[Closed] Should I do a 60 mile sportive?

You'll be fine. Most sportives have a huge variety of riders so you on't stand out. An average of 17 mph is pretty respectable so you will be well up the field. My advice would be to just go and enjoy it, but don't try to get mixed up in a peleton if you haven't got experience of riding in a road group.

Your link is not working.
It's just up the road from me so I'm interested in having a look see.

Might even come and keep you company!!!

Absolutely,35 at 17mph is a fine pace. Don't worry about anyone else, wear what's comfortable. Try to increase your distance to 45-50 before the event and you won't notice another 10 on the day. Pace yourself, don't go to fast too early and make sure to drink regularly and eat a little every hour. Don't stop too long at rest stops as I always find it hard to get going again, few minutes to stretch, snack/drink and have a wee is all you need. Enjoy it.

Go for it! I would offer the same advice as neila. Recently rode the Loch Ness Etape, which was my first road event. That was 66 miles. Keep hydrated and fed, little and often. I only took a quick pee stop and missed out on the feed stations as I had enough with me and wanted to keep going. But if you want to stop, take it easy, then do that. Wear what you you feel most comfortable in. You’ll be fine. Just don’t go mad at the start, when everyone else is haring off. And don’t forget to enjoy it! Soak it up and have a blast.

Yes, but get some hill training in. Sportives typically try and get some mahoosive hills in them - not sure of the profie of the one you're planning on, but its worth checking it out.

sarawak

Member
Your link is not working.
It’s just up the road from me so I’m interested in having a look see.

Might even come and keep you company!!!

Sure you have done by now but google FCR sportive and you'll find it.

It's mostly flat, but the 60 mile one does head into the trough of bowland a bit so there will be climbing.

Pretty certain I'll go for it, I just wanted a morale boost before hitting the apply button!

Ummmmm.... Why don't you go ride 60 miles and find out?? Sportives are a pointless waste of money, paying to ride a route that you could ride anytime you like.

Yes do it, you'll be fine. I did my first one on an MTB about 8 years ago. Although I did fit slickish tyres.

Last year i hadn't ridden for 6 months, did a few 25 milers, then did a 70 mile sportive off the back of that. Started to fatigue after 50 odd miles but easily made it round.

You'll be fine, only thing that may get to you is if it's hilly. 1000ft of climbing in 35 miles is pretty flat so you may be in for a shock when you look at your average speed.

As above, I'd try to get out and do a few longer rides to 'get your legs in' as it were.
The fitness will be there ok, but if you're not used to the longer distance you'll invariably bonk or cramp.

Where do you live?! 1000ft in 35 miles is crazy. I did a quick after dinner 9 miler this evening, and that had 1200ft of climbing!

I did 35 miles last night with 1000ft of climbing, just a lap of the Huntingdon and Grafham water area! He biggest hills are the motorway bridges!

Having said that it felt like hard miles on the gravel bike with slightly draggy tyres on road and the constant energy sapping chattering of riding across fields and through grass, my legs are feeling it today!

As for stepping upto 60. Just treat it as two 30mile rides with a rubbish cafe stop halfway. I do enjoy sportives, but they're appaling vfm. No disrespect to the organisers, I'm sure there are costs involved, but fundamentally you're paying £35 to ride the same roads as on any other club run!

If you want to save some money then I have a similar distance route from Kirkham that I'll be riding in a week or two. You can come along or I'll mail you a GPX. Also towards the Trough but you will do it easily.

Why don’t you go ride 60 miles and find out?? Sportives are a pointless waste of money, paying to ride a route that you could ride anytime you like.

Why does anyone take part in any organised event? Like a park run or a 10k?

Motivational innit. I know on that day I'm booked in to do that ride. No option to wake up and sack it off for another day. Plus there's the added atmosphere of riding with however many other people, the start/finish atmosphere and feed stations are a bonus!

My advice would be to just go and enjoy it, but don’t try to get mixed up in a peleton if you haven’t got experience of riding in a road group.

This is great advice, if you've not ridden in a group before it can be quite dangerous both for you and the others. If you do get caught up in one (or are hanging off the back) the main things are to avoid touching the brakes and sudden changes in direction, never cross your front wheel with someone's back wheel, and signal obstructions like potholes, vegetation etc. The other thing to be wary of are the downhills - careful swinging across the road to hit the apex of the corner, and be careful of others doing it too.

