Simple, practical guidance to help you prepare, ride confidently and enjoy your event day.
You do not need to be a racing cyclist to enjoy a sportive.
The key is steady preparation, regular riding, sensible recovery and a good plan for food and drink on the day.
If you already ride regularly, aim for around 8 to 10 weeks of focused preparation before your event. If you are newer to cycling, allow longer and build up gradually.
A simple starting point for your sportive preparation
For riders with some cycling experience, allow at least 8 to 10 weeks of focused preparation.
Newer riders should give themselves more time and build up gradually.
Add around five to eight miles to your long ride each week until you reach about 85–90% of your event distance.
You do not need to ride the full distance in training.
Use training rides to practise pacing, clothing, hydration and food.
A shorter event first can be a great way to build confidence.
Keep it realistic, consistent and balanced.
The amount of training you can fit in will depend on your lifestyle, but three sessions a week is a good target, with at least one longer ride.
Indoor cycling can help build fitness, but getting outside is still important for confidence, handling and enjoying the road.
Try to include a mix of steady endurance riding, some harder efforts and hill work.
Remember to leave time to recover before the event itself.
Training is only part of the picture. A smart hydration and nutrition plan will help you ride longer, recover faster and feel better on the day.
Practise eating and drinking during training rides so nothing feels new on event day.
It depends on your cycling experience, but it can be a great idea.
A shorter event lets you practise your event-day strategy, riding in a group, using feed stations and managing your effort in real conditions.
Use this as a simple guide before, during and after your rides.