First Sportive

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Nomadski

I Like Bikes
Location
LBS, Usually
So breaking my Sportive virginity on Saturday at the New Forest event, doing the shorter of the two routes (60 miles). Doing it on my own, rather than in a club or with friends.

Got booked into a hotel, though judging by reviews its a bit of a hole, but its either that or Southampton which is too far for a 6am start...

Any tips, things people have found to be good pointers on their rides?
 

Peteaud

Veteran
Location
South Somerset
Dont panic and just enjoy it.

Dont go mad at the start, go at your pace and watch out for nutter rider just deciding to STOP!!!!
 

MikeW-71

Veteran
Location
Carlisle
Enjoy the ride. It's too easy to forget to do that :smile:

Take it steady for the first few miles to get yourself warmed up, but just aim to complete the distance and pace yourself accordingly. If you do link up with some riders doing a similar pace, it helps the miles go by if you can chat.

Wave at the photographer :hello:

Good luck!
 

Phil485

Senior Member
Hi, I'm doing the same ride as my first event.

I think just enjoy, looking forward to riding some different roads.
 
OP
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Nomadski

Nomadski

I Like Bikes
Location
LBS, Usually
Hi, I'm doing the same ride as my first event.

I think just enjoy, looking forward to riding some different roads.

Definitely this, but also not having an idea of the lay of the land presents a few issues regarding pacing of the ride. Plan to take it all in and enjoy the scenery.

Where does the timing chip go btw?
 

DRHysted

Guru
Location
New Forest
The only terrible hill is Blissford (about three miles after you pass through Godshill), and there will be plenty of people walking up it (my excuse in April was that my gears jumped at the bottom, and I'm sticking to that). There are a few long drags, but nothing serious.
The New Forest is a lovely place, so just set a nice medium pace (you'll be a better judge of what is right for you) and enjoy the ride.
The chip is placed on the helmet.
 
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Nomadski

Nomadski

I Like Bikes
Location
LBS, Usually
Thanks for the info DRHysted, always great to get some first hand knowledge of the areas to be wary of. Godshill is about halfway iirc, think there is a stop point there?
 

Phil485

Senior Member
The GPx plot doesn't look too frightening. Worth looking at even if you don't have a garmin or similar device. At least that way you can get an idea of where the lumps are and get ready for them.
 

Phoenix Lincs

Über Member
Location
Sleaford, Lincs
So breaking my Sportive virginity on Saturday at the New Forest event, doing the shorter of the two routes (60 miles). Doing it on my own, rather than in a club or with friends.

Got booked into a hotel, though judging by reviews its a bit of a hole, but its either that or Southampton which is too far for a 6am start...

Any tips, things people have found to be good pointers on their rides?

I've done mine as a lone rider, as I don't know many other cyclists of my (newbie) level. It's good to enjoy the ride. I didn't get in a group with anybody else, as the ones I've all done have been mainly with serious cyclists who just shot by me.

Have you experimented with Gels yet? I found I would have been better refuelling earlier in the sportive than the feeding station was placed, so that was my important lesson really, along with the fact that I needed 2 water bottles rather than just the one I had, and I need to practice drinking and refuelling on the bike (and still cycling) which I'm still not confident with.

Enjoy yourself, hope you get a good goodie bag too :smile:
 
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Nomadski

Nomadski

I Like Bikes
Location
LBS, Usually
Actually looking at the route map, the standard route appears to go around Blissford hill ! wimps;)

Im not averse to a bit of climbage but not knowing the course I will take this ;)

I've done mine as a lone rider, as I don't know many other cyclists of my (newbie) level. It's good to enjoy the ride. I didn't get in a group with anybody else, as the ones I've all done have been mainly with serious cyclists who just shot by me.

Have you experimented with Gels yet? I found I would have been better refuelling earlier in the sportive than the feeding station was placed, so that was my important lesson really, along with the fact that I needed 2 water bottles rather than just the one I had, and I need to practice drinking and refuelling on the bike (and still cycling) which I'm still not confident with.

Enjoy yourself, hope you get a good goodie bag too :smile:

Good call on the gels, have used quite a few, tend to like the SiS ones quite a bit.

Do feeding stations normally have gels to replenish, or is it other foodstuff, or just water? Is there facility to properly refill water bottles?
 

Phoenix Lincs

Über Member
Location
Sleaford, Lincs
Im not averse to a bit of climbage but not knowing the course I will take this ;)



Good call on the gels, have used quite a few, tend to like the SiS ones quite a bit.

Do feeding stations normally have gels to replenish, or is it other foodstuff, or just water? Is there facility to properly refill water bottles?

Hi
I didn't get gel refills at feeding stations, but flapjack, Jaffa cakes, sandwiches and bottle refills for either water or electrolyte stuff

Enjoy it :smile:
 
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