Milton Keynes September 600 (or 2 200s or a 300 and a 200) 2012

[teethgrinder]

Time to start a thread for the annual 600km DIY group permanent ride from Milton Keynes on 15/16 September 2012.
Same as usual. Everyone welcome. The aim is for this ride to be the last chance for anyone riding their first 600. I always look after the slowest rider as long as they have a chance of finishing the event.
Only one failure since 2007 so far and there's not much you can do about broken forks!
Don't be put off if you think you're too slow. I've ridden with the slowest of the slow, I won't leave anyone behind.
But if you want to push on and get extra sleep, then you'll have to find your own way.
I'll have a GPX file when I've done the route, which will probably go to Norfolk to make for easy terrain and quiet roads. Now I have a GPS and have an idea of how to use it, I'll try to make this ride more lansey than previous rides.
I'll be fitting in a sleep stop, probably a Travelodge at around 350-400km.

Anyone coming?

[Jethro]

Yes, me please sir 

[Bigsybaby]

I am hoping to do a 600 before then but if not I would then like to take part.

[Lady Cavendish]

I said never. But the word travellodge helps.

And MK is good.

I'd kind of like to try. But i said never!!!

[teethgrinder]

I said never. But the word travellodge helps.

And MK is good.

I'd kind of like to try. But i said never!!!

How about if I can come up with a route, where we visit the Travelodge at 2-300km and do a loop to return?
Then, you can either ride 2-300km with us and go to bed and sulk while we have fun cycling, or you can stay with us and have more fun. Then ride back home with us after our sleep (if we are quick enough to get any, but we should manage at least an hour or two even with verly slow riders)?

It'd be good to have you with us. As it is with these rides, I doubt that you'd be the slowest, so you may want to prees on ahead and get extra sleep. There may be others with the same idea too. Jethro may like that idea if things get slow.

[mattc]

I said never. But the word travellodge helps.

Wow, you're a cheap date!

[Lady Cavendish]

Bit confused TG- doesn't the sleep stop need to come later than 2-300k?

Matt, I'm happy with any bed that isn't a hall floor!!!!

[fungus]

I'll add my name to the list again & might even make it to the start this year 

[teethgrinder]

Bit confused TG- doesn't the sleep stop need to come later than 2-300k?

It's simple really. We ride 2-300km, check into the Travelodge (that way, we know which room we are in and have keys so don't need to mess about in the early hours as we have done before) have some food, then do a 1-200km loop back to the Travelodge. Then we sleep, wake up, have breakfast and do the last 200-250km back to the finish.

Matt, I'm happy with any bed that isn't a hall floor!!!!

 

Faints.

[Lady Cavendish]

Oh I like that plan!!!!!!

[Lady Cavendish]

Ok. I'm in. Only problem is it means I feel I should probably do a 400 for an SR now!!!

[teethgrinder]

Good. I'll be expecting you then.

We start at 6am.
I have space in my flat for sleepovers. I have a sofabed, an inflatable matress, a fold up thingy, then it's cushions from my sofa then floorspace. Realisticly, I can sleep another 5 people at a push, but it'd be very very cosy. 3 is about right.
There are plenty of hotels in Milton Keynes.
Start from either my flat or if people are coming from various hotels it'll MK Central Train Station.

First come first served for sleepies at my very untidy flat either via PM or this thread. Otherwise I'll leave it to you to organise a hotel room before and/or after the ride and room sharing.

Actually, now I think about it, with that plan I expand this into a multi event. 2 200s, a 300 and 200 or the full 600.

[teethgrinder]

Ok. I'm in. Only problem is it means I feel I should probably do a 400 for an SR now!!!

How about the first weekend in August for a 400?
I don't think I promised anyone I'd be anywhere that weekend.

(must update my calendar...)

[teethgrinder]

Just had a look at my trusty road atlas and I'm thinking of Norwich for the Travelodge. It's about 200km from Milton Keynes. Then it's just a matter of finding two 100km loops. Probably go to the Norfolk Coast first to make up the 300, then to Sufflok to make it up to 350-400km.

