First sportive for a beginner

[Mr_K_Dilkington]

I've just got back into cycling (I'm 27, used to cycle a lot in my late teens and early twenties, only recreationally/communting though) and am looking to do some fairly beginner events this spring/summer.

A bit about me and my riding: my fitness is ok at the moment, though could be an awful lot better. I've been cycling to work and back every day for the past month or so (16.5k each way, though fairly flat and through traffic) - see this evenings ride home here: http://www.strava.com/activities/116069419

On top of that 165k a week for work, I've also been doing some good 30k and 40k rides 2-3 times a week. My average speed overall is not amazing (although a lot of that is down to London traffic), but my fitness is improving a lot on the flat - hills when I do them are still a big work in progress though.

I'd really like to do some sportives this year from April onwards, but am unsure what kind of distance I'd be best going for as a beginner. Would something like London-Reading or London-Brighton be a bit of a stretch, or would that be a good start?

Any tips or resources on how to go about training outside of my commute (or even making the most of my commute) would be great also

Thanks in advance!

 

[Mr_K_Dilkington]

I'm specifically thinking of doing the BHF London-Reading Ride as my first big organised ride. Does this sound like something which should be fairly achievable?

Link here: http://www.bhf.org.uk/get-involved/...-information/london-to-reading-bike-ride.aspx

 

[Sharky]

Just join a cycling club that does moderate speed club runs every week. These will be as good as sportives.

The London to Brighton ride is a brilliant day out, but not really a sportive. With so many riders, you do too much walking, at least it was when I rode it a few years back.

Cheers keith

 

[Mr_K_Dilkington]

Cheers Keith. Sounds like a great idea. Most of the clubs around me in West London seem to be at a much higher level than I would be able to keep up with, but I will keep looking and try and find a club which does club runs which are a bit more moderate on pace/length.

 

[Kestevan]

Given that you're in London have you considered the Friday Night Ride to the Coast rides?
They're run by the mighty @dellzeqq from these pages and take off from London to various damp bits at the edge of the country.

 

[vickster]

I think the Kingston wheelers have rides at a more relaxed pace. Can only try. London-reading isn't a hilly run, and I am rubbish on hills! Not much that is worse than Richmond park. Get out into the surrey hills for some more stern stuff

 

[Phil485]

My first sportive was the wiggle one in the new forest. Different roads, not too hilly , more rolling terrain. Well organised and a good intro to sportives.

 

[screenman]

Most clubs have a very wide variety of riders in, my club has may riders who would find 10mph average a problem, which is why we have rides for every type of cycling members. Do not think a cycling club as being full of cat1 racers it is extremely rare, join a club and enjoy the experience most are only £10 or £12 per annum or at least ours is.

 

[Mr_K_Dilkington]

Thanks for the help guys, Kingston Wheelers looks like it could be a good shout.

I'm going to head to the London Dynamos on this or next Saturday morning to join their laps of Richmond Park also: http://www.londondynamo.co.uk/faq.php

Should be a good opportunity to ride in a group, get some good training in and get to know a few other cyclists!

 

[ianrauk]

Thanks for the help guys, Kingston Wheelers looks like it could be a good shout.

I'm going to head to the London Dynamos on this or next Saturday morning to join their laps of Richmond Park also: http://www.londondynamo.co.uk/faq.php

Should be a good opportunity to ride in a group, get some good training in and get to know a few other cyclists!

Make sure you join the 'SHOUT AT OTHER PARK USERS/CYCLISTS AS WE THINK WE OWN THE PARK' London Dynamo group

 

[StuAff]

Make sure you join the 'SHOUT AT OTHER PARK USERS/CYCLISTS AS WE THINK WE OWN THE PARK' London Dynamo group

Dynamo Richmond Park laps. [clarksonvoice] The dullest club run... in the world [/clarksonvoice]

Wheelers should be OK, I know at least a couple of members.

 

[Mr_K_Dilkington]

Dynamo Richmond Park laps. [clarksonvoice] The dullest club run... in the world [/clarksonvoice]

Wheelers should be OK, I know at least a couple of members.

Dull is good I think until I know my limits (I've pushed myself on some of the 30 mile rides I've done, but never been close to emptying the tank, so I don't really know at this point what a really hard ride would be for me). Once I've figured that out to think I'll have a better idea of what sort of club runs I should be shooting for.