Sportive speeds 100miles events

Great advice from Bedfordshire Clanger, who I suspect could get very close to a 30kmh moving average for an event like the London 100.

I did the GMC last year, and completed the 52m route in 2:30:52.

I think the very quickest time for the day was about 2:13.

I would imagine that due to the number of entrants you are going to struggle to go at your preferred pace for the first 20-30 miles. I have put 6hrs as my estimate because that is the time I did for a 150km ride last year with little specific training and included a couple of refueling stops. The Ride London 100 will be like the London marathon in that it is staged to be a massive charity event so will attract lots of charity riders who will be trying to beat the cut-off. You will struggle to set your best time for the distance in this event but it should be a grand day out with loads of support all the way. Enjoy

Turn up really early then you may start near the front giving you a better chance of reaching your target speed. Also a great idea would be to try and latch on to a group of riders trying to get the same sort of time.

I can see 30kph being doable if it's a flat inner city loop.

From your current ride speeds I think that you could probably achieve your goal now if you ride with a group of 3.

I cheat by commuting 34 miles a day, every week day and will gladly get up earlier to do another hour or two before work if the weather is nice. See what you can do to get yourself up to 10 hours a week on the bike. You won't regret it! If you manage 30kmph for Ride London as a first big sportive you are a better man than me.

If the numbers bother you find a quieter event to enter.

If you think you can average 30 km/h for 100 miles then you might as well race a 100 mile time trial. I can guarantee you won't get held up by loads of people in one of those!

Other people's speeds and targets are irrelevant. It's recreational thing, not a race. Stop worrying, ride your bike, and try to enjoy it. Isn't that the point of it all?

Would say much the same as Bedfordshire Clanger. Also work on your cadence rather than av speed. During the sportive you are going to hit junctions etc or get caught in a slower moving group that you won't be able to pass quickly. You'll actually find that the start sets you off in bunches of thirty or so and the course is designed to split everyone up. I've found myself not starting at the front but quickly passing people twenty thirty miles in. If you don't have a buddy team up with some one or jump onto bunches, do your fair share and if you get spat out wait for the next group or feel free to drop them. Most importantly. ENJOY your day. Whilst getting a good time is great there's no point in pushing yourself and blowing half way round the course. Hope you have a good day when it comes.

the faster you estimate your completion time, the closer to the front you'll be starting.

Great advice Bedfordshire Clanger

Hi G, your speed totally depends on the route, the weather and the state that you are in so I can't suggest a time that you or I could complete the event in. I am pretty sure that you will love riding on closed roads and that the combination of group riding, absence of traffic and the adrenaline of the day will get you going pretty quickly. My advice would be not to get too het up over times or comparing yourself to others. There will be a big range of abilities taking part and the most important thing is that you you go out and enjoy the day on your terms. There could be all manner of things that interfere with your plans for the day that you aren't in control of, so control what you can by preparing well and keeping your bike in good condition. The best thing that you can do is to be well prepared, and that starts now. Get the miles in whenever you can, just use any excuse that you can to use the bike over any other form of transport and throw in some extra rides at every opportunity. Getting up a couple of hours or more earlier than I usually would to bang in some extra miles works for me, find out whatever it is that suits you. You'll get round if the bike's in good shape and you remember to eat and drink enough as you go but if you want to go faster then there's no substitute for time on the bike. I have friends that do turbo sessions, spinning classes and follow training plans but I just go the old fashioned way and clock up the miles, gunning it whenever I can. Set yourself a target for each month and hit it by hook or by crook. 500 miles a month should put you in fairly good shape, if you get the opportunity to do more then so much the better. You're in the Etape Cymru too aren't you? Consider this one as part of the preparation. Train well for the next few months and you are guaranteed to have a good day out. Good luck with it, you don't have to prove yourself to anyone. Work hard and make yourself proud on the day.

Cheers!