If You Can’t See My Handlebars…

This is hilarious. I say this as someone who rode 2 sportives several years ago, as a new "sportivist". Wasn't much good riding in a group. Crashed in a sharp left-hand turn the first time (although not in a close group).

I think most of us have been there at some point, and it's entirely reasonable to poke fun at some of the more "erratic" riding, which I'm sure we've all been guilty of.

And if it gets more people out riding in groups, working on their skills, at their universities, workplaces, or just "proper" club runs, what's not to like?

Nobody mentioned rule #5 yet.... or is that not appropriate here. And by the way wear a helmet. Oh and if you see me pass you on the road (or as is more likely, you pass me) its not Sylvain Chavanel you have bumped into, I'm just wearing his shirt, and I don't care if I didn't win the right to wear it. I'm not not actually French you see, nor do I have any hair and if I did, I wouldn't have highlights.

Before you start nodding in smug self-satisfaction, consider all the motorists who think they're amazing drivers and point out how shit everyone else is.

What a piece of self-obsessive crap. If this is the opinion of road.cc, then I'm off, and I would think most self-respecting bike enthusiast would be too.

Who really do you think regularly reads this website? Sir Wiggo - nope, Froomy - nope, Cav? You get the idea. It's the 99%+ social riders who just like being on a bike and actively engage in social 'sportives' - almost certainly.

These are the very same people who spend hard-earned money on the expensive bikes, gear and Garmin computers. They are the same enthusiasts who may at some point purchase various SKY paraphernalia to show support of our proud national achievements. These are the very same people who, by way of their huge group buying power allow teams, technology and riders to develop and flourish - via sponsorship and revenue. These are the people who actually buy things from road.cc via sponsored inks and adverts that 'may' pay your fees (although I really do hope you don't get paid to write this crap).

I could easily write an article which stereotyped the 'club rider' or 'bike snob' which would include bizarre facial hair, reynolds tubing, working in a bike shop, hanging out with my 'mates' in a cafe. Having no disposable income or wearing no helmet because 'I'm such a fantastic rider'. The 'I could have been a pro', however I made a conscious decision to imply my superiority in a blog instead. However I won't, as this would provide no positive contribution for the bike community apart from frustrate some by its opinionated inaccuracies.

Instead, I'm off for a ride on my overly expensive bike, Garmin 810 and brand spanking new Vector pedals, whilst wrapped in the finest reassuringly expensive Rapha from head to toe. You see, I do my bit for the cycling economy and this in-turn affords them to sponsor the SKY Team. You see how it works?

Thought for the day... Why do you think SKY and Jaguar sponsor the SKY Team? To appeal to the niche 'club rider, 'bike snob'? Or maybe their target market is the average joe sportive rider? Hopefully, you should have come to the sensible conclusion. Now, consider what the effect of all that sponsorship on competitive cycling for the UK over the last decade?

Finally, ask yourself who is REALLY making the difference for cycling in the UK?
CLUE: It's not your blog.

PS. tony_farrelly, I understand what you are trying to achieve, which is challenging. Although there is nothing wrong with this specific article, It's important that you understand that road.cc IS legally responsible for ALL content on this website. Endorsed, edited or not. Your line at the bottom of the page 'All content © Farrelly Atkinson Ltd ' will affirm this in a court of law and implies unreserved ownership.

PPS. Even though I have shared my frustration on this specific article, I enjoy road.cc and the frequent email updates and snippets. So, please keep up the good work.

Soap Box moment over, off for a ride.

Zam, thanks for the splenetic invective for your first post. I hope you will contribute your forthright opinion on other subjects. However having reread the post I have to admit it is all a bit tongue in cheek, there is no need to get so worked up. It is pointing out that the 'Sportivist' is a big beast with bizarre habits. It might come from a kernel of true, there are a plenty of people with a 'stay out of my way' attitude but it is trying to be at least amusing.

Meanwhile I do wonder what people are going on about when they say a sportive is not a race. It is, there is a set course, timing, even marshalls. Yer there is no real peloton, it is more like a mass timetrial because there are such mixed abilities, but a race it definitely is. People are trying to get from A to B as quickly as they can. If you don't choose to push as hard as you can that's your bag, don't expect others not to. Having said that I do prefer closed road events as open roads events do mix it with traffic. And I don't agree with snobs who say 'if you want to race, do a cat X race.' Err no, you do that; some people don't have every other Sunday morning to go off racing, they might be too busy or just not good enough to stay with a pack of amateur wannabes. So a sportive is ideal for all comers, so all kinds of riders enter.

So a sportive is a race, or not. A sportive is a sportive, get used to it.

Wow. How do some of the commenters on here manage to sit and pedal with stumps up their arse?
We can take the piss out of each other whichever riding clique we belong too...surely? Who GAF? Really??

If all you can see is your handlebars get off the road plenty of club riders thinking they are Gilbert and thus fast enoughto own the road

Gosh if he had included a comment on bike helmets and earphones the responders would have gone up in flames.

Hillarious comments on a light-hearted and humerous article.

I still can't get my head round what sportives are for. They seem to give riders little more than a finishing time which doesn't mean anything in such a mixed ability field. Do the same with a stopwatch and repeat the route a few times and, bobs your uncle, you have something meaningful and hopefully have made some progress.

Outside the cycling community sportives are not well regarded and feelings within cycling are very mixed. Personally I just don't see the point of them. They seem to cater for riders who would like to race but aren't quick enough and I think British Cycling have a call to answer on this front. There should be more entry level competition to cater for such riders rather than this idea of 'its not a race' sportives. If you want to race you should be able to, whatever your ability.

Finally, Zam's comments promoting excessive consumerism don't sit well with me. Of course, the cycle industry support top riders and this is only possible becuause they sell us stuff but the buying habits of many are simply wasteful. I don't completly understand the compulsion to feel like your supporting top riders anyway, worry about your own ride and just have fun with it dude.

really great tips! hope someone could give the sportive car owners a few to abide with...

I like VechhiJo's stuff but IMO this misses the mark. It's patronising and just sounds like he needs to get over himself. This isn't what comes across in his other stuff, so maybe it's just my sense of humour needs recalibrating today.

Feck me there's a real sense of humour failure going on in here, brighten up ffs

https://www.facebook.com/groups/132243146796683/?fref=ts

sometimes the money is for charity...but yeah, why pay to ride on a road that is free every other day of the year...maybe it's for the (sometimes...well stocked) food stops and marshalling provided by some well run sportives.

We don't all ride in/for clubs - and dress as we please...so overall I'd say (tongue in check or not) a rather condescending attempt at lording it over leisure cyclists in general...

#annoyedsportivist