What is a Sportive about?
mikebikemike
Posts: 166
Just interested as I've never been on one. Is it like a club run for people who aren't in clubs?
Or a chance to ride places you don't normally go to ?
or some other reason?
Are Audaxes the same but just longer and run by some other organisation?
Or a chance to ride places you don't normally go to ?
or some other reason?
Are Audaxes the same but just longer and run by some other organisation?
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its a ego trip for wannabe racers who have`nt got the balls to enter a proper race.constantly reavalueating the situation and altering the perceived parameters accordingly0
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Helpful...0
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I've never been particularly excited about them, but am aiming to do one this summer/autumn just to see what the fuss is about. I'm also keen to have a crack at audaxing as that does sound more interesting. Not too bothered about racing, mainly commuting and mucking around on bikes at the weekend with mates.
The thing about cycling though, is you never quite know where it might take you...Ecrasez l’infame0 -
Sportives are similar to fun run marathons,people of all ages do them along with families who want to have a safe long ride together. Lots of participants get sponsored and do them for charity. Some take them seriously and regard them as a form of racing, which to a certain degree could be true, altho you are really only racing yourself, trying to get a better time than you did last year.
They are good for cyclists who want to ride in an area they are not familiar with as they are usually well sign posted, and the routes try to avoid any major roads, usually opting for back roads which are generally traffic free.
They have feed stops (most do) and have some form of broom wagon which is a vehicle which follows the route long after the last rider has left to 'rescue' anyone who may have had a mechanical or maybe just isn't up to the distance.
Give one a go, prices vary, but IMO they are worth it, good fun with an element of challenge0 -
This.sub55 wrote:its a ego trip for wannabe racers who have`nt got the balls to enter a proper race.0 -
It's a great opportunity to go for a bike ride with no chance at all of inadvertently bumping into sub55!
Seriously, the routes are usually well planned, it can be a good motivation to get out and do a tougher ride than you might do alone, the atmosphere can be really good (but that does need a decent number of entries) and there is often mechanical support in case things go wrong.
Whether they are worth the money is another matter but only you can decide that.
Audaxes are more basic - the routes are not waymarked so you have to do your own navigating and there isn't any timing. I've not done any yet but will probably soon. I'm not really interested in re-doing the same Sportives year after year.Faster than a tent.......0 -
To all those above: That may be so for some of those who enter but not everyone, that's a gross generalisation. I've never owned a road bike and entered a sportive on a MTB and doing one on a road bike after owning it for about 2 months. At 6ft 3 and over 200lbs you really think there would any point whatsoever in me entering a race?
I agree that some people who take part in them take it way to seriously (Who buys £x thousand pound bikes and full replica Team Sky kit for whats called a "fun run") but please don't apply that to all of us.0 -
sub55 wrote:its a ego trip for wannabe racers who have`nt got the balls to enter a proper race.
why should cycling be all about racing :roll:
i love cycling and the TDF, but ive 0% interest in going out racing other riders, i ride because i love to do it. youre reply is prettty insulting to a fair few riders mate,0 -
JamieRa wrote:sub55 wrote:its a ego trip for wannabe racers who have`nt got the balls to enter a proper race.
Get a F**king grip.
absolutely agreed
i personally think the most boring and pointless form of cycling imaginable is track cycling, but lots love it and that doesnt make them bad people. i think sub needs to grow up a bit and lose the attitude.0 -
Its a forum guys, you're not supposed to take everything you read as gospel truth. Chill.....
'I started with nothing and still have most of it left.'0 -
Woooooops.... double post.'I started with nothing and still have most of it left.'0
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LOL at all the hate on subs comment.
A sportive is a race, maybe not a "super serious" one. You get timed, but to most it's not important. It's true what he said!
For most riders it is enough of a race to keep entertained, but no disappointment at the end. Win Win.0 -
I've just done my first sportive and absolutely loved it (in retrospect!). Originally chose to do it as a motivator to get out and train more, and as good excuse to spend money on a new bike!
