first sportive what to do when i get there

[Angry Blonde]

signed up for a sportive 8th of august

they state they post a riders pack out to you, but i have never recieved this, will this have my chip in ?

or do you get it when you get there on the day.

also whats the normal signing in process ?

cheers chaps, just dont want to look like a pleb when i turn up

 

[Markymark]

Only done a couple but normally things are posted/emailedvery last minute or picked up on the day. This is usually because things like the routes are not finalised until a day or so before hand (roadworks etc messing things up).

On arrival you normally sign up, check you have a helmet, pick up chip and then head for the start line where there's usually last minute advice (eg obey the law or any last minute protential hazards).

 

[Angry Blonde]

ahh right cheers mate

 

[ianrauk]

Don't worry.. you certainly won't be the only pleb at a Sportive

 

[PK99]

Don't forget the essentials: Grab any freebie food stuff and stuff your pockets.

Oh, and let the racing snakes on 6oz bikes charge off at 30mph, don't let the adrenaline tempt you into following them

 

[Angry Blonde]

im not that daft, i know my own pace etc, but i have many sticks to place through the 30mph racers bikes wheels haha as they pass

 

[PK99]

im not that daft, i know my own pace etc,s

neither am i, but i still blew up on my first couple of sportives (before i had a HRM) by setting off too fast and following wheels

 

[mjr]

Take a lock unless you're riding with someone you trust (so one can watch bikes while the other signs in) or you're very sure that you can sign-in with your bike with you.

Let anyone who refers to "the race" go off ahead. They will be taking risks to "win" and you don't want to be involved when they lose it.

 

[Angry Blonde]

@PK99 good tip mate

@mjray it says it has a secure indoor bike rack whilst signing in

 

[cyberknight]

Listen carefully to any route instructions and make sure you have a map or you have downloaded the route to a compatible device as signs can be wrong /missing.

 

[Angry Blonde]

yeah ive got the gpx on my garmin

 

[oldroadman]

Take a lock unless you're riding with someone you trust (so one can watch bikes while the other signs in) or you're very sure that you can sign-in with your bike with you.

Let anyone who refers to "the race" go off ahead. They will be taking risks to "win" and you don't want to be involved when they lose it.

While they may not sign as such, these people are all called Richard Cranium. Avoid at all costs.

 

[Retribution03]

How did you get on?

 

[Angry Blonde]

I thouroughly enjoyed myself, that was the first of many, ive signed up for another two !

Everybody was great, had good craic with a few people, everyone egging everyone else on.

Should have done it a long time ago. Just done the 50 mile one and i done it in 3 hours 33 minutes. Not too bad for a fatty, couple of the big hills were a nightmare, but im still alive haha.

So yeah, really glad i went

 

[fossyant]

Good stuff. If no secure place in future leave the bike in the car. Quite a few bikes go missing as thieves pose as cyclists.

It's a good way to get into things. Don't take it too seriously.

There is always someone slower or faster than you and it's quite entertaining to ride past the bloke on an £8k bike.