Author Topic: A Rough Diamond - 300km, Bushley. PBP qualifier.  (Read 9308 times)

Re: A Rough Diamond - 300km, Bushley. PBP qualifier.
« Reply #25 on: 14 March, 2019, 10:06:38 pm »
Be sure not to follow 'audax' riders on 'The Dean' after you cross the bridge, though they'll have done 40k less at that point.

Re: A Rough Diamond - 300km, Bushley. PBP qualifier.
« Reply #26 on: 14 March, 2019, 10:13:13 pm »
Be sure not to follow 'audax' riders on 'The Dean' after you cross the bridge, though they'll have done 40k less at that point.
Yeah. We on the Dean have got all the hills. If the lowland route after the bridge is the same as two weeks ago, enjoy it (and the tailwind).
Bikes are for riding, not cleaning!

Re: A Rough Diamond - 300km, Bushley. PBP qualifier.
« Reply #27 on: 15 March, 2019, 11:04:35 am »
Walking on the Malvern Hills this morning I was, a few times, almost blown to a complete standstill.

Good job the forecast is looking so much better for tomorrow though...



 :o
You're only as successful as your last 1200...

simonp

Re: A Rough Diamond - 300km, Bushley. PBP qualifier.
« Reply #28 on: 15 March, 2019, 11:59:48 am »
I'm going to DNS this afraid. Not enough miles - been too busy with rowing - and not done a 200k yet, and the forecast for tomorrow will make it very tough. Not been feeling great the last couple of days either.

I've got the Cheltenham Flyer 200k as a fall-back option if I feel well enough tomorrow.


The Solo Socialist

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Re: A Rough Diamond - 300km, Bushley. PBP qualifier.
« Reply #29 on: 15 March, 2019, 02:26:45 pm »
A quandry now, to risk the wind and rain forecast and ride. Or do I wimp out and fail before the start as in DNS???? This bloody weather!!!!!
Boots an Spurs

Re: A Rough Diamond - 300km, Bushley. PBP qualifier.
« Reply #30 on: 15 March, 2019, 02:40:57 pm »
as I look at out the first part of the ride is OK, rain does not other me, but if that bad a u turn back is actually fine ... so thats the choice I will make

Re: A Rough Diamond - 300km, Bushley. PBP qualifier.
« Reply #31 on: 15 March, 2019, 03:07:57 pm »
DNS for me. Rain and wind for 12 hours is not fun. I'll probably ride it on Sunday

Re: A Rough Diamond - 300km, Bushley. PBP qualifier.
« Reply #32 on: 15 March, 2019, 03:24:31 pm »
DNS for me. Rain and wind for 12 hours is not fun. I'll probably ride it on Sunday

12 hours? Blimey I wish I was that fast! I'm looking at 18+ hours in the rain and wind. 50% more value, really.

However, unless there's a dramatic change in the forecast, I'm also going to do the ride as a DIY on Sunday. Given that the route runs virtually past my front door it gives me the easy option of starting from home too!  ;D

As I've already set the alarm for ludicrous-o-clock Saturday morning if Mark could do with a hand at the start I'm happy to help. Otherwise I'll sleep in like some sort of lazy thing...
You're only as successful as your last 1200...

Re: A Rough Diamond - 300km, Bushley. PBP qualifier.
« Reply #33 on: 15 March, 2019, 03:57:51 pm »
What's a bit of weather between friends?  I shall be there.

Re: A Rough Diamond - 300km, Bushley. PBP qualifier.
« Reply #34 on: 15 March, 2019, 08:18:44 pm »
What's a bit of weather between friends?  I shall be there.

Yep so am I ! What the heck would be a great story at least but trying to finish in 13 hours looks out !

Re: A Rough Diamond - 300km, Bushley. PBP qualifier.
« Reply #35 on: 16 March, 2019, 12:58:13 pm »
Definitely "type 2" fun out there currently...



 :o
You're only as successful as your last 1200...

Re: A Rough Diamond - 300km, Bushley. PBP qualifier.
« Reply #36 on: 16 March, 2019, 11:40:02 pm »
Definitely "type 2" fun out there currently...



 :o

Jeez that leg was tough pushing 200w on the flat and yet just 15kph !! And the bridge wow ! However has 4 flats at last control or later which delayed me for an hour but not chance of 13 hours today !

