Geoff Thomas Foundation Sportive 220810

Anonymous

Just signed up for this, it will in fact be my first ever sportive!

Don't know what to expect, it's the first sportive organised by www.cyclestore.co.uk and I thought I'd give it a go as it's non-profit making.

The route seems pretty good with a fair bit of countryside I haven't seen before.

Details of the Sportive here -

http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/events/

Hopefully see some more forum members there, then there will be plenty feedback for next time...

jgsi

Good cause... stil not signed up.. waiting for pay day... trouble with these sportives... wadge of money... but yes assured by the shop that weather is booked for the good.. and middle part of route back end of Leek area is going to sting....

southernfriedchicken

I have also signed up for this ride. It'll make nice to not have to get up early and travel a long way to the event start (Approx 1/2 mile)

I'll be on my red Kinesis Racelight RC2 with Campag Zonda wheels if any body sees me. It looks like I'll be riding this one on my own as I can't seem to be able to rope anybody else into it :roll: .

Anonymous

Well, not alone!

I'll be there...

Dunno what bike I'll be on though yet.

benjboy

Also doing this one.7 mile from my house .

Anonymous

Me too! (Holmes Chapel...)

mr_poll

Looks a good ride this NapD, unfortunately I am away otherwise I would be there.

If you choice of sportive's is influenced by non-profit making / charitable causes then keep your eye out for the Rivington 100 event next year, I did the shorter version this year and was well organised. All profits go to a local Bolton based charity. Will be doing the 100 next year

benjboy

I know, I am SandbachJust down the road from you. .

planetzed

I'll stick my kneck out here and say I love hills, yeah I love mountains but I hate stupidly steep climbs in a long sportive and nobody has mentioned Mow Cop being on this route.
25% gradients?- most will end up walking. I just really wanna ride around a course preferably without having to get off. It sure puts me off (i'm looking for my next ride and have looked at the Wild Edric and dismissed it for the same reasons). I guess I may (or may not) be in a minority here who actually think that a hard, satisfying and challenging route doesn't necessarily mean a very steep route......
Pity, I used to live in Congleton and the route passes almost past my old house and would be a trip down memory lane!

rolf_f

planetzed wrote:

I'll stick my kneck out here and say I love hills, yeah I love mountains but I hate stupidly steep climbs in a long sportive and nobody has mentioned Mow Cop being on this route.
25% gradients?- most will end up walking. I just really wanna ride around a course preferably without having to get off. It sure puts me off (i'm looking for my next ride and have looked at the Wild Edric and dismissed it for the same reasons). I guess I may (or may not) be in a minority here who actually think that a hard, satisfying and challenging route doesn't necessarily mean a very steep route......
Pity, I used to live in Congleton and the route passes almost past my old house and would be a trip down memory lane!

Yep, you'll probably be in a minority. I've done a few Sportives now, all in the North and all with some fairly significant climbs (eg Honister both ways, Park Rash, Fleet Moss, Holme Moss, Winnats. They are all what you would call stupidly steep and in each case most, if not all the people I've seen have got up without walking.

There are flattish Sportives around but if you go for a ride in certain parts of the country, it would be a contrivance not to include steep climbs. Also, the shorter versions of Sportives often miss off some of the steeper climbs.

If the climbs bother you so much, why not either practice them more or get some lower gearing? I get bored if it gets too flat!

Anonymous

Maybe that's because the 'famous' steep climb of Mow Cop isn't on the sportive? It approaches it from a much more steady climb.

Get your facts right before spouting off!

benjboy

Mow Cop is a great place to practise your climbing . There is at least 4 good ways up it and does not involve the Killer climb.So get out and enjoy.

jgsi

benjboy wrote:

Mow Cop is a great place to practise your climbing . There is at least 4 good ways up it and does not involve the Killer climb.So get out and enjoy.

Agreed... but it is a very busy area considering where it is...so for that reason it would not lend itself easily into a regular training route
the long drag up from Astbury would be really enjoyable 'cept for the vehicles using it as a cut thru to get to Biddulph in short order and hence not exactly driving accordingly for a narrow road....white vans especially.
(I wont mention the inbreeding however)

benjboy

I try and stay out in the middle of the road as best i can to slow the feckers down.Then move over when they are behind me to let them past :roll: .I do Mow Cop at least 3 times a week. I love it except for the boy/girl racers who try and use it as a short cut, but still good. .Seen Matt Stephens up it last Monday he was flying up it.

planetzed

NapoleonD wrote:

Maybe that's because the 'famous' steep climb of Mow Cop isn't on the sportive? It approaches it from a much more steady climb.