But that said I'd definitely recommend doing a sportive, while it's true you could just save the money and do it yourself, there's a whole world of difference between doing the course on your own and doing it in the company of another 500 cyclists.

Just do s 60 mile ride yourself. Too many ****s at sportives.

I've only done 2 Sportif type events (Exmouth Exodus and Team Bath) but neither were populated by *****. They all seemed nice folk.

Nobody ever mentions what its like following a bunch of musky blokes. How can they smell so sweaty after just an hours riding? I only ever do one particular event each year & always end up forgetting about the stink!

Also remember that quite a lot of these sportives also benefit charities so forget the few on here who have nothing good to say about them. Ride it, enjoy yourself and the experience whilst also doing good for people less fortunate.

I've just downloaded that route, and there is nothing in that to scare the horses. OP should easily get round that, providing he doesn't go off like a mad dog, and has a proper break at the feed station. It's really little more than an extended bimble. Not sure I like the big sections up and down Blackpool Promenade. Trams, tramlines and far too many cars. Not over keen on Poulton le Fylde either, but apart from that it's a nice quiet route.

Yeah, Preston new road and garstang road might be a bit grim as well, but it's just a different experience that's right on the doorstep.

I do a couple of Sportives most years. Ideal opportunity to keep my emergency energy gel supplies topped up!! Keep pockets empty for the last feed station!!

Yeah, Preston new road and garstang road might be a bit grim as well, but it’s just a different experience that’s right on the doorstep.

It's easy to create routes that miss out all those sort of problems. Guess the organisers are tied to their own start/finish, but they really could do better than that. Shows a lack of understanding on their part, probably through a lack of practical knowledge!!!

If you average at 17mph drop this down to an average of 15 - 16mph on the day. Then with 20 miles to go you can ramp it up if you have anything left in the tank. The key to doing longer distances than you are used to is keeping a bit back (or burning a few less matches as roadies like to say).

You will be fine!

Oh and stay on top of your fuel intake, obviously!

Offer is still open for a similar ride through similar terrain from Kirkham.

Ummmmm…. Why don’t you go ride 60 miles and find out?? Sportives are a pointless waste of money, paying to ride a route that you could ride anytime you like.

For me, sportives are a good motivator. I rarely ride at the weekend (my riding is nearly all solo commuting) so an organised event gets me out for extra miles and other folk about means I push myself a bit harder.

Go for it. Of course there will be those super serious people but ignore those. Most people are very friendly and helpful and as unfit as you think you are there will be others in worse shape than you. Go and have some fun!

I’m a bit concerned I’m going to look a tit surrounded by guys taking it all far too seriously.

Well, quite… and you’re worried that you’re going to be the one looking a tit?

😉

I did a 60 mile mixed terrain charity ride with minimal training a few years ago, a lot less than you're doing now. I was absolutely exhausted afterwards but I finished, just take it easy and don't be ashamed to stop for a rest if you need it.

Like everyone else has said, you'd be fine. Pace yourself and enjoy it.
There will likely be a few guys in lycra who are serious road riders, most of them won't be t*ts, just guys out for a ride.

I do the odd sportive, I wear lycra and am I serious rider. I tend to do them with guys who are less serious but are still interested in a good time. But I've still never seen anyone acting like a t*t though.

As long as you're safe most roadies won't care what you wear. Same as most mountain bikers couldn't care what other riders wear.

Have to admit though, not the best roads selected, especially the start and finish. I imagine the start will be quiet, but busier after lunch on the return.

But I’ve still never seen anyone acting like a t*t though.

I've only ever done one sportive and frankly it was an embarrassment - the standard of riding and lack of consideration for other road users on narrow rural roads was bloody awful. I very nearly dropped out as we got pretty close to my house half way round, then I remembered the car was at the start point 🙁

I'll not be doing another.

the standard of riding and lack of consideration for other road users on narrow rural roads was bloody awful.

There are a couple of big ones around New Forest on the roads I ride on and yes most of the riders are not great but they are not as bad as the car drivers who don't have any patience at best of times so when confronted with trying to overtake numerous groups of riders on narrow roads I am amazed nobody has been killed yet.

I’ve only done 2 Sportif type events (Exmouth Exodus and Team Bath) but neither were populated by *****. They all seemed nice folk.

The Exodus is nothing like a sportif! No timing chips, no entry fee, and as you say, a refreshing lack of nobheads.

Well I've entered, I'm committed now!!