Having been asked recently to take on the role of Sportive Secretary, this is the first of hopefully regular newsletters promoting sportives within the club and highlighting some of your achievements.
Sportives are mass participation cycling events. Most often they are timed although they are supposed to be non-competitive (not sure who they’re kidding!), with signposted routes, mechanical assistance and feed stations round the course. The majority take place on the roads (although there are many MTB and cyclo-cross events too) with courses typically between 60 and 100 miles, but some are much longer!
There are events almost every weekend throughout the year, and they’re becoming increasing popular amongst club members for a variety of reasons. For some it represents a challenge, much like a marathon, a goal to aim towards to lose weight or get fitter. For others it’s a chance to challenge themselves on the same courses as professionals, and for others simply a nice way to explore a different part of the countryside or an excuse to go away for the weekend.
If you have either ridden a sportive recently or have one planned, please email me at stivescc.sportives@gmail.com
Here is a quick round up of just some of the sportives that St Ives CC members took part in during March and April:
First off, UK Cycling Events “No Excuses”. What now seems to be the start of the annual sportive calendar for many St Ives riders, the No Excuses ride took place on 1st March from Huntingdon racecourse. The event cost £30 to enter. however, this is refunded if you turn up on the day. If you don’t turn up then, no matter what the excuse, the money goes to charity, hence the No Excuses name. With a 40 and 80 mile route available most St Ives CC members opted for the longer route. I must have seen around 15 St Ives members either at the start or on the way round, so a good advert locally for the club. Well done to all!
Dave Pope comments on his first sportive: The event has now been and gone – but the memory of such a great day will stay for a long time. Firstly, I must say that UK Cycling Events put on an exceptionally well organised event – from signing on through the whole event – excellent. Secondly the atmosphere among the riders was incredible; everyone was working together – calling road hazards, vehicle movements (just like a St Ives Club run!). We even managed to have some banter with St Neot’s riders who were chuffed when we wished them well! I did the event with (St Ives B group riders) Matt Allen and Alan Humes, plus Paul Evans. We finished comfortably within the Gold Medal time frame and we even had several riders latch on to us – so we must of been doing something right!
Andy Wylde, John Batchelor and Ken Rolland – Paris Roubaix Challenge
The three St Ives members rode the infamous cobbled roads of Northern France the day before the professional’s race. One of the epic overseas sportives that every cycling enthusiast should try! Please see the sportive section of the club website for a brilliant full report on the weekend from Andy.
Mike Hoy – Wiggle Ups & Downs MTB
I rode the WIggle MTB Ups and Downs recently, starting just outside Dorking. This is the second time I have ridden the longer Epic course (32 miles) and whilst this year it wasn’t raining, heavy rain over the previous few days meant that it was still very muddy! Shortly out of the car park, you get hit with a climb that is at least on hard pack, but the subsequent rutted descent required you to keep your wits about you and trust the bike will follow the right path as it is virtually impossible to control! However, speed control is definitely the order of the day as you also have to avoid riders spread out left right and centre who have fallen off!
More of the same followed, including some downhill sections that were so deep in mud, you actually had to pedal to move forwards! Some of the climbs were brutal, including some where very few riders managed to stay on the bike due to rocks/ruts/roots and sometimes all three.
I saw a lot of riders with punctures, although I and the two friends I was riding with managed to avoid this. We didn’t avoid the chain suck that comes from having most of the South Downs stuck to your drivetrain though.
Wiggle did a great job as always on marshalling and on the feed stations, and the queue for the pressure washers at the end is always a long one!
I would definitely recommend it as it is great fun to ride but next time, I may try it with bigger wheels – 29ers definitely seemed to have an advantage on this course and as a result there were a lot of them about!
Richard Neil – Rutland CiCLE Tour
This was a 106 mile (170k) course with 5900ft (1800m) of climbing on 26th April. A cool, wet & blustery start, some people rolled up in their cars, got out, sniffed the air & pulled out of the ride before they got on their bikes! I was due to ride with Roland Ward, but unfortunately he had to pull out the evening before due to illness. With a SE Tailwind to start, I made good progress to feed station 1 at Knipton. There I stuffed myself with cakes, then moved onto the more hilly section of the route, & also turning back into the wind. I was fortunate to get in with a small but reasonably fast group. 3 or 4 of us worked quite well together – although not everybody gets the idea of ‘through & off’!
At the 2nd feed station at Owston (stuffing my face again – the feed stops are excellent!) I lost track of our little group, and by the time I had gone to the loo they had cleared off! So I went on alone for a bit before a guy I had worked with earlier came past up a hill & promptly shipped his chain. He then caught up with me a few miles later, & we did a good tug to reform the little group we had earlier. We worked together for a bit, but they seemed to lose steam around Eyebrook reservoir & were not there when I looked back after the climb through Stoke Dry. I had a good blast to the end, picking up a tail wind again. The ride ended on a high with the sun poking through.
If I have one criticism they used those daft timing dongles you have to wear around your neck, you have to get it out & ‘dip’ it (sounds rude!) rather than being able to be read through your jersey. This wasted time as difficult to do with cold hands & gloves.
I finished 11th out of approx 300 & the fastest for my age (& older) & only approx. 15 mins down on the fastest rider. I would have gone even better had I spent less time in the feed stops stuffing my face! I’ll take that though! This event is defiantly one for the calendar next year, being very easy to get to, less than an hours drive. It’s a great ride, well organised on a superb route – Oh & did I mention the feed stations?!!
Finally … One to try?
The Two Wheels for Woodlands takes place on 29th June. Starting and finishing at Alconbury Weald just outside Huntingdon, it’s the climax of the month long Huntingdonshire Cycling Festival. There are three routes to chose from, 30, 60 or 100 miles. Several St Ives CC members are already signed up, with all profits going to the Woodlands Centre, Hinchingbrooke. Further details and registration can be found at: www.wheelsinwheels.com
If you’re not riding the Woodlands sportive, how about sponsoring Jess Williams instead who is also raising money for the Woodlands cancer treatment centre at Hinchingbrooke hospital. Although not a mass participation cycle event she is aiming to ride the 300 miles from St Ives to Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 24 hours. I’m sure anyone who has ridden a long distance event will appreciate what an outstanding achievement that would be if she completes it! Her Just Giving page can be found at www.justgiving.co.uk/Jess-Williams1990 and hopefully with the generous support of club members she reaches her target.
