Sportive routes in north Lancs/Cumbria?

rpaul

Hiya,
I've never done a sportive and want to give it a go. A wimp that I am, I want to try an actual sportive route on my own first and see how much I embarrass myself.
Do you guys/girls have GPS tracks for sportives, past, present or theoretical, around Forest of Bowland, western Dales or the Lakes? Or maps of routes, if not tracks? 80-100 miles range, hills OK. As I said, it's for my own personal training and I won't publish or share them, if you're concerned about copyrights.

I am primarily a tourer, and usually do between 70 and 80 miles a day with a 30-kilo load, more if unladen. 5000-6000 feet per day gain is OK. I ride every day between tours, too. I know I can ride a hundred without getting too knackered - I mean, I've done it before - but the question is whether I can do it within a reasonable time: I am more of a pack mule than a race horse; never trained for speed. Besides, the bike is a CX currently on touring tyres and weighs a ton by pure road standards (12.2 kg, to be precise). So I want to give it a try and see how badly I suck time-wise, really.
Any pointers to routes, as well as any other advice, will be much appreciated.

Thanks,
RPaul

defbref

http://www.epicevents.co.uk/

They do a lot up north, if you click into the events theres usually a link to a ridewithgps route.

EDIT: Also a sportive isn't a race so it doesn't matter how 'bad you suck timewise'

durhamwasp

Jennings River Ride - routes on their website. Think it was about 65 miles taking in 3 passes.

gazhilla

Bowland badass

Le terrier

Coal road challenge,
All good tough routes with gps files out there if you google

lakesluddite

If you can find the route for the 'Ride with Brad' Sportive that occurred 2012 and 2013, then that starts in Barnoldswick and covers most of Bowland.

There wasn't a 2014 version, too busy or something!

Actually - just looked online and most of the websites are either closed down or revert to a single 'thank you' page with no other pages.

Another is the Tough Trough Sportive, around the Trough of Bowland etc - will take place in October (18th) and the route is on the website:

http://www.mytrievents.co.uk/sportive/t ... -sportive/

I did it last year, and it's a good event. Only 70 miles though, rather than 100

mattbabs

It doesn't sound like you need to worry about how you will perform as you do lots of riding already. There are usually a lot of people doing their first event that haven't done anything like the distances that you do. I would suggest that you sign up and go for it. There will be some very good riders who speed off into the distance but you won't see them again anyway. Just find a group that ride at your speed and enjoy it. The speed you do in a solo ride will probably be slower than when you ride in a group so don't let that put you off. Unless you are entering a "serious" sportive there are usually quite a few people on hybrids and even mountain bikes so you'll be fine.

ChrisSelkirk

Would this route from Breeze Challenge be suitable for you?
http://www.pennineevents.co.uk/breeze-challenge-event-with-km-lancashire-100km.aspx

Guanajuato

The wheelbase Spring Classic (http://www.mapmyride.com/gb/kendal-eng/ ... -197402490), or the Tour de Staveley (http://www.wheelbase.co.uk/events/tour- ... -staveley/) are good routes.
Also Wrynose or Bust (http://wrynose.org/) looks interesting, but I'm not convinced using the greenodd to broughton road is a great idea. I drive it every day and wouldn't like to ride it. Big speed differentials on narrowish bendy roads are not a good mix. should be possible to work alternative lanes.