first sportive - stop for free cakes or keeping going ?

I am entering my first sportive in a few weeks only doing a short route and wondering if its worth stopping for the free cakes and bananas or cracking on for a good time, I am looking at about 2.5 hrs for 40 miles and going to take my own gels e.t.c. I been doing some training and losing some weight and have done the distance twice in the last month without stopping but hey I've paid for the event so should'nt I really stop and fill my face !! Posted with humour intended.......
Giant TCR Comp 2
Specialized Allez Sport
Specialized Allez Sport
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Of course the best approach is to take a rug, sit down on the grass and have a picnic.
Yeah but if you fill your face at the rest stop it saves money on lunch
To the OP - if it's an easy distance for you, eat the cakes and enjoy the chat at the feed stations. Unless you are aiming for a good time (in which case shouldn't you be racing instead of doing a sportive?) Hope you enjoy your day
Otherwise - its supposed to be an enjoyable day out where you go to have a nice ride out in different scenery. Take the time out and make the most of the food you have paid for. I dont need gels or energy bars for any ride under 100 miles typically - but always stop and stock up.... even if the gels etc then go home with me.
PS if you need gels after 2.5hrs then you're probably doing something seriously wrong in your preparation diet.
Shoot, outed!
The novelty soon wears off though and I now nearly always stop for the social side of things.
Oh! and the cake 8)
Take up audaxing!
Done a couple this year. Nice events. Not sure about the beard and sandals though
Specialized Allez Sport
Porridge and Honey for breakfast.
I always have a few gels in my pocket but don't always them. The good thing about them is they keep for next time.
Medjool Dates are my favourite snack on the move.
Preparation starts at least the day before so a good carb rich meal the night before - pasta etc. On the day then you are just looking to top up your reserves without eating too heavily - ideally something with slow release energy like museli, porridge etc.
Go for the cake and enjoy it without too much guilt as a treat to yourself. Eat it mid ride and you know you're going to burn it off over the next hour - eat it after and you wont!! There you go - all the excuse you need to stop and eat cake! 8)
Just enjoy it, and, if that means eating cake, eat cake.
Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
Mrs Miggin's home made marzipan cake - yes
Tesco value maderia - maybe
Jaffa cake - meh, it's a biscuit
[Pedant mode on/:]Not accoridng to the VAT man. It's a cake and as such classed as food and hence attracts zero VAT. [Pedant mode off/:]
Breakfast = large bowl of Dorest muesli (any variety will suffice) and a banana. Digest for 40 mins, no need to stop for cakes just for energy, gluttony yes but energy no.
well you have paid for them