RIDING YOUR FIRST SPORTIVE
Whether you’re a sunny social spinner just emerging from hibernation or a hard-core cycling sadist who has battled through the winter, one thing is for sure: Spring is finally here and it’s time to dust off the summer bike and get outside!
My name is Metheven Bond and I ride for the Ribble Factory Race Team and have represented Team GB twice at the Gravel World Championships. Whether you’re signing up to your first Sportive or are looking for some tips and tricks to succeed in your next endurance ride then you’ve come to the right place. No matter what level in cycling you’re currently at, we all go through the same major challenges and hopefully this article will help you succeed or simply provide some motivation to get out there and start pedalling.
What exactly is a cycling Sportive and why should you consider riding one?
Put simply a Sportive is an organised bike ride (not a race), with a planned route which normally ranges anywhere from 50-150 miles. They tend to have a lot of the support normally associated with a bike race, e.g. marshals, feed zones, etc… but are much more inclusive as you are not fighting for position. Above all Sportives represent an opportunity to challenge yourself in a fun environment with like-minded people and with great support from the organisers.
How hard can it be?
For many a Sportive will represent one of the longest rides they will ever attempt and as such it should definitely not be underestimated. That said, if you have a bike, determination, and a little bit of crazy mixed in for good measure, then everyone has the capacity to complete a Sportive if they put their mind to it. The good news is there are some simple tips which apply to everyone for long distance rides no matter how fast or slow you are.
The Bike
Everyone wants a shiny new bike, and a sportive is often used as an excuse to get one. If you can afford one and can justify the upgrade then amazing, go treat yourself! However, the brutal truth is you should probably upgrade your fitness a little bit first so that you enjoy riding for longer. Then when you do decide to upgrade your bike, you’ll be riding even faster and better than ever before, and the new bike will feel like a reward for achieving your fitness goals and springboard you on to becoming an even better cyclist. Comfort is speed, and unless you are a seasoned Pro then a bike which has a nice relaxed geometry is what you’ll need as it will keep you in a more upright position. This will help prevent neck pain and reduce numb hands, and on the plus side the more upright position will make it easier to chat with your fellow cyclists whilst out riding. Your local Bike Shop is always a good place to go for advice and they will be more than happy to talk you through the best set-up for your particular event. If you struggle with pain whilst riding or want to get the most out of your bike then a professional Bike Fit is a great investment and well worth the money.
Training
The good news is that this is definitely a case of quality over quantity. Just a couple hard efforts during 60-90 minute rides throughout the week followed by a longer endurance ride at the weekend of around 2-4 hours should do it. This will see you gain fitness without carrying fatigue and doesn’t get in the way of day-to-day life. Joining a cycling club or going out with friends definitely helps motivation and will give you practice riding in a group. If you’re new to the scene don’t be daunted by joining a local club ride. Most clubs are very open and friendly and offer rides for people of mixed abilities, and more often than not the club riders will love the opportunity to offer personal advice and knowledge to help you in your cycling journey.
Fuelling
I cannot stress enough just how important this is for cycling any distance, and it can make or break any ride. Put simply, you wouldn’t expect a car to keep on driving once it’s run out of fuel, so why think you’re any different?! The good news is it’s super easy to calculate how much food you need, and that’s to divide your ride into 30-minute blocks. Every half an hour you should aim to consume 20-30 grams of carbohydrate. This can either be in the form of an Energy Gel or Bar, a sports carbohydrate drink mix, or even something as simple as a flapjack or banana. I personally set a reminder on my bike computer which just says “Food” and have it set to repeat every 30 minutes. This might sound a bit ridiculous to anyone just starting out, but trust me it is so easy to lose track of time and one missed feed can lead to the dreaded ‘bonk’ – a sudden loss of energy from which it is very difficult to recover. Cycling-specific energy products are amazing and I would definitely recommend using them for the event itself, but they are pretty expensive, so if you don’t want to blow your budget on products then you can either just use cereal bars or make your own good old-fashioned flapjacks.
Comfortable Kit
Lycra is your friend when it comes to long distance rides, and a good quality pair of cycling Bib Shorts goes a long way to keeping you comfortable for longer. And if you’re comfortable then you’re going to enjoy it a lot more, so splashing out a little extra cash on mid-priced kit is worth it. A common mistake many beginner cyclists make is to wear underwear underneath their fancy new bib shorts. This not only traps blood flow to key areas, but it will inevitably lead to chaffing and saddle sores. Lastly always try your fancy new kit out before the big day as you want to make sure it’s right and it will give it a chance to wear in a little.
Pacing
It’s very easy to get carried away at the start of a Sportive and set off at a million miles an hour like seemingly every other rider. Ride within your ability and don’t push yourself too early. Listen to your body and pace yourself sensibly and you’ll be able to finish strongly, go out too hard and you’ll be dragging yourself around the route feeling sorry for yourself. Small groups will naturally form soon after the start which are made up of riders of similar abilities, just hop onto one of these groups and you’ll find the miles will fly by and you’ll get to enjoy the ride with other riders who are just as crazy as you.
Have fun!
Above all else remember to enjoy what you are doing and don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Sportives are meant to be a fun day out where everyone can challenge themselves in a supportive and safe environment. Yes, it’s probably going to be a bit hard, and at times you might question why you’re doing it, but that little bit of suffering is more than made up for when you cross the finish line and realise what you have accomplished.
See you out on the road!
Metheven
