FAQs

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C Y C L E E V E N T S

What exactly is a cyclosportive?

A sportive or cyclosportive or challenge ride or cycle leisure ride is a mass-participation bicycle event that combines elements of road bicycle racing and long distance bicycle touring. Many cyclosportive events attract a wide range of riders, from dedicated racing cyclists to leisure cyclists wanting a challenging ride, and allows them to test themselves over a race-proven route. For example, l'Etape du Tour is held annually in France and allows amateur cyclists to race over the same mountain roads used by professional riders in the Tour de France; the Gran Fondo Felice Gimondi uses roads near Bergamo that test riders in the Giro d'Italia. Some cyclosportives offer a choice of routes of different lengths or difficulty.

Although a cyclosportive is definately not a cycle race, to define it you could say it falls between a traditional road race and a non-competitive randonnée or Audax event. Riders sometimes carry a number and the time they take to complete the course is recorded, and there is sometimes an upper time limit within which the course must be completed (unlike many randonnée events, there is no lower limit constraining riders from completing the course quickly). The routes will usually be well sign-posted and/or marshalled (some cyclosportives in Europe take place on roads which have been closed to motor traffic for the duration of the event), riders will be able to use feeding stations positioned at intervals along the route to replenish their food and drink supplies, and mechanical and medical support may also be provided.

Some attract thousands of participants - since 2000 l'Etape du Tour has offered places to 8,500 riders each year. Leisure riding is by far the largest growth area in UK cycling right now.

Do I need to be fit?

Frankly, yes - at kilotogo we think it’s wise to approach the prospect of any challenge ride with some good preparation - do this and you’ll enjoy your ride. You need to have some ‘cycling fitness’ but you don’t have to be an Olympic athlete by any stretch of the imagination. To be cycling fit you should have some good base mileage in place. For example, if you would not normally call yourself a cyclist and want to ride a sportive, then a good few months foundation of weekly road mileages working up to 150 miles per week over two to three rides would be the minimum for the shorter option rides. If you have a good foundation of fitness in any other sport it is not likely to be of any great direct benefit for cycling - so four nights a week down the gym or playing squash will not help you too much. There is simply no substitute for miles totaled up out on the bike. If you know that you are obese, or have any medical conditions, you should be wise to consult your doctor for health advise before taking part in a sportive.

Do I need a special bike?

A good lightweight road bike, in good condition, with a wide range of gears will be suitable. If you are thinking seriously about buying a modern bike specially for sportives then most specialist cycle dealers are able to advise. Expect to pay at least £600 for a serviceable entry level model. £1000 should get you a decent bike with carbon frame and Japanese or Italian branded components. These days, you do get a lot of ‘bike for your buck’. Compact chainsets (50 teeth and 34 teeth chainwheels) are favored by many sportive riders; and with a 10-speed cassette (12 – 25 sprockets) you should enable you to get around just about any sportive - providing you are reasonably fit of course. Light but durable wheels and tyres make a huge difference to the amount effort required to get around – extra money spent here is a wise investment.

What should I carry?

Food, drink, spare clothing, multi-tool, spare inner tubes, some identification. Most sportives have stations providing (free) food and drink, but you should always have some extra energy food and isotonic drink with you at all times. The weather can change during the ride – if you have to stop for a puncture on an exposed hill-top you can rapidly cool down. The most common form of mechanical breakdown is a puncture, particularly if the weather is wet. Always carry your own identification with you. Extra money and a mobile phone are highly recommended.

What should I wear?

To ride a sportive in relative comfort and safety certain items are recommended. Firstly a high quality cycle helmet – this is a good investment because better models generally are lighter and provide better ventilation in hot weather – in addition to the obvious safety benefit. Correctly fitting cycling shorts of the ‘bib’ design are highly recommended to keep those delicate areas comfortable during your ride. Bib shorts also ensure your lower back, vulnerable to chilling even on warm days, is covered at all times. Cycling jerseys are made of hi-tech fabrics helping to keep your body dry and temperature regulated. A common mistake is to get a jersey which is too big. The fit should be snug so that full pockets rest on your back and not bounce on your bottom. Disregarding fashion, bright light colours are best as they are more visible and reflect the sun. Jerseys have rear pockets for those essential items to carry. Cycling shoes are highly recommended – you can’t walk around in these and they clip directly in to your compatible pedal system. Keep this in mind if you realistically think you might need to walk up a hill or two in the route. Sun-glasses and lightweight cycling mitts make the ride more comfortable too. A lightweight windproof gillet is always handy and takes up little pocket space if you get too warm.

What if it rains?

Cyclist are a hardy breed – sportives are not routinely cancelled due to bad weather. Fitted mudguards and overshoes make the ride much more bearable in such conditions. Punctures are more likely in the rain so carrying three inner tubes and a puncture kit is a good idea.

How do I follow the route?

Following the route and complying with the rules of the road are always the rider’s responsibility in the UK. Organisers publish detailed route descriptions route cards for this purpose. In reality routes are usually well marked with direction signs from the moment you depart from the start area. Often there are riders around you or just ahead to follow. Increasingly, bike mounted GPS units are being used. Organisers like kilotogo and web-sites like www.cyclosport.org produce GPS files for riders. Although you should always carry some form of independent means by which to navigate the route, GPS units are affordable, reliable, easy to use and take the worry away about getting lost on unfamiliar territiory because of a missing direction arrow.

Why is there an entry fee?

Cylosportive rides cost money to stage. Headquarter facilities, start/finish/timing systems, drink, food, signage on the route, first-aid facilities, public liability insurance, technical assistance and support absorb considerable funds. Some of the more established rides give (or claim to give!) an element of the revenue to their nominated charity which could be their own cycling club. The true cost can be even more than is sometimes apparent as some rides get money from local authorites and county councils who primarily receive their funding from the tax-paying public.

I’m hooked. Where can I find out more about sportives?

For a few years now one of the main hobby sites involved in UK cyclosportives is Cyclosport at www.cyclosport.org. At their web-site you can find out about most of the other UK sportives rides as well as those organised by kilotogo. They also have information on continental rides. British Cycling, the UK governing body for most aspects of cycle racing, is also becoming very much more involved with the UK sportive scene at www.everydaycycling.com The best events with international status are sanctioned by the UCI. There are only 6 in the UK with this accreditation level of which kilotogo’s UCI Cheshire Cat cyclosportive is one such ride.

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