From receiving the group email from also new SDB member Reade, I agreed to sign up and enter my 2nd ever Sportive "SRS Springtime Sportive". The distances of the rides consisted of either 35,53 or 71 miles. Reade went for the 53 mile and myself 71 miles. The ride started in Burgess Hill and consisted of 1653 meters of climbing which included Pillow Mounds hill, Kidds Hill, Groombridge Hill and the short but steep 20% incline pig = Cobb Lane hill which was at the end of the ride. The forecast for Sunday was cloudy with no rain, but as normal it was chucking it down when the start approached. Luckily the weather improved and it became very dry. During 95% of the ride I was on my own (as I thought it would be good to leave it 20mins before the first start time to catch people up, but I guess the better riders went at the first possible time?), Oh well, I will learn from my mistake......
Reade finished the 53 mile course in 3hrs 34mins "Gold" (9th out of 124 entrants) and myself the 71 mile course in 4hrs 12min "Gold" (16th out of 374 entrants). Of course it was a Sportive so not an official competition, but we both had fun.
The ride was very well run, and I would recommend it to others !
Sounds like you had a great ride. Thanks for the report it is good to have some posts from different members.
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