First sportive - no experience of riding in a group

CarpetFitter

Hi all,
I'm doing my first sportive this weekend (on my own, unfortunately) and obviously want to benefit from the advantages of riding in a group.
However, due to working weekends over the summer, all the riding I've done so far has been on my own. How should I play it when it comes to the sportive?
Should I just have a read up on through and off techniques and try and blend in? Will I just be able to blag it? Or will there not be a great deal of group riding at my limited speed (15mph over 50 miles) for it to be an issue? Or is there not a great deal of group riding at sportives full stop?
Thanks - again.

danowat

Just blag it, if a group comes past and you can hang with them, do so, just be sensible.

At the end of the day, a sportive is for fun, don't take it too seriously, remember you are there to have a good, enjoyable ride.

Don't forget to take a turn at the front though 8)

CiB

Pick up on a group and see what they do for a mile or two. It's not rocket science; you'll soon get the idea.

CarpetFitter

CiB wrote:

Pick up on a group and see what they do for a mile or two. It's not rocket science; you'll soon get the idea.

Thanks - that's what I thought. I've read a couple of articles on group riding so, as long as I hang back in a bunch early on, it shouldn't be too tough for the modest speed I'll be travelling.

danowat, like you say, it's about having a good ride but I want to go quickly at the same time!

amaferanga

Just sit on the back. That's what most folk do on sportives.


[rant]On the Cairngorm sportive this year myself and another guy towed a group around pretty much the whole way. We couldn't drop the buggers, but whenever we asked them to do their turn they claimed they were too knackered. So was I after being on the front for so long! The good news is we dropped them on the final climb. Lazy feckers :P [/rant]

GeorgeShaw

I wouldn't try through-and-off if you have no experience, get that with your friends or club mates. I wouldn't even take a turn at first, because if you're not experienced you might upset somebody by doing something unexpected.

I'd wait for a smallish group and tag on. Then ask one of them if they mind if you sit in because you're inexperienced. They shouldn't object, but if they're *rses they can just drop you.

danowat

Yeah, I know, but its worth remembering its not a race

If you've never ridden in a group before, you'll be suprised at how much difference it makes.

pneumatic

As above, plus probably the most important thing is to be as predictable as possible in your riding.

When you ride alone, you will sometimes sit up for a breather, swerve as you take a drink, dodge obstacles at the last minute, pull in for a rest, change pace etc.. and it doesn't bother anybody. In a group, any of those manoeuvres could cause a pile up.

Stay alert, especially mid to late ride, when you are getting tired and/or complacent.

jgsi

it's an interesting perspective.
Post a report how the ride goes.
It's a fine line between being a bloody nuisance in a group of club mates or informal friends and contributing something so that you dont get dropped or withering looks.

taz3611

Which sportive are you doing?

CarpetFitter

taz3611 wrote:

Which sportive are you doing?

Circuit of Kent.

Thanks for your advice everyone. Am approaching this with a fair bit of trepidation as I don't want to p*ss off any group I join. May be best to wait for a sociable looking bunch.

edhornby

keep looking over your shoulder regularly to make sure you know who is around you

wait until you're at the back of the group for taking water, food, firing a snot rocket etc

try and keep off the brakes where possible, and light dabs when you do

look both ways before puling in or out

apologies if this all seems like obvious advice but it is mostly commonsense as the others have said

sampras38

CarpetFitter wrote:

taz3611 wrote:

Which sportive are you doing?

Circuit of Kent.

Thanks for your advice everyone. Am approaching this with a fair bit of trepidation as I don't want to p*ss off any group I join. May be best to wait for a sociable looking bunch.

The sheer fact you're aware of it tells me you'll do just fine.

Enjoy the ride.

CarpetFitter

sampras38 wrote:

CarpetFitter wrote:

taz3611 wrote:

Which sportive are you doing?

Circuit of Kent.

Thanks for your advice everyone. Am approaching this with a fair bit of trepidation as I don't want to p*ss off any group I join. May be best to wait for a sociable looking bunch.

The sheer fact you're aware of it tells me you'll do just fine.

Enjoy the ride.

Thanks.

Also, does anyone know how gruesome One Tree Hill is? I've climbed Star Hill and Toy's Hill (the easy side) before.

freehub

I did a sportive this year and I also notice most people sit on the back, but their was alot of bad attitude from some people, I was with another guy, and these people were just sitting 2 abreast tootling along at what they probably thought was a proper high speed, we wanted to get by, he went first, then this guy started shaking his head, I went eventually, they all then pushed some power and tried to hang on.

On one climb I was at the back going slow and I was watching it, this guy who was shaking his head was not apparently "competing" with him to get to the top of this climb, he overtook, but knackered himself as the guy I was with was not even pushing, I just thought what a total numpty.

mroli

You'll be fine. Talk to the people in the group and say it is your first sportive and you want to do your turns and they'll help you out (unless they are cocks). Where I ride in groups having turned up solo, I normally get on the back, work out if it is a good pace for me then wait a little bit and then ride up to the front and say cheerily "i'll do a turn at the front if you like", then do a turn (you should have worked out how long people are doing whilst sitting on) and drop off or let someone else come through.

Make sure when you go to the front you don't raise the pace (which is a common mistake), point out potholes, call out obstacles/cars etc and have a good time.

It is great getting into a group that flies you along and you'll really enjoy it.

Oh - you don't have to be "right up" against the back wheel of the person in front of you either.

datpat64

Do us a favour and let us know how you get on ? I did my first Sportiv this year and was so worried about upsetting the groups I rode virtually all the way by ,myself, which I hadn't expected.

