Author Topic: Heartbeat 400  (Read 14567 times)

Andy Corless

  • Doesn't take the p***, says it as it is!
Heartbeat 400
« on: 19 March, 2015, 05:50:43 pm »
Just a heads up! I have 51 entries so far. I'll allow up to 60 so I might have to close entries next week if I reach this limit soon. So if you plan to enter and haven't done so yet I'd advise you to enter this next week.

The date for this event is: Saturday 25 April 2015, and counts as a 400 km qualifier for PBP.

It's an anti-clockwise circuit round northern England with controls at: Ripon; Goathland; Richmond and Carnforth. The truckhaven at Carnforth closes at 11pm so anybody arriving after this time will have to use the petrol station. I don't want to doubt anybody's physical ability but just bear in mind it's 104 km to the first control.

Route-sheets will be going out in early April. Hopefully it won't snow  :D, but then again ...... :-[

Andy Corless
Organiser
Heartbeat 400



Re: Heartbeat 400
« Reply #1 on: 21 March, 2015, 11:30:26 pm »
Hi Andy
I recall that I was the only lad that finished this event in time the first and last time you ran it ( only just !).I would have packed myself if the trains had been running on Sunday morning. The weather can't be as bad this time (heavy rain and strong head wind all the way to Goathland then freezing cold on the return night leg). It's good to see so many more have entered than last time( think there were only 5/6 of us set off last time from Preston Station which had reduced to 3 by Goathland ). Incidentally it didn't have any AAA points either the first time around !

Andy Corless

  • Doesn't take the p***, says it as it is!
Re: Heartbeat 400
« Reply #2 on: 24 March, 2015, 01:09:31 pm »
Mark,

You were the only official finisher however, some of the others completed the route but ran out of time near Goathland. I can't remember exactly but I think Paul Summers and Andrew Marshall both rode back to Preston.

I've almost reached the limit on entries. Entries will close before the weekend. Info' and route-sheets will be going out the 2nd week of April.

Andy Corless
Organiser
Heartbeat 400

Andy Corless

  • Doesn't take the p***, says it as it is!
Re: Heartbeat 400
« Reply #3 on: 28 March, 2015, 03:32:41 pm »
Just to let those that have entered know. Route-sheet and event info' is going to be sent out about a week or so later than planned (2nd week of April instead of next week). There's no problem with the route, controls or start/finish but I was about to save all the data when my computer crashed, losing all the files. I've got it all on paperwork but needs to be re-typed.

Entries will close probably Monday.

Andy Corless
Organiser
Heartbeat 400

bikey-mikey

  • AUK 6372
  • Yes, I am completely mad ! a.k.a. 333
Re: Heartbeat 400
« Reply #4 on: 30 March, 2015, 01:49:11 pm »
I'm in now !!

I always love Andy's rides   8) 8) 8)
I’ve decided I’m not old. I’m 25 .....plus shipping and handling.

Cycling heatmap
https://www.strava.com/athletes/4628735/heatmaps/6ed5ab12#10/51.12782/-3.16388

Re: Heartbeat 400
« Reply #5 on: 30 March, 2015, 09:22:39 pm »
Here's hoping for less snow than the Delightful Dales!!

Looks like a nice route too.

bikey-mikey

  • AUK 6372
  • Yes, I am completely mad ! a.k.a. 333
Re: Heartbeat 400
« Reply #6 on: 12 April, 2015, 05:27:15 pm »
Times getting short.

Anyone got a GPS file, please?

I’ve decided I’m not old. I’m 25 .....plus shipping and handling.

Cycling heatmap
https://www.strava.com/athletes/4628735/heatmaps/6ed5ab12#10/51.12782/-3.16388

321up

  • 59° N
Re: Heartbeat 400
« Reply #7 on: 16 April, 2015, 10:53:25 am »
I'm just staring to research opportunities to buy food on route.  Can anyone with local knowledge suggest shops etc on route that might be open please.

Thanks.

Andy Corless

  • Doesn't take the p***, says it as it is!
Re: Heartbeat 400
« Reply #8 on: 16 April, 2015, 05:09:16 pm »
You'll have noticed there's some long legs between controls. The following might be of help:

Pateley Bridge 90 km: The Old Granary cafe opens at 09:30 am (on route)

Coxwold  135 km: Coxwold Tearoom opens 10:30 am - 5:00 pm (on route) www.coxwoldtearooms.co.uk/

Wass 139 km: Byland Abbey Tearoom opens 10:30 am - 4:30 pm (on route)  -  www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/byland-abbey/inn/

Helmsley 149 km: Beck Tearoom on Castlegate (just off route) www.becktearoom.co.uk/

Rosedale Abbey 170 km: Abbey Tearoom & Store open 10:30 am - 5:30 pm  (just off route) www.abbeytearoom.co.uk/

Stokesley 233 km: Jet petrol station closes at 9:00 pm (on route). Several shops (Spar) also on route.

