I’ve done a few sportives over the last two or three years, and more by luck than judgment I haven’t suffered too badly. My ‘wing it’ attitude seems to work, although my system, such as it is, broadly coincides with your much more thought out approach.

One comment: under the heading ‘Things To Carry’, I would add a mobile phone. For the sake of a couple of hundred grams, to be able to contact a friend/relative if you have a major problem on a training ride, or the organisers if you have or come across an accident on an organised sportive, is invaluable.

I did a ride in cornwall last year, and 6km from the finish, a rider in front of me stood up on his pedals, and one snapped off at the crank. He went over the bars and landed, unfortunately face first, on the tarmac. I phoned the organisers and 999 – a medic was with us in a couple of minutes, and the ambulance turned up within 10 minutes. Without a mobile phone, the guy would have been suffering at the roadside for God knows how long.

Mike

thanks for feedback. Glad you got round in decent time. Hopefully next time, you’ll be even faster and feel better. I think nutrition and hydration are the key factor to enjoying long rides and you can’t beat a bit of experience.

When riding in Hills I sometimes get out of the saddle to climb therefore giving your sit bones a rest, and going down hill free wheeling to recover HR and rest legs. Flat out in the Fens I was sat in the saddle 6 1/2 hours, and no free wheeling. The change to the environment caused me to get tired along with the breeze which was always head on. Firstly I train alone but heard you can save 25% of energy in a group so I stayed with a group but my Lactate threshold was higher than it should have been so I started off to quick, I didn’t mind that much because I wanted to try and get the gold award so I went for it. Secondly I carried all my drinks and food with me because I didn’t want to stop at the feed stations I wanted that gold. What did I do? took Gels when I felt tired but tried to re hydrate also with sports High5 drinks, hence I felt sick.

Anyway I enjoyed it, I failed the gold by 2 minutes 50 seconds, I blame the traffic lights and traffic in Peterborough every traffic light went red as I approached it and the amount of traffic for a Sunday was sickening lol.

Anyway Tejvan thank you so much for your inspiration and advice I appreciate it next year I’m having a go at Audax……Lee