Author Topic: The Flatlands 2017 - 9th Sep  (Read 42779 times)

The Flatlands 2017 - 9th Sep
« on: 25 August, 2017, 10:45:58 am »
So, the Flatlands....who is in this year? Who wouldn't want more 'Fun in the Fens' this year?

I'm this ride away from my first Fixed SR (and Essex fixed SR) and in all honesty I've not managed to convince myself it is a good idea yet.

Any motivational quotes or offers of emotional support along the way to encourage me appreciated  ;D

Andy C33

  • Beverage Procurement Officer.
Re: The Flatlands 2017 - 9th Sep
« Reply #1 on: 25 August, 2017, 12:34:35 pm »
Think positive and everything will be beautiful  ;D

Re: The Flatlands 2017 - 9th Sep
« Reply #2 on: 25 August, 2017, 12:36:33 pm »
Think positive and everything will be beautiful  ;D
Even Goole?

Andy C33

  • Beverage Procurement Officer.
Re: The Flatlands 2017 - 9th Sep
« Reply #3 on: 25 August, 2017, 12:40:14 pm »
Almost everything.

αdαmsκι

  • Instagram @ucfaaay Strava @ucfaaay
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Re: The Flatlands 2017 - 9th Sep
« Reply #4 on: 25 August, 2017, 02:31:08 pm »
Riding into a block headwind across the fens is easier on fixed because there's none of that freewheeling when you slow down and then have to accelerate back up to your original speed. HTH.
What on earth am I doing here on this beautiful day?! This is the only life I've got!!

https://tyredandhungry.wordpress.com/

wilkyboy

  • "nick" by any other name
    • 16-inch wheels
Re: The Flatlands 2017 - 9th Sep
« Reply #5 on: 25 August, 2017, 03:49:23 pm »
You'll be fine!  What could go wrong?! ;)

And I'll be seeing you all at Red Lodge again  :thumbsup:
Lockdown lethargy. RRTY: wot's that? Can't remember if I'm on #8 or #9 ...

Re: The Flatlands 2017 - 9th Sep
« Reply #6 on: 25 August, 2017, 04:08:18 pm »
Yes, indeed, I did find that the Fens on Fixed were much more efficient last year and hopefully I can avoid the arm issues this year.

I think it's that feeling too tired piece that is actually bothering me as much as anything, I guess I should just Man up and crack on....surely post LEL 600 km should be easier.

Re: The Flatlands 2017 - 9th Sep
« Reply #7 on: 25 August, 2017, 04:16:23 pm »
I'm in this year too - not so much because of the flatness but because this is the only 600 which coincides with a free weekend.

Though as my usual long audaxes are in Wales the different terrain will be quite welcome - should be a breeze (in more senses than one).

Re: The Flatlands 2017 - 9th Sep
« Reply #8 on: 25 August, 2017, 04:35:48 pm »
Any motivational quotes or offers of emotional support along the way to encourage me appreciated  ;D
You can do hard things.   :thumbsup:
(but only after you freak out like a big jessie!)  :facepalm:

HTH

Genosse Brymbo

  • Ostalgist
Re: The Flatlands 2017 - 9th Sep
« Reply #9 on: 25 August, 2017, 04:44:57 pm »
tippers, man up or stop hanging around with Tomsk, that'll sort your fixed gear problem out one way or another.

I'm in and it's do-or-die for me.  One SR, one 600, one egg, one basket.  Really looking forward to bivvying on the village green park bench somewhere near Gainsborough again.
The present is a foreign country: they do things differently here.

Re: The Flatlands 2017 - 9th Sep
« Reply #10 on: 25 August, 2017, 04:46:25 pm »
 ;D Excellent....it's working....

Re: The Flatlands 2017 - 9th Sep
« Reply #11 on: 25 August, 2017, 05:17:48 pm »
I rode it in 2015, on fixed, and enjoyed it more than I thought I would (memories of dear old Bernie's utterly grim Long Flat One). 

I even managed a personal best on the first 400—necessary because I had unwisely booked a B&B where the owner retired to bed at 2230.

Re: The Flatlands 2017 - 9th Sep
« Reply #12 on: 25 August, 2017, 05:21:23 pm »
I'm in.
I keep looking at my fixed/single speed parked next to the 27 speed tourer and thinking I really only need one gear for most of it.
All the best, Paul.

wilkyboy

  • "nick" by any other name
    • 16-inch wheels
Re: The Flatlands 2017 - 9th Sep
« Reply #13 on: 25 August, 2017, 05:51:44 pm »
I'm in.
I keep looking at my fixed/single speed parked next to the 27 speed tourer and thinking I really only need one gear for most of it.

The only hilly sufferance is the climb out of Lincoln, although if you take the B184 thru Saffron Walden then escaping that particular gravity well with an additional 200km in the legs is "good fun" :D

This is a very fixed-friendly route, if you can stand up every now and again to relieve the pressure.
Lockdown lethargy. RRTY: wot's that? Can't remember if I'm on #8 or #9 ...

