Denmead 300k: 26th April

[Hummers]

I'm doing this and it will be a toughie for me, seeing as I have not been on the bike (properly) since the Denmead 200.

Anyone else joining in the fun?

H

[scampi]

I shall most likely be joining in the fun.

On previous experience I shall probably ride to Denmead and then straight home after Lockerley as the emotional distress of passing within a few miles of home after ~250km then riding 50kms away again is too much.

Unfortunately there's not even a finish control this time...

It's a grand route though, apart from the busy bit around Ringwood/Ashley Heath. The cafe in Blandford is ace too. There's even a bit of off-road along the Ancient Highway to Keyhaven.

See you all there...

[LEE]

I'll be there with Urban_Biker.

I think MattH is doing it also.

I felt pretty good during and after Denmead 200 so I'm using this as a 600 'qualifier' for Midhurst 600 (I mean that I need to finish this in decent shape or I won't bother with Midhurst).

Feel free to ride with me and Urban_Biker.  We'll appreciate your company and I can assure you that we won't be leaving you behind.

[Hummers]

If this is the same route as the Perm, this will be my third attempt and I am yet to complete it. 

It's not that it's unduly hard (it covers 50% of the Winter Randonee) it's just that weather and time have conspired against me two years running.

Scampi, with the early start, I don't suppose there's much in the way of a Cafe until Lymington?

As for the Midhurst 600, from doing 75% of his series last year, I'd say that the best approach to the longer El Supremo rides is developing bloody minded determination rather than wholly physical preparation. The terrain tends to be relentlessly rolling and at times, pretty dull compared to the hillier 600s such as the K&SW and (I expect) the BCM. Having said that, I found Els rides first class training for PBP and on the Hailsham 600, I'd did my fastest time in all distances (pre-PBP), including 4 hours kip over halfway around. Mind you, I was completely wasted for the last 40k and even a week afterwards, stairs were for other people.

Thanks for the offer of company though although my faffing about at controls may prove irksome. Mind you, we will have earnt that pint at the Fox and Hounds!

H

[border-rider]

Scampi, with the early start, I don't suppose there's much in the way of a Cafe until Lymington?

First cafe is at Butler's Hard.  It's about 100k there.  There's a corner shop though, can't recall where but it must be about 70 k or thereabouts.  Often a popular stop.  The first 100k can be a bit of a dash if you get in a big group.

[LEE]

I'm not quick enough yet to socialise.

After looking at my GPS logs on previous rides it became apparent that I was spending longer in controls and cafes than I realised.  30 minutes here, 40 minutes there soon adds up and I was losing over 2.5 hours on a 200km ride.

On top of that I am a very slow starter once I have cooled down.

Me and Urban_Biker made a conscious decision to make up for our lack of speed on the road by increasing our speed in controls and cafes.  We try for 20 minutes if possible.  That's normally OK to pick up a sticker, grab a sandwich, tea or beer and not seize up.  It helped knock an hour of my Denmead 200 time just doing that.  I'll try and stick to the same regime on the 300 just to have 1 less hour in the dark at the end.

It's a 7am start and I'm guessing that it will take 18 hours.  That's a 1am finish if things go well.  It goes properly dark at about 8:45pm so that's already over 4 hours night riding.  If it's cold as well then I want this thing over with ASAP.

I make it sound so enjoyable don't I?

[urban_biker]

I have to say I'm really looking forward to it. This will be my the first big challenge of 2008 and I'm feeling pretty up for it.

It sounds like we will have to be fairly self sufficient for this one. It's the shame there's no final control. At least its a Saturday so the chippy in Lymington should be open.

[tonyh]

Wondering about this. Waiting until I enjoyed The Elenith. Which may not happen in time...

[border-rider]

I'm not quick enough yet to socialise.

After looking at my GPS logs on previous rides it became apparent that I was spending longer in controls and cafes than I realised.  30 minutes here, 40 minutes there soon adds up and I was losing over 2.5 hours on a 200km ride.

On top of that I am a very slow starter once I have cooled down.

Me and Urban_Biker made a conscious decision to make up for our lack of speed on the road by increasing our speed in controls and cafes.  We try for 20 minutes if possible.  That's normally OK to pick up a sticker, grab a sandwich, tea or beer and not seize up.  It helped knock an hour of my Denmead 200 time just doing that.  I'll try and stick to the same regime on the 300 just to have 1 less hour in the dark at the end.

Good plan

The very fastest 200s I've done have been achieved by basically not stopping at controls.  Even on a 300 I'll blast through the first control usually - on the Elenith I don;t really stop until the secret control, and on the Rural South last year it was the lunchtime control - and even there I just used a local shop for a quick turn-round.

[scampi]

Scampi, with the early start, I don't suppose there's much in the way of a Cafe until Lymington?

First cafe is at Butler's Hard.  It's about 100k there.  There's a corner shop though, can't recall where but it must be about 70 k or thereabouts.  Often a popular stop.  The first 100k can be a bit of a dash if you get in a big group.

I don't think it even stops there. It used to be the hotel but that was way too posh for an audax and so was replaced with an info.

Last time the event ran it was as the "Denmead Double Century" and there was a full blown village hall control at Boldre run by John Ward (which was quite ample for the embarrassingly small entry...).

There'll be no such luxury on this year's ride so I think it will probably be Lymington for the first stop.

