Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Audax => Topic started by: Lightkeeper on 03 August, 2013, 09:35:15 pm
-
If you've written one or come across one, do share the link. It will help those with withdrawal symptoms.
Here's one from me (link (http://raiding.tumblr.com/tagged/lel2013/chrono)), mostly written on the road, and (thanks to Tumblr) in a slightly random order in places.
I loved Auntie Helen's volunteer's-eye view from Great Easton (link (http://www.auntiehelen.co.uk/volunteering-at-lel2013-audax/)).
This one (link (http://machacasonwheels.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/the-bikes-of-london-edinburgh-london.html)) has a nice collection of pics of bikes seen at registration.
-
Really enjoyed reading that Mr Lightkeeper, very engaging, and well written too. Thanks for sharing it.
Well done. :thumbsup:
BTW, any word of the Elgin CC chaps?
-
Another volunteer's-eye view, Shyumu's un-ride report about volunteering at Thirsk (link (http://balancingontwowheels.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/volunteering-at-lel-2013.html))
-
Really enjoyed reading that Mr Lightkeeper, very engaging, and well written too. Thanks for sharing it.
Well done. :thumbsup:
BTW, any word of the Elgin CC chaps?
Thanks, Eck. I saw an Elgin jersey across the room at one of the early controls, but didn't catch the guys to speak to, nor find out their rider numbers to find out how they got on (faster than me, I reckon). Missed you at the Edinburgh control, I think? I bounced it and dropped in at home. Saw Megajoules and others at Moffat.
-
Spoke to one of the Elgin guys on the return thro' Brampton :)
-
You can read my story by following this http://ade2010lejog.wordpress.com/category/lel2013/ (http://ade2010lejog.wordpress.com/category/lel2013/) - the posts are broken up by day
-
Volunteer view from Brampton
http://audaxing.wordpress.com/2013/08/01/common-mechanical-problems-on-london-edinburgh-london/
http://audaxing.wordpress.com/2013/07/30/photos-from-brampton/
-
You can read my story by following this http://ade2010lejog.wordpress.com/category/lel2013/ (http://ade2010lejog.wordpress.com/category/lel2013/) - the posts are broken up by day
That's a very evocative and gripping write-up, Ade, thanks very much. I'm sorry you had the injuries but I think the fact that there were still 700 out on the course speaks for itself.
Well done!
-
I've bunched my LEL stuff into: http://www.darkerside.org/lel/ (http://www.darkerside.org/lel/)
Not a great many pictures I'm afraid!
-
You can read my story by following this http://ade2010lejog.wordpress.com/category/lel2013/ (http://ade2010lejog.wordpress.com/category/lel2013/) - the posts are broken up by day
Great write up Ade. Sounds like you had a fairly difficult time of it! Well done on toughing it out and finishing
-
http://marcusjb.wordpress.com/2013/08/04/london-edinburgh-london-1400km-audax-2013-northbound/
-
Here is my prologue write up: http://challengemenace.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/2013-lel-prologue.html ;D
-
Thanks to everyone for sharing. It's great to see the ride through others' eyes. Keep them coming! :thumbsup:
-
Trawling the web, I found this report from the vedettes. Very enlightening! Attacks and breaks, something that never happens at my end of the audax!
http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10784&page=4
-
http://challengemenace.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/london-edingburgh-london-lel-2013.html
Doo's account^ ;D
-
Trawling the web, I found this report from the vedettes. Very enlightening! Attacks and breaks, something that never happens at my end of the audax!
http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10784&page=4
They were riding at 40 km/h and the Russian makes a break for it, brilliant!
-
From the Facebook page, link to a nice write-up by a 77.5 hour finisher, on single-speed, his first audax. He liked it. http://outsidetimes.com/events/2013-london-edinburgh-london-audax-report-by-dominic-irvine-4570/#
-
I have written mine up in order of control, making it for easy reading and remembering what happen.
Lots of profanity, if you're the kind of person whom are easily offended by mere language, then thank fuck for that.
http://edscoble.tumblr.com/post/57421760544/the-london-edinburgh-london-1400k-audax
-
Brilliant, Ed ;D
-
Brilliant, Ed ;D
+1 - loved it. :thumbsup:
-
I have written mine up in order of control, making it for easy reading and remembering what happen.