Get your facts right before spouting off!

Hey, spouting off was never on the agenda. Yeah,I checked the route map and profile, saw Mow Cop on the route and assumed it would be the tough way up. I seem to remember that there was only one road to the top,passing the pub and folly,but hey maybe I stand corrected.

I too get very bored on flat routes, but my original point was that it seems many sportive organisers go out of their way to put really steep hills into their rides often to the detriment of the participants who are frequently obliged to walk. I consider myself a fit and capable climber, just not one who enjoys 25% gradients and having to watch people obviously not enjoying the experience.

potters1863

Have been up Mow Cop from a few directions and this sportive does not go up the hardest way think it goes more around than over.

A Few tough climbs but mow cop isn't one of them.

Will be giving this a go.

pilot_pete

Yeah, see you all there, I'll be on my blue Pinarello FP3. Hopefully make it all the way as the most I have done is 65 miles before! Anyone got a link to a better map than the tiny one on the Cyclestore website?

Cheers

PP (less than a mile from the store!)

p.s. Which way does the route go, clockwise or anticlockwise on that map?

Anonymous

I don't know which bike to do this on. Or wheels to use. Or kit to wear. Or food to take!

First sportive and I'm getting like MrsNapD trying to sort out what shoes and handbag for a girls night out!

Bike Options -

Carbon racing bike with carbon tubular wheels
Carbon Racing bike with powertap/normal (but light) clincher wheels
Titanium training/winter bike (compact chainset) with the clinchers

I fancy doing it on the blinged out carbon with the tubs because it's so damn nice to ride. But the titanium has Crud Mudguards so would be bestest if it rains.

Maybe I should wait until I know what the weather is like!

Anonymous

Just looked at the route properly, there is an off road/gravel section between Swettenham and Davenport!

Normal wheels it is!

southernfriedchicken

I can't imagine there are any off road sections on the route. I live about 300 metres from the shop and ride around those lanes a lot all year round and there is no need to off road anywhere because all the lanes lead to the same places.
I look forward to seeing some of you there. Maybe we should have a secret handshake or something so as to recognise other forum members more easily.
Phil

skinsey

Haven't checked the route in detail, but Swettenham Village is essentially a dead-end, and there is about 1/3 mile of gravel track at the end of it to get back on to 'proper' roads - it's fine though, easy enough to ride on normal road bike tyres/wheels.

Davidius

Was hoping to ride this as I'm Localish (Sandbach). Aparently I've been double booked...

Also use Mow Cop for my hill training about twice a week but I hardly ever see any other cyclists.

pilot_pete

You've not been looking hard enough then!

PP

p.s. Unless they have changed it, I can't see the off-road bit on their map.....the route appears to avoid it.

Anonymous

They changed it yesterday after it was pointed out. They had actually changed the route a while ago but had problems uploading the new map as the off road bit would be a mare for a sportive (about half a mile of gravel/doubletrack bridleway with 3 gates).

The joys of twitter!

benjboy

I do it mainly about 10.ish on my training days and every other sunday.I see the odd cyclist but always going the other way.Looking forward to Sunday will be on a 953 Brian Rourke, red and blue bike and black and white kit if good weather :roll: .

skinsey

Have now entered as final practice for the Raid Pyrenean at the start of September. Just hope the weather behaves itself. Does anyone know if Geoff Thomas is actually doing the ride?

benjboy

Looks like it is rain for sunday and lots of it.Get the wet weather gear out and ride like the devil :twisted: .

southernfriedchicken

What time are you guys expecting to turn up tomorrow? Weather forecast doesn't look too bad now.
Hope to see you there.
Phil

benjboy

I should be there at 07.45. I am cycling to it from home, going to sign on today at the shop. So just have to turn up and go hopefully.

stokey1964

anybody got a gpx for this route, just had a 705 boght me as a present and keen to have a play tomorrow


Simon

Anonymous

Ar5e. Being new to Sportives I never gave signing on a thought. It'll have to be at 8am tomoz when I roll up then!