help to prep bike for first sportive saturday

ianbar0

hello, i am doing the big G sportive in beverley on saturday, it is my first. i am doing the 60km distance as have only been riding a few months. i know how to prep physically as i have been a runner. i was looking for some advice on preparing my bike. i was wondering wether to take things like pump, reflectors and underseat bag off?

tr3mor

ianbar0 wrote: »

hello, i am doing the big G sportive in beverley on saturday, it is my first. i am doing the 60km distance as have only been riding a few months. i know how to prep physically as i have been a runner. i was looking for some advice on preparing my bike. i was wondering wether to take things like pump, reflectors and underseat bag off?

You definitely want to keep the pump on, and take a spare inner tube with you. I'd also carry a multitool/allen keys. Leaving reflectors on your bike will mark you out as a rank amateur!

Make sure everything is tightened up on the bike.

Pump the tyres up to their maximum recommended pressure.

Clean the chain, sprockets and derailleurs them give them a good spray of GT85 (don't get it near the brakes!).

Make sure you have at least 1 water bottle, would be better to have 2 depending on the weather. You can fill one up with an energy drink if you use them while running.

Take some snacks such as nuts, dried fruit, flapjacks, bananas and fill up with carbs beforehand.

Don't set off too fast, and try to spin a high cadence up the hills rather than struggling in a high gear.

That's about it. 60km isn't far, and sportives usually have good support teams in cars/motorbikes. Good luck.

sequence

Here's what I do before a big ride :

• Go through and check every bolt is tight.
• Oil all the bits the should be oiled.
• Pump up tyres.
• Check for play in the wheel hubs headset and bottom bracket.
• Check all the cables aren't frayed.
• Check brake pads aren't worn down too much.
• Check gears shift properly.
• Check brakes work
• Clean and polish bike for OCP(obsessive compulsive poser) status .

Take

• Pump
• Hex/allen/small spanner keys to suit bike
• 2 - 3 inner tubes
• Water
• Food to suit level of ride.
• Phone and money.

Sounds like a lot but it shouldn't take more than 10 minutes to check everything. Well worth it if you want to enjoy the sportive.

esuhl

tr3mor wrote: »

Leaving reflectors on your bike will mark you out as a rank amateur!

But wouldn't it be so good to leave the reflectors on, turn up in jeans and a t-shirt on a bike held together with duct tape... and whizz past the lycra-clad "pros" and get the fastest time?!

Maybe I'm the only one who likes to look like they couldn't give a monkeys!?

ianbar0

Thank you for your replies. I won't be in Lycra so will look like an amature anyway lol but at the end of the day that's what I am but I do intend on a gold time which should make me look atleast half decent! Think only major thing I need to do then is get the reflectors off, just need to remember to put them back on when I commute back to work!

andygb

ianbar0 wrote: »

Thank you for your replies. I won't be in Lycra so will look like an amature anyway lol but at the end of the day that's what I am but I do intend on a gold time which should make me look atleast half decent! Think only major thing I need to do then is get the reflectors off, just need to remember to put them back on when I commute back to work!

A decent pair of cycling shorts make a big difference to comfort, particularly on a ride of 40 or so miles.

Marco_Panettone

Some sort of ID, just in case the worst happens. Personally I use roadID from https://www.roadid.com (others are available, or make your own) with my details, medical conditions, contact details for next of kin, etc.

Suitable clothing for the weather.

Your legs.

Hammyman

Ah yes, a road race on a road still open to the public which is illegal under the road traffic act yet they still allow these disruptive cycle races to take place on major routes.

Strider590

Hammyman wrote: »

Ah yes, a road race on a road still open to the public which is illegal under the road traffic act yet they still allow these disruptive cycle races to take place on major routes.

Not if authorised

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/section/31

Solo1_2

If you do clean the chain and spray with GT85, please lubricate the chain afterwards with a suitable lubricant. GT85 is not a lubricant.
I use GT85 after I have cleaned a chain to assist in removing any water. I then wipe the chain clean and lubricate with either wax or oil based product depending upon the weather (Wax dry, oil wet conditions)
With just GT85 the chain will get very dry over a 60km ride and accelerate the wear of other components such as cassette and chainrings

Strider590

Solo1 wrote: »

If you do clean the chain and spray with GT85, please lubricate the chain afterwards with a suitable lubricant. GT85 is not a lubricant.
I use GT85 after I have cleaned a chain to assist in removing any water. I then wipe the chain clean and lubricate with either wax or oil based product depending upon the weather (Wax dry, oil wet conditions)
With just GT85 the chain will get very dry over a 60km ride and accelerate the wear of other components such as cassette and chainrings

Better not to spray the chain at all, a very light dusting of oil is all it needs, chain links come with pre-installed grease that should last the life of the bike.
Of course as soon as you spray with a solvent based oil like WD40 (which I think is around 64% solvent), it washes all that grease away and that's when things get nasty