Having done it though I would say the majority of people did seem to be doing it for 'fun', for me it was a great measure of both how far my fitness has come, and yet how much further it can improve!! Also, quite humbling is to never judge on appearances, some of the oldest looking bikes were flying up the hills compared to the modern super bikes...... of which I'd include myself in the 'nice bike, shame about the rider' section.
Get out and give it a go..... If nothing else it's a tough training ride!!0 -
http://www.bikeradar.com/road/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12739733&highlight=Not whishing to cause an arguement as i know alot of you fella`s do lots of them.
But i just dont get it. After reading another thread, where a promotor is advertising his event as being super tough , well quite frankly they`re not. Much tougher audax`s out there. Combined with ,what can be quite steep entry fees for an sportives in relation to an audax costing somewhere between £ 4 and £8 to enter, for the extra money you get a feed station. Which you all seem to moan about anyway . Its either the wrong sort of food or the`ve just run out. Whereas the sensible ones out there have a control point in a cafe, with beans on toast and a mug of coffee.
Many sportive riders seem to treat it as a race , why?
We all know that its not a race and if you want to race ,go and race.
So explain to me why you do them?
OH, and i have ridden afew and i still dont get it.Not moaning , what ever floats your boat is fine by me.
Just wanted someone to explain to me ,what it is you get out of them.
Personally , i come from a racing back ground and my passion has always been TT ing.
The object to get from A to B as fast as possible , done a fair amount of road racing , the object to be the first man across the line . Have done alittle audaxing ,ranging from 200k events with 5000m of ascent to 600k events , object to prove to myself i was hard enough. For the more dedicated auk riders there are season long competitions to go for. Although never been there myself . Done afew sportives and the object was , i dont know really? please help as i feel like im missing out on something.constantly reavalueating the situation and altering the perceived parameters accordingly0 -
MountainMonster wrote:LOL at all the hate on subs comment.
A sportive is a race, maybe not a "super serious" one. You get timed, but to most it's not important. It's true what he said!
For most riders it is enough of a race to keep entertained, but no disappointment at the end. Win Win.
A Sportive is not a race, but may be timed - you'll rarely find a timed Sportive in the UK but might do in France and Italy - where they're known as Gran Fondos.
The problem is that half the people think they're in a race...Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..0 -
It's an opportunity for bitter Real Cyclists to feel superior to all the MAMILs who've ruined their narrow elitist sport by going and making it popular0
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All of the Wiggle Super Series events are timed. Personally I have absolutely no interest in racing at the moment as I'm just looking to get out and ride, but some people do treat them as races and if they want to then it's up to them. "Just because you own a car doesn't mean you want to be a Formula 1 driver"...0
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... its about 100kms.
Sorry, had to be done!
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Burls Ti Tourer for Tarmac, Saracen aluminium full suss for trails0 -
Some might treat them as a race but most don't IME, that doesn't mean they won't be pushing themselves though to set a good time. At best you'll get a gold/silver/bronze standard time - there is no podium.
Personally I like them, gives me an easy option to ride on new roads that I otherwise wouldn't venture to with a generally easy to navigate route and some backup (feed stops and a broom wagon). Some of them are a bit of a rip off for sure and I can see why some prefer the self-sufficiency of audaxes but some of us just want to cycle and not navigate
Racing's fun to, although anyone posting snobbish comments on this thread needs to look in the mirror - in the grand scheme of things you're a failure as a racer, you aren't a pro (most probably aren't even 1st/2nd cat) so you need to keep your own ego in check...0 -
I did my first Sportive a few weeks ago, the Evans Hatfield 60miles. It was a timed event. Its not a race, any more than the marathons I've run.. I have no illusions about my ability to 'win' anything and I don't care. I set myself a personal goal (time/speed) and I aim to beat it. Yes, I could do that on my own (indeed I have re-ridden the same route again on my own and it was slower as you'd expect) but what I enjoyed was the camaraderie, the chats before and after and at the feed stations and the support. It made for a great day (well 1/2 day) out despite the appalling weather.
Yes, there were some people there to 'race' but the vast majority were like me, just out to enjoy themselves and prove they could do it. It was a great experience of riding in a group and I swapped from group to group as I felt able..dropping back and catching up, with no fear of being 'left behind'.