Did a shorter 60 miler two weeks after and just went with a group, had a great crack, took turns on the front and before I even realise had covered 10 miles (although concentrating so heavily the time passed quickly).

Go for it ! Most other riders will not get uptight and if they do they're probaly worth letting go and catching the next group to pass

Gazzaputt

CarpetFitter wrote:

Also, does anyone know how gruesome One Tree Hill is? I've climbed Star Hill and Toy's Hill (the easy side) before.

It is gruesome believe me. I've done this sportive for the past 4 years and everytime this sodding hill does me.

It is at the very end of the ride and it just ramps up about 20% I believe.

Chip \'oyler

freehub wrote:

I did a sportive this year and I also notice most people sit on the back, but their was alot of bad attitude from some people, I was with another guy, and these people were just sitting 2 abreast tootling along at what they probably thought was a proper high speed, we wanted to get by, he went first, then this guy started shaking his head, I went eventually, they all then pushed some power and tried to hang on.

On one climb I was at the back going slow and I was watching it, this guy who was shaking his head was not apparently "competing" with him to get to the top of this climb, he overtook, but knackered himself as the guy I was with was not even pushing, I just thought what a total numpty.

I didn't understand a word of that

rick_chasey

It's best not to get too tense and worried about it.

Just don't do anything rash and you'll be fine. It's very easy to pick up.

Monty Dog

You'll be OK, remember it's not a race and your first objective is to get round. As said, keep your riding predictable and steady - avoid making sudden manoeuvres in the middle of a bunch - if you suddenly see a pothole, then you may have to 'ride' it rather than braking or swerving suddenly. Hopefully the guys on the front will point out obstacles and hazards to those behind. Avoid overlapping the wheel of the rider in front - if they move over they can take you out. If you do find the pace tough, take a breather as there'll probably be another group along shortly.

markos1963

As others have said predictability is the thing most other group riders are looking for. Be selective about who you join as well, too big a group is just as bad as too small, about a dozen is ideal if you are well matched.
This year at the Norwich 100 my clubmates made up a group of 15 and that was great, we managed to keep an average of 20mph but it got dangerous as so many hangers on joined us, at one point there must have been 40 alltgether. This was crazy as the others didn't want to work and it made the group very antisocial to other road users. So bear that in mind.
The fact that you are asking for advice is good it shows you care and want to get the most out of your day. Most of all enjoy it and let us know how it went.

Suffolkwheels

Just to add my tuppence worth - I did my first sportive (60 miles) a lil while ago with similar concerns about doing the right thing regarding group riding.

I found that whilst in a group, distance can fly by which was great. I'd only ever ridden solo so it was nice to be around other people.

At the same time, don't feel you need to be with/stay with a group. If the riders you're with are slowing you down, move on solo. I lost a fair bit of pace cycling with other people due to the 'novelty' of it whilst I should have just pressed on.

Be predicatable. Give a glance back before moving left/right/stopping etc. But basically, enjoy it.

SmellTheGlove

Planning my first sportive at the weekend - the main thing I'm concerned about is a pack descent at speed. I don't want to be the one that bottles it halfway down, so I'll probably keep off the back when they come round.

rick_chasey

SmellTheGlove wrote:

Planning my first sportive at the weekend - the main thing I'm concerned about is a pack descent at speed. I don't want to be the one that bottles it halfway down, so I'll probably keep off the back when they come round.

Don't bottle it then

kieranb

yep, be predictable, in my first sportive and first group ride ever, years ago now. I was going along at a nice speed (I used to do a 50mile round trip for a commute so had good fitness) and came to a junction, lights on orange so I stopped, got rear ended by a rider behind me, turns out there were a few cyclists drafting behind me, I was totally unware of them.

CarpetFitter

Hi all, I'm alive & back in one piece.
The event went well. I clocked 3 hours 46 in the end including stops (1 feed and 10 minute puncture). I went round a lot of it in a small group of half-a-dozen and headed off on my own for the (windy) last 30km. The group wasn't very organised (more social) but a good experience.
Quite pleased with the time really considering it was a first attempt with only a dozen or so rides behind me.
Thanx for all your advice.

Grimone

CiB wrote:

Pick up on a group and see what they do for a mile or two. It's not rocket science; you'll soon get the idea.

+1, you'll pick it up no problem at all.

secretsqizz

Grimone wrote:

CiB wrote:

Pick up on a group and see what they do for a mile or two. It's not rocket science; you'll soon get the idea.

+1, you'll pick it up no problem at all.

Are you in a different time zone?
He's back... he got mixed up with a bunch woolly arsed cycle tourists and took off on his tod for the last 20 mile home....

CarpetFitter

secretsqizz wrote:

Grimone wrote:

CiB wrote:

Pick up on a group and see what they do for a mile or two. It's not rocket science; you'll soon get the idea.

+1, you'll pick it up no problem at all.

Are you in a different time zone?
He's back... he got mixed up with a bunch woolly arsed cycle tourists and took off on his tod for the last 20 mile home....

Exactly right - they were having a ride before heading out to the Alps on a little trip next week!
I'm sure I could have gone quicker in a faster group but had a great day all the same. Was quite windy out on my own though.

Gazzaputt

CarpetFitter wrote:

Hi all, I'm alive & back in one piece.
The event went well. I clocked 3 hours 46 in the end including stops (1 feed and 10 minute puncture). I went round a lot of it in a small group of half-a-dozen and headed off on my own for the (windy) last 30km. The group wasn't very organised (more social) but a good experience.
Quite pleased with the time really considering it was a first attempt with only a dozen or so rides behind me.
Thanx for all your advice.

Was that for the 130k route?