still, happy to delay my departure from the office a little longer to give you that answer
We've staged 20+ cyclosportives in the past 4 years (as well as countless MTB events in the past 16) and we do think we have the quantity of provision we offer about right. As well as your food, water and SIS energy drink will be in plentiful supply. It's a performance cycling event after all, not a cake eating marathon. Your nutritional prep in the run up to the event is probably the most important thing, during the event you just need enough to sustain you; gorging mid event is hardly going to help your performance. For about 3,000 riders so far this year on our sportives, we seem to have provided just that without provoking any complaints (that I'm aware of). In fact we invariably have excess at the end of the ride that we can't give away, so I can't see that we're starving anyone.
Of course, we've got 1500 different appetites to to provide for this weekend, from the birdlike to the gluttonous, which is why we're up front about what we give you, so you can decide if you need to supplement that and to what level. Over-supplying for every single rider would be extremely wasteful and would probably add to the event costs. It's not just the unit price of the food, there's delivery costs, the extra (or larger) vehicles needed to distribute it around the course (do you know how much space 4500 portions of bananas and flapjack takes up? Let alone adding more!) and extra manpower shifting it and handing it out (and packing it up all the uneaten stuff again). If you think you're paying £25 just for food, you really haven't given much thought as to what's involved in making events like this happen. There's an awful lot in involved, and when you compare it to almost anything else in the big wide world, £25 for a full days organised recreational activity (£17 for our regular Sunday Sportive events) really isn't desperately expensive is it?
As for the numbers and chips, we don't post them out because that would be an inefficient way to do it on every level. Expensive, chips getting lost in the post, riders moving house and not telling us, rides forgetting the chips when they leave the house half asleep at 5am... We've found it's a lot better to hand them out at registration for an event of this size. Last year we barely had queues at all at registration and we'll be doing all we can to see that it goes as smoothly this year. That's why I'm still in the office at gone eight in the evening; preparing the chips and numbers for a quick hand out on the day.
I hope those answers make some sort of sense and that your 'unimpressedness' isn't still there at the end of the ride. The weather forecast is looking good, I know it's a cracking course and we're working hard to ensure that all the stuff that gets you round it is spot on. See you on Sunday.
Martin
trailbreak.co.uk
southernsportive.com0 -
SouthernSportive wrote:sampras38 wrote:To be honest I was half expecting a reply by the organisers to my original post but nothing came, so I guess they haven't really got an answer. And I made some very nice flapjacks at the weekend and they do indeed cost peanuts to make..;-)
And they won't post out the chips and numbers either, which is another inconvience for those that don't live local.
Still, if it's chaos at the registration they only have themselves to blaim..;-)
It didn't occur to you that we might be a little busy this week? Still, happy to delay my departure from the office a little longer to give you that answer
We've staged 20+ cyclosportives in the past 4 years (as well as countless MTB events in the past 16) and we do think we have the quantity of provision we offer about right. As well as your food, water and SIS energy drink will be in plentiful supply. It's a performance cycling event after all, not a cake eating marathon. Your nutritional prep in the run up to the event is probably the most important thing, during the event you just need enough to sustain you; gorging mid event is hardly going to help your performance. For about 3,000 riders so far this year on our sportives, we seem to have provided just that without provoking any complaints (that I'm aware of). In fact we invariably have excess at the end of the ride that we can't give away, so I can't see that we're starving anyone.
Of course, we've got 1500 different appetites to to provide for this weekend, from the birdlike to the gluttonous, which is why we're up front about what we give you, so you can decide if you need to supplement that and to what level. Over-supplying for every single rider would be extremely wasteful and would probably add to the event costs. It's not just the unit price of the food, there's delivery costs, the extra (or larger) vehicles needed to distribute it around the course (do you know how much space 4500 portions of bananas and flapjack takes up? Let alone adding more!) and extra manpower shifting it and handing it out (and packing it up all the uneaten stuff again). If you think you're paying £25 just for food, you really haven't given much thought as to what's involved in making events like this happen. There's an awful lot in involved, and when you compare it to almost anything else in the big wide world, £25 for a full days organised recreational activity (£17 for our regular Sunday Sportive events) really isn't desperately expensive is it?
As for the numbers and chips, we don't post them out because that would be an inefficient way to do it on every level. Expensive, chips getting lost in the post, riders moving house and not telling us, rides forgetting the chips when they leave the house half asleep at 5am... We've found it's a lot better to hand them out at registration for an event of this size. Last year we barely had queues at all at registration and we'll be doing all we can to see that it goes as smoothly this year. That's why I'm still in the office at gone eight in the evening; preparing the chips and numbers for a quick hand out on the day.
I hope those answers make some sort of sense and that your 'unimpressedness' isn't still there at the end of the ride. The weather forecast is looking good, I know it's a cracking course and we're working hard to ensure that all the stuff that gets you round it is spot on. See you on Sunday.
