Sportive question

[MikeW-71]

Awww, thanks guys, for all the advice and encouragement, will do as you have all advised and enjoy it.
I won't be completely on my own, hubby will be doing it with me. He is pretty good at riding at my pace, even though he can easily do 18mph.
I am stubborn and determined, and will keep my training up.
I guess I was just checking that there was no time cut off where they say you must finish by.
Some of the comments about the super speedy made me smile.

Company makes the miles pass quicker I always find

I've only done some of the Evans Cycles events (well organised and cheap BTW) and the information simply said to start between 8:30am and 10am and the centre closed at 5:30pm, so that could give you up to 8 hours to complete whichever course you were doing. Taking that long for 60 miles is less than 10mph average, so you should have no problems at all at 12mph.

 

[Markymark]

Point of order. Sometimes sportives do have cutoffs for slower riders on longer routes. Often the longest ride split may close it off meaning anyone not reaching the split in time will be sent on a shorter route. This is fair to stop century rides taking too long.

Your times are fine and yiu won't have any issues.

 

[mcshroom]

Of course as you are riding on a public road there's nothing to stop you doing the longer route anyway, just won't get a time and the support stations may have shut.

I'd bet that if you can do 30 miles at 12.5mph on a mountain bike now, you would be able to do 60 miles on a road bike today if it was fitted right.

 

[Soltydog]

I've just had a look at the times on a recent 60k sportive I did & the slowest time was 4hours 23 mins, which at your 12.5 mph you would beat Just ride & enjoy it & dont worry about everyone else. Or BHF do charity rides over similar distances around the country & they dont tend to be competitive at all, so maybe you could look to see if there is one in your area.

 

[G3CWI]

Sometimes sportives do have cutoffs for slower riders on longer routes.

Do they disappear in a puff of smoke at the allotted time?

 

[Dogtrousers]

Do they disappear in a puff of smoke at the allotted time?

No but when you do finally roll in at the end they've all gone or are packing up to go home and there aren't any goodie bags or anything. (Er ... or so I've been told by ... er ... a friend ).

 

[Markymark]

Do they disappear in a puff of smoke at the allotted time?

Eh? No, if you don't get to the split by a certain time they make you go on a shorter route instead. It's to stop those doing the century getting back too late.

 

[mjr]

Point of order. Sometimes sportives do have cutoffs for slower riders on longer routes.

I think you mean "point of information". It'd be more impressive if you could give examples because I've never seen or heard of this before

 

[vickster]

Ride London for starters has a broom wagon

 

[mjr]

Ride London for starters has a broom wagon

But no shorter routes. I mentioned Ride London earlier as the only one I've heard of having a time limit where you get booted off the course.

Sorry if I was unclear: I wondered about rides with cutoffs where longer route switches are closed after a certain time.

 

[Markymark]

I think you mean "point of information". It'd be more impressive if you could give examples because I've never seen or heard of this before

I did the wiggle Essex sportive in around may/June this year abd they did that.

 

[Julia9054]

I did my first 60 mile charity ride on my big old heavy hybrid. My average speed would certainly not have been more than 12.5mph. I rode with 2 friends on road bikes - though they did drop me for the last 15 miles (I didn't mind - I'd've dropped me too!)
A year later on my new road bike, I was waiting for one of the same friends to catch me up!
As everyone else has said, enjoy yourself!

 

[jonny jeez]

Company makes the miles pass quicker I always find

I've only done some of the Evans Cycles events (well organised and cheap BTW) and the information simply said to start between 8:30am and 10am and the centre closed at 5:30pm, so that could give you up to 8 hours to complete whichever course you were doing. Taking that long for 60 miles is less than 10mph average, so you should have no problems at all at 12mph.

Good advice.

I may have a go at one myself. It's not something I've ever had a go at (actually I did a Evans off road one once and it was proper fun).

Interesting.

 

[Mummy3monkeys]

Excellent, I will keep you all up to date with my training and new bike in the new year. Loving all the enthusiasm and encouragement (and anecdotes) thanks.

 

[Gravity Aided]

I've just had a look at the times on a recent 60k sportive I did & the slowest time was 4hours 23 mins, which at your 12.5 mph you would beat Just ride & enjoy it & dont worry about everyone else. Or BHF do charity rides over similar distances around the country & they dont tend to be competitive at all, so maybe you could look to see if there is one in your area.

And there are plenty of people trying to turn a charity ride into a race as well. Ignore them.