Leyburn 293 km: Fryer Tuck Fish & Chips/takeaway closes at 8:00 pm (on route). Co-op closes at 10:00 pm (also on route)

Hawes 319 km: Spar closes at 7:30 pm. Chippy opposite Pennygarth Cafe closes at 9:00 pm (both on route).

Ingleton 347 km: Texaco petrol station closes at 10:00 pm.

Hope this is of help. There'll be plenty of other cafe/shops en-route throughout.

Entries still open!

Andy Corless
Organiser
Heartbeat 400

321up

  • 59° N
Re: Heartbeat 400
« Reply #9 on: 17 April, 2015, 03:52:28 pm »
Thanks for additional food options, if I find details of any others I'll add them to the list.

I'm looking at cycling route options into Preston from the South.  What's the surface like on route 55 to Bramber Bridge (and does it have akward barriers)?  Which roads are ok and which are best avoided? 

Thanks.

Re: Heartbeat 400
« Reply #10 on: 18 April, 2015, 09:58:11 pm »
Brains are a little scrambled right now so forgive me asking a stupid question but how does 4,000 metres of climbing get 4 AAA points when the Brevet Cymru's 5,000 metres of climbing bags 2-and-a-bit AAAs? Is the Heartbeat pancake flat for half the route or something?
You're only as successful as your last 1200...

Andy Corless

  • Doesn't take the p***, says it as it is!
Re: Heartbeat 400
« Reply #11 on: 18 April, 2015, 10:17:00 pm »
The climbing figure for the Heartbeat 400 is calculated using the latest points system as printed on the Audax AAA page (see www.audaxaltitudeaward.org.uk) of 1 point awarded for every 1000 metres of climbing.

The Heartbeat 400 has an estimated 4000 metres of climbing, so gains 4 altitude points.

I don't organise the Brevet Cymru 400 so I can't comment on that. You'll need to speak to the organiser and/or regional events secretary or the AAA big man.

Andy Corless


Re: Heartbeat 400
« Reply #12 on: 18 April, 2015, 10:21:25 pm »
Thanks Andy.

For obvious reasons I steer clear of AAA points, they're bad for me. So I hadn't realised the AAA points system had recently changed.
You're only as successful as your last 1200...

Chris S

Re: Heartbeat 400
« Reply #13 on: 18 April, 2015, 10:25:48 pm »
Brains are a little scrambled right now so forgive me asking a stupid question but how does 4,000 metres of climbing get 4 AAA points when the Brevet Cymru's 5,000 metres of climbing bags 2-and-a-bit AAAs? Is the Heartbeat pancake flat for half the route or something?

Not sure if this is the reason, but the climbing on the BC400 is concentrated in the loop Llanwrda/Tregaron/New Quay/Llanwrda (130km, 2200m ascent).

Andy Corless

  • Doesn't take the p***, says it as it is!
Re: Heartbeat 400
« Reply #14 on: 18 April, 2015, 10:48:33 pm »
I think that if an event climbs so many metres per km the whole way round, the total metres of ascent supersedes any 'partial' section.

As an aside, don't underestimate the terrain on the Heartbeat 400. Apart from the exit/entry out of Preston and a 15-mile stretch after Ripon there's hardly a flat road in the first 320 km. The last 80 km or so are pretty much flattish. Those that complete the event will have deservedly earn't their 4 AAA points.

Entrants dropping like flies this last week. Entries still open due to many spare cards.

Andy Corless

 

321up

  • 59° N
Re: Heartbeat 400
« Reply #15 on: 19 April, 2015, 10:18:12 am »
Food:  full value riders might want to consider stocking up with provisions in Stokesley (233km) where the Spar is open until 11pm (according to their website)  ;)

321up

  • 59° N
Re: Heartbeat 400
« Reply #16 on: 19 April, 2015, 11:41:10 am »
More food options (distances assume I've plotted the route correctly)...

149km Helmsley (Co-op) closes 22:00
156km Kirkbymoorside (Co-op) closes 22:00 (slightly off route near roundabout)
213km Castleton (Co-op) closes 22:00
233km Stokesley (Spar) closes 23:00
233km Stokesley (Co-op) closes 22:00

[that's the section where we don't want to be carrying a lot of food!]

