Cycling, sportives and money!

LeicesterLad

Dilemma.

I have very little money, my finances are extrememly tight for many reasons out of my control, however i am getting hugely into road cycling currently riding what i'd class as an out and out winter hack, an old 80's Raleigh Record Sprint, the bike is in good nick, could do with a new back wheel but other than that a decent service on it will see it in almost spot on nick, going to put some handlebar gel tape on it because its wearing a bit thin etc

Im extremely excited about some sportives next year, and was originally looking at splashing some cash (that i now don't have) on a new road bike, possibly an allez or a trek 1.5 (around that sort of budget / spec) but now with the money situation, am resigning myself to riding the sprint next year.

Problem is will it get me through a few sportives?, doing it really for myself, enjoyment and fitness, and how much abuse am i going to have to take when i turn up on my old pile of steel?

really disheartening knowing that im not going to have the budget to get the ride i really want, and to take me up to the next level in a new found hobby that i am determined to pursue, but thats just the way it is!

anyone else in my boat?

danowat

You'll get no stick, I've seen plenty of old steel hacks, some of them going VERY quickly, in sportives.

pneumatic

danowat wrote:

You'll get no stick, I've seen plenty of old steel hacks, some of them going VERY quickly, in sportives.

+1

It is HOW you ride, not WHAT you ride that will get you the respect of other cyclists. Ride your steel with pride and you'll leave behind plenty of folk like me, labouring away grimly on our carbon accessories.

rickr55

Hi Mate
just get on and ride will be very suprised if you got some stick i'm 45 year old and have just come back to sport after over twenty years away i'm not very fit but i'm getting there not much money either buy what i can when i can ebay can get some good buys not entered any sportives yet maybe next year but on my weekend rides people that i have met have been very friendly and helpfull and nobody took the pi$$ out of the old guy with a bald head and a bit of a pounch belly.Point is we are all a friendly bunch.

Rick

Barteos

1+ 1+ 1+

A new bike won't take you to "another level" or will make a "massive" difference.
Your fitness will.
Enjoy what you're doing and cycle a lot.

Chip \'oyler

And if you want to save more money don't bother doing Sportives - you're paying a lot to ride on roads you can ride for free anyway!

LeicesterLad

Thanks all for the replys, feel much more confident about riding the steel with pride! Going to have to stick with it for now no matter what happens, and id be a fool to let it get in the way of a hobby!

Its just cycling is such a product driven hobby, i see it, i want it sort of thing, but we cant always have everything we want! so the old hack will be treated to a service and a few cheap mod's in prep for next year!

rolf_f

Chip \'oyler wrote:

And if you want to save more money don't bother doing Sportives - you're paying a lot to ride on roads you can ride for free anyway!

True - but sportives are fun in a different way to cycling on your own. Not really the same experience at all.

(have ridden my old Dawes on quite a few Sportives now - various Evans, Keswick Mtn Challenge, Richmond 5 Dales. Experience much the same as riding my posh bike!)

TurboMonkey

You may get even more enjoyment by joining a club rather than riding sportives.

For the cost of normally one entry (£20 ish) you can join many cycling clubs for a year, this gives you lots of benefits of experience and group riding over the distances and terrain that a sportive would cover.

I mean that all in all your sportive entry actively pays for is timing and a small amount of food & energy drink, for a ride you could do any time of the year on public roads they may not always represent the best value for money. (obviously this doesnt count for admin, insurance and policing but this would be very much less of a problem while riding with a club). Legally there is nothing stopping you riding a sportive route on the day of the event following the other riders if the route is on public roads.

Otherwise just get out on your bike and ride, ride, ride. Find some maps of the area to get an idea of the main roads and go explore all the back lanes and get lost a bit. Eventually you will get back home and have had an adventure at the same time.

Don't let money put you off, as long as you have a mechanically sound bike, means to fix it and clothing that will do the job the rest is just a convenience. The weight of a bike is a small proportion of the total weight going into the ground and the rider is responsible for abut 85% of the air resistance. No matter what fancy gadgets are seductively advertised, these facts are not likely to change much.

This hobby need not be expensive if you realise what are and what are not valuable investments and reasonable expenses.

garrynolan

Hiya, I have an '84/'85 Record Sprint which I only retired last year (redundancy paid for a new bike) after great service. Give yours a service, try not to change too much and keep it going. Don't need much money to keep them in good nick. Mine is completely original and is still going strong after a recent tidy. They seem to be indestructible! Enjoy.