Lots of profanity, if you're the kind of person whom are easily offended by mere language, then thank fuck for that.
http://edscoble.tumblr.com/post/57421760544/the-london-edinburgh-london-1400k-audax
Fucking 'ell. I enjoyed that.
-
I have written mine up in order of control, making it for easy reading and remembering what happen.
Lots of profanity, if you're the kind of person whom are easily offended by mere language, then thank fuck for that.
http://edscoble.tumblr.com/post/57421760544/the-london-edinburgh-london-1400k-audax
Fucking 'ell. I enjoyed that.
Yes, beautifully lyrical :)
-
I have written mine up in order of control, making it for easy reading and remembering what happen.
Lots of profanity, if you're the kind of person whom are easily offended by mere language, then thank fuck for that.
http://edscoble.tumblr.com/post/57421760544/the-london-edinburgh-london-1400k-audax
Lovely, Ed, thanks. Profane, but lovely :thumbsup:
-
I have written mine up in order of control, making it for easy reading and remembering what happen.
Lots of profanity, if you're the kind of person whom are easily offended by mere language, then thank fuck for that.
http://edscoble.tumblr.com/post/57421760544/the-london-edinburgh-london-1400k-audax
Definitely my favourite fucking write up so far ;D
-
Great - like Kerouac with his hand caught in a door!
-
... if you're the kind of person whom are easily offended by mere language
http://edscoble.tumblr.com/post/57421760544/the-london-edinburgh-london-1400k-audax
Not in the slightest. More offended by dodgy grammar :)
-
A great read, Ed!
You met me at Great Easton asking for a first aider and I was having a very stupid moment and went and found our doctor-in-training rather than asking you what you actually wanted (which was, I think, voltarol or something), which I could have answered immediately (we didn't have any). Sorry for that!
I did address you with "Are you EdScoble" except I said "EdScobee" and I don't think you worked out what I was saying.
Brilliant write-up anyway, a really interesting flavour to the event!
-
... if you're the kind of person whom are easily offended by mere language
http://edscoble.tumblr.com/post/57421760544/the-london-edinburgh-london-1400k-audax
Not in the slightest. More offended by dodgy grammar :)
He's got a good excuse.
Nice fucking ride report Ed.
-
http://challengemenace.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/london-edingburgh-london-lel-2013.html
Doo's account^ ;D
Great stuff, Doo! Boy, can you pick a place to go off-course! 1500k with half a day to spare is pretty impressive. Thanks a lot!
-
^ Cheers Peter, you're welcome. ;D
-
A great read, Ed!
You met me at Great Easton asking for a first aider and I was having a very stupid moment and went and found our doctor-in-training rather than asking you what you actually wanted (which was, I think, voltarol or something), which I could have answered immediately (we didn't have any). Sorry for that!
I did address you with "Are you EdScoble" except I said "EdScobee" and I don't think you worked out what I was saying.
Brilliant write-up anyway, a really interesting flavour to the event!
I remember you, unfortunately, losing one of my hearing aids (during one of those heavy rain, I have to take off the supposely water resistance hearing aids to stop it from whining) I have a hard time understanding people, and in such ride make it even more difficult with the variety in language and accent.
I wasn't being unsociable on purpose, just very difficult for someone of my standing, so I do apologise for that.
-
You weren't unsociable at all, I was being rubbish and not actually finding out what you wanted!
I've got some hearing loss and found it very difficult with the accents too, particularly some of the broad Scottish ones. I tended to find that at the reception desk we all ended up doing an awful lot of hand signals to comntribute to our meaning, even with the English speakers. I got very good at waving my hands around to illustrate the elevation profile of the section from Great Easton to Loughton!
-
Edward Scoble is a top bloke and provided a top report.
Really enjoyed reading it.
He also has a beautiful bike!
-
my brief contribution to the nonsense can be found here (http://laidbackaroundtheworld.blogspot.co.uk/)
-
I have written mine up in order of control, making it for easy reading and remembering what happen.
Lots of profanity, if you're the kind of person whom are easily offended by mere language, then thank fuck for that.
http://edscoble.tumblr.com/post/57421760544/the-london-edinburgh-london-1400k-audax
possibly the most enjoyable ride blog I ever read, thanks!
-
This is Hiren Patel's write-up. Hiren's the first rider from India to finish LEL in time.
