Need advice on first Sportive

daveb99

Having built myself a reasonably tidy bike late last year, I'm looking to do my first Sportive (or two) this year. Currently I do solo rides, between 15 - 45 miles usually.

My mate's Dad got back into cycling last year and he's asked me if I want to do the Bike Blenheim 60 mile sportive in August - I quite like the idea of it and I've kind of agreed to have a go at it - but it's a fair way from me (so I need to add accommodation costs), and I think it might be a bit on the hilly side for me as well! I live in Hinckley, Leicestershire.

Can anyone recommend something a bit more local, ideally with a bit less climbing? Needs to be probably 60 miles max. I read something about a sportive around Stratford last year but can't lay my hands on it.

Any help would be much appreciated!

LA

This should help...........

http://www.cyclosport.org/

nunowoolmez

Hmmm...one has to question your commitment to this cause. You want to do some sportives but not ones which are very hilly. Seems to negate the point if doing it doesn't it? Sportives are supposed to be test & a challenge & although you should enjoy the riding, they are not designed to be a ride round the park! Why don't you just do it? A lot of the sportives i do ate not exactly 'local', but if i really want to do it i will travel there. I don't drive more than an hour & a half away, but for a special event like the Fred Whitton, i would find accomodation. I think if you are serious about this you will have to get with the programme like everyone else does. You might suprise yourself! 60 miles is easily doable anyway.

thecrofter

I know 60 miles sounds like a lot now....... but if you prepare properly, by August you could be doing 100 mile sportives and wouldn't be thinking of wasting your time with a piddling 60.

I really don't mean to belittle anything by saying any of that, but it is true. Once you get started you'll see.

AndyRubio

Better still: Audax Uk calendar - Midlands

AlistairTR

thecrofter wrote:

I know 60 miles sounds like a lot now....... but if you prepare properly, by August you could be doing 100 mile sportives and wouldn't be thinking of wasting your time with a piddling 60.

I really don't mean to belittle anything by saying any of that, but it is true. Once you get started you'll see.

I agree with the Crofter, that if you put some miles in over the next few months you'll be surprised how your duration picks up. Look for hills to practice on and try and get a bit of thigh burn it'll do you good!!

Distance is one thing to think about, but the hills and the weather are also very important, so try to get out when the weather is a tad wet and cold so that you get used to it.

Best of luck for all your riding during 2012.

Chris87

the latest issue of cycling plus has an extra supplement that has everything you need to know

AlistairTR

yeap, its a really good read. Good tip Chris87

JSS

The Blenheim Palace Sportive was my first sportive (in October 2010) and I found it a good introduction to sportives - not too hilly and plenty of people going at my sort of pace. It was a horribly cold and wet day though but that wasn't the organisers' fault (although they did move it to the summer after that).

I got my first road bike about three weeks before hand and had never done a ride longer than 30 miles beforehand. I had been commuting on an old mountain bike for about three years, four miles each direction, so I wasn't totally unfit. But basically if you're doing 45 miles rides now you won't find a 60 mile sportive a problem, as long as you eat and drink properly and have some comfortable clothing.

Gilly6333

Hi,

There is a sportive in Stratford 1/4/12, 100km--Shakespear spring 100.
I think ther is one is warwick a bit later in the smae month!

mac111051

http://cyclistsfc.org.uk/events/wheel-heroes-100s/

velocitizen

http://www.leicesterforest.org.uk/clubride.html

Why not try the Leicester Forest Club run.
Meet at Desford crossroads 45-55 mile routes.