| mr_shifter |
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| 04/08/2008 21:59 |
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circuit of kent
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ive just singed up for the circuit of kent on 14th september . has anyone else done it ?
| wuverley |
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| 05/08/2008 00:46 |
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Re: circuit of kent
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Er no but I know the area fairly well, I went to college in Hadlow and worked in Goudhurst (near to Curtisden Green) for a while. Its a land of contrasts, flat bits and steep hills. The landscape's nice. Any specific queries, I'll do my best.
Incidentally, why do sportives cost £30? I would happily spend all day riding round the area, but I could purchase adequate food for less than a tenner, nearer to a fiver probably. I could record my time on a cycle computer (or a watch).
Just wondered.
| El_Cid |
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| 05/08/2008 11:16 |
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Re: circuit of kent
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Sportives are great Wuv.
Regarding entry fees:-
Like organising anything there is alot of time , effort, cost involved. But at £30 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.
| El_Cid |
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| 05/08/2008 11:30 |
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Re: circuit of kent
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I've just thought of another category of organiser:
d) The Pendle Pedal appears to be at least part promoted by the local council as part of their Festival of Cycling. Its a great event. Proper start and finish gantry, timing chips, well stocked feed stations en route. Big grassy area at the HQ, with face painting, smoothie bar, circus acts, sports gear stalls, massage tent. Social club with bar and hot food.
Its a well designed route, with direction signs and even marshalls on most of the junctions.
Even at £25 or £30 I cant see that they would make much out of this. But it was very professionally put on and great to do.
And like I said regarding inclusivity, after the event loads of tired cyclists lolled around the HQ in the sunshine chatting about their day - racer, tourer, beginner - Its got to be good for Cycling.
| wuverley |
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| 05/08/2008 13:43 |
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Re: circuit of kent
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I can see you get more for your money than the £2 you might have to pay to enter a reliability trial, or the £10 for a big CTC event. I suppose it depends what you're looking for, after all the CTC is fairly inclusive.
If people want sportives, then good luck to them, I just wonder why they've become so popular when the CTC and others have been doing similar things for a while. Is it simply that sportives have become more organised (politically) and BC is also getting in on the act?
I know that an event can encourage you to do a ride you might not otherwise have considered.
Like you say, all cycling is good.
| El_Cid |
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| 05/08/2008 18:29 |
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Re: circuit of kent
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Sorry Mr_Shitter, I realise this has not helped your original request, I hope somebody else can , or you might try here:-
http://www.cyclosport.org/
| tonybv9 |
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| 05/08/2008 20:00 |
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Re: circuit of kent
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I'm thinking of doing that one. I am also tempted by the Burgess Hill Rumble
http://www.srs-events.cc/
£20 entry is not too bad, and it has the local council behind it, with some road closures at the start/finish.
I know those roads, and the 95miler will be a bloody tough ride. Those three main climbs are not long, but are 20-25% in places.
| patch |
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| 06/08/2008 17:23 |
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Re: circuit of kent
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You just reminded me to get and register. I did the 80k route last year with two others.We all enjoyed it.It was a good route and will marshelled. Im trying to talk the other two,to step up to the 140k.
| mr_shifter |
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| 11/08/2008 19:50 |
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Re: circuit of kent
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thanks for the coments chaps , I think it would be expensive to pay to ride round for fifty miles but entering a sportive keeps me out training when i dont feel like it and i like the atmosphere of such events (not that im very expeirienced )
thanks patch thats just what i was hoping to hear !
| sherer |
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| 14/08/2008 12:41 |
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Re: circuit of kent
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could someone post a web address for where I can sign up for this as I live in Kent and am interested ?
| fizban |
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| 14/08/2008 13:09 |
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Re: circuit of kent
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Gargoyle is your Fiend, but Google is your Friend.
http://www.kentcyclosportive.co.uk/
| fizban |
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| 20/08/2008 13:24 |
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Re: circuit of kent
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Quote:If you see a nervous looking penguin in a Marmite Jersey with a dodgy goatee say hello.
ive just singed up for the circuit of kent on 14th september . has anyone else done it ?
My first sportive...
| tonybv9 |
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| 20/08/2008 13:42 |
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Re: circuit of kent
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If you see a nervous looking penguin in a Marmite Jersey with a dodgy goatee say hello.
I did see a bloke in a Marmite jersey in a pub car park near Penshurst a couple of weeks ago. Was that you Fizban?
| tvrbird |
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| 20/08/2008 13:58 |
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Re: circuit of kent
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Quote:
ive just singed up for the circuit of kent on 14th september . has anyone else done it ?
I did it last year - complete disaster. Got separated from the people I was with and then got lost.
A word of warning: last year one of the feed stops was at the beginning of a loop, so you come back to it. Remember to go the OTHER way the second time [unlike me]. There are cyclist leaving in both directions, so it's a bit confusing. Also - last year it was advertised as 85 miles, but was actually only 75 miles which made one member of our party think he'd taken an inadvertent short cut and add 10 miles on, and another [with no trip computer] astonished with his time. I went 96 miles altogether, but that's because I'm an idiot. Other than that, it was great! Very friendly, nice food and party atmosphere - with a band - at the finish.
However, I'm doing the Southern Sportive on Sept 14th this year. Hope that goes better.
| tvrbird |
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| 20/08/2008 14:07 |
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Re: circuit of kent
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Ooooops, just remembered - there is also an absolute killer climb literally a mile from the end. Lots and lots of walkers by that point. But the climbs are numbered in descending order, which was actually really helpful. Apart from the ones I repeated in the middle, which was just depressing.
| fizban |
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| 20/08/2008 16:04 |
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Re: circuit of kent
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Not me I'm afriad
| mr_shifter |
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| 28/08/2008 21:31 |
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Re: circuit of kent
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sounds confusing ! think i will bring a map.
I will look out for a you fiz you will probably pass
me as i go the wrong way round !!
