How to get into sportives

[cyberknight]

I have decided i would like to try some sportives and i would like some more information about how to go about it, where to look for them etc etc .

I would probably be looking at events fairly local ish so i can travel there and back in 1 day due to work and family commitments .

 

[the_mikey]

Now is a good time to sign up, have a good idea of what sort of distance and terrain you want to ride, many sportives have a choice between long routes and medium or short routes, all you have to do is search for a sportive that suits you.

There are a few sites which list sportives, this one is good:

cyclosport.org

It lists sportives by date, and proximity to home, you will find links to the organisers websites where you can sign up.


Like you I like to be able to get to and from a sportive pretty quickly, I don't want a long drive home after a sportive!

 

[cyberknight]

Just entered the midland monster, try the 73 mile events as it is my 1st event .The start is only 3 miles from my house i assume they always finish at the start ?.
Then in June i will be looking at the one in Leicester .

All i need is time to train , i do commute 10 miles each way but its not the same

 

[corshamjim]

If time to train is short, just pick some good steep hills and ride up them once in a while. That's pretty much what I'll be doing this year as most of my spare time is taken up on the allotment now.

I agree with you in preferring rides close to home. For me that means I'll be doing the Wiggle Mendip ride in August and the Severn Bridge Sportive again later in the year. I'm also doing the Palace to Palace charity ride which isn't so local, but will be doing it with a friend who lives nearer to London.

 

[asterix]

At the end of May I am doing my first proper Sportive - it's this one:

http://www.richmondcc.co.uk/content/cyclosportives-2011

The great thing is it has 3 different routes for several abilities. I am going for the 5 Dale; if you get half-way you can always lower your sights and do a shorter one. I plan to do the whole thing!

 

[the_mikey]

I agree with you in preferring rides close to home. For me that means I'll be doing the Wiggle Mendip ride in August and the Severn Bridge Sportive again later in the year.

I'll be doing the Wiggle Mendip ride too, expect hills! Considering the Severn Bridge sportive..