A few weeks ago, I discovered that a company was putting on a cycling event not too far away from home.
The event was described as a sportive starting from the Purity brewery near Alcester. There was a choice of routes, aptly named The Half Pint (35 miles) and The Full Pint (52 miles).
As I was still getting back into the cycling game, I picked the half pint and signed up.
What is a Sportive ?
Sportives are long distance organised events, the cycling equivalent of running the marathon, which involve completing a set route. Sportive events typically range from anywhere between 50 and 150 miles and, although at their most popular in summer, there are events run all year round.
On the day, I was up early and after breakfasting, I made sure that I had all that I needed, including …
- Bike (obvs!)
- Cycling Shoes
- Snacks
- Drinks Bottle
- GPS (with route pre-loaded)
- Helmet (Mandatory – no helmet, no ride)
I dressed in my cycling gear and after checking that I’d got everything, set off down the M42, through Studley and out to the brewery.
I arrived with about an hour before the start and after parking up, made my way to registration.
My details were checked and I was handed a printed map complete with useful telephone numbers and a small number to tie-wrap to my handlebars.
An added benefit of arriving early is that the queues for the Portaloos are much smaller or in my case, non-existent.
After attending to that aspect, I made my way back to the car to get ready.
I started easily and tucked in to a group of riders from the Warwickshire Cycling Club for a few miles.
I was so intent on following the map on my GPS that at the point where the route comes back on itself, I carried on in oblivion until numerous shouts of “RIGHT!” brought me around.
I did a one-eighty and rejoined the group.
Just before we had to cross the busy A435 at Coughton we had to negotiate a ford.
The rest of the group decided to use the adjacent footbridge but with a cry of “Come on, pussies!” I rode straight through. I sliced through the water soaking a foot in the process.
On a previous ford encounter, I managed to get half way across before coming to a stop and, being unable to unclip in time, toppled over with an almighty splash. Not today though.
I managed to attach my number (46) to the front of my stead and with about fifteen minutes to go, made my way to the start.
As nine o’clock approached, we had the safety talk before the first twenty five or so of us were sent on our way.
We rode through the Worcestershire countryside before the first hill at New End.
By this time I had lost the group and spent most of the remainder of the ride alone, apart from the occasional rider passing me (usually on the uphill bits).
There were two more noticeable rises around The Lenches but I managed and was rewarded with some swift downhills.
After around thirty miles, at Temple Grafton, the two courses split, with the half-pinters turning left towards Haselor. After an initial downhill stretch it was a steady pull up to the finish, back at the Brewery.
I had finished my longest ride for many years. Obviously, my body told me that I had just ridden thirty five miles but I wasn’t knackered and could have carried on for more.
Over the distance, I’d averaged just under 15 mph with which I was quite happy.
After letting registration know that I had returned, I was awarded a can of Purity Ale, aptly named Bunny Hop.
My first organised ride IRL (in real life) went well. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and am looking forward to doing another.