Silly Commuter Sportives

coopster_the_1st

Took part in the Evans Ride-It medium route around Dorking (55 miles).

Never ridden around the area so thought a sportive would be a good way to see some of the sights(hills).

I never knew it was so hilly!!!

Ranmoor Common and Leith Hills were tough. Box Hill was not bad, just get into a rythmn and keep going although my time to climb it never troubled the Box Hill climb challenge(10m 17s). Would like to know how fast I could climb it without Ranmoor Common in the legs and being able to take advantage of the cafe stop at the top.

The views looking south from the top of the hills are great.

The 3600ft of climbing is the most I have done in one ride

WesternWay

Coopster the 1st wrote:

Took part in the Evans Ride-It medium route around Dorking (55 miles).

Did you enjoy it? I am vaguely thinking of doing the Evans one up in Hertfordshire in July. I only commute, don't really cycle for fun, but thought I might give it a go.

I am not sure what distance to do... I do 25ish/day commuting... I guess that the medium ride would be sensible, but I don't really know...

I'd be on a flat barred bike, so I hope the ride is not snobby :-)

decisions, decisions.

richred_uk

I started cycling in December and am steadily cutting out stations on my train into work in the vain hope of one day doing the 16.2 miles each way on the bike in full.

Currently do about 15.5 in total each day, and thinking of doing the Bike Events Enfield to Cambridge Sportive in July.

2 Q's for those who know what they are doing more than me

1 - I ride a Dahon Espresso 26" folder - will I be essentially 'point and laugh' ed at?

2 - I intend to do some full commutes home from work (16.2 miles) to get some training in, the full sportive is 57 miles - how close to that should I think about doing on a weekend to experience what the distance will feel like?

Thanks in advance

Rich

jonginge

Magnificat photos are up:
http://sportivephoto.thirdlight.com/vie ... 724&home=1

1640

I look somewhat more cheerful than on the blackrat one

Bassjunkieuk

JonGinge wrote:

Magnificat photos are up:
http://sportivephoto.thirdlight.com/vie ... 724&home=1

1640

I look somewhat more cheerful than on the blackrat one

You beat me to it!
I'm 1535, only a couple of dodgy ones ;-)

itboffin

Well that's the first time i've actually looked half normal in a sportive photo

1487

Still need to lose a looooot of weight :oops:

Jay dubbleU

3116 - not too bad at Walbury but there was a lot of pain going on at Ashford Hill - nice shoes though

cjcp

1308.

I'm buying the first couple because they proe I reached the top of a climb with JG. However, I look as if I'm about to fall sideways in nos. 7 and 8...

stuaff

richred_uk wrote:

I started cycling in December and am steadily cutting out stations on my train into work in the vain hope of one day doing the 16.2 miles each way on the bike in full.

Currently do about 15.5 in total each day, and thinking of doing the Bike Events Enfield to Cambridge Sportive in July.

2 Q's for those who know what they are doing more than me

1 - I ride a Dahon Espresso 26" folder - will I be essentially 'point and laugh' ed at?

2 - I intend to do some full commutes home from work (16.2 miles) to get some training in, the full sportive is 57 miles - how close to that should I think about doing on a weekend to experience what the distance will feel like?

Thanks in advance

Rich

1. No. I did the New Forest on my Cadenza, and no-one made any comments. And I was far from slowest round... The Espresso should be up to the job.
2. Full commutes are a good idea. If you can do 20-25 mile weekend runs, and then start building the miles from there, to say 35-40 milers, you should be fine. Mileage is mileage, you don't have to do it all in one go (nor should you!), and every little helps...

Bassjunkieuk

itboffin wrote:

Well that's the first time i've actually looked half normal in a sportive photo

I was thinking the same about mine! I'm sure they'd get better photo's if they didn't insist on putting the camera's at the top of hills! I think I'm climbing a hill in 75% of my pictures and god knows how I managed to pull of a normal-ish look for the one on Ashford Hill ;-)

Having said that I'm not to sure what my hand is doing in my 2nd or 3rd pic..........

cjcp

StuAff wrote:

richred_uk wrote:

I started cycling in December and am steadily cutting out stations on my train into work in the vain hope of one day doing the 16.2 miles each way on the bike in full.

Currently do about 15.5 in total each day, and thinking of doing the Bike Events Enfield to Cambridge Sportive in July.

2 Q's for those who know what they are doing more than me

1 - I ride a Dahon Espresso 26" folder - will I be essentially 'point and laugh' ed at?