Martin
Firstly I'd like to thank you for your thorough response, and for staying late..;-)
I also agree with most of what you said, although, if I use the Wales Dragon as an example, they didn't charge as much as you have, posted out all chips and numbers in the post, and provided more food provisions at the feed stops. I appreciate your comments about the food and I'd like to think I know a little about nutrition myself, but the fact remains that half a banana and a flapjack is a bit poor. Historically the Dragon and other Sportives have been criticised for either not providing the right food at stations, or the wrong food, i.e. too much sugar etc, in relation to the cost of entry, and personally I do prepare properly beforehand and will make sure I'm well covered on the ride. The fact remains that Sportives are becoming very competitive business these days and people want value for money. Personally I'd prefer better provisions, chips posted out and at a lower cost, minus the t-shirt.
Sorry if that sounds a bit of a rant, and I'm sure the event will be great.0 -
Having 'skim' mread the last few post I think there is a need for a some balance to the thread.
I have done the Sothern Sportive a few times and some of the other rides arranged by the SS crew. No problem with food/drinks stops. Some I will grab a bite to eat others just to fill the water bottle. I agree with Martin it is a bike ride not a 'cake stop crawl'.
Done many other events from tri's, running races, cycle races etc. you only need the basics of water/energy drink and a bite to eat. Other nutrition you can put in your back pocket.
Anyway hope everyone has a good safe ride on Sunday, see you there probably won't recognise anyone but if you see some one on a Black Cervelo SLC-SL it could be me.0 -
as long as you have enough toilets so we are not cueing for hours before the start, I'll be happy! :P
Roll on Sunday “Look where you want to go. Not where you are going”0 -
Sampras, still agreeing with you.
Qutoe:
If you think you're paying £25 just for food, you really haven't given much thought as to what's involved in making events like this happen
If I thought I was just paying for food, I'd have asked for my money back!0 -
I entered last years event and thought it was well organized and good value for the entry fee.
My only feed back would have been a lack of sit down loo's for blokes pre-event dumps meaning a long queue to the blokes knowing the ladies loo had loads more facilities but had no queue. I may bring my high heels and wig this year
I'm not used to using chip timers attached to the quick release. Infact I don't take my wheels off that often. Anyone used them before? It seems asking several hundred people to whip off their wheel just before a Sportive start could be asking for trouble...
Any feedback to ease my anxiety :?:0 -
It only takes a couple of minutes and you definitely don't need to take the wheel out.
You only have to loosen the quick release and the chip slides between the quick release "nut" and the fork. You then tighten the quick release back up to secure the chip in place.0 -
Sundayrider wrote:I'm not used to using chip timers attached to the quick release. Infact I don't take my wheels off that often. Anyone used them before? It seems asking several hundred people to whip off their wheel just before a Sportive start could be asking for trouble...
Any feedback to ease my anxiety :?:
We've used them regularly since April for fields of 5-600 riders with no issues.Martin
trailbreak.co.uk
southernsportive.com0 -
SouthernSportive wrote:We've used them regularly since April for fields of 5-600 riders with no issues.
Thx.0 -
Sundayrider wrote:SouthernSportive wrote:We've used them regularly since April for fields of 5-600 riders with no issues.
Thx.
I actually had similar misgivings when I first looked at them, but they've proved to work fine. The only issue is on forks that have big "lawyers lugs"; the chip is supposed to 'hang' vertically down from the dropout, and the lugs interfere with that (apparently the next version will remedy this). In this case, it's better fitted on the rear (non drive side) where it's usually fine. The most important thng is just to make sure your QR is done up properly, same as you would if you had just fitted your wheel at any time.Martin
trailbreak.co.uk
southernsportive.com0 -
Sundayrider It's simple enough and if ask one of us nicely I am sure that someone who has done this before (me) ot anyone, they would be more than helpful. After all we are all there for the same reasons... The food!!“Look where you want to go. Not where you are going”0
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I'm looking forward to the ride tomorrow morning. Spent today prepping the bike with a gearcable replacement and a full scrub and polish 2010 Lynskey R230
2013 Yeti SB660 -
Well I really enjoyed the event, the route was enjoyable, I will definetly look out for the other events that are organised by Southern Sportive.0
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Thanks to Martin and the whole team at Southern Sportive. A good day's cycling through some lovely countryside. A great event, well organised and the food was excellent.... especially the chilli.0
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Thoroughly enjoyed the ride today, though I had a serious mechanical about 20 miles in that resulted in me cramping up big stylee several times throughout the day. My front shifter gave up the ghost even though I had thoroughly tested it yesterday. As a result, my left leg started cramping up and kept doing so throughout the ride. Still did the full distance though.
To console myself over my front shifter dying, I have now treated myself to a spangly new Ultegra SL groupset 2010 Lynskey R230
2013 Yeti SB660 -
I thought it was a great day too
I was a bit concerned when on the way to the start the temperature was a rather cool 5 degrees, but luckily it seemed to warm up as the day went on.
I checked my bike over yesterday, but failed to notice that the bar mount for my GPS had somehow broken. Luckily I spotted it before the start and managed to bodge it with a few cable ties.
I really enjoyed the route and the everyone seemed friendly, even a lot of the car drivers were very courteous when they had obviously been waiting a fair while for bikes to go past. Nice to see some of the locals cheering on riders.