1st of all sorry for late/long post, but it has to be big as much as the distance of my ride 1400kms. I hope that it will not take 103 hrs to read this. :):)
Wow!!! This is awesome feeling. I am on Cloud Infinite as Cloud 9 is not enough. I have Indian Flag around my neck, LEL 2013 Medal & tears in my eyes as the Fire which was burning from last 2 years(Not able to Finish PBP 2011) is calm down now. When i was taking memorable pics with Indian Flag, Daniel Webb(Event organizer) came & told me "You are the 1st and only Indian to Complete LEL till now" & my joy is doubled.
It was special for me as i had done everything (not possible for others to do it if you are earning good in IT : But only my very close/good friends knows why i had done this, others who still feel that i am "Kanjoos", i have only one thing to say them "If u really want to achieve sth big, u have to give up small things. Some of them are mentioned below which are really small for me. I will continue to do this as i have some events planned for next 2-3 years.") to make it happen specially Financial Part. Every Ruppe saved for this ride by skipping some Sunday's Dinner(as my cook is having weekly off), by not going into TTMM parties with my friends(by giving them one/another reason), by not giving Bday parties to my close friends from last 3-4 years, by not taking part in BRMs (apart from 600 one), by going on walk at 1 AM (several times) from Magarpatta to Pune Railway Station while going on home with my 10 kg bag and many more.
Thanks to all the people who helped me & believing in my dream and supporting me in one/another way. Sometimes i was just riding because some of my crazy friends were following/tracking me every second & i do not want that they will see my status as DNF. I can not name a few friends who helped me because there are plenty.
Quick summary of my ride:
0-700 km - I can say that i was flying towards Edinburgh. I had completed 700 km in 42 hrs without sleep(I was doing the same during my all 600 BRMs + some Friday/Saturday nights). This section was containing 2 grueling climbs. 1. Yad Moss (For which Route sheet says just one line : Climb over Yad Moss 34.4 kms) 2. Devils Beeftub (Climb over it : 41.7 kms). It was very cold in Scotland + rain like ice water + cross winds + i was doing it during night between 10 PM-2 AM.
Hot Water Shower + 3 hr Sleep at Edinburgh Control
700-933 km - Again i started freshly after 3 hr sound sleep, but when i completed 933km and reached Barnard Castle, at the time of leaving, it was 10:45 PM & again time to ride in night which i always avoid apart from imp rides. But this much long ride without any issues is not possible. My Helmet light, which was working properly for last 2 days stopped working. I changed the cells but still it is still not working. So i have front light, but no helmet light to read the route sheet. Without reading the route sheet it is not possible to navigate. So i have just 2 options: wait for the Sun which is after 7 hrs, but i choose the 2nd one. Follow any rider group, who is not planning to sleep till next control.
933-1000 km - I followed a good group of rider, i forgot their names. But they were riding at 22-23 km avg speed in night after completing 933kms. For me it is not possible. But i have to do this. So i followed them with their speed & completed 1000 km in 65 hrs. Local time is 2 AM. But this sudden increase in speed had left me with pain in my right leg, i thought it will be ok after 3 hr planned sleep.
Hot Water Shower + 3 hr Sleep at Thirsk control
1000-1300 km - This time after 3 hr sleep, i was feeling fresh, but pain in right leg had increased. Doctor had given me 4 paracetamol & told me to take 2 every 6 hrs. So this 300 km i had done with 6 tablets which i always hate. Every control i was getting up/down from bike with the help of volunteers. Now 1300 kms in 88 hrs. Local time is 2:30 AM. Just 120 kms to go.
Hot Water Shower + 4 hrs Sleep at St Ives Control
1300-1420 km - After 4 hr sleep, i was not feeling pain. So i avoided Paracetamol. But after 10-15km, it started paining again. Now i can not go back to control to get the medicine and i was not finding any shops in between. I thought i might get help at Great Easton control, but there was no medicine available as it was a small control. Continued with pain for last 120kms which has taken 9 hrs. More than the required time for 120kms. But the joy of completing 1420 km in 103 hrs (including 10hrs sleep) has diminished all the pain.
Thanks to all the volunteers + LEL team for wonderful organization. I loved & enjoyed the complete journey with awesome scenic beauty. It will stay in memory for the life time.