Crapaud

+1 to all of the above. It's a bike ride, you've got a bike, you're riding it. It's you're day out, enjoy it.

TurboMonkey wrote:

... This hobby need not be expensive if you realise what are and what are not valuable investments and reasonable expenses.

+1 too. If cash is an issue don't forget audax is dirt cheap and the CTC: annual membership and rides all year round.There's bound to be something nearby, LeicesterLad. They're not sportives, but put the dosh you save towards your dream bike.

Mad Roadie

Barteos wrote:

1+ 1+ 1+

A new bike won't take you to "another level" or will make a "massive" difference.
Your fitness will.
Enjoy what you're doing and cycle a lot.

excellent statement - the only thing a new bike would add is a bit more motivation for those 'lack of progress moments'

Anonymous

I agree about the 'join a club' suggestion...

You'll get to know loads of roads you never knew existed (I know I did!), the club runs are a good social occasion and even better, free!

Robbie1958

I bought a winter hack a couple of months ago. Its an old 1980s single gear. with new bar tape and a good clean it looks ok and rides well. Iv'e entered a couple of 100k Audax's over the winter and i'm sure there will be loads of old bikes out and about.

I also ride it on my Sunday club runs. I know it's not the best looking bike, but there is something nice about getting home after a ride, hosing it down and putting it into the garage until the next ride.. no deep cleaning for this bike, and there is a lot to be said about that.

tlw1

Its my first year of club runs & it has increased my enjoyment and road miles. Gutted I spent years cycling on my own!

LeicesterLad

Some great suggestions coming up, and very pleased with the lack of bike snobbery!

GarryNolan - My Record Sprint is all original, but a few bits getting a bit too rusty, plus ive lost a gear Cable, which means im riding on 6 gears at the minute (only a 12 speed), so once ive had that repaired, some new bar tape, some Crud MK2's and im done for winter. If money does allow a new back wheel would be desireable (as i have to get the spoke key on it every other day as some of the spokes do not tighten, and the wheel keeps getting knocked out of shape) but its not urgent.

Ive looked into joining a club, There's one about 5 miles from me, so quite local, but im looking to join start of spring, as my fitness isn't exactly up to scratch yet. Also quite nervous about joining a club, heard bad things about snobbery plus i dont want to be holding anybody back and getting on their tits constantly.

Thanks for all the tips guys and girls!

tlw1

my view is go to the club now & join the slower ride.

It will get you fitter and if you can't keep up, let them know and drop off the back. Then next week go again & repeat until its easier.

Bobbinogs

+1 for the tip about audaxes if budget is a problem. I like doing audaxes because they are a little more chilled and I like the fact that you go back to basics. There is no moaning about the feed stops or gels running out. No moaning about the lack of routing. You get a route map, some info and that's yer lot. Oh, and about 100+ other cyclists of mixed abilities (some on tandems, some on old bikes from the 50's, etc.) all doing the same thing and mucking in together for about £5 a go. Audaxes have a max speed (so if you push on one bit then you have to wait for the controls to open), which helps level things out...but they are not an easy ride. Some routes have lot's of climbing, others have mileage and some have both:

http://www.aukweb.net/cal/index.htm

danowat

Planning on doing my first Audax in November, should be interesting.

Regarding the point about Sportives, personally, I think they can cashing in on a nice little niche that has been created by (from what I perceive) the somewhat clandestine "old skool" nature of the rest of events available in cycling, and a recent influx of new(er) , maybe even "lifestyle" cyclists that want to ride in events.

Sportives are accessable, they are well advertised, easy to enter, and aren't shrouded in the cloak of secrecy and inaccessablity that seems to keep new(er) riders away from things like time trials and audaxes.

Much of world of cycling events seem to be stuck in the 80's........

dombo6

Your bike will be fine for sportives. As for getting stick, it simply does not happen. If anything your bike will attract attention for looking cool and classic - a few weeks ago on my club run, all the bikes were parked outside the cafe, pure carbon bike porn, Colnagos, Cervelos, Pinarellos, top end Treks and Specialized, you name it.
The only one getting any appreciative attention was my mate's 25 year old, resprayed, steel bike with old-style wheels, gears etc that he'd had hanging in his garage since forever.

vorsprung

Dombo6 wrote:

The only one getting any appreciative attention was my mate's 25 year old, resprayed, steel bike with old-style wheels, gears etc that he'd had hanging in his garage since forever.

