Great Western Sportive

ransos1

Is this Sunday, starting from Swindon. Anyone else doing it?

I'm hoping for accuweather (sunny) rather than Met weather (hosing it down). How do they get completely different forecasts from the same data?

Bobbinogs

Yeah I am up for this one. Don't do many sportives but fancied a change for Fathers' day and Peddle Up talked me into this one (so I can blame him if I end up miserable and wet ).

dandrew

Seems there's some debate in the met office as to whether the rain will reach Swindon on Sunday. I don't mind a bit of rain but please, not all day!

ransos1

I reckon that if we can start in the dry, the prospect of rain will make us ride faster!

whatleytom

Thinking about a late entry for this. I'll be entering solo though as it will be my first sportive. Using it as an Ironman training ride so i'm comfortable with the distance. (will be on the road bike, not the TT bike too!)

Anything I should know sportive wise? Is there any particular etiquette I should be following?

Bobbinogs

whatleytom wrote:

Anything I should know sportive wise? Is there any particular etiquette I should be following?

To be honest Tom, sportives attract such a wide catchment that normal group etiquette goes out of the window. However, I still try and stick to common good practice, like no half wheeling and complaining when folks do it to me, pointing out where approp (potholes and the like), keeping lines predictable and announcing myself when coming up to someone's wheel, etc. Apart from that, just be careful on the roads (no running red lights or taking silly risks at junctions, etc.) and don't assume that the bloke next to you knows it all or even knows where he is going

Oh, and keep to a pace you are comfortable with, I have seen many folks get swept up into a full on race pace for the first 20 miles...and then go pop in a spectacular collapse, complete with Voeckler gurning.

Forecast has improved a lot, I think I might even risk taking my mudguards off!

Peddle Up!

Yep, looking forward to it. The weather forecast seems to be trending towards an overcast but dry day, do fingers crossed. I shall keep the mudguards on though.

I hope the T-shirts are equal to the quality of last year's supply.

dandrew

Hope it stays dry. This is a great sportive, some great landmarks and it really does work you towards the end. Lots of ups and downs in what is not the hilliest of terrain. Quite a lot of climbing. Be careful when crossing man roads. Otherwise traffic is minimal.

itboffin

Looks like a nice route and passes within a few miles of my house, nice bit of countryside but an odd selection of very busy roads like the A4 and A338 into and out of Marlborough.

Good luck all, hope the weather holds out for you.

Bobbinogs

Well, I can heartedly recommend this ride to anyone. Lovely scenary, great rolling roads and fantastic organisation. I thought the signage was excellent and I really liked the little tags in the hedges so that one could relax safe in the knowledge that one was one on the right route.

Shame the hot food at the end didn't look that appetising (as in, all a bit too meaty or sweet for me). Still, can't have everything

dandrew

A great ride, well supported and sign posted. Rain for an hour or two but nothing too bad. The fast roads ( A4) were generally safe. Most of the roads were well surfaced apart from a few country lanes. There was one I was coming down about 40 mph with a clear view round a bend but then noticed there was sand and gravel right across the road and had to scrub off some speed pretty quickly! I had one of the chilli burgers at the end and a very welcome cup of tea.

whatleytom

Well I enjoyed my first sportive, nice to get a group ride in rather than riding solo all the time, and the flapjacks weren't bad either!

Chuffed to have come home with a gold ranking too! Happy days.

Thinking of doing the bike bath 100mile next Saturday weather permitting.

ransos1

Yup, a nicely organised event on a (mostly) good course, and the promised deluge of rain was just a bit of drizzle. My first gold time too! Now for La Marmotte...

SouthernSportive

Thanks for the kind words folks, it's good to hear that you enjoyed the event.

I've just got results up online now, here:

Great Western 2013 Results

And we should have event photos up in the next couple of days too.