What is it like riding your first sportive?
For me personally, I had a load of unanswered questions. I didn’t know whether I should be training, what should I take with me, what to expect, would it be my kind of thing. I ended up turning up unprepared, forgetting my required bicycle helmet and therefore not been able to “officially take part” but still having a great time.
A guide I would have liked to have had from the beginning is Sportiveur by Sportive Cyclist.
The guide costs a mere £5, all of which goes directly to support the author and the site.
After a first glance had me chuckling at the humorous writing style of the author, Andrew Montgomery, I went in this weekend to take a closer look.
The Sportiveur eBook is targeted at those who are either considering their first sportive, or have just signed up to one. It’ll take you through all the stages from training, to the actual event.
Inside you’ll find:
- Background section to sportives answering all the most common questions including how to find one that will suit you, what the typical cost is, what the best way to get to the starting point is, etc.
- Choosing a bike, including everything about how many gears, what kind of pedals will work best for you
- Getting the right fit
- A cycling accessories guide
- Cycling clothing guide
- Bike computers
- Training guide
- How to create an effective training plan
- Sample training plan
- Eating and drinking on and off the bike
- Safe cycling during sportive
- The day of the event
- What’s next after your first sportive?
In all it is 116 pages long, with plentiful interesting and funny interludes, such as the author’s story of reaching the starting line, with only moments to spare.
By the end of the read, you’ll be better prepared for it. Clearing up all those nagging questions in your mind and giving you new tips you wouldn’t of even considered.
The Sportiveur eBook hits that perfect medium point between being comprehensive, but not so long that you end up never getting around to reading it. Clearly the author has put a lot of time in to considering what to include, and what to exclude.
It’s refreshing to read an eBook by someone who can clearly grasp what beginners are looking for and can really deliver some fantastic advice.
This is a great little guide, that I thoroughly recommend for anyone wanting to try their first sportive. Even more experienced riders will pickup a few new tips along the way.
Visit Sportive Cyclist to get a copy of Sportiveur.
It’s not rocket science this.. You’re riding a bike, in a timed and signalled route.. Jeez…
Get a bike that fits you. Wear bib shorts and jersey. Dhb range from wiggle is fine. Bring energy bars, and essential tools (inners, pump, tyre Levers, multi tool).
Ride the frigging route and enjoy it. Tell your legs to “shut up” when you realise just how much of an overweight and out of shape git you are.
Do more longer rides.
Repeat.
This smells to me like a pointless sponsored post…
Hey ShutUpLegs,
I always appreciate receiving and reading feedback, but I was a little saddened to wake up to this!
I’ll say two things on the topic:
1) This is in no way a sponsored post. I hardly ever review books on the site, but on this occasion I found one I liked and I thought readers may appreciate too. I’ve been running London Cyclist since 2007, writing regular blog posts that I think are useful to the London cycling community. It’s not cheap, both on my personal time and with monthly hosting costs of £250. Occasionally, we promote a product. For example, if I write about a bike lock and it has a link to Amazon, Wiggle, Chain Reaction Cycles or Evans Cycles – this is an affiliate link and anyone who buys through there, is helping support the site. It doesn’t cost the reader anything extra. I’m clear about this on the about page of the site.
2) Don’t assume other people’s level of knowledge or what they wish to learn before a ride. Some people are happy to just figure it out, other users appreciate a little extra info. We’re not all the same – so please don’t make presumptions. An example of this is our bike maintenance series. We wrote a post on how to use a barrel adjuster. Some cyclists may say “If you don’t know how to use a barrel adjuster – you must be dumb”. Well, I’ll tell you for certain that in my first 6 months of cycling, I had no idea what a barrel adjuster was. Appreciate that there are people at different levels, and we’re all learning.
I don’t normally take the time to respond to negative comments such as this one – but I felt the need to defend my work.
I’d ask you to remember that the author of this site, isn’t some big faceless corporation, I’m just one guy, who gets a little help here and there from Michelle (our weekly writer) and occasionally other people who chip in to help.
How rude!
I’ve been reading this blog for a while, and thought I’d reply to this comment, as I actually really enjoy the blog, and wanted to say something in support of the author of the blog. Coincidentally, I also bought this eBook a few weeks ago, before this was published. I’ve signed up for my first “sportive” in October. I haven’t read the whole ebook yet, only the introduction, but so far I have learned a number of things about Sportives that I didn’t know, and that I didn’t find on the internet from cursory googles.
So, I think the book DOES fill a need that isn’t currently being met, and there are PLENTY of things that aren’t covered by your ridiculous reply. You may think everything’s obvious, but maybe that’s because you’re an experienced rider in these sort of events, and you are incapable of seeing outside of your own experience set.
I for 1 am glad to see you respond to the above comment. I have been following your site for sometime even though I live in Kent. In my early days of cycling I used it for help in choosing lights and other gear. You were quick to reply to my query on Bike insurance and I signed up with ETA and still use them 3 years later. We all have to start somewhere and our knowledge levels differ. Keep up the good work.
I love andreas blog. As one new to cycling, I learn so much and this new e book would be really helpful to someone new to cycling. – keep up the good work.
Thanks guys – I appreciate the positive feedback 🙂
Yeah, shut up ShutUpLegs, whilst you clearly know everything about everything, not everyone else in the world does. No one is making you click and links or buy anything, you chose to navigate to this free to read content, so even if this was a sponsored post, so what? Websites don’t just happen on their own.
Cheers for this site Andreas, I don’t always agree with everything on it, but that’s fine, it’s almost always an interesting read.
Thanks for recommending this book. I did not know.
By the way, I think a very interesting blog Andreas. I will recommend on our website.
Greetings!