Carlsberg don't do Sportives.....

But if they did your favourite lager would probably be called Polocini......

Have you ever wondered how much organisation goes into a sportive? My first thoughts are:

• The route, perhaps two. I had a try at this once and it isn't easy, it needs to be safe, interesting, challenging with an easier option for beginners and not get in the way of other people.
• Contact the police.
• Insurance,
• Register with BCC
• Food
• Drink
• Feed stations including what food, drink, and gels to give out,
• Where to start and parking
• Signs
• briefings
• Road maps or garmin downloads
• Medical aid
• Brom vehicle
• Sponsors
• Prizes
• How much

The list, I am sure goes on and on. For me, recently, the last one has become even more important. After all we are paying to ride an open highway that anyone can ride. While I am a huge fan of raising money for the many worthy causes out there I do think £40 for a ride with no food or drink supplied is excessive. (Won't be doing that one again). I also believe this should be made clear to participants who could find themselves in trouble during the ride as they run out of supplies.

That said there is a certain joy to sportives, riding in large bunches is social, it can increase your PB's as you sit in behind people and can be an early introduction to racing as you learn to ride in larger groups though they aren't races.

So if you haven't tried one go and give it a go. My personal favourite are the polocini events http://polocini.com/ . In the interests of disclosure I have joined their test team as it adds even better value to the rides, adds more social events, and they chuck in a great looking top for the very reasonable fee.

In their own words......

The Standard

We originally set our Polocini Standard as a simple list of what we provide at our events. Over time as we have organised more events and tours, the standard has now become a by-word for the Polocini experience.
At Polocini we aim to provide much more than a sportive but a real event experience for all riders regardless of age or ability.
We provide the following at every event as part of your entry fee (and sometimes more!):-

• All Polocini events have a single price regardless of the route length. Riders can change routes at any time. Even on the road
• All food and drink is included in the entry fee. Check out our Food page.
• A full nutrition package worth £18 from CNP to make sure you are correctly fuelled at all times
• All events are run in conjunction with British Cycling Guidelines. See Event Rules page
• All riders are insured through the British Cycling Insurance Scheme
• Entry numbers will be capped at each event to ensure facilities are not oversubscribed
• Free entry for all Under 16’s with a paying adult (subject to completion of a British Cycling Parental Consent Form). See Event Rules page
• Several extra special prize draws. There will be no pointless ‘goody bags’
• Professional photography on the routes by www.cyclesportphotos.com

Any photos or videos taken at the events by our in-house photographer will be available free on our photostream**
At the Event Headquarters

• CAKE, it wouldn’t be a Polocini event without cake!
• Rider village with shelter and bike racks
• Well trained staff and a friendly atmosphere
• Bike set up guidance by www.PedalPrecision.com
• Training and Coaching advice from www.totalcyclecoach.com
• Injury advice and post ride massage from www.summitphysio.co.uk
• Free on-site mechanical support
• Nutritional advice by CNP Professional

On the Road

• Our routes are designed to flow from start to finish. There are no unnecessary roads to make a route a set distance.
• A Motorcycle outrider rides out ahead of the event to make sure there are no missing signs or road hazards
• Instead of chip timing we use the STRAVA system. Check out our Timing page for details.
• Clear and concise signage (with a few extra special Polocini signs!)
• Back up route maps/cards in case you take a wrong turn
• Well stocked feed stations located in conjunction with CNP Nutrition to ensure riders are properly fuelled at all times
• Support vehicle

That aside they quite simply organise the best sportives I have participated in. On Tuesday 3rd June 2012 Lou, of 'en velo avec gateaux' fame http://www.patisseriecyclisme.co.uk/ a web site dedicated to cyclists second favourite topic - cake organised a 60 mile jubilee ride around Cheshire.



You should have a look at her site, a special lady with an amazing enthusiasm to all things cycling. (My first chat to her was when we were both blown off the road riding up to the cat and fiddle). Lou also has her own brand of cycling top which looks terrific.

Anyway, Lou having raised the idea of the event was lucky enough to have Polocini offer to help with the organisation, which if the few things I thought of come close to what is required would of been gratefully received.

Now, here is where things went wrong, and why you should follow the professionals advice. The event had a feed station at the world famous and oldest cycling cafe, Eureka, a great choice considering the quality of the food, drink and service, http://www.eurekacyclistscafe.co.uk/ well worth a stop!

Eureka is only 9 miles from my home so, together with fellow Wirral Mamil Ade, we decided to start from the half way point and ride back to Eureka. As members of the test team we can join and pay on the line.  We found Eureka and on towards Chester. It was cold, about 4 degrees, very windy and damp starting out at seven am, so not the best day to ride, but, the thought of Polocini's viking porridge inspires you through the worst conditions. The problem was, there were no signs out for the route. I also think the terrorist threat in the UK was on a high and garmin was subsequently sabotaged as the route took us up to the village of Northwich not Nantwich some 30 miles north of our destination. Or the other way round, I lost the will to live never mind remember. So with 10 minutes to the event start we made the decision to punch Eureka into the garmin, that beacon for tired cyclists in Cheshire to follow for a warm, coffee and cake and headed back.

On route we experienced the worst case of road rage ever. We could hear what sounded like women screaming from some distance and as we rounded a bend four motorists had stopped and were trying to chase eight young stoats of the road. As we negotiated our way through, their teeth looked, big, sharp and threatening as they continued to scream (the stoats not the motorists). I'm sure they were about to leap at us as we pushed a bit harder on the peddles.

Anyway we made it to Eureka just before the first of the sportive riders and met Al from polocini. We found out the signs don't go out until later as people steal them! He was just about to mark the route we needed! Oh we laughed.....

So if you want to know about the sportive look at the highly entertaining fellow bloggers 'palefish' site http://palefishbikes.blogspot.co.uk/ you can also read about his crash the next time we rode.

Although it was cold, and windy earlier on it is always good to chat to other people you know, and we met up with the guru of cycling on the Wirral, Stubbsy from Cheshire Oak cycling - the only place to get your bike serviced (in my opinion) and enjoyed a further 20 mile blast home with a tail wind and good company as cycling should always be.

So in summary, if you are going to ride a sportive ride it from the start and use the support available, but, even when it goes wrong cycling is still an adventure, go ride!