-
Excellent stuff, well done Hiren. I am sure we met at Plaisir. The Indians made the most of their adventure even though it wasn't that successful in France. Spirit in abundance great news.
-
Way to go Hiren Patel!! ;D
-
A wonderful story, Hiren - well done!
-
I have written mine up in order of control, making it for easy reading and remembering what happen.
Lots of profanity, if you're the kind of person whom are easily offended by mere language, then thank fuck for that.
http://edscoble.tumblr.com/post/57421760544/the-london-edinburgh-london-1400k-audax
possibly the most enjoyable ride blog I ever read, thanks!
+1 to this.
Ed, you just had me in absolute stitches!
It was this bit that had me in hysterics for 5 minutes:
...Alston was build on a rather steep hill with clobbered road, nothing I can’t handle (although lowering the tyres pressure would be beneficial), but looking behind me I realised the poor sod I rode with have to get off and walk down on his 23mm tyres...
;D ;D ;D
-
And south - http://marcusjb.wordpress.com/2013/08/10/london-edinburgh-london-1400km-audax-southbound/
-
And south - http://marcusjb.wordpress.com/2013/08/10/london-edinburgh-london-1400km-audax-southbound/
Good write up Marcus. Interestingly your low points was one of my highs. I'd finally got over my stomach issues, my appetite had returned, I was picking up speed and regaining all the time I'd had to relinquish going north, and it was some of the most beautiful scenery.
All the time I built up was spent eating, drinking, and sleeping. Not a bad way to use it up mind.
-
I have written mine up in order of control, making it for easy reading and remembering what happen.
Lots of profanity, if you're the kind of person whom are easily offended by mere language, then thank fuck for that.
http://edscoble.tumblr.com/post/57421760544/the-london-edinburgh-london-1400k-audax
possibly the most enjoyable ride blog I ever read, thanks!
+1 to this.
Ed, you just had me in absolute stitches!
It was this bit that had me in hysterics for 5 minutes:
...Alston was build on a rather steep hill with clobbered road, nothing I can’t handle (although lowering the tyres pressure would be beneficial), but looking behind me I realised the poor sod I rode with have to get off and walk down on his 23mm tyres...
;D ;D ;D
+1 ;D ;D ;D ;
Great write up Ed. You are the Yoda of bloggers. I put you to bed at Moffat.
-
And south - http://marcusjb.wordpress.com/2013/08/10/london-edinburgh-london-1400km-audax-southbound/
Marcus, I enjoyed that very much, thanks. I know you talked of writing further about your thoughts and #i look forward to that. I was just wondering whether your obsession with your target is something you'd do differently next time? I wouldn't have that choice and my obsession would just be to finish!
-
Because my target was rather modest, it never took away from the enjoyment of the ride. I only ever regretted it on the final night in st Ives. It would have been more fun to have gotten 3-4 hours sleep and then head over to London with cygnet, swisshat and all the others.
It was an arbitrary number I came up with last year and served to help me focus on the ride.
It is interesting, as my time on the road isn't all that different to others who finished in 110+ hours - they just slept more! 33 hours off the bike for me.
The scary stat is the speed I got up to the turn - 37 hours versus the return of 57 hours!
I hope to break my time driven targets next year and enjoy the views on the Highlands and Islands 1300 where I want to savour every view.
-
I'm a fan of time driven targets (still need a <28hr 600 to complete my R70 SR). IMO, LEL would have a been a great place to set a time, as you'll still have company, esp if you start late. The bleakest thing about my R70 400 was the 130km of solo at night. Ended up singing kids TV theme songs to myself to keep from getting bored. Still, not eating before bed - that's a time saving step too far for me!
I enjoy blabbing on rides too much, and anyone who's had to suffer my company on rides will doubtless attest.
-
Here's my blog of LEL. http://martint235.wordpress.com/2013/08/06/london-edinburgh-london/
-
One More:
http://bicyclemaintenancecompany.co.uk/london-edinburgh-london-1400kms-audax-july-2013/
-
OK, well mine is not a scratch on edscoble's and other people blogs, and it's taken me a week to write it what with work and feeling generally a bit sloth like. Here it is, hopefully I haven't messed up on the detail. I haven't mentioned absolutely everyone who helped or rode with me either, so sorry for the detail my BRANE didn't splurge out! I took very few pictures since my phone was safely in it's waterproof pouch that can get a bit steamed up on the outside. Thanks to Ken, Ivo and Bill of the BTOTC for the pics I have included!
http://felinelara.tumblr.com/
-
Very nice Feline, the only mistakes I could find are the spelling of Cygnet, and the identification of my motorbike as Charlotte's. She used to have a BMW K1100 LT, so mistaking my BMW K100RS for that is understandable.
