Review: SWRC Early Spring Sportive...
Stats: 73.6km (of 100km) in 2:56:47 with 1,010m of ascent.
The Cyclosportive season started with an “Early Spring” 100km route across the North Downs and into Sussex and back. This was supposed to be a great opportunity for hardened riders who have been training through the cold winter months to check out their fitness.
The fully sign-posted route started at Fetcham Village Hall (near Leatherhead) and wound its way over the North Downs via the long and tough Leith Hill climb (the highest point in SE England). It meandered across the undulating Surrey and Sussex countryside as far as Wisborough Green (the location of the half way check point and tea-stop) and returned over the North Downs via the short and sharp ascent of Combe Bottom. The majority of the event was on the quiet country lanes with the occasional busier road and with over 1,250 metres of climbing, the event should certainly have stretched a few legs at this point in the season!
HOWEVER, the weather forecast for yesterday was for Heavy Rain (and the forecasters certainly got it right). So, given that I class myself as a fair weather cyclist, I had some pre-event concerns. Anyway, we got away in a group of 10-15 shortly after 9am and it was immediately clear that someone at the front of our mini-peloton was used to a setting a good pace. Throw in the climb of Leith Hill early into the ride and my HR monitor was seeing some higher numbers that normal for a Sunday morning ride.
Once I got into the ride a little I started to feel more comfortable with the pace and to enjoy the Sportive experience. In particular, it was enjoyable to ride a well planned marked route, within a group and to be working together to keep the bunch moving along at a good pace. And it is certainly an exhilarating and interesting concept to be stamping on the pedal for more speed to keep pace whilst heading down a steep country lane descent at 55+ kph on slick tyres in the rain !!!
Despite the now driving rain, it was all so going well until a pot hole took me by surprise, leaving me nowhere to go and causing a puncture. However, after a quick tube change and the chance for a mini jaffa-cake fuel up we were back on our way. Before long we were at the half way check point and the tea-stop.
Getting back on the bike after a mug of tea and a flapjack was not pleasant. Before the break the cycling had kept me warm, but after sitting in the pub I had cooled off, returning to the bike and the incessant drizzle was very unappealing and pretty damn cold.
After a further half hour of the cold & wet we decided to call it a day and head off route towards Haslemere Station. Although I am slightly disappointed to not have completed the event I have decided to take a positive outlook and can take the following away from the ride:
The Cyclosportive season started with an “Early Spring” 100km route across the North Downs and into Sussex and back. This was supposed to be a great opportunity for hardened riders who have been training through the cold winter months to check out their fitness.
The fully sign-posted route started at Fetcham Village Hall (near Leatherhead) and wound its way over the North Downs via the long and tough Leith Hill climb (the highest point in SE England). It meandered across the undulating Surrey and Sussex countryside as far as Wisborough Green (the location of the half way check point and tea-stop) and returned over the North Downs via the short and sharp ascent of Combe Bottom. The majority of the event was on the quiet country lanes with the occasional busier road and with over 1,250 metres of climbing, the event should certainly have stretched a few legs at this point in the season!
HOWEVER, the weather forecast for yesterday was for Heavy Rain (and the forecasters certainly got it right). So, given that I class myself as a fair weather cyclist, I had some pre-event concerns. Anyway, we got away in a group of 10-15 shortly after 9am and it was immediately clear that someone at the front of our mini-peloton was used to a setting a good pace. Throw in the climb of Leith Hill early into the ride and my HR monitor was seeing some higher numbers that normal for a Sunday morning ride.
Once I got into the ride a little I started to feel more comfortable with the pace and to enjoy the Sportive experience. In particular, it was enjoyable to ride a well planned marked route, within a group and to be working together to keep the bunch moving along at a good pace. And it is certainly an exhilarating and interesting concept to be stamping on the pedal for more speed to keep pace whilst heading down a steep country lane descent at 55+ kph on slick tyres in the rain !!!
Despite the now driving rain, it was all so going well until a pot hole took me by surprise, leaving me nowhere to go and causing a puncture. However, after a quick tube change and the chance for a mini jaffa-cake fuel up we were back on our way. Before long we were at the half way check point and the tea-stop.
Getting back on the bike after a mug of tea and a flapjack was not pleasant. Before the break the cycling had kept me warm, but after sitting in the pub I had cooled off, returning to the bike and the incessant drizzle was very unappealing and pretty damn cold.
After a further half hour of the cold & wet we decided to call it a day and head off route towards Haslemere Station. Although I am slightly disappointed to not have completed the event I have decided to take a positive outlook and can take the following away from the ride:
- Experience of a my first sportive,
- Experience of riding in a pelaton,
- Completed 73k – and thats 73k more than I would have done in that weather had it just been a training ride, and
- On the whole I enjoyed it.
The final stats for the day were as follows:
Dist = 73.6km. Time = 2:56:47.
Av. Spd = 25.0 kph. Max Spd = 55.8 kph.
Av. HR = 149. Av. Cad = 87.
Dist = 73.6km. Time = 2:56:47.
Av. Spd = 25.0 kph. Max Spd = 55.8 kph.
Av. HR = 149. Av. Cad = 87.
Posted by Richard Allen
3 Comments:
Hi Rich
No pubs and cups of tea on offer in the Etape I'm afraid and as for packing because it was wet, that is pretty poor I reckon.
You need to get used to getting your head down and doing some serious graft in difficult conditions or you will be in the broom wagon before you know it.
Come on man, harden up, cycling is no picnic.
WellWisher
But honestly it was really wet...
So what.
I would imagine you had a rain jacket with you and if not you should have done. I hope you aren't one of those cyclists who spends £100+ on a Gore Tex rain jacket then won't ride in the wet!
Last Sunday I and some mates did 100+ miles, the wind was gusting to 30+mph and there was driving rain for the last 4 hours, we climbed a total of about 7000' in the process, nobody even thought about packing.
If you pack when it's a bit wet on a short ride like that you will pack for sure when it gets a bit tough, get your head round it next time it's raining. Toughen up!
All the best.
WellWisher
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