Recommend me a Sportive - North West Area

essjaydee

Hi all

Having recently got into cycling, and moved up to the North West (Blackpool), am looking for a good challenge (or a few) for 2012

I've been out with a club couple of times now and longest run so far was just over 80 miles last week. I'm commuting (24 mile round trip) whenever the wind's below 30mph, and managed a few full weeks of this end of last year, along with a 50 mile sunday ride, and could feel it in my legs, but nothing too bad. Only thing is there aren't too many big hills within a rideable distance during the winter. Summertime, I'm hoping to get up into the Lake District to get my hill fix good and proper

So recommend me some good Sportives......please 8)

fungus_the_muffin_man

Check out Polocini on the thread list a bit further down. He's getting great reviews.

Stay away from Torelli. A search on here and cyclosport will find you a host of negative comments

rickwiggans

Checkout Bowlandbadass.com. Also Fred Whitton, Etape du Dales, Le Terrier, Wrynose or Bust, cumbrian Cracker, White Rose Classic. To name but a few within easy reach of you.

styxd

Obviously the Fred Whitton, a real classic.

napoleond

The Polocini ones look to be the best vfm IMO. Plus the organiser posts on here a fair bit and listens well to constructive comment.

essjaydee

Polocini looks like a good first sportive 8)

I think the Bowlandbadass is a step too far at present, but a potential for next year

Fred Whitton and Wrynose scare me with severity of climbs, but could opt for the shorter rides I suppose :!:

Thanks for replies

maddog 2

I'm doing the badass 8)

Le Terrier is also a good one, in June

essjaydee

Thanks maddog, will check out Le Terrier

Seen the Ribble 100 too in July, so reckon that may be a good first 100 miler

whojanicanackerov

The Pendle predator is worth a look.

mrushton

There are a few audaxes as well in that area so worth having a look on www.audax.uk.net

essjaydee

Thanks...will check those out

Garz

Apart from mirroring the other guys, I would reinforce the Torelli observation - stay clear of them. One other sportive I have tried (apart from the mentioned Wrynose or Bust - which I have done twice now) is the Lancashire Loop. That starts and ends at Cockerham which is fairly close to your neck of the woods.

maddog 2

If anyone needs info on the daddy sportive of them all.... the Bowland Badass... then just drop me an email. I've now got the entry form on PDF.

essjaydee

Garz wrote:

Apart from mirroring the other guys, I would reinforce the Torelli observation - stay clear of them. One other sportive I have tried (apart from the mentioned Wrynose or Bust - which I have done twice now) is the Lancashire Loop. That starts and ends at Cockerham which is fairly close to your neck of the woods.

Thanks Garz