Some of the roads heading North were a bit of a slog with the head on wind.
Overall I was pleased that I managed to complete the route in just over 5hrs 20 mins, which was ten minutes or so faster than last year.
And was that Nick Craig I saw flying around on the mtb? A shame he wasn't wearing baggies to give the full mtb look.0 -
5 hrs 7 mins for the long route. My first ever GOLD! 0
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I saw someone had been in an accident early on where the road crossed the train line on the way to towards Idsworth. Does anyone know if the rider was alright? There was a group stopped and a car stopped, I don't know what had happened.0
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A really good day, well done to the organisers. It was a testing route, with a fair few short sharp hills and some lovely scenery, particularly liked the bit just after the 2nd feed stop up and over the downs by Goodwood race course. Great signage, and it was good to see the orange tags hanging on the bushes just after many of the turnings, as confirmation that we were on the right route. People along the route were very friendly, I had a good few chats with people I was riding with - nice to have such a good atmosphere. Feed stops not too much of a bunfight, and the ride t-shirt was many times nicer than last year's shade of off-yellow.
Miles 50 to 70 were pretty tough into the Westerly wind, but by the time we'd gone up Butser Hill and again up the back of Old Winchester Hill, the end was in psychological sight and I really enjoyed the last 20k back into the finish.
Big downer for me was that my ride buddy had to abandon at 80k as his rear hub seized.
Clearly it didn't spoil my day quite as much as it did his, but it did sort of take the shine off the day.
Still, a great route, really well organised. I'll be back next year.0 -
They need to sweep the course of some cunningly placed gravel traps though, espcially a couple on blind bends, or apporaching an unexpected T junction where not braking isn't a good idea.0
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topcattim wrote:A really good day, well done to the organisers. It was a testing route, with a fair few short sharp hills and some lovely scenery, particularly liked the bit just after the 2nd feed stop up and over the downs by Goodwood race course. Great signage, and it was good to see the orange tags hanging on the bushes just after many of the turnings, as confirmation that we were on the right route. People along the route were very friendly, I had a good few chats with people I was riding with - nice to have such a good atmosphere. Feed stops not too much of a bunfight, and the ride t-shirt was many times nicer than last year's shade of off-yellow.
Miles 50 to 70 were pretty tough into the Westerly wind, but by the time we'd gone up Butser Hill and again up the back of Old Winchester Hill, the end was in psychological sight and I really enjoyed the last 20k back into the finish.
Big downer for me was that my ride buddy had to abandon at 80k as his rear hub seized. Clearly it didn't spoil my day quite as much as it did his, but it did sort of take the shine off the day.
Still, a great route, really well organised. I'll be back next year.
Sounds like a great day. I've never done the route, but I always fancied cycling down the hill from the top of Goodwood towards Chichester. Although this will bring back bad memories for my wife, a tree once jumped out in front of her beloved Morris minor on that road. Bad news about your cycling buddy, didn't he have some pretty bling hubs, if it’s who I'm thinking of? A had a lot of opportunities to observe his rear wheel earlier this summer!0 -
Gravel: an occupational hazard in this neck of the woods.
I'm not sure Duncton Hill was sensible, we got some abuse from drivers (and gave some back, Im ashamed to say) who had got caught behind us.
We don't help ourselves sometimes, my wife (who I've bombarded with pro cycling propaganda) was a bit miffed coming up the main road from Chichester to be stuck behind 3 of us riding abreast on their own. We need to have a bit of awarenesss.
Great Chilli, just what I wanted after all those gels. Excellent t- shirt.0 -
Ditto on the above. Great day and well done to the Southern Sportive Team...
Super pleased with a sub 5 hours for 155k. Still, means i get to eat like a pig today
Well done all :P“Look where you want to go. Not where you are going”0 -
Every year I have noted agressive driving on the A285 leg which always sees big groups of riders on what is a surprising busy road with limited safe overtaking.
I don't think this part of the course represents a good advert for Sportives, nor is it pleasant to ride, and if I was the organiser I would definitely change the long-route.
This year I opted for the mid-route because I noticed it cut out the biggest bottleneck at Dunction and also avoided overly-long stretches of 'boring and pointless' A286/A285.
Also the event has outgrown the venue. When the event car park is already full at 7.35am and the alternative is to use the towns car parks in which to get changed and washed afterwards it must be time to think again.
Sorry to criticise what is an otherwise well-above averagely organised event and team.
Great course arrows and food stops.
In many respects, the best route, best organisation and best facilities belong to the Highclere Castle event in June which consistently ticks all the boxes that matter to me at least.0 -
Well, it was my first 100 mile ride for a couple of years (100 miles, if you count the bit to and from the overflow car park) so I wasn't expected it to be easy, all the more so when I saw it would be a headwind for that section North from Rowlands Castle into the Butser area.
Little bit disappointed with a time around 6hrs 10mins, as that'll be about 10mins over my 2007 ride, but I suppose I shouldn't be when I consider I wasn't fit enough to even take the start last year.
I rather like the route and it seems to be evolving for the better each year. Duncton this year was the busiest I've been on, but no real problem from my side.0