[Lady Cavendish]

I like the sound of that as I like sea and I like flat!

I think I can do 1st week of Aug

[teethgrinder]

Travelodge family room booked at Cringlewood service (A11/A47) SW of Norwich for £32.50.
Just need a route now, but plenty of time for that.

I like the sound of that as I like sea and I like flat!

I think I can do 1st week of Aug

I like the Norfolk Coast. Norfolk isn't really flat, but there won't be any tough climbs. Some might disagree after a few hundred miles...


If you start another thread on the August 400, I'll join in and come up with ideas and a route.
Say what time if you have a preference, there is more than one way to skin a 400. Also where to start from and any route preferences. I like the early morning start and get it done in a day method myself but I'll do it any way.

[Chuffy]

Nice - thanks for putting this on. 

I might be in, depending on how my assault on the K&SW perm goes. What's the latest you need to know by?

[teethgrinder]

Turn up on the day if you like. But if I don't know you're coming ad you're late, then we won't wait for you.
You'll have to enter via your DIY organiser. To do that, you'll need a route, which I haven't done yet.
These rides are my way of arganising an event an by-passing all the official Audax paperwork which goes with calendar events. It also makes them more flexible if I need to change dates or times of the event.
Even if nobody shows up, I can still do the ride myself and it'll cost me the entry fee and Travelodge booking. Anyone else riding and sharing Travelodge costs is a bonus to me.
If we get more people riding than are willing to share a Travelodge room, then I'll leave it to you to book another room.

I think the record is 9 riders so far. Having the 200s and/or 300 might mean more riders.

[Chuffy]

Cunning, I like it. 

My K&SW is on the 11th August, so I'll be able to give you fair warning. If there's a 200k attached then Baggy will probably ride that, which would be nice.

[AlbertoC]

Many thanks for putting the ride together teethgrinder. Count me in for this one (600) as is the only one left for the SR series. Would kindly take up your offer for the Friday night as there's no way I can get to MK by 6 am from London.

[Jethro]

Still up for the 600 on 15/16 September, but not the 400 as I will be riding the Montgomery 300.

Rode the National 400 from Norwich in June and the North Norfolk coast bit of that route was not flat.

Will book into a hotel in Milton Keynes.

[Jethro]

Shenley Church End Travelodge are currently at £23.50 for Friday 14th September and less than 2 miles from central Milton Keynes.

[Jethro]

Im thinking if its 200k to Norwich Travelodge, then it might be worth making the second leg a bit more than 100k otherwise we will only just be halfway when returning to the Travelodge again.

What about a loop of 150k on the second leg then a 250k ride back to MK on the following day?

[Lycra Man]

TG - I would like to join you for this. Please can I have an overnight on a sofa bed/floor, and share of the Travel Lodge room?

I'll need a route so I can get a DIY Brevet card from RichF.

Excellent plan, this and the August 400k.   

Lycra Man

[teethgrinder]

Im thinking if its 200k to Norwich Travelodge, then it might be worth making the second leg a bit more than 100k otherwise we will only just be halfway when returning to the Travelodge again.

What about a loop of 150k on the second leg then a 250k ride back to MK on the following day?

I was thinking of having a 200, 300 and 600 starting on the Saturday and a 200k ride back on Sunday, that Sunday 200k being the last 200k of the 600. For a 300km control, I'd like to use a chain pub which serves food (they usualy serve food until about 10pm) and not back to the Travelodge itself as a control.

Rode the National 400 from Norwich in June and the North Norfolk coast bit of that route was not flat.

It's definitely not flat, but is quite nice.

Shenley Church End Travelodge are currently at £23.50 for Friday 14th September and less than 2 miles from central Milton Keynes.

It's also handy for the train station and my flat. About 2 miles from either. If all the hotellers agree to stay there or my flat the night before, then we could start from there. I think that there's a pub/restaurant there too, which would be good for a Friday evening pre ride meal.