Re: The Flatlands 2017 - 9th Sep
« Reply #14 on: 25 August, 2017, 07:37:29 pm »
OK, done I am in.

@cold snail we rode together for a bit last year through the Fens, in the rain. If any 600 was made for fixed I would say this is the one and what @Adamson said about fixed over the Fens into head winds is so true.

Admittedly I walked Canwick Hill out of Lincoln. My Flatlands strategy is always no sleep so in a way I actually enjoyed a few minutes of walking.

I'm going with a bigger gear (78") this year just because I feel ready for it.

See y'all in Dunmow and thanks for the push! (Mrs Rippers says thanks as well  ;D) - edit: Mrs Tippers Obviously!

rob

Re: The Flatlands 2017 - 9th Sep
« Reply #15 on: 25 August, 2017, 07:57:16 pm »
I'm in and using 79".   After a year off last year this should give me my 21st series in 23 years.

Tippers you rattled round the R&R pretty easily so I'm sure this will be fine.   

I'm in France without a bike for a week so will need a long ride to clear the head and legs.

Re: The Flatlands 2017 - 9th Sep
« Reply #16 on: 25 August, 2017, 08:18:15 pm »
I'm in and using 79".   After a year off last year this should give me my 21st series in 23 years.

Tippers you rattled round the R&R pretty easily so I'm sure this will be fine.   

I'm in France without a bike for a week so will need a long ride to clear the head and legs.

79!  Bloody time-triallists!

Mr Green

  • LEL, SR, RRtY, 24TT
Re: The Flatlands 2017 - 9th Sep
« Reply #17 on: 25 August, 2017, 08:32:46 pm »
Meeeeeee, Woop woop!
Did it last year and am back for more fun to complete my 2017 SR.
This will be my first ride on my new fixed. I know this is supposed to be fixie-friendly but I'm a little aprehensive as I have only ridden it a few times, with 50km being my longest ride. While I'm at it I thought that I would make this my first bivvy on an Audax too!
I hope that the weather is a little better this year: I got soaked on the Saturday and burnt on th Sunday last year.

See you all in the Spoons in Boston,

Arthur
What a lot of effort just for a cloth badge.

rob

Re: The Flatlands 2017 - 9th Sep
« Reply #18 on: 25 August, 2017, 09:11:46 pm »
I'm in and using 79".   After a year off last year this should give me my 21st series in 23 years.

Tippers you rattled round the R&R pretty easily so I'm sure this will be fine.   

I'm in France without a bike for a week so will need a long ride to clear the head and legs.

79!  Bloody time-triallists!

Same gear as 2015, when we were chatting at Google.   I'm a bit fitter and lighter now.

Anyway, I'm not a tester at the moment.   I might be again next year but, for the moment, I'm remembering why I enjoyed audax so much.

Re: The Flatlands 2017 - 9th Sep
« Reply #19 on: 25 August, 2017, 09:35:51 pm »
I'm in and using 79".   After a year off last year this should give me my 21st series in 23 years.

Tippers you rattled round the R&R pretty easily so I'm sure this will be fine.   

I'm in France without a bike for a week so will need a long ride to clear the head and legs.

79!  Bloody time-triallists!

Same gear as 2015, when we were chatting at Google.   I'm a bit fitter and lighter now.

Anyway, I'm not a tester at the moment.   I might be again next year but, for the moment, I'm remembering why I enjoyed audax so much.

Okay.  I'm just old and feeble.  Age and gear ratio reaching parity.

rob

Re: The Flatlands 2017 - 9th Sep
« Reply #20 on: 25 August, 2017, 09:39:16 pm »
Chatting at Google....bloody autocorrect on phone.   Goole obviously.

Re: The Flatlands 2017 - 9th Sep
« Reply #21 on: 25 August, 2017, 09:42:56 pm »
Chatting at Google....bloody autocorrect on phone.   Goole obviously.

Apparently the inventor of predictive text has pissed away and his funfair is on monkey.

Re: The Flatlands 2017 - 9th Sep
« Reply #22 on: 25 August, 2017, 10:20:06 pm »
Chatting at Google....bloody autocorrect on phone.   Goole obviously.

I knew what you meant:  Human brain evolves to cope with predictive text.

Re: The Flatlands 2017 - 9th Sep
« Reply #23 on: 26 August, 2017, 01:05:22 pm »
Think positive and everything will be beautiful  ;D
Even Goole?
Nowt up wi Goole. Moved there when I was a kid and it was paradise compared to where I'd come from. Going down there this afternoon to spend a few days riding fixed and drinking beer with friendly folk.
Hear all, see all, say nowt

Carlosfandango

  • Yours fragrantly.
Re: The Flatlands 2017 - 9th Sep
« Reply #24 on: 26 August, 2017, 01:06:12 pm »
I'm in and looking forward to it!

Of course that doesn't stop me wingeing, moaning and complaining most of the way round.

The satisfaction of completing such an awful ride must really make me happy :thumbsup: