by Andrew G » Fri Jan 30, 2009 10:10 pm
[quote="Michelle"]Yes I can help too.
Really we only need signage, some people to do the food stations, someone to buzz round the circuits as necessary - support, and a big tent for signing on.
Perhaps some marshalls at particularly nasty junctions? Or we can make sure we don't have any nasty junctions?
What else do we need......come on, pipe up!
Personally I think a lot of sportives are no such thing just using the name to attract entries. Yes I know I can be an old fashioned git but to me a sportive has to have:
- Electronic timing (chips and mats).
- Certificate with age standards (gold/silver/bronze) Giving a medal would be best to go with the certificate or a suitable "thing" like the piece of local rock you get at one of them.
- Good food stations (variety and quantity). Even if you just top up some water some people will need / want more provisions.
- Good and decent sized HQ with enough toilets.
- Decent goody bag at the end (different depending on the length of route done) containing more than a few vouchers and an energy bar.
- Medical support vehicle.
- Ideally some form of roving mechanical support vehicle / sag wagon.
- Proper laminated numbers for the handlebars.
- Official photographer.
- Full and fairly obvious signage.
- Marshals at every junction where the turn isn't obvious or there is any possible danger.
To me these are the things that make a sportive a sportive, otherwise how does it differ from other long / challenging rides. CTC and Audax, and no doubt others, have been doing long / challenge rides for years but without a fanfare. No doubt these views will meet with scorn from some but unless it's done properly then I think they are a bit of a fraud and riding on a title.
I'd also chuck in the pot that there are hundreds of sportives so I think an Addiscombe one should have some kind of unique quality to differentiate it and make it stand out from the crowd. The paralympic connection is an excellent one, and the sort of thing Snoop suggests at "base" for kids would also help make the ACC Sportive stand out from the crowd.