All tips and general advice welcome

[Wigbank]

Hi all,

Ok where to start. Well I've always been into sports and fitness all my life and always been active. I'm 6 foot 1 and 16 stone, with my main sport being rugby.

14 months ago I had a horrific ankle dislocation and leg break on the rugby pitch that required 2 operations! To cut a long story short, my physio recommended I get myself a bike and get cycling, and now I'm quite liking it!

My cousin is a level 2 cycling coach and he got me going on one of his old road bikes. Anyway, April 21st me and a few work mates are doing a 76 mile sportive. I'm excited but also quite apprehensive as I've never done anything like this before! So I'm after general advice on the following:

Training tips
What mileage should I be doing a week in preparation?
What should I take with me on the day? Checklist
What would be a reasonable time to do it in?
Any other useful advice.

I have already taken my bike to a local reputable shop and had the bike set up properly for me and has made a difference already. The biggest difference was he flipped the handlebar stem around (which apparently is NOT what the cool kids do, but it's comfortable so I don't care)

So, that's my story and thanks for reading

 

[Saluki]

Hi & welcome.

I was always told to take a puncture repair kit with me, a spare innertube too. Take some protein bars or gel too along with a couple of bottles of water/squash/isotonic drink of choice.

As for training, I make it up as I go along and make sure that I have a long ride of 90% of the sportive ride about 10 - 14 days beforehand. As I only ride for fun and not for competition, this works for me. Your cousin should be able to give you a nice training timetable surely?
As for reasonable time? That's an individual thing. For me it would be 5 hours 30 mins but I am old and fat and slow and eat too much

 

[Phil485]

Sorry, I can't really help but I was going to ask similar questions. I'm doing a 60 mile sportive in early April and was wondering similar. Do I train in the week running up to it?? What to take ??

Looking forward to it though...

 

[Wigbank]

I too am old and slow!! At 33 I'm over the hill and past it haha :-)

Yah I'm going to badger my cuz for a training schedule. However he is doing another sportive on the same day and same place but he's doing the 102 mile ride ( I opted for the short one).

5 hours 30 might be a bit optimistic for me but its a good starting point to aim fr I guess :-)

 

[mattobrien]

If I were you I would want to have a 60 mile ride under my belt before tackling the sportive.

I did an 80 miler before my first 100 mile sportive and learned a lot about properly feeding / fuelling myself during my ride.

I trained, while riding shorter distances, at a higher pace than I was planning on riding the sportive at. This way for the long ride, it was at a comfortable and manageable pace for the entire ride, rather than clinging on to a back wheel for dear life.

And if in doubt, just keep pedalling, you'll get to the end eventually and then soon be planning your next outing.

Enjoy!

 

[Wigbank]

I've done a few 15 mile runs without any problems. Got a planned 20 mile ride on Sunday, and a 40 ish miler planned for the week after, so by the sounds of it, I'm doing the right thing.

 

[Wigbank]

15 mile rides, not runs!,

 

[The Over 40 Cyclist]

My best tip is not to go out too hard at the start. It's easy when you're feeling good at the beginning to hit it a little hard, and that makes it very hard at the end.

Take it a little easy at the beginning, if you've got ample energy then use it up nearer the end rather than the beginning.

Good luck.

 

[Wigbank]

Cheers, that was always going to be my plan until today when someone blinded me with broscience!

I was told today to go out really hard and flat out for the 1st 45 mins of the ride, then stop and stretch hamstrings and quads for 5-10 mins. By doing this I will be fine then for the rest of the ride!

I smiled and nodded in agreement but in my mind I've just put it down to broscience (utter bullshit with no actual scientific evidence to back the claim up)

My plan was always to take it easy for the 1st hour or so and build from there.

 

[The Over 40 Cyclist]

Yes in my view there's nothing worse than getting three quarters of the way through and finding that the tank is empty, nothing left, and you've got to soldier on for another hour or so. If that happens then that last hour is dreadful, and slow. If it's not a race then there's no need to kill yourself, keep plenty in reserve for when you need it.