6 Mistakes To Avoid In Your First Sportive | GCN's Road Cycling Tips

Have you got your first sportive coming up? We give you six mistakes to avoid, covering various blunders from starting too fast through to getting totally lost! Watch the full video to make sure you smash your sportive target.

Signing up for your first sportive is a big step, good work! Now it’s time to focus on how you’re going to achieve your goal at the event, be that clocking a ‘gold’ standard time or even just completing it. We give our top mistakes to avoid at your first event, covering nutrition, navigation and even your personal timekeeping!

Have you got a big event coming up? Let us know in the comments. 👇

If you enjoyed this video, make sure to give it a thumbs up and share it with your friends. 👍

Watch more on GCN...

Music: Epidemic Sound
Gotta Get Back 1 - Martin Landh
Houston We've Had A Problem 2 - Anders Bothén
Dollar Needles - Splasher!
Love For The Ocean (Instrumental Version) - Martin Hall
Goofy Moments 2 - Magnus Ringblom
Fight The Power 1 - Victor Olsson
For Your Smiling Face 1 - Bo Järpehag

About GCN:

The Global Cycling Network puts you in the centre of the action: from the iconic climbs of Alpe D’Huez and Mont Ventoux to the cobbles of Flanders, everywhere there is road or pavé, world-class racing and pro riders, we will be there bringing you action, analysis and unparalleled access every week, every month, and every year. We show you how to be a better cyclist with our bike maintenance videos, tips for improving your cycling, cycling top tens, and not forgetting the weekly GCN Show. Join us on YouTube’s biggest and best cycling channel to get closer to the action and improve your riding!

Welcome to the Global Cycling Network | Inside cycling

Thanks to our sponsors:

Leave us a comment below!

[gcn]

What's the biggest mistake you've *ever* made before a sportive..?

[juanmejia]

Getting my first road bike in a few days. Just wanted to thank GCN for serving as a great resource for basic 101!!

[TheStiefmeister]

That poor guy’s face at 2:20. Looks maxed out and gets passed by 3 people having a casual conversation

[nickw]

was lucky enough to ride the maratona last year once in a lifetime and the only advice I would have is look up enjoy the view, looking at the tarmac just in front of your wheel you might as well stay at home !

[Kadiontherock]

Upper body muscles on GCN presenters, I'm confused. Emma great as always! Great vid guys.

[MauricioAlsinaLee]

Muscular biceps (on a GCN presenter), awesome advises and Emma angry faces (4:44 is my favourite)... Such an amazing vid (and a good laugh)!

[dalailager]

Had the pleasure of riding with Chris in the Peak District last week - great guy.

[DanielGonzalez-wnqs]

Nice to see that someone will finally be able to move those heavy boxes on the GCN crew

[rene]

I would also suggest to remember to ride safely. Not all sportives are on closed roads and there may therefore be traffic. Also remember to ride within your limits. It would be sad to crash out of an event you have been looking forward to.

[Mububban]

1. Arrive early - not just to park and get yourself and your bike ready without rushing, but also SIGN IN can take ages.
2. Personally I benefit from drinking more sports drink and eating less than many fuelling guides suggest. My first sportive, I ate a small solid or had a gel every 45 minutes but didn’t drink quiet enough, and felt like I was going to vomit. Second sportive, I ate a solid or gel on the hour, and drank more. I didn’t bonk, nor did I feel queasy.
3. Enjoy it! You’ll form small groups throughout the day with riders of your pace, so be friendly, have a chat and help each other take turns at the front so everybody gets a rest.

[sviborjancic]

First mistake was in the feed zone where i took a full glass of some kind of liquid and poor it on my head to cool myself, but it turns up that I splash myself with some kind of izotonik drink and I was half blind for next 10 minutes and quite sticky till the end of the race :-)

[allansmith]

I try and ride 15 @ 15, first 15 miles average 15 mph, once that's done I know legs are warm, drink and food are working and can increase speed if possible. Worked for my first and second 100, will do the second for my first Prudential Ride London :)

[stuartmcgill]

Big sportiv for me this Sunday: Tannheimer Radmarathon (220km, with 3200m climbing). Eating and hydrating (water & nutrients) regularly & sufficiently is key for me. Thanks for the timely reminder guys ;-))

[richardandersen]

James and Chris, great work! Emma, as always, well done.

[Yosser]

Did my first sportive last Sunday. Got given a free entry 2 days before so no training and the furthest I'd ridden before was 75 miles but I got round the 125 miles ok. Smashed it a few times, struggled a few and just enjoyed it.

[lenahygiena]

Welcome new presenters :) You go, guys! To all who moan in the comment section: let them arrive first, it's like their first video! They'll be funnier when they get to know each other better, sheesh)))

[kengraham]

If you use a paper map, make sure to put it in a plastic baggy. Sweat or rain can make a paper map in a jersey pocket hard to read

[sjaakvandersar]

Took off front wheel when packing bike in the car and drove 120 miles to find out I was going to have to unicycle the whole thing..

[a.garcia]

These are mistakes that even experienced riders often make. Good advice in this video for not only your first event, but for every sportive.

[jackzagorski]

Check the elevation profile for the sportive and, if necessary, change your rear cassette. There's nothing worse than having to get off on a steep climb because you have run out of gears, especially in cycling shoes.