-
Very nice Feline, the only mistakes I could find are the spelling of Cygnet, and the identification of my motorbike as Charlotte's. She used to have a BMW K1100 LT, so mistaking my BMW K100RS for that is understandable.
Are you sure she wasn't also on a motorbike? Maybe my halucinations began earlier in the ride than I thought! ;D
-
Very nice Feline, the only mistakes I could find are the spelling of Cygnet, and the identification of my motorbike as Charlotte's. She used to have a BMW K1100 LT, so mistaking my BMW K100RS for that is understandable.
Are you sure she wasn't also on a motorbike? Maybe my halucinations began earlier in the ride than I thought! ;D
I recall a hatchback, possibly a Renault Clio, with a blowing exhaust. She had a lot of camera kit, including a remote flash on a stand, which wouldn't go on a motorbike. I got to the bridge around 5pm. I'd made a decision not to film the section up to the bridge, apart from St Ives control. There's bound to a lot of Go Pro footage which conveys that better, and I'd been up since 4am, and filmed in the sun until the last riders had gone.
I'd mentioned the Bridge to Charlotte, she said she wasn't going that far.
I filmed some early riders, then got 90 minutes sleep at the Country Park Lodge in Hessle, just under the bridge. Then I went back and met Charlotte, I advised her to go beyond the main stanchions to get a less cluttered view, then I went to film riders crossing the bridge from the Humber shore, so we've got video of riders approaching Charlotte and the flash going off.
I then went back to offer Charlotte the other twin bed if she needed a rest before driving back to London. She declined and I went back to the lodge, and had a couple of pints while getting shots of the gathering apocalyptic clouds. Then to bed and up at 4 am. All this would have been fairly straightforward without my painful sciatica.
You must have passed at a time when I was limping from my motorbike to the bridge deck or back, as it's a few hundred metres.
-
[ http://edscoble.tumblr.com/post/57421760544/the-london-edinburgh-london-1400k-audax ]
Great - like Kerouac with his hand caught in a door!
;D That would make a brilliant cover quote. Nice report Ed - but may I ask whether English is your first language?
;)
p.s. I have no idea what a Reese Piece is.
-
[ http://edscoble.tumblr.com/post/57421760544/the-london-edinburgh-london-1400k-audax ]
Great - like Kerouac with his hand caught in a door!
;D That would make a brilliant cover quote. Nice report Ed - but may I ask whether English is your first language?
;)
Ed's first language may be BSL, I don't know how that is punctuated.
-
[ http://edscoble.tumblr.com/post/57421760544/the-london-edinburgh-london-1400k-audax ]
Great - like Kerouac with his hand caught in a door!
;D That would make a brilliant cover quote. Nice report Ed - but may I ask whether English is your first language?
;)
p.s. I have no idea what a Reese Piece is.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reese's_Pieces :)
-
Ed's first language may be BSL, I don't know how that is punctuated.
BSL wasn't my first language, but I know some of them after going to a deaf boarding school.
BSL is basically a combination of body language (v. important, signing won't work if your facial expression doesn't match) and text messaging.
-
I saw a particularly nice goat, so I was happy with that. When I said that to Simon later he looked at me like I had lost the plot.
Don't know why, but this had me creased up !
-
Ed's first language may be BSL, I don't know how that is punctuated.
BSL wasn't my first language, but I know some of them after going to a deaf boarding school.
BSL is basically a combination of body language (v. important, signing won't work if your facial expression doesn't match) and text messaging.
I find it interesting to think how punctuation is a reflection of actual speech. I tend even to think grammatically, as I only read quality papers, and watch highbrow TV. My only problem is that I had a bad stammer between the ages of 9 and 15. That gave me a very broad vocabulary, as it meant I had to avoid 'trigger words'. There's still a gap between the fluency in my head and that from my tongue.