Yeah it's true people remembered my steel bike with a crash damaged yellow frame and blue forks. But the titanium wonder bike seemed not to stick in peoples minds

rdt

Bobbinogs wrote:

Audaxes have a max speed (so if you push on one bit then you have to wait for the controls to open), which helps level things out...but they are not an easy ride.

Audaxes can have cracking routes, and clearly you can completely ignore the "controls" too, avoid the antiquated card stamping shenanigans, and ride however fast you wish to.

danowat wrote:

Regarding the point about Sportives, personally, I think they can cashing in on a nice little niche that has been created by (from what I perceive) the somewhat clandestine "old skool" nature of the rest of events available in cycling, and a recent influx of new(er) , maybe even "lifestyle" cyclists that want to ride in events..

Of course, if you're of the mind that Sportive organisers are cashing-in, as you alluded, and not offering good value for money, you're perfectly at liberty to ride the event with your own food supplies for free.

Oh, the rebel that I am. One step away from anarchy.

danowat

I didn't allude at all, I believe they are, not that there is anything wrong with it.

mrushton

Some sportives are fun but I've seen some fantastic places on audaxes and met some great (eccentric) people who are just out to ride a ike and set themselves a challenge. They are more interested in their ability and the bikes reliability to get round. Old frames,beaten up frames,fixed gear, take your pick. It's getting round in the time that counts.

Mark Alexander

Having taken part in the toughest sportifs, some are worth it. The odd one or two yes, you can of course just ride along with everyone if there's one close to you but first off, I'd suggest join a club.

simon_e

Cycling is simpler if you ignore all the advertising and forum bragging / chest-puffing. Bike snobs, forum snobs, clothing snobs, they're all the same. You can give them a wide berth or just feel sorry for them.

Any of us can ride perfectly well on a well maintained bike regardless of vintage, and you might even find a 1980s Record Sprint (I had one of them! ) provokes more interest and "when I was young" conversations than any current model. Serviceable tyres, brakes and muddies* and you'll be sorted. You don't need to spend a load on clothing either - padded shorts, leggings and a lightweight jacket should keep you snug.

* Recommended: Bontrager Race Lite Hardcase tyres in 25/28mm, Tortec or SKS full length mudguards, Lusso 6 panel shorts, Altura cruisers, Aldi winter gloves.

Some people like the group riding, others prefer to ride solo. Try both. Most clubs are glad of new members and certainly mine was very welcoming when I rolled up a couple of years ago. If you'd like to join group rides don't be afraid to say you're a bit slow and see what the response is. Alternatively check if there's a local CTC group, they will do more leisurely paced rides. They may also ride Audaxes and sometimes a sportive (which is essentially an Audax with arrows, a goodie bag and free feed stops). They are both a good challenge, more similar than some people would like you to think, and are an excellent way to focus your efforts. But it's what makes you tick is what matters.

I have a pack of unused black Bontrager gel bar tape I bought for a restoration project that I know I'm never going to complete. PM me and I'll send it to you, as long as you promise to post some photos of your refurbished bike while out on a ride on these forums at some point.

LeicesterLad

Thats a great post, thanks for all the tips and encouragement! And a very generous offer with the bar tape, you have PM

acebobby

Here's an Idea that could save you a bit of cash,
Get in touch with your favourite charity and tell them your situation, tell them that you would like to represent them and raise money and awareness for them. see if they will cover your entry fee's on a race by race basis for sportives etc and maybe give you a jersey with their name on it in exchange for you raising cash for them, even stipulate that you will be doing the events on a 1980's bike to make it more interesting! Get prepared to shave your head, wax your chest and other fund raising activities, you get to do the races without breaking the bank and the charity gets money raised for them, everyone's a winner!

Buckled_Rims

I had a few old steel bikes pass me on my £1k bike by blokes in woolly caps!

Seriously, it makes little difference so long as your gearing is suitable for the sportive route and it's comfortable for the distance.

Another great thing with an oldie is at the end of the sportive you go into the hall (or whatever) to get your timing and goodies, but you leave your bike outside. Would you be happy doing that to a new bike? In the Northern Cyclone my car parking was over 1 mile away, so I couldn't store the bike in the car, I just had to leave the bike outside and race into grab my goodies worrying al the time.

Use all of next year to learn the ropes, then plan if you need a new bike.

daviesee

Your bike will be fine.

I got lots of compliments for my "old" steel bike during the Caledonia Etape.

It's hard to explain that it was only 1 1/2 years old at the time :oops: