Sportives are great Wuv.

Regarding entry fees:-
Like organising anything there is alot of time , effort, cost involved. But at Ł30 there is an element of "profit"

Sportive organisers tend to be one of the following:-

a) A charity who needs to clear some "profit" for its cause. In fact that is probably the raison d'etre for the event in this case

b) A cycling club, some of which may want to make some money out of the event, others which might put a cheap and cheerfull event on for a fiver or a tenner.

c) An individual or an events company who are promoting the event with one of their aims being to make profit for themselves or their company.

I have no problem with a, b or c. Its all fine.

Spotives are great for the sport of cycling in this country. They offer organised, challenging rides which are open to anybody to have a go at - from fat blokes on sit up and begs wearing plimsolls to wizzened old warhorses like Dave Lloyd. They are friendly and inclusive to all.
Cycling as a sport sometimes gets criticised for snobbishness and insular behaviour. Sportives (the ones I have done) are not like this at all.

Of course you can cycle for free, Wuv. Yes you can eat home made jam butties and time yourself too. Its up to you.