Guide to riding Sportives

Sportives are probably the fasted growing sector of our sport. Without the need for a race licence they offer the training goal that many look for along with great routes, varying distances and challenges to satisfy everybody. This guide is intended to help those who are intending to participate in such an event.

Choosing an event

There are literally hundreds of events nationwide. The best place to start is www.cyclosport.org .This website lists most of the events that are available and you can customise a search by date / distance / location etc. Once registered, (free) you can keep your own diary of events online.

Entering

Most sportives have their own dedicated website or the ride will be included as one of a number of events on an organiser’s site. The majority can be entered online via most of the common payment methods. A number of them use www.sientries.co.uk which is very useful as once you have registered you can use the account to enter other affiliated events.

Timing standards

Whilst sportives are not billed as competitive events you will be offered time standards for the event that are set according to age categories and usually allocated as Gold, Silver, Bronze and sometimes Merit. Based upon average speeds you will usually know your own standards from the chart included in the info sheet, for example:

What happens next?

Once you have received your entry confirmation then you will not normally hear anymore until a couple of weeks before the day. Most organisers communicate with entrants via email only, so don’t expect much by post. Normally an event information sheet will be sent before-hand. It will usually let you know the following:

· How to find the event HQ

· Where to park

· Sign-on opening time

· Start times for each distance

· On the day sign-on information

· Ride info including timing standards, direction signs, feed station intervals and GPS downloads

· Finish info including handing back timing chips

These info sheets are really helpful and well-worth printing off.

A few days before the start you will receive your rider number; note this down as you will need it on the morning of the event to collect your timing chip and bike number at sign-on.

Preparing for the ride

It sounds obvious but make sure your bike is mechanically sound before you ride. There is nothing worse than paying to enter then having your ride spoilt by a miss-shifting rear mech or a squeaking headset. Depending on the distance you have chosen you may be in the saddle for anything up to eight hours which is hard-enough without mechanical distractions! Tyres should be checked for wear / shrapnel and tubes should be inflated to your preferred pressure.

If the organiser offers sign-on the day before the ride then you may want to. It takes some pressure off the day if you have already signed-on and fitted your chip & number, (see below.)

Pack kit to cover all weather conditions so that you can choose on the day. Include arm and knee / leg warmers, gillet, cape etc. If you can, then take a cool-box or insulated lunchbox with your drinks and energy food. Include a spare drink and chocolate bar to consume after the ride when you return to the car. Comfort-wise you will probably prefer to drive to the HQ in casual clothes and then change when you arrive; that way you will have nice fresh clothes to change into when you get back. Take a towel to freshen up afterwards.

For the ride you should carry two spare tubes along with patches, a multi-tool, levers and a pump, energy bars and your mobile phone. The event info sheet will include an emergency number that you should save in your phone. If you have a serious accident or mechanical then a car / mechanics motorbike, (if available) will come out and help.

Try and strike the right balance of the amount of food and drink to carry and try not to start with too much. The event feed stations will be at set intervals, (normally about 30 miles apart) so you don’t need to be self-sufficient for the whole ride. At each feed station you can refill bidons and take on bananas / flapjacks etc so if you are carrying too much at the start you are just carrying unnecessary weight. The author normally starts with two full bidons and three energy bars; that’s more than enough sustenance to ride to the first feed station. Feed station intervals are pre-set and the information sheet usually includes them:

Recommended kit list:

Clothing

· Helmet (often mandatory)

· Glasses

· Jersey & Shorts

· Arm / Knee / Leg warmers

· Rain cape

· Overshoes

· Shoes

Spares

· 2 x tubes & patches

· Pump

· Multi-tool

Food

· Energy bars

· 2 x filled bidons

Other

· Mobile phone with emergency number

· Route card, (if provided)

The ride itself

Once you have arrived, parked and signed-on you will be handed your timing chip and bike number(s). A lot of organisers use skewer mounted timers that you can fit to the front or back wheel, like this:

These chips are activated as you ride over timing mats at the start and finish, (sometimes a mid-ride one is included as well) giving you accurate time results.

Your rider number should be fitted to your handlebars:

The event photographer will sort all the images against your rider number so make sure it is clearly visible. Some rides include helmet and seat-stem stickers as well but it is personal choice as to whether you stick these on!

You will be given a start time-window based upon the distance you have entered. The organisers will start the longest distance riders first and then work their way down the lengths. Start numbers are often coded to the distance you have entered so don’t try and start too early as you are likely to be asked to queue again later.

Groups of small riders are generally started at minute or so intervals so the roads are not too clogged. You don’t need to worry about your overall time as it is only started when you ride over the start/finish timing mat.

You shouldn’t need to warm-up before that start as most courses start with 5 – 10 miles of relative flat but be prepared for a climb sometime thereafter as they are thrown in to string the groups out and ease congestion!

If you don’t use a Garmin or other sat-nav device then don’t worry, the majority of sportives are excellently signed at every junction and change of direction. Your info pack will include the signage info, such as:

Each distance will be assigned coloured signs, or the routes will share signage until the clearly marked split-point.

When you are out on the ride you will naturally fall into groups of similarly paced riders; its well worth working together taking turns at the front as it will reduce your fatigue.

If you do feel too tired at any point don’t worry, you can change distance at the split points and reduce your mileage if you want to. It is quite common, especially if it’s really windy or very wet, for riders to swap to a shorter course.

At the finish

After you have ridden over the finish mat an event member will usually take your timing chip off for you. They are expensive to replace so make sure you hand it back, otherwise you will be charged. After that you can collect you time print-off and enjoy a hot drink and piece of cake, (often complementary.) You’ve earned it!