In reply to Chris the Tall:
> Any good reason to do the sportive rather than independently a few weeks later?
It's the whole atmosphere of the thing: 1200+ other riders out on the road, wheels to follow when you're having a bad patch, random people to work with and chat to, spectators cheering you up Hardknott, etc etc. You look up at the big climbs and there's a stream of riders ahead heaving their way up. Yes its just a bike ride on open roads but there's a special atmosphere to it even by the standard of most big sportives.
That said, it's a grand day out either way, by all means do it with a bunch of mates if you fancy it and at least that way you get to choose the weather!