Meet 55 year old Dave, who's discovered sportives late but is living the dream nonetheless, clocking up some impressive training mileage and conquering some big events.
Name: Dave Pamphilon
Gender: Male
Age: 55
Height: 6 foot
Weight: 170 pounds
Bottom Gear: 11/28 on compact
Current bike: DOLAN Dual
What do you take with you on a ride? Drink, energy bars, Tyre levers, Spare tube, tool kit, patches, Credit card and some cash, Rain cape if appropriate.
Why do you ride sportives? Enjoy seeing new scenery, no need to think about reading maps etc, enjoy a element of challenge that creeps in with your mates you are riding with or anyone else who wants to play!
What was your last sportive? Coal Road reliability ride.
What’s your favourite event? So far the Wild Wales Challenge.
What’s the longest sportive you’ve done? Probably Wild Wales at 85 miles.
What’s your most memorable sportive moment? The last few miles of the Broken Spoke sportive in Chester when I was with six other riders riding the last five miles in a chain gang at over 20 mph!
What’s your worst sportive moment? Haven’t had any, I enjoy them all.
When was the last time you walked up a hill? Can’t remember, I don’t do walking but sometimes I am down to 3 mph and it would be quicker!!
What’s the funniest thing that’s happened to you (or you’ve seen) on a sportive? I did the Great North Bike Ride from Seahouses to Newcastle last year and I passed a lad about 20 yrs old and 6 foot tall on a BMX I asked if he was doing the sportive and he was!!!!!!!!!
How much training do you do before an event? Approx 150 to 200 miles a week
What’s your top sportive riding tip?Get plenty of training in and make sure you do plenty of hills in your training , eat and drink plenty and have some wine gums in yer shirt pocket !
I should really mention a few people who have helped me no end to go from a complete “newbe” to road cycling to someone who can pass for a proper roadie at first glance anyway!
The Bike factory shop in Chester have helped me buy wisely and the club I ride with, Birkenhead North End, have taught me how to ride in a group and all the terminology when out in a group; I had no idea there were so many hand signals and “shouts” to remember!
Favourite feed station fodder? Tea and fruit cake, GO sports bars.
Send us your Sportive Profile!
Just complete this template and return to editor@britishcycling.org.uk with Sportive Profile in the subject line and claim your fifteen minutes of fame. Feel free to attach an image or two of you in sportive mode too!