Re: A Rough Diamond - 300km, Bushley. PBP qualifier.
« Reply #37 on: 17 March, 2019, 01:38:54 pm »
That was hard work in the headwind plus a soaking to finish but excellent nonetheless.  Great controls too with plentiful cake and the chance to put a face to a name (chapeau Mr Rainbow).  I was relatively early back and had 'fun' getting out of the field  ::-). I suspect that may have only deteriorated?

Re: A Rough Diamond - 300km, Bushley. PBP qualifier.
« Reply #38 on: 17 March, 2019, 01:43:29 pm »
Yep someone helped me out at about half ten and then I had to help him out, later finishers would have only been worse

Re: A Rough Diamond - 300km, Bushley. PBP qualifier.
« Reply #39 on: 17 March, 2019, 01:43:54 pm »
Oh and for some reason I was the only one with bare legs haha

JamesBradbury

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Re: A Rough Diamond - 300km, Bushley. PBP qualifier.
« Reply #40 on: 17 March, 2019, 02:00:43 pm »
I had bare legs until the first control.

Really tough and demoralising in the headwind and had a puncture. But the Usk Valley was lovely even in the wet. Controls did a good job of helping me recover. The weather did calm down a bit late evening.

Nice to see so many out in spite of the conditions.

Thanks to Mark and helpers for what be a huge effort. Next time I'll try not to sleep in front of the fire exit!

Re: A Rough Diamond - 300km, Bushley. PBP qualifier.
« Reply #41 on: 17 March, 2019, 10:06:22 pm »
I rode it today starting from home. Quite a lot of sun, horrid wind from Worcester all the way to Talybont. Got fucked up by hail, then it pissed down from Hay until Llangorse.

Favourite bits were Tewkesbury until Worcester, and the drop down the A40 at Belch.

That road out of Tenbury was a shit, but I know it of old from the Elenith.

Re: A Rough Diamond - 300km, Bushley. PBP qualifier.
« Reply #42 on: 18 March, 2019, 12:28:21 am »
I also rode it today (er, yesterday - gone midnight now)

It was pretty straightforward - not sure why everyone's making such a fuss

 ;D
You're only as successful as your last 1200...

Re: A Rough Diamond - 300km, Bushley. PBP qualifier.
« Reply #43 on: 18 March, 2019, 11:33:39 am »
Thanks Mark for your hard work.

The Severn Bridge crossing was an 'adventure' a 20 degree lean and 7mph and I got across without issue.


Favourite bits were Tewkesbury until Worcester, and the drop down the A40 at Belch.

The A40 wasn't nice on Saturday with a mega crosswind coming from the left and muppets still doing close passes  :-\

This will go into the memory banks as an epic.

Eddington Number 75

TOBY

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Re: A Rough Diamond - 300km, Bushley. PBP qualifier.
« Reply #44 on: 18 March, 2019, 01:16:29 pm »
Thanks Mark for your hard work.

The Severn Bridge crossing was an 'adventure' a 20 degree lean and 7mph and I got across without issue.


I found half pedaling with the left foot avoided pedal strike on the right.

Re: A Rough Diamond - 300km, Bushley. PBP qualifier.
« Reply #45 on: 18 March, 2019, 02:10:54 pm »
I'd like to add my thanks to Mark as well for the great organisation, again.

Wind must have swung round a bit by the time I got to the bridge, felt like it was nearly directly behind me, much steadier across than a couple of weeks ago on March Madness  :)

Re: A Rough Diamond - 300km, Bushley. PBP qualifier.
« Reply #46 on: 24 March, 2019, 08:04:25 pm »
So the results are up and stunning really ... in that weather (I am guessing the worse any of us rode in ) 100 finished and just 4 DNF that says so much about how mad we all are !!!

Well done to everyone !

JonB

  • Granny Ring ... Yes Please!
Re: A Rough Diamond - 300km, Bushley. PBP qualifier.
« Reply #47 on: 26 March, 2019, 08:15:32 am »
One of the 4 DNFs ... Did the wind, rain and hills and then terminal crank failure in Berkeley

End of The Rough Diamond by Jon Banks, on Flickr

Re: A Rough Diamond - 300km, Bushley. PBP qualifier.
« Reply #48 on: 26 March, 2019, 09:04:33 am »
Broken crank? The Rough Diamond has form on this front; I had crank arm break two or three years ago.

But I had the good sense to break it on the first stage  ;D
You're only as successful as your last 1200...

Re: A Rough Diamond - 300km, Bushley. PBP qualifier.
« Reply #49 on: 26 March, 2019, 09:35:40 am »
Damn tough luck there and sadly no recovery from it unless close to an open bike shop !