... more research required for late/early/24hr opening further along route!

billyam998

  • LEL rider C6 2013 / B11 2017 / B4 2022
Re: Heartbeat 400
« Reply #17 on: 19 April, 2015, 12:27:33 pm »
After fading dreadfully in the last 40km of the everyone rides to skeggy yesterday,  I am wondering if I have bitten off a bit too much by entering this.
Does anyone have a GPX that they could share so I can scare myself silly with the route profile?

321up

  • 59° N
Re: Heartbeat 400
« Reply #18 on: 19 April, 2015, 01:37:26 pm »
After fading dreadfully in the last 40km of the everyone rides to skeggy yesterday,  I am wondering if I have bitten off a bit too much by entering this.
Does anyone have a GPX that they could share so I can scare myself silly with the route profile?


billyam998

  • LEL rider C6 2013 / B11 2017 / B4 2022
Re: Heartbeat 400
« Reply #19 on: 19 April, 2015, 01:49:15 pm »
After fading dreadfully in the last 40km of the everyone rides to skeggy yesterday,  I am wondering if I have bitten off a bit too much by entering this.
Does anyone have a GPX that they could share so I can scare myself silly with the route profile?


  OH SHEET !!!

321up

  • 59° N
Re: Heartbeat 400
« Reply #20 on: 19 April, 2015, 02:02:31 pm »
After fading dreadfully in the last 40km of the everyone rides to skeggy yesterday,  I am wondering if I have bitten off a bit too much by entering this.
Does anyone have a GPX that they could share so I can scare myself silly with the route profile?


  OH SHEET !!!

This profile makes it look easier...

 ;D

Re: Heartbeat 400
« Reply #21 on: 19 April, 2015, 05:12:22 pm »
The climbing figure for the Heartbeat 400 is calculated using the latest points system as printed on the Audax AAA page (see www.audaxaltitudeaward.org.uk) of 1 point awarded for every 1000 metres of climbing.

The Heartbeat 400 has an estimated 4000 metres of climbing, so gains 4 altitude points.

I don't organise the Brevet Cymru 400 so I can't comment on that. You'll need to speak to the organiser and/or regional events secretary or the AAA big man.

Andy Corless

but... 400km needs 5100m of climbing unless it the climbing section is done, say, as 4,000m in 300km hence the confusion.  Full table here 
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/audaxaltitudeaward/aaaevents.html
 

bikey-mikey

  • AUK 6372
  • Yes, I am completely mad ! a.k.a. 333
Re: Heartbeat 400
« Reply #22 on: 19 April, 2015, 06:58:58 pm »
I wrote a TCX following in detail every route sheet instruction, and Bike Hike has it at 4,988 metres....

Sure these programs never agree with each other, but the difference here does seem unusually large..

Not sure how the 4,000 metres official climbing was measured though?
I’ve decided I’m not old. I’m 25 .....plus shipping and handling.

Cycling heatmap
https://www.strava.com/athletes/4628735/heatmaps/6ed5ab12#10/51.12782/-3.16388

Re: Heartbeat 400
« Reply #23 on: 19 April, 2015, 07:31:54 pm »
More food options (distances assume I've plotted the route correctly)...

149km Helmsley (Co-op) closes 22:00
156km Kirkbymoorside (Co-op) closes 22:00 (slightly off route near roundabout)
213km Castleton (Co-op) closes 22:00
233km Stokesley (Spar) closes 23:00
233km Stokesley (Co-op) closes 22:00

[that's the section where we don't want to be carrying a lot of food!]

... more research required for late/early/24hr opening further along route!

There are a couple of pubs in Castleton - I imagine the Eskdale Inn is on the route. I don't know what time it stops serving food, but you could grab bar snacks if desperate. There's a tea room in Castleton, too, but I think it shuts about five.

What's the route from Stokesley to Leyburn? If via Catterick, there's a takeaway which opens till after midnight.

Andy Corless

  • Doesn't take the p***, says it as it is!
Re: Heartbeat 400
« Reply #24 on: 20 April, 2015, 11:30:32 am »
"but... 400km needs 5100m of climbing unless it the climbing section is done, say, as 4,000m in 300km hence the confusion".

The original climbing figure was calculated from contour counting from OS 50:000 maps. Literally all of the climbing is in the first 300 km, which requires only 4000 m of ascent. Suggest we leave it as it is and see what the altimeter readings are from the event.

I've kept the route to the A6108 after Richmond, avoiding Catterick Garrison. This is of benefit to later riders as it avoids the prospect of climbing over Downholme Moor in the dark.

I've ordered 60 brevet cards. I've 60 entries but 10 people have already dropped out so entries will remain open all week.

Andy Corless
Organiser
Heartbeat 400