Looking forward to the next one...Invacare Spectra Plus electric wheelchair, max speed 4mph
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Monty Dog wrote:A Sportive is not a race, but may be timed - you'll rarely find a timed Sportive in the UK but might do in France and Italy - where they're known as Gran Fondos.
I think most UK sportives are timed now. So far, I've only done a couple of untimed events and one of those was a fairly local event.Faster than a tent.......0 -
MikeyO wrote:All of the Wiggle Super Series events are timed. Personally I have absolutely no interest in racing at the moment as I'm just looking to get out and ride, but some people do treat them as races and if they want to then it's up to them. "Just because you own a car doesn't mean you want to be a Formula 1 driver"...
I did the mega meon WIggle event on Sunday. It was my first ever sportive.
It was great fun. I really enjoyed it. For someone who spends their cycling commuting and the occasional sunday run, it was a breath of fresh air to cycle somewhere different. The views at the top of Portsmouth were stunning!
I recommend anyone who hasn't done one does one. I found the Wiggle one well organised and it was a nice atmosphere too. I rocked up on my own and people were freidnly and chatty on the startline. Same on the course too.
I'm still waiting for my time as my computer packed up at the feed station. Don't think I did well enough for a bronze though. Maybe next year.2010 Giant Defy 2 running SRAM Force and Shimano RS80/C24s with Continental 4 Seasons
1999 Carrera Integer MTB
2014 Planet X SLX0 -
S'a big organised event where you can ride a bloody long way with a load of other cyclists.
S'a great way to ride big or famous rides without the hassle of a) knowing where you're going or b) traffic, since there's safety in numbers.
There are plenty of riders (such as myself) who don't like the sensations of racing, but do like the challenge of a tough parcours. It's mainly aimed at them. (of which there are many).0 -
Money?
I guess that somebody somewhere is making a shed load of cash out of sportives.
Or..... are they for the weak willed, you've paid your money, you're in a large group, so there's no way that you're going to give-in on that 60/100 mile ride and look like a lightweight.0 -
I really like sportives, do 1 a year without fail.0
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mikebikemike wrote:
Are Audaxes the same but just longer and run by some other organisation?
Audaxes are usually run by clubs or CTC groups
They are under the rules/insurance of the "Audax UK" long distance cycling club
Events are usually at set distances of 50km, 100km, 200km, 300km, 400km or 600km
There are also longer events
AUK rides are most definitely not a race. AUK do not publish the times of riders and there are maximum speed limits.
The two main differences between a "sportive" ride and an audax are
1) Audax expect you to navigate using a route sheet ( turn by turn instructions ) or GPS or a map. Sportive are usually signposted
2) Audax rides require carrying a "brevet" card which has to be stamped at each control point. Sportives usually have a timing chip strapped to the bike. To stamp the audax rider has to stop. The timing chipped bike just has to run over a special mat or through a detector- there is no necessity to stop.
AUK was set up in the 1970s to stage qualifying rides for the Paris-Brest-Paris 1200km event. There is no central sportive authority in the UK, I couldn't tell you when sportives started in the UK.
For more informative on audax see my blog link below or visit www.audax.uk.net0 -
I've done two in the past year - a Tour Ride for the Prostate Cancer Charity, and the Force Century Cycle Challenge, again a cancer charity. So I do hope they make a shed-load of cash for them. And though I'm perfectly happy to do 100-mile cycles by myself, there's enjoyment in sharing these rides with hundreds of other riders, and having the signage, cakes, and party atmosphere. Makes a change.Bozman wrote:Money?
I guess that somebody somewhere is making a shed load of cash out of sportives.
Or..... are they for the weak willed, you've paid your money, you're in a large group, so there's no way that you're going to give-in on that 60/100 mile ride and look like a lightweight.
I'd be much less inclined to do a commercial one, I'll admit.0 -
Personally, I love Audaxes, all the good points of a sportive (group riding, social blah blah blah), but without the wannabe racers on £5K Pinarello's huffing and puffing at 14mph, the excessive price tag and better food.
More people should try them IMO.0
