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A wet sportive…

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  • August 4, 2014 at 11:01 pm #22071
    Leviathan

    [Yes, this is another Ride London 100 thread] So the weather for this weekend is looking 50/50, which raises the prospect of doing a sportive event in the rain. Recently there has been a couple of threads of interest, one about a gent who hadn’t done enough training for the RL100, and another about fear of descending. I’ve clocked up many miles this year and even some hills and at least years event topped out at 73kph coming down off Leith Hill, a speed I have never got anywhere close on an open road (anything over 50 is a bit worrying).

    Believe me it rains in Manchester, like anywhere else, but commuting to work it totally flat. If I am out on a training run I don’t tend to set off in the wet and if it starts coming down I don’t need to push it downhill.

    The answer is obviously not to take any risks (it’s not a race right? I don’t want to be in hospital with a broken leg, I have a train the catch.) The problem is if I am going up hill slowly and then downhill slowly too I have no chance of bettering last years time. I need the fast downhills to average my pace out. But if it is sketchy I am going to be on the brakes all the way down. I don’t want to be hit from behind by someone with a bike that makes swooshy noises as it goes by. How to maintain a reasonable pace in the wet or just recalibrate my expectations?

    yours Sincerely, Thor Hushovd.

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  • August 5, 2014 at 11:03 am #807629
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    sergius

    S13SFC wrote:
    One thing

    S13SFC wrote:

    One thing experience has taught me is put your phone in a zip lock poly bag to keep it dry.

    That is a very good point and one I forgot to mention. I tend to put my phone in my saddle bag when it rains, using a sealed clear plastic bag for my car keys, some cash and my phone.

    August 5, 2014 at 10:51 am #807627
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    CXR94Di2

    Out of the 2000 or so riders,
    Out of the 2000 or so riders, only a few had mudguards. I expect that will be the case on Sunday out of 25,000 riders. I am not going to start fooking about with flimsy guards having travelled 200 miles by train to get there. Ass saver will the best you are going to get on my bike, be sides how many road bikes easily cater for mudguards, not many I would bet?

    If it rains, I will get wet to some extent, if I want/need to draft, I will get soaked, consequence of riding in Britain 😀

    August 5, 2014 at 10:49 am #807625
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    S13SFC

    I did a very, very wet 70mile
    I did a very, very wet 70mile Sportive in Stafford on Saturday. For me bibknickers, overshoes and spray jacket made it comfortable. Yes I was soaked but I was never cold.

    We still rode on each others wheels and drafted around but it was a bunch of lads who are used to riding together and trust each other so whilst a face full of spray isn’t fun it’s also not the end of the world. We were all still wearing glasses but all had either yellow or clear lenses in.

    As for descending most of us went down as normal (for the conditions) bar one 15% bank where you could hear the brakes going on way earlier than you’d normally expect as people took much more cautious lines through the exit of the downhill S bends. Most on their hoods and not the drops as they (and I) would normally do.

    One thing experience has taught me is put your phone in a zip lock poly bag to keep it dry.

    Regardless of the weather, Sunday will be excellent.

    August 5, 2014 at 10:40 am #807623
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    glynr36

    sergius wrote:and it would

    sergius wrote:
    and it would look rubbish

    This!

    Mudguards belong on the winter bike, not the racing or summer one!

    August 5, 2014 at 10:36 am #807621
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    sergius

    Matt eaton wrote:CXR94Di2

    Matt eaton wrote:
    CXR94Di2 wrote:
    Looking at a few videos of last years event and done a 100 miler in the rain , I would re assess your expectations. The wheel spray from hundreds of cyclist will be terrible, especially if you want to draft. I was absolutely soaked and filthy. So far the the latest weather, rain is expected in the afternoon if it arrives at all. Personally, I was hoping for sub 6 hrs but will now make a judgement call on the morning.

    Based on the spray that you mention, would it be fair to conclude that mudguards are rare on the sportive scene? It seems to be that it would be polite to put a set on for a wet ride; it’s not a race after all ;)

    Non-existent in my (limited) experience. If you don’t ride with a club regularly and don’t commute on your bike, then you’ve little reason to have any. My bike doesn’t even have the fittings for example (and it would look rubbish 🙂 ).

    August 5, 2014 at 10:22 am #807619
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    Matt eaton

    CXR94Di2 wrote:Looking at a

    CXR94Di2 wrote:
    Looking at a few videos of last years event and done a 100 miler in the rain , I would re assess your expectations. The wheel spray from hundreds of cyclist will be terrible, especially if you want to draft. I was absolutely soaked and filthy. So far the the latest weather, rain is expected in the afternoon if it arrives at all. Personally, I was hoping for sub 6 hrs but will now make a judgement call on the morning.

    Based on the spray that you mention, would it be fair to conclude that mudguards are rare on the sportive scene? It seems to be that it would be polite to put a set on for a wet ride; it’s not a race after all 😉

    August 5, 2014 at 10:21 am #807617
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    sergius

    I’ve been unlucky with
    I’ve been unlucky with Sportives this year, two that I did in June/July both ended up being 4 hour rides in the rain.

    Like most weekend riders, if it’s pissing it down I tend to shrug my shoulders and do something else. Of course when you’ve booked a Sportive that’s not really an option.

    Things to be careful of, make sure you have wet weather gear. IMO it’s better to be over-dressed and possibly too hot, than caught out in nothing more than shorts and a jersey in the rain for hours. I made this mistake doing the Wiggle Chiltern Classic the other week – the forecast was iffy so I took a chance.

    The first two hours were lovely and sunny, summer gear + shades was perfect. Then the heavens opened and I got very cold and wet very quickly – it made the last 30 miles miserable if I’m honest.

    Shades are something to be particularly aware off, I always ride in glasses as I’ve had issues with things getting in my eyes at high speeds. If the forecast is dodgy accept that you need clear or low light lenses, on the aforementioned Chiltern Sportive I could barely see anything due to rain and low light while wearing shades.

    I’d personally recommend against drafting anyone in the wet, it’s just miserable with spray from other riders.

    Regarding descending, it’s a Sportive not a Race. IMO it’s not worth going all gung-ho on descents in the wet. Neither your grip nor your brakes will be anything like as good as normal – play it safe. Five minutes extra on your time is better than stacking and damaging yourself or your bike.

    If you are set on beating last years time, just ride harder on the flat and up hills!

    August 5, 2014 at 10:01 am #807615
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    glynr36

    You’ll get wet, you adjust
    You’ll get wet, you adjust your riding to suit the conditions.
    Maintaining a reasonable pace on the downs in the wet comes to experience and confidence, and understanding how the wet affects your braking points and turning.

    Of course if you’re really bothered about a better time perhaps you should have put some more training in to get quicker on the ups instead of relying on the downs!

    August 5, 2014 at 9:49 am #807613
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    arfa

    I know a fair few people who
    I know a fair few people who have applied twice and not got a place in the ballot.
    With that in mind, I will ride the event whatever the weather.

    August 5, 2014 at 8:01 am #807611
    0
    CXR94Di2

    Looking at a few videos of
    Looking at a few videos of last years event and done a 100 miler in the rain , I would re assess your expectations. The wheel spray from hundreds of cyclist will be terrible, especially if you want to draft. I was absolutely soaked and filthy. So far the the latest weather, rain is expected in the afternoon if it arrives at all. Personally, I was hoping for sub 6 hrs but will now make a judgement call on the morning.

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