2 - I intend to do some full commutes home from work (16.2 miles) to get some training in, the full sportive is 57 miles - how close to that should I think about doing on a weekend to experience what the distance will feel like?

Thanks in advance

Rich

1. No. I did the New Forest on my Cadenza, and no-one made any comments. And I was far from slowest round... The Espresso should be up to the job.
2. Full commutes are a good idea. If you can do 20-25 mile weekend runs, and then start building the miles from there, to say 35-40 milers, you should be fine. Mileage is mileage, you don't have to do it all in one go (nor should you!), and every little helps...

Yep, re 2 - every little helps. Try adding on a few miles to your commute, too. Just build up gradually.

ketsbaia

1384 for me. Terrifically cheesy thumbs-up at the top of Old Winchester Hill, I think you'll agree.

coopster_the_1st

WesternWay wrote:

Coopster the 1st wrote:

Took part in the Evans Ride-It medium route around Dorking (55 miles).

Did you enjoy it? I am vaguely thinking of doing the Evans one up in Hertfordshire in July. I only commute, don't really cycle for fun, but thought I might give it a go.

I am not sure what distance to do... I do 25ish/day commuting... I guess that the medium ride would be sensible, but I don't really know...

I'd be on a flat barred bike, so I hope the ride is not snobby :-)

decisions, decisions.

It was not bad. It looks to be one of the cheaper sportives but you get what you need, electronic timing, drinks stops(some may have food), guided route. I would do another one as it is a good cheap way of learning what hills are in a certain area.

On the route length, I would say it depends on the amount of climbing. It level 2 or lower do the medium route, if 3 consider the shorter route but change to the medium if you feel good, and 4 would be the short route. You can change the route you are on during the ride as you let me them know at the end which route you did.

And there is no bike snobbery. As there is an 11 & 30 miles route there will be a range of bikes and any snobbery should just be dealt with by scalping the snob :twisted:

Jay dubbleU

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

itboffin wrote:

Well that's the first time i've actually looked half normal in a sportive photo

I was thinking the same about mine! I'm sure they'd get better photo's if they didn't insist on putting the camera's at the top of hills! I think I'm climbing a hill in 75% of my pictures and god knows how I managed to pull of a normal-ish look for the one on Ashford Hill ;-)

Having said that I'm not to sure what my hand is doing in my 2nd or 3rd pic..........

I really need to lose some weight - as for Ashford Hill I was going just about fast enough to stay up right. I suppose they put photographers at the top of hills because you lot would just flash past them on the flat - I on the other hand would have no such problem

richred_uk

did my first full return from work tonight - 16.2 miles in 1 hr 10 (only took a wrong turn once). Barnet Hill is a bit of a killer though - thought I had a roadie in my sights until we hit the hill - he danced up it and I, well I crawled.

Felt good though - felt like I could have turned around and gone back (a bit slower mind) which bodes well for taking on longer routes.

Plus my boss confirmed they'd sort a CTW scheme for me so I'm looking longingly at a nice roadie now - I only meant to do a few miles to between home & station and station & work, it wasn't meant to become another hobby!!!

WesternWay

we must overlap Rich, I do the bottom of Barnet Hill to the city, do you go back to WGC?

richred_uk

WesternWay wrote:

we must overlap Rich, I do the bottom of Barnet Hill to the city, do you go back to WGC?

Yes - I started in December went to New Southgate by train then cycled to Finchley, then cut the train back to Oaklaigh Park, then New Barnet, now playing with the idea of doing the train in the morning and bike home all the way up the A1000.

Hmmm - what's your FCN? :twisted:

suzyb

On sportives that have official charity partners, do you have to collect money for a charity or can you just pay your money and ride the route.

Am thinking of signing up for Pedal for Scotland.

Bassjunkieuk

suzyb wrote:

On sportives that have official charity partners, do you have to collect money for a charity or can you just pay your money and ride the route.

Am thinking of signing up for Pedal for Scotland.

I think on the sportives it's optional (but obviously good if you can raise money at the same time!) I think it's when you get on proper charity rides such as the BHF L2B and the L2P rides that you need to raise charity money, with a minimum requirememtn on some.....

Canny Jock

Now signed up for the Bikeradar 70 miler on the 10th July - anyone else?

OldSkoolKona

Were there any Bike Radar Commuters at the Dartmoor Classic yesterday?

The 100miler was fun, never thought you could string so many climbs into a ride and was a roasting day :-) Big thumbs up to MDCC for organising an excellent sportive - will be working on my climbing legs for next year!

