Is it ok..

redrobbo

..to use a tourer on a Sportive?

I'm doing my first Sportive this year. It's a hilly one and only my tourer has the sort of gears that will get me up the steep bits (I am a bit on the heavy side :oops: )

Will people laugh?

Even if I remove the mudguards?..

..and the saddle bag?

Losing weight is not an option

danowat

Of course it is, you see all sorts of bikes in sportives.

redrobbo

Excellent! I don't care if I am out of the medals, I'd just like to finish before the organisers do.

colinsmith123

Do it. The more he perceived 'unsuitable' bike, the greater the admiration of the fellow sportive riders.. Certainly nobody will laugh.

tim000

i saw someone do rourkes cat and fiddle ride on a BMX . not sure if he did the hole ride or not.

Buckled_Rims

Nobody will notice, especially on a hilly sportive. Actually, quite a few might think you're an old hand at this and follow you...really!

PS, leave the mudguards on, it'll pi$$ a few expensive bike riders off when you pass them

Mike67

Yeah..there's nothing like being passed by a guy on a bike with mudguards, pannier racks and no doubt a cast iron frame when you're going flat out and struggling up a hill on your nice shiny lightweight speed machine.

Not that it's eeeeeverrrr happened to me of course

brin

Sportives are meant to be fun/leisure rides, done quite a few and seen all sort of bikes, one lad done the Northern Rock one year on a penny farthing,don't know how far he rode it but he certainly turned a few heads,bit like doing a marathon in fancy dress. Do it and enjoy the occasion.

Han2130

I did the Hampshire Hilly last year on my Thorn Raven Tour ( with mudgards, racks and panniers ) Had a really nice day. Go for it!

redrobbo

Even better! The 'guards and saddle bag are reprieved ..

Glad danowat has been fully backed on this. I did some audaxes a few years ago and my tourer was beginning to be outnumbered by competition bikes. Of course I didn't for one moment think he might be taking advantage of the date :!: .

I am really looking forward to it now.

prb007

I've seen touring tandems, unicycles (really) and proper 'rat-bikes' over the last couple
of Dragon rides - take the tourer, enjoy.