Road sportives

TheOneThatRows

Hi anyone, Just wondering what i need to ride in a sportive - ie British Cycling membership, items of food, tools etc

please no stupid answers like a bike

t4tomo

Same tools food etc you'd take on a normal ride plus £25-50 entrance fee.

So spare tube or two, tyre levers, pump, chain tool and quick link and multi tool, couple of energy bars and full water bottles plus a high 5 tablet or two and given the summer we are having a waterproof. Sportives are normally god for a freebie energy bar or two.

TheOneThatRows

so to confirm i don't need a British Cycling Membership to "compete"

smoggysteve

Depending on the organizer, food may be available at feed stations so look at the website on details like this. Make sure you have all you need for minor repairs. Spare tubes, pump, chain tool etc. Since Sportives are not technically races, you should be able to ride on a bronze license from British cycling if you have one. I would make sure you have good insurance cover as you would for being out on the open road. These events are aimed at mass participation so they should have plenty of advice for the event on what the mandatory requirements are.

imposter2.0

TheOneThatRows wrote:

so to confirm i don't need a British Cycling Membership to "compete"

You do not need membership of anything to ride a sportive. And the term 'compete' doesn't really cut it for a fun ride.

butcher of bakersfield

Aside from the entry fee, you'll just need whatever you would take with you on any other ride of the same distance. Maybe a little less as food and water is available at the feed stations.....unless it's all been eaten already. Get there quick!

NewTTer

TheOneThatRows wrote:

so to confirm i don't need a British Cycling Membership to "compete"

You are not competing! Its a paid for bike ride

sloppyschleckonds

NewTTer wrote:

TheOneThatRows wrote:

so to confirm i don't need a British Cycling Membership to "compete"

You are not competing! Its a paid for bike ride

But make sure you finish first on the Strava route.

markhewitt1978

TheOneThatRows wrote:

Hi anyone, Just wondering what i need to ride in a sportive - ie British Cycling membership, items of food, tools etc

please no stupid answers like a bike

Basically you just pay your entrance fee, either on the day or in advance and turn up, then say who you are, in some cases you'll get a number to cable tie to your bike, others, like Evans you won't. There will be a briefing on the signage you'll see on the course, then off you go, and that's it.

There's nothing special about Sportives, they aren't a competition, you will be repeatedly told it's not a race, it's just an organised bike ride for ordinary* people

I've done a couple of Evans sportives - entry is £15 and you get a timing chip (only times you at the start and finish not inbetween), the signage is good and the feed stations well stocked.

No more Evans sportives around here but I hope to do a couple of Wiggle ones, which by accounts are as good or better.

*Some/most people on sportives are not 'ordinary'

slowbike

Just to confirm - you do not need to be a member of anything to ride a sportive - you just need you & your bike - usually the only bit of "extra" kit required is a helmet - UKCE won't let you sign on if you don't have one.

For your own piece of mind you may want to have some sort of insurance - I have the BC Ride membership (http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/member ... membership) as it covers me (3rd party) for all my riding - just incase I wipe out someone else (or their expensive bike!) and also gives me legal cover incase I get wiped out by some idiot of a driver ... but you don't "need" it ...

essjaydee

Slowbike wrote:

Just to confirm - you do not need to be a member of anything to ride a sportive - you just need you & your bike - usually the only bit of "extra" kit required is a helmet - UKCE won't let you sign on if you don't have one.

For your own piece of mind you may want to have some sort of insurance - I have the BC Ride membership (http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/member ... membership) as it covers me (3rd party) for all my riding - just incase I wipe out someone else (or their expensive bike!) and also gives me legal cover incase I get wiped out by some idiot of a driver ... but you don't "need" it ...

+1 to the above, and to add my two pence worth, do yourself a favour and join BC Ride membership.