WesternWay

richred_uk wrote:

WesternWay wrote:

we must overlap Rich, I do the bottom of Barnet Hill to the city, do you go back to WGC?

Yes - I started in December went to New Southgate by train then cycled to Finchley, then cut the train back to Oaklaigh Park, then New Barnet, now playing with the idea of doing the train in the morning and bike home all the way up the A1000.

Hmmm - what's your FCN? :twisted:

I am generally an 8 :-)

ketsbaia

A mere five days to go before the Marmotte.

How did it come around so quickly?

*gulp*

jonginge

ketsbaia wrote:

A mere five days to go before the Marmotte.

How did it come around so quickly?

*gulp*

+bazillion

Oh, the plans that were made! Training kinda stalled about January time and I never got going again. It's a good job I did the Blackrat and Magnificat sportives or the Marmotte would have been my longest ride ever. Top-notch preparation :oops:

risi

OldSkoolKona wrote:

Were there any Bike Radar Commuters at the Dartmoor Classic yesterday?

The 100miler was fun, never thought you could string so many climbs into a ride and was a roasting day :-) Big thumbs up to MDCC for organising an excellent sportive - will be working on my climbing legs for next year!

Me! For the first time I bailed out on a ride - I haven't been on my bike much (and not at all since the Dragon), so decided at the feed stop to switch on to the 100k course. I also need to work on my climbing legs big time.

+2 thumbs as well - excellent organisation (marshalling in particular was great).

OldSkoolKona

risi wrote:

OldSkoolKona wrote:

Were there any Bike Radar Commuters at the Dartmoor Classic yesterday?

The 100miler was fun, never thought you could string so many climbs into a ride and was a roasting day :-) Big thumbs up to MDCC for organising an excellent sportive - will be working on my climbing legs for next year!

Me! For the first time I bailed out on a ride - I haven't been on my bike much (and not at all since the Dragon), so decided at the feed stop to switch on to the 100k course. I also need to work on my climbing legs big time.

Probably a good call, the climb back up for the 2nd visit to Dartmoor's finest prison wasn't pleasant.

What amazed me though were the poor souls who were trying to cut down on wear and tear on their expensive fully carbon fibre bikes by pushing them up the hills..

ketsbaia

JonGinge wrote:

ketsbaia wrote:

A mere five days to go before the Marmotte.

How did it come around so quickly?

*gulp*

+bazillion

Oh, the plans that were made! Training kinda stalled about January time and I never got going again. It's a good job I did the Blackrat and Magnificat sportives or the Marmotte would have been my longest ride ever. Top-notch preparation :oops:

I know how you feel. Such lofty aims in January have been compromised every month. I reckon I'm about halfway through the training I intended to put in.

Ho hum. We'll see how we go on Saturday.

gert_lush

OldSkoolKona wrote:

risi wrote:

OldSkoolKona wrote:

Were there any Bike Radar Commuters at the Dartmoor Classic yesterday?

The 100miler was fun, never thought you could string so many climbs into a ride and was a roasting day :-) Big thumbs up to MDCC for organising an excellent sportive - will be working on my climbing legs for next year!

Me! For the first time I bailed out on a ride - I haven't been on my bike much (and not at all since the Dragon), so decided at the feed stop to switch on to the 100k course. I also need to work on my climbing legs big time.

Probably a good call, the climb back up for the 2nd visit to Dartmoor's finest prison wasn't pleasant.

What amazed me though were the poor souls who were trying to cut down on wear and tear on their expensive fully carbon fibre bikes by pushing them up the hills..

Jeeez it was hot! Did the 100 miler, and as always excellently organised, signposted and marshalled, and plenty of yummy food at the stations. Saw quite a few pushers, I am very glad of my triple chainset of that route (yeah I know its not cool but hey it helps my legs!) And happy to beat last years time and get the gold again whoop de whoop.

Was riding with some guys for the last 3 miles who were insanely fast and (quite rightly) making me do my bit at the front every 20 seconds.....I soon got pushed out the back in a sweaty panting mess...only to find at the finish they did it in 5hrs38 mins!!!!!!!!!! no wonder I couldn't keep up!!!!

tailwindhome

Just pulled the trigger on my Lap the Lough entry. 87 miles around Lough Neagh.

http://www.lapthelough.org/

Gulp!

cjcp

TailWindHome wrote:

Just pulled the trigger on my Lap the Lough entry. 87 miles around Lough Neagh.

http://www.lapthelough.org/

Gulp!

Good man. Will this be the longest ride ever? If so, remember to pace yourself. Don't charge off like it's the start of the Cannonball Run.