Going back to the blogs. It's nice to see that Veloman gets credit for saving a few rides by spotting bikes in the bike park that should have been long gone.
-
Well done Ed great read!
Liked the bike you were on. Noticed it at Brampton after I'd been helping Richard change a 105 gear cable, took ages to get the end out. Then saw yours D/T shifters, steel frame, BIG tyres! Nice.('Why didn't he need a new cable?' )
-
I find it interesting to think how punctuation is a reflection of actual speech. I tend even to think grammatically, as I only read quality papers, and watch highbrow TV. My only problem is that I had a bad stammer between the ages of 9 and 15. That gave me a very broad vocabulary, as it meant I had to avoid 'trigger words'. There's still a gap between the fluency in my head and that from my tongue.
Going back to the blogs. It's nice to see that Veloman gets credit for saving a few rides by spotting bikes in the bike park that should have been long gone.
I work pretty hard in trying to produced a readable sentence that vaguely make some kind of sense, it's more the fact that when it come to speech, it's hard for me to hear the difference between has, have, and had despite the slight difference in lips movement, I can't tell the difference between the squeal of a poorly fitted disc brakes and the tweet of an angry bird, having dyslexia does not help further.
Basically, I write how I hear, luckily computer have spell checker nowadays so that's one less thing to worry about.
Well done Ed great read!
Liked the bike you were on. Noticed it at Brampton after I'd been helping Richard change a 105 gear cable, took ages to get the end out. Then saw yours D/T shifters, steel frame, BIG tyres! Nice.('Why didn't he need a new cable?' )
Instant shifting of the brifter are great, but a royal bastard to work with when it go wrong (note "when", not "if"), Campagnolo fortunately a little easier.
Big tyres were real comfy at 37psi, I cannot express how exhilarating it is to sped down the Yorkshire road without gripping the handlebar tightly to prevent losing grip of the bar, especially the same when climbing without wheelspinning, like ever.
-
ED, I say again, your blog is great. I wondered about dyslexia and deafness when I read it, but they are just background for me (though obviously not for you!). I was just absorbed in your general style; it is so colourful, explosive and funny! Any grammatical glitches, just add to the whole thing and I hope you won't find that patronising. It's break-neck stuff, much like reading Woody Guthrie or Kerouac, as I mentioned.
Thanks again
Peter
-
I found kerouac unreadable (my loss probably - I suspect I'd enjoy his books translated into proper punctuate english ).
ed's blog was far more enjoyable (and readable).
-
Kerouac's pretty difficult to follow, kinda like cycling in London; you have to keep your wit about, observe surrounding a lots, be assertive, ride predictably, work with traffic otherwise you'll lose it all and become a kerb hugger barely able to copulate into the main traffic of Holborn junction.
I like it as it's very free-flowing with almost no structure and a nonlinear way of describing scenario in such an abstract form that you'd be forgiven to think it doesn't exist.
I prefer Allen Ginsberg thought, easier to follow and understood, probably cause it's slightly more linear, with commas, and sometime full stop.
-
My favourite writer was Norman Lewis. I stayed in Enfield the night before the registration, and got to ride through Forty Hill, his birthplace, which he writes about here. His lucid, humourous style is a joy.
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Ms87wYhDuBcC&pg=PA1&lpg=PA1&dq=Norman+Lewis+Forty+Hill&source=bl&ots=t6-x36IAvO&sig=lP5kZCGhP8vQi7eSumzVO6oy-3k&hl=en&sa=X&ei=vfsIUsGMNKv40gWQrIG4BQ&ved=0CGgQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=Norman%20Lewis%20Forty%20Hill&f=false
-
My write up of my first audax:
http://irbandito.wordpress.com/2013/08/13/lel-2013/
-
My write up of my first audax:
http://irbandito.wordpress.com/2013/08/13/lel-2013/
Loved the ....with a comment of “you’re one of THEM aren’t you?”.
-
My write up of my first audax:
http://irbandito.wordpress.com/2013/08/13/lel-2013/
Loved the ....with a comment of “you’re one of THEM aren’t you?”.
his first statement was "where've you been with all those bags? Do you work for the Royal Mail". It gave me great pleasure to say "Edinburgh". That's what caused the reponse of "one of them". Said not with disdain, more amazement and I like to think, a little respect. :)
-
I'm an immensly slow (and verbose) writer, and have only managed to get 2 days of the ride and my pre-prologue day done so far.
