Being Prepared

@ Mr Will, still zero when I leave for work at 4am!! So still winter gear for me

Some people feel the cold more than others. I've already abandoned all my winter gear for my 7am commute - I'm now just in jogging bottoms and the cotton shirt I wear for work. No base layers, no overshoes, no gloves, just a set of waterproofs in my bag in case it starts bucketing down.

I can't say I've been noticeably cold or wanted anything else with me recently, I soon warm up once I'm moving.

In my early days I went out with a club; anyone dressed 'very' inappropriately would have been sent home! and more than 2 punctures means your tyres are too light (you get left behind). Tough love and harsh but fair. Think some of the problem is the pro's added to a lack of imagination ie we see them on telly lightly dressed and people copy without realising the pro's have a following car with discarded clothing etc in it! As has been said you learn quickly in this game....or suffer!

I was out yesterday with a group of friends all dressed up in what we hoped was enough to suit the weather, it turns out it still wasn't, but as we butted onto a sportive route we saw enough riders in a sparsity of clothing that had us sucking cold wet air through our teeth.

I wouldn’t say that what we might consider poor clothing choice is anything specific to sportives, I’ve been caught out enough times over the years in the wrong clothing, and this was before sportives had been invented, it's just part of the experience of being on a bike in a changeable climate. To get to a level and knowledge of 'being prepared' you have to suffer a whole series of 'unprepared' experiences, gradually learning what to wear and what to do to survive each ride and weather situation, as they say - "Good decisions come from experience, and experience comes from bad decisions"

you can advise people what to wear and they can ignore you, tell you to mind your own bloody business, or they can be perfectly happy with what they've got on, and sometimes they just have to find out themselves what works and what doesn’t, I belong in the (probably old-fashioned) last viewpoint

My ill prep moment came on the mtb. I was going for a quick spin with a mate and he picked me up in his van and we were going to ride along the towpath with a stop for beer, etc.

I left my small pack with puncture kit, tool, etc on my garage floor. I thought no point going back for it as it was a short ride anyway.

We hit heavy traffic and my mate decides to then drive miles in the other direction to a forest for a 'proper' offroad ride.

Sure enough my front brake failed and he had a slow puncture. Our quick ride was epic but only because of the lack of equipment.

It might have been all he owned, a full set of winter clothes and shoes does cost a noticeable amount of money. Nice to read of your concern though and good he was headed for an organised ride, so he will have support.