The Long One

[Heather]

Anyone done this before? It's described as 'the hardest sportive in the UK' It can't be as hard as Fred Whitton etc surely? How hilly is it?

My longest ride before has been 103 miles, and this is 129ish- i'm not so worried about the distance as the hills.

There is a double advertised with the Flatout in the Fens long route of 150ish miles on the Sunday where if u complete both u get your entry fee refunded. I'd be much less worried about the Sunday than the Saturday one even though its longer. Any experiences?

 

[Banjo]

Do you know how many meters of climbing there is? I am not a fast or experienced rider by any means ,I did the Dragon 200 km on Sunday it has about 3000 m I was hoping for 9 to 9.5 hours but took 10 hours 20 after snapping a gear cable.

No way would I have wanted to do another Sportive the next day, going to work on my hybrid I was in granny gears on hills I normally would have been half way up the range on.

I really crammed the calories in on this ride with energy drinks and food, I think it payed off as I felt great on the ride.(Until i had to limp the last 50 kms in bottom gear ) Good Luck .

 

[Heather]

I think there is about 3100m of climbing or something. Not sure. It does say its hilly, but at least the second day would be flat.

In my other life, I am a runner, and used to running marathons 2 days in a row, so not worried about the recovery really, especially as the 2nd day is flat, more worried about the 1st day of hills killing me!!! I have been doing a few sportives this year of 100 miles but I'm just not sure they have been as hilly.

 

[Banjo]

Sounds as if fitness and recovery wont be a problem then ,

So long as you have some suitably low gears for climbing it should be ok for you.

 

[stevevw]

Don't take the second day too lightly. No hills but it will be very open and windy as you know it is very rare you get a tail wind, plus no rest while decending so working hard all the time. I have done 2 x 200's one undulating and one pan flat, much easier on the undulating ride. and not much in it time wise and a lot less boring no 12 mile dead straight roads in to a 20mph headwind.

Have fun.

 

[Heather]

I'm not definitely doing both. I'm a bit scared I'm not good enough to do both. Just wanted to get some opinions really, and find out quite how hard this 'Long One' is.....

 

[Chris.IOW]

Keep hovering over the enter button for this one (Just the 'Long One') but then keep backing off, the distance might be just a little too much at the moment, maybe next year.

 

[Chris.IOW]

Did you decide to enter both Heather?

I've decided to do my own version of the long weekend, going to do the 100k route on the Saturday and then the 112 Mile route on the Sunday. Won't get my entry fees back but hopefully two great days of cycling.

Make it worth getting off the Island anyway.

Might see you there

 

[Heather]

Still hovering!!!!!!!! I'm still a bit scared about the Goodwood one.......

 

[Pointydog]

I'm going down for this one on Saturday, can't wait. Go on you know you want too :-) What's the worst that can happen ?