Ashurst is a good bet for a Co-Op style control before then. I expect that's what MV is recalling as there's v.little anywhere else...

[recalls halcyon days when El Supremo used to do not one but two feed stations on this ride...]

In terms of the time taken, it's not too hard an event but the terrain after Blandford really is unrelentingly rolling all the way through to Twyford even though there are no big hills as such...so probably a good El-S tester for you, LEE.

IIRC the road from Stockbridge to Winchester is one of MV's favourites ;-) Personally I enjoy it though.

[border-rider]

Yes, you're right, Lymington was the control last time I rode it - or was that the National 400 ? I forget...

Does it do that awful road from Stockbridge ? I know the 400 did but the 300 perm (at least) goes to Ower and then picks up the outward route through Bishops Waltham (a road which I also detest BTW )

On the perm (again) it's about 7 k over distance and if you retrace your outward steps rather than following the official route back from BW you can recoup a little bit of that - it's def. a couple of k shorter.  There may be an info on the calendar event tho'

[scampi]

Yep, last time I rode it there was an El-S control at Lockerley (nr Romsey) then it headed north up the TV to Stockbridge and across to Winchester on that long up-down-up-down B road.

Maybe it'll be different this year/follow the perm route as there's nothing at Lockerley for a proper control.

[LEE]

I know the Stockbridge/Winchester road and Bishops-Waltham road too very well.  They both seem to drag on forever (even in a car) especially the last ten miles to the finish of the Denmead rides.  Would be thoughtful of the Pilbeams if they could move house, about 5 miles would do it, every 2 years or so.

Should be interesting if it goes west of Lymington though.  Not an area I get to on the bike.

[MattH]

Yup, I should be there (will be sending in the entry once I get back in the UK tonight).

Lee, I'd like to ride along with you; as we've said before we do seem to have a similar pace. I'm also concious of losing time at controls; I'm trying to reduce times spent there as it is slowing me down overall.

[LEE]

Yup, I should be there (will be sending in the entry once I get back in the UK tonight).

Lee, I'd like to ride along with you; as we've said before we do seem to have a similar pace. I'm also concious of losing time at controls; I'm trying to reduce times spent there as it is slowing me down overall.

Fine by me, it will be good to see you again, the more the merrier.  See you at the start with Urban_Biker and Hummers in just over 2 weeks. Tag along or not as the pace suits.

We are going to try and pace ourselves (me and U_B) at 5.5Hrs/100km including stops.  That should keep us moving along at a reasonable pace but hopefully leave something in the tank for the last 100km and plenty of time in reserve for mishaps.

I'm going to try my best not to ride outside my comfort-zone (i.e. with fast groups) on this one.  On a 100 and 200 I can struggle those painful 20km back to the finish but there's no way I want struggle in the dark for 100km.  I'd much prefer a slower first 200 then find out I have plenty left for the final 100 than vice-versa.

Anyway, too much talking.  All of my planning goes out of the window within 5 minutes of the start usually.  See you at the start.

[border-rider]

Should be interesting if it goes west of Lymington though.  Not an area I get to on the bike.

It gets really nice when it goes into Dorset.  A lovely laney run into Blandford (where Tuggo and I last year, riding the perm version, encountered Paul D) and then some pleasant minor lumpiness across Cranbourne Chase

Edit: oh yeah, and the Blandford (George) cafe is one of 3 with remarkably similar decor - Friar Tuck in Amesbury and another in ?Shaftesbury?.  It's a bit disorienting on a long ride

[scampi]

That'd be the John Peel Cafe - and you're right, they are all v.similar.

Perhaps someone could devise an event that links the three? 

[Hummers]

It gets really nice when it goes into Dorset.  A lovely laney run into Blandford (where Tuggo and I last year, riding the perm version, encountered Paul D)

That sounds almost romantic!

H

[border-rider]

It was.  Sigh...

[Martin]

is the 300 the first 3/4 of the National 400 she did in 2004 that went to Blandford Forum? that was nice (except for the bit back from the top of the New Forest)

[border-rider]

is the 300 the first 3/4 of the National 400 she did in 2004 that went to Blandford Forum? that was nice (except for the bit back from the top of the New Forest)

Not quite

The 300 doesn't come back through Southampton - and there are a few differences in the bits around the New Forest - but my memory of the 400 is a bit hazy to be honest

[Hummers]

If it follows the route of the perm, I think that from Salisbury, it goes north of Romsey.

H

[urban_biker]

So, are we all ready? I did the Faccombe Haul 100km on Saturday plus the 70k up from Denmead and that felt fine. A few knee twinges this week though while doing loads of DIY.

How is everyone else? I suspect its going to hurt whatever I do - but looking forward to it all the same. Anyway - see you there. Hope Alan will make that final 50k and be able to ride it past his place on the final leg to Denmead.

Anyway , see you all next week!

[Hummers]

Not doing very well, actually.

Not as fit as when I did the 200k that's for sure.

I've  a stinking cold but am hoping to get out for a quick 100k on Saturday - too little too late I fear.

Oh well. 

H

[Salvatore]

Not doing very well, actually.

Not as fit as when I did the 200k that's for sure.

I've  a stinking cold but am hoping to get out for a quick 100k on Saturday - too little too late I fear.

Oh well. 

H

Don't forget - any fool can do these rides if they are fit.

The real challenge is to do them when you are unfit.

Hope this helps.