First up, let’s start with a confession: I’m not always entirely positive about everything. In fact, some things I can be actively negative about, although I do try to keep these to a minimum.
One thing I’ve often been a bit down on the past is the cycling phenomena known as the sportive. For those not in the know, this is a specific type of mass-participation event where entrants pay in advance to take part, then follow a set route – often over a choice of distance – following signs along the way to provide directions.
Taking part in a sportive is effectively the cycling equivalent of running in a race or taking part in a triathlon, except that it’s not a competitive event (not in the UK at least – on the continent, similar events known as Gran Fondos or Cyclos do have a competitive element, but that’s a different story), so anyone taking part is only competing against themselves, the clock and the landscape.
I’ve had mixed experiences taking part in sportives in the past, with one or two being among my favourite days on the bike, although I would say that my very best experiences on two wheels have come in non-organised rides.
From past experience, it seems that not everyone takes the same non-competitive approach to the event that me and my Bianchi do. In particular, I can remember being swamped by large swathes of cyclists, often in their club colours, flashing past in a semi-organised train, creating a rapid hole in the wind through which to advance.
And that’s fine, each to their own, but I tend to think that if I want to enjoy the thrill of the race, I’ll take part in one, which is why I compete in triathlons. Riding my bicycle has always been a more leisurely pastime, either training for said multisport races or completing solo voyages, usually up challenging hills or across spectacular vistas.
I’ve always tended to think that if I want to ride my bicycle somewhere new or different, I’ll plan a route, jump in the car and go check it out – no need to toe the imaginary start line with the paid-for peloton when you can enjoy the best riding to be done for free.
And that sentiment is normally only magnified the more expensive, grand and commercial the event becomes – or to look at it another way, I’m more into smaller, charity events raising funds for good causes and local clubs.
However, this Saturday just past, Sarah and I took part in our first sportive of 2018 – the UK Cycling Events No Excuses sportive. We’d originally planned to ride the ‘standard’ route (just over 80km), but if we felt decent on the day we’d divert and take on the ‘epic’ distance (just over 130km). This would involve a trip out to Peterborough and some crossed fingers for decent weather – which didn’t really happen; cold and icy conditions meant that the longer route was cancelled and the whole event started 90 minutes later than planned.
To avoid this turning into an entire, lengthy, non-race review, I’ll cut to the chase – I really enjoyed it. More than I thought I would. Mainly because it was great to get outdoors and ride my bike again without being locked in the conservatory, smashing out sessions on the turbo, but also for the social benefits – sharing the day with other humans, getting a bit irked at the number of riders enjoying a slightly easier ride by following my back wheel (and not returning the favour) and wrapping up warm to beat the icy crosswinds on the open Cambridgeshire fields.
I’m still not entirely comfortable with the corporate and commercial undertone that exists at the larger sportives – whenever I attend an event, particularly ones organised by or associated with the better known retailers, the standard of bikes on show always amazes me. For instance, on Saturday there were treacherous conditions predicted – enough so to cause the aforementioned cancellation/delay – but still you see many riders with eye-wateringly expensive bikes, precious carbon wheels and top-notch Italo-Swiss lycra kit. Either many cyclists have money to burn and don’t mind potentially trashing their equipment or I’m overly cautious when it comes to protecting my investments.
Either way, I’m happy to have and use my winter bike when I think it’s appropriate and save my best for what we laughably call summer in Britain.
Say what you like about sportives – and I’ve probably said it all in the past – but they are a perfect opportunity to circle a date in your diary, schedule in some structured training and look forward to riding somewhere unfamiliar. They’re not – and never should be – a substitute for racing, but they are a brilliant chance to justify all those hours spent staring at a laptop screen planning training and all the expenditure that goes into being a hobby cyclist.
And after all, it’s your event, your spare time and your life, so however you choose to spend it is entirely up to you – don’t let cycling snob bullies like me tell you what to do.
For more moans, grizzles and shameless boasts about my sporting endeavours, follow me on Twitter or Instagram. Or don’t, either way is cool.