Wiggle Stratford Tempest

Emphursis

Anyone doing this a week tomorrow? They've just upped the distance of the standard route to 70 miles (from 64), not sure about the other two routes.

It'll be my longest ever ride (5 miles more than the last sportive I did, but with 1500ft less climbing), but my aim is five hours, twenty five minutes less than the previous 65mile sportive.

p2ll

yeah five of us doing it, mainly from work. First Sportive for a number of us - we picked it as it didn't look stupidly hard like some/most are. Bit weird about the 70 mile route instead of 64, hopefully the 6 extra are downhill. Also the start time is earlier than they said too - 8.45 latest instead of 9.30 - quite a big deal when you're driving from Sheffield! Still if we get the weather should be fun.

Mikey2

Im doing it too..
Course is flatish - some rolling hils but nothing massive. But did notice that the bridge is closed at Little Alne, so i think they will have to change the course to go around it...

Also the route goes thru the ford at Coughton - twice (out and back). Not sure thats a great idea? There is a narrow footbridge, but it may take a while to get everyone over it. The water isnt that deep (about 6 inches or so) but its quite wide and slippy, plus the rain this week...Checkout the thread;

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40013&t=12918526

peat

I'm doing the long route - which was also up'ed from 91 to 97 miles. Eeek.

That ford does sound like a recipe for disaster/excuse to cool off.

Emphursis

That bridge being closed is probably why the routes have been extended. If it was still roasting, I'd have welcomed the ford, but it looks like it'll be a bit cooler (but dry) come Saturday, Thanks for the heads up.

EDIT: Just had a look on streeview, and that stretch of road looks like it's covered in potholes, hopefully that was a couple of years ago and it's in slightly better condition now!

Mikey2

Looks like an updated route has just been sent out - now avoiding the closed bridge. Epic is now 94 miles, means im going to have to find 6 extra miles from somewhere!

Emphursis wrote:

That bridge being closed is probably why the routes have been extended. If it was still roasting, I'd have welcomed the ford, but it looks like it'll be a bit cooler (but dry) come Saturday, Thanks for the heads up.

EDIT: Just had a look on streeview, and that stretch of road looks like it's covered in potholes, hopefully that was a couple of years ago and it's in slightly better condition now!

The roads up to the ford are ok iirc - but I think some nasty stuff lurks under the water?

Emphursis

It did look a bit sketchy, good thing they sent us over the bridge

Was quite a nice route, with some pretty fun hills (the 1/6 around a tight bend at bend was great, I overtook about £20,000 of bike as I went up there!) and the weather was good too. I managed the standard route in just under four hours, and 17.4mph average, from what I remember from the garmin. It didn't save the route properly for some reason which was a bit annoying!

I did the last 25 or so miles solo, so was feeling the pace a bit by the end, but my average speed only dropped from 18.2 to 17.4, and was on its own the fastest 25miles I've done. I reckon I might have managed the epic route, if I'd been with a group for longer, maybe next year.

All in all, it was a lot more enjoyable than the other sportive I've done, if only because I was in a series of groups for 40 odd miles rather than doing it all solo.

peat

Yep, very good route. Glad to be directed over the bridge at the ford!

Did the Epic in 5hrs40. 17.9mph average (when moving). Thought it would kill me, but still had some legs for a sprint finish with a random we had been towing along for the last 15miles.

Not got many Sportive's to go by, but i hear that this was a 'good' one.

bigpikle

enjoyed the route - constant rolling and great scenery, quiet country lanes and barely a pothole in 95 miles! 5hr 10 for the Epic despite waiting on every hill for a slower mate, and a good ride.

Only downside was entry to the racecourse early doors as it started to fill up, and afterwards with only 1 woman trying to serve the only refreshments available to dozens and dozens of people... With that many people you'd think they would have at least had a few more staff serving.

JACE100

This was my first proper sportive and was very impressed with the whole day. The climb up to Stratford Armories near the end was a bit of a slog though! Overall a lovely route through the countryside and the weather helped make it more enjoyable!

Emphursis

I quite liked the one! Short and sharp, much better than the long draggy one a few miles out from Feckenham! I did see someone pushing it up as I went past actually.