My blog is also more of a personal journal, recording my progress from initial PBP inspiration until, hopefully, the event in 2015.
So I suspect my account may be rather long winded for most people's tastes. Anyhow, these are the draft sections so far:
http://justkeeppedalling.blogspot.com/2013/07/lel-diy-pre-prologue.html
http://justkeeppedalling.blogspot.com/2013/07/lel-day-1.html
http://justkeeppedalling.blogspot.com/2013/07/lel-day-2.html
Hope to get the rest done in the next week or so.
-- Rob
-
I'm an immensly slow (and verbose) writer, and have only managed to get 2 days of the ride and my pre-prologue day done so far.
My blog is also more of a personal journal, recording my progress from initial PBP inspiration until, hopefully, the event in 2015.
So I suspect my account may be rather long winded for most people's tastes. Anyhow, these are the draft sections so far:
http://justkeeppedalling.blogspot.com/2013/07/lel-diy-pre-prologue.html
http://justkeeppedalling.blogspot.com/2013/07/lel-day-1.html
http://justkeeppedalling.blogspot.com/2013/07/lel-day-2.html
Hope to get the rest done in the next week or so.
-- Rob
That blue velo was LEL. Being a later starter I was still behind you at that point and saw it parked up at Thirsk!
-
Ouest-France (http://www.ouest-france.fr/actu/actuLocale_-En-quatre-jours-il-a-pedale-1-400-km-Outre-Manche-_22211-avd-20130809-65709460_actuLocale.Htm)
-
I'm an immensly slow (and verbose) writer, and have only managed to get 2 days of the ride and my pre-prologue day done so far.
My blog is also more of a personal journal, recording my progress from initial PBP inspiration until, hopefully, the event in 2015.
So I suspect my account may be rather long winded for most people's tastes. Anyhow, these are the draft sections so far:
http://justkeeppedalling.blogspot.com/2013/07/lel-diy-pre-prologue.html
http://justkeeppedalling.blogspot.com/2013/07/lel-day-1.html
http://justkeeppedalling.blogspot.com/2013/07/lel-day-2.html
Hope to get the rest done in the next week or so.
-- Rob
That blue velo was LEL. Being a later starter I was still behind you at that point and saw it parked up at Thirsk!
Cheers Phil - I'll add a footnote. I figured it had to be, but couldn't see any markings and was confused it was going the other way. Guess it was returning to find something dropped, or maybe looping back to meet a friend
-
The blue velo mobile packed (not sure of reasons) and was heading back I believe.
-
The blue velo mobile packed (not sure of reasons) and was heading back I believe.
Ah, that explains it - thanks for the clarification. Shame to hear the rider had packed though.
-
He packed due to stomach problems, combined with moral problems. See his blog here (in Dutch):
http://pdrond.blogspot.nl/2013/08/tweede-dag-lel.html
-
Thanks arvid (reaches for Google Dutch translator, but realise with my basic level of Afrikaans I can actually follow quite a bit)
-
So much more I could have said.
http://www.top-beer.co.uk/post/2013/08/06/LEL-2013-Nearly-full-ride-report.aspx#continue
-
I enjoyed that, thanks!
-
So much more I could have said.
http://www.top-beer.co.uk/post/2013/08/06/LEL-2013-Nearly-full-ride-report.aspx#continue
"Around 3 in the morning I spotted a bus shelter and decided another nap was in order. Unfortunately it was already occupied"
Only in audax...
We were nearly at the same time at Brampton-return (I'm guessing those times are check-in times, I was <2 minutes later), yet after that you were more than an hour behind. Did you sleep at Brampton or something? And what color was the velomobile in Alston? I was riding together with the black one but he didnt walk it afaik.
-
Thanks arvid (reaches for Google Dutch translator, but realise with my basic level of Afrikaans I can actually follow quite a bit)
With my level of Afrikaans (which never really progressed much beyond "Hoe gaan dit?" and "Hardloop! Dit is die SAP!") I gave up trying to understand it after the first few words!
-
Very nice Feline, the only mistakes I could find are the spelling of Cygnet, and the identification of my motorbike as Charlotte's. She used to have a BMW K1100 LT, so mistaking my BMW K100RS for that is understandable.
