Average speed of a sportive?

[Rob3rt]

Well I think it's a t-shirt in the case of the wiggle ones but it's not the point I was making really, it was more that people will have booked expecting to do 66 miles complete their event and suddenly it's 90

Better bang for their buck then isn't it!

 

[maltloaf]

Better bang for their buck then isn't it!

It's great if you want to go further but if you considered the distance you booked to be your limit and suddenly they increase it by 50% then you can no longer complete the event. That's going to be disappointing.

 

[winjim]

Medal?

"Congratulations, you cycled around a bit today, have a medal!"

The Grindleford Goat medals came in shortbread form. Just the thing after a hard day's riding nice pootle in the countryside.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Like at the end of a marathon or half-marathon when runners get one you mean? What's wrong with that?

Quite. I still have my collection of various running medals and they are nice souveniers of days spent gallumphing around and suffering. If ever I enter a sportive, and I may do so one day, I will not just hope for, but will DEMAND a medal.

 

[Trull]

Reminds me of a 10k run in Inverness, we (there were about 1500 runners) warmed up to a pumping disco beat infront of three fitness instructors on podiums, ran the race, finished in the stadium on the track, sprinting over the line to the roar from the crowd got told we were awesome and got a mahoosive goody bag inc a technical fabric commemorative T-shirt and medal. You pay for this service of course and its nice, of course it was also nice that I scored a PB on negative splits to the end, so although its fashionable to slag off sportives in certain circles people also need to remember that they fulfill a need and are just a bit of fun.

 

[helston90]

So it turns out there is more to this than just 'complete the course' the manual for the event informs us that riders have the chance to target a time to earn different medals- for a gold you must complete in 2hr 48, silver less than 3hr 07 and bronze less than 3hr 30, this gives me a target average of 15mph, 13.5mph and 12mph respectively.

42 miles in <2hr 48 sounds fine compared to what I knock out on a commute- however the 4,900ft between me and the finish line will make it a challenge.

 

[SquareDaff]

Just go out there and enjoy it. The time is irrelevant. In fact, I usually find that I set my best times when I'm not thinking about the time (if that makes sense?)

 

[Nomadski]

So it turns out there is more to this than just 'complete the course' the manual for the event informs us that riders have the chance to target a time to earn different medals- for a gold you must complete in 2hr 48, silver less than 3hr 07 and bronze less than 3hr 30, this gives me a target average of 15mph, 13.5mph and 12mph respectively.

42 miles in <2hr 48 sounds fine compared to what I knock out on a commute- however the 4,900ft between me and the finish line will make it a challenge.

It doesnt change the medal you get, only what "type" of time you are awarded. A gold, silver or bronze time. Just something to give some speed types something to aim for, although they probably already have an idea what sort of time they would expect.

I love sportives, I mostly enjoy the fact there are soooooo many cyclists out enjoying themselves. And the free banana.

 

[helston90]

It doesnt change the medal you get, only what "type" of time you are awarded. A gold, silver or bronze time.
I love sportives, I mostly enjoy the fact there are soooooo many cyclists out enjoying themselves. And the free banana.

Thanks for pointing that out- saves a lot of disappointment when it turns out to be just wording (and bragging rights)!
As mentioned this is my first one- I've never ridden in with more than 2 other people before so being out with 1000+ is going to be an experience.