Your Top Crap Sportive

spinningcreeps

reason to try Le terrier. Quietest roads (you will think they are closed) for £20.
Great event put on by cyclists for cyclists!!
I know that I am beating on about this ride, but you really must try it.

FransJacques

These guys are pretty confident in themselves:

"After last years first run and the problems that it caused to riders unprepared for the difficulties with this 77 miler. We should like to warn riders that there is a lot of up and down on this ride and it is not to be taken lightly!!!! This ride is designed and run for cyclists. We have not added any miles for the sake of it, you will have to ride every one."

Gee thanks buddy, that's really helpful. I'll keep that in mind. If 2600 vert meters causes problems, might I suggest my gran's knitting circle.

"As you will see on Cyclosport website this is one of the very best rides in the UK and it is our intention to make it even better."

Must be some kind of northern trash talking or "frontin" as the kids on the estates down south call it. If this is a thread on bad sportives - like paying £90 to ride the Tour of Wessex - are you saying this sportive is so good it's bad?

BigG67

2,600m climbing in 77miles is a decent effort...the Bealach Mor is 3,000m in 90miles and pretty hard.

FransJacques

Interesting reading: http://granfondophiladelphia.com/registration/

- the philly ride is 100 bucks - not sure what the US peso is to the pound these days but it's not cheap.

But still, all that sweet ice flowing over you. How can you put a price on that?

spinningcreeps

Frans...
Do you ever remember the Liver Birds? A comedy up north in Liverpool. They had a popular saying that could be used for Le terrrier- 'come and have a go if you think your hard enough'.
Your not one of those blokes that bangs on about the 'hills in Surrey are you.
Le terrier is good and bad. Good if you like hills, empty roads and the best scenery in the Queens garden. Bad if you don't respect it, the last 12 miles is the hardest finish bar none! Next years long route 97 miles will no doubt be the hardest route in the UK!
Enough talking eh?

FransJacques

Surrey hills? Well they're a good resource (like Rich Park) but only a Dynamo would think that being the king of Rich Park / Zig Zag hill makes you well 'ard. I've ridden Leith Hill/Coldharbour on 4 consecutive rides this summer and am sick of it. Over in 5 mins.

Despite being 80kgs I love climbing but my issue is for the cost/time to drive up North, you may as well cross the channel and take on something really big. It's the same with skiing & Scotland: a flight to GVA is 1 hour and from there it's 1.5 hours to Chamonix - why go up north and get cold sleet?

From the pix the weather looks a bit sheit. I did notive that 1 guy from my club made the trip and did around 5hrs so I'll ask him his impressions. Hopefully I'll make the trip next year - looks like I'll defo need the 25c tyres for the roads...

pdstsp

As my daughter would say, "whatever". Nothing like ignorance to keep our roads clear (apart from the sleet of course)

spinningcreeps

Frans..
Going to take up the challenge eh?
I rode it with Eurus wheels, 23mm tyres, carbon bike and it's absolutely fine. I put a 26 on the back though to save the legs because the route starts hard and just keeps getting harder. It's made for a rider of your weight.
If this was in Europe it would be a big hit like The Northern Classics, Paris Roubaix- tough men routes.
The finish times will tell you how hard it is. The Fred rides quicker per mile than this 'little route'.