sportives and the weather

radiation man

how do you get motivated to do a sportive when you know it will be raining and very windy, the thought of paying £25.00 to ride for over 50miles in the rain, isnt fun

rdt

Don't enter. If the weather's looking good, just turn up and ride those public roads for free. Sort out your own food, and if it's a genuine charity event, make a direct donation to the good cause.

twotyred

You answered your own question. You're doing it for fun and if it isn't going to be fun then life's too short go and do something indoors you would enjoy even if it means you've lost your entry fee.

ugo.santalucia

rdt wrote:

Don't enter. If the weather's looking good, just turn up and ride those public roads for free. Sort out your own food, and if it's a genuine charity event, make a direct donation to the good cause.[/quote


+1

rdt

joe2008 wrote:

rdt wrote:

Don't enter. If the weather's looking good, just turn up and ride those public roads for free. Sort out your own food, and if it's a genuine charity event, make a direct donation to the good cause.

In other words "Due to Difficulties, your Sportive has been CANCELLED."

Quite possibly, since resources require scarcity in order to have value.

So with identikit, sterile events being commonplace, they have little value (to me). Factor in adverse weather risk, particularly at this time of the year, and their value sinks further. Hence their up-front entry fees look totally wrong, and I won't pay it. If others think similarly, then yes, your sportive has been cancelled.

The organisers either need far lower prices (a la £5 audax or club fundraisers, which I don't mind losing if the weather's poor on the day), or to offer a much more appealing product, which are true "occasions" (note to organisers: riding up the same busy "lflagship" hill a few times from different sides does not qualify).

mrushton

Or you could go and do it anyway. it would be 'character building'

Gazzaputt

I know what you mean.

Have the Circuit of Kent to ride Sunday but the forecast isn't favorable.

£30 entry so hell or high water I'll be riding it.

thecrofter

http://www.velominati.com/blog/the-rules/

Rule 9 and Rule 5 apply

Bobbinogs

mrushton wrote:

Or you could go and do it anyway. it would be 'character building'

Yepp. I do the odd sportive (do many more audax rides btw) and the weather forecast just tells me what to wear. I used to play a lot of footy and games were not cancelled because the sky was a bit grey. MTFU and enjoy the great British outdoors

Peddle Up!

My heart sinks if it's raining at the start, but I soon get over it and enjoy the ride. You have to watch out for riders not used to cycling in the rain though. I and several others nearly got brought down in Stow by a guy who didn't ride around the wet manhole covers. :roll:

jackmcd

I like the rules crofter links to above - but wonder when it just becomes not worth the effort - or dangerous. I am down to do the Cumbrain Sportive on Sunday and the forecast is for heavy rain and gales... I probably wouldn't tackle my own local routes in this weather - and yet here I am planning on cycling up and down some of the toughest climbs in the lake district... I mean - wtf :shock: ?

Peddle Up!

jackmcd wrote:

I like the rules crofter links to above - but wonder when it just becomes not worth the effort - or dangerous. I am down to do the Cumbrain Sportive on Sunday and the forecast is for heavy rain and gales... I probably wouldn't tackle my own local routes in this weather - and yet here I am planning on cycling up and down some of the toughest climbs in the lake district... I mean - wtf :shock: ?

Rule 5 applies.

Mark Bom

Bobbinogs wrote:

mrushton wrote:

Or you could go and do it anyway. it would be 'character building'

Yepp. I do the odd sportive (do many more audax rides btw) and the weather forecast just tells me what to wear. I used to play a lot of footy and games were not cancelled because the sky was a bit grey. MTFU and enjoy the great British outdoors

In a nutshell!

If I'm prepared for it, I love riding in the wet. There is nothing better than a hot shower and some good food after a long, cold, wet ride.

Pgascoyne

Gazzaputt wrote:

I know what you mean.

Have the Circuit of Kent to ride Sunday but the forecast isn't favorable.

£30 entry so hell or high water I'll be riding it.

Yes same here, oh the pure joy of it :shock:
Rules Rule 5 and 9 put it all in perspective!

DaveMoss

Shurly the only reason we take our bikes on long rides is because it feels so good when you finally stop . The worse the weather, then better the feeling when it's over Bring it on.

colinsmith123

Gazzaputt I'm nearly convinced i'm going to ride the Kent Sportive tomorrow as weather forecast has improved.

Looking to ride the 130km route in around 5+ hours actual ride time if you fancy accompanying me?

Brian B

DaveMoss wrote:

Shurly the only reason we take our bikes on long rides is because it feels so good when you finally stop . The worse the weather, then better the feeling when it's over Bring it on.

I have to disagree Dave. The reason I ride long miles routes and sportives is for the scenery that is on offer. If its chucking it down a 100 miles could be anywhere as you dont really look at the scenery when you are dripping wet

I am pretty fit most of the year so I dont just do it for the fitness and after a long ride in the rain I know I will just have to clean my bike the next day.

As for others who say it is character building or people need to MTFU they are better men than me. I am willing to take the risk however and enter sportives before hand but if the weather is really dire then I wont turn up. Often I have to travel and sometimes stay the night to events and I personally dont think its worth the effort or the money for a ride in the rain.

Showers dont bother me but I have some pretty dismal days at sportives over the years and have built up my character enough

Pgascoyne

colinsmith123 wrote:

Gazzaputt I'm nearly convinced i'm going to ride the Kent Sportive tomorrow as weather forecast has improved.

Looking to ride the 130km route in around 5+ hours actual ride time if you fancy accompanying me?

I've checked the weather forecast and it's looking good from midday onwards for tomorrows ride.
Deff game on IMO

jackfeeder

Well I did the Tour of Pembrokeshire this year and it was the worst conditions I have ever ridden in.
I turned up for a few reasons including - to support a local Welsh event which on a nice day is a superb route, to see if I could do hours in those conditions then it justifies the hours I get up early and go riding in crap weather and maybe it might just clear up after a few hours.
I did bail on the 117mile ride though as part of the attraction of going up the Preseil mtns was the scenery which was not visible so 88miles in p#ss#ng rain it was.
If I had longer than an hours drive I wouldn't have bothered so it's always a fine line when the weathers crap.
You also appreciate the nice days more then I think.

Ron Stuart

radiation man wrote:

how do you get motivated to do a sportive when you know it will be raining and very windy, the thought of paying £25.00 to ride for over 50miles in the rain, isnt fun

If your bothered to that extent about the weather why not do Audaxs they are around a fifth of the price of your average sportive and if the weathers foul then don't go. Do what I do and go to the gym instead. What you have lost on the entry fee you will make up for and more by saving car fuel.

blackpoolkev

Gazzaputt wrote:

£30 entry so hell or high water I'll be riding it.

+1

I'd paid my £25 entry for The Cumbrian and turned up despite the poor weather.No way would I have been out on the bike under normal circumstances.

It was a tough day out but all the more rewarding for just that reason.To top it off the feed station menu included Tunnock's caramel wafers.