IMHO, and especially as a cyclist, the difference between a BMW K1100 LT and a BMW K100RS is purely academic, while the difference between my Brompton and my Moulton is not. ;)
-
Very nice Feline, the only mistakes I could find are the spelling of Cygnet, and the identification of my motorbike as Charlotte's. She used to have a BMW K1100 LT, so mistaking my BMW K100RS for that is understandable.
IMHO, and especially as a cyclist, the difference between a BMW K1100 LT and a BMW K100RS is purely academic, while the difference between my Brompton and my Moulton is not. ;)
Oops ;D
-
http://outsidetimes.com/inspired/interview-with-endurance-cyclist-dom-irvine-about-lejog-on-a-tandem-and-the-london-edinburgh-london-audax-4446/
OT: Have you ever taken on an audax before? Did the image of steel frames and beards make you think twice?
DI: This will be my first audax and yes, I was put off by the image of bearded cloth capped riders lecturing me on how to ride.
This sort of talk from a 'motivational speaker' makes me think twice. I've been going to the National 24 Hour championship long enough to know what happens to these people when they turn up and encounter Wilko on his steel framed bike. Their record attempts are a laugh though.
-
http://outsidetimes.com/fitness/training/building-up-to-the-london-edinburgh-london-audax-with-dom-irvine-4408/
But he does say elsewhere
The stereotypical view I had of the beard ridden, steel steed, faded jersey mile muncher, happy to drift along at snail’s pace audax rider, has been replaced by the sense of a very laid back tolerant group of exceptionally capable cyclists whose only gripe is riders ill equipped to look after themselves properly when things go wrong.
so he has seen the error of his views ;D
Paul
-
http://outsidetimes.com/fitness/training/building-up-to-the-london-edinburgh-london-audax-with-dom-irvine-4408/
But he does say elsewhere
The stereotypical view I had of the beard ridden, steel steed, faded jersey mile muncher, happy to drift along at snail’s pace audax rider, has been replaced by the sense of a very laid back tolerant group of exceptionally capable cyclists whose only gripe is riders ill equipped to look after themselves properly when things go wrong.
so he has seen the error of his views ;D
Paul
It's a nice enough little article. It's entirely possible that someone can come from a non-cycling background and suddenly break long-standing records. But I'm put in mind of the fuss made of RAAM finishers. They need fund raising skills to ride the event, which is good for the sport in terms of profile. But when you sit down and look at their 24 Hour performances, you find that they are 70 miles off the record pace.
-
Finally managed to pull my thoughts together into something vaguely coherent:
http://p.ost.im/dGGrrH
Won't quite offer you your money back if it doesn't cure insomnia, but most of the way there...
Andy
-
Finally managed to pull my thoughts together into something vaguely coherent:
http://p.ost.im/dGGrrH
Won't quite offer you your money back if it doesn't cure insomnia, but most of the way there...
Andy
It won't put me to sleep with sentences like this:
This wasn’t to be my first rodeo
-
Finally managed to pull my thoughts together into something vaguely coherent:
http://p.ost.im/dGGrrH
Won't quite offer you your money back if it doesn't cure insomnia, but most of the way there...
Andy
Good read - and congratulations (I won't spoil the ending for those who've not read it yet!).
-
It took longer to write up, than it did to ride the bl***y thing.
http://cyclingmagic.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/london-to-edinburgh-and-back.html
Mentions and photos of quite a few of you. Thanks for the company and support.
-
Finally written mine up too, mainly so I can remember the details next time :)
http://markcharlton1.wordpress.com/london-edinburgh-london/lel-2013/
I've put in a few photos found online & credited the photographer - hope that's OK I've not done this before! :)
-
Finally written mine up too, mainly so I can remember the details next time :)
http://markcharlton1.wordpress.com/london-edinburgh-london/lel-2013/
I've put in a few photos found online & credited the photographer - hope that's OK I've not done this before! :)
Photo of Gracemount School is Dave Mccraw's.
-
Finally written mine up too, mainly so I can remember the details next time :)
http://markcharlton1.wordpress.com/london-edinburgh-london/lel-2013/
I've put in a few photos found online & credited the photographer - hope that's OK I've not done this before! :)
Photo of Gracemount School is Dave Mccraw's.
Updated, thanks
-
So much more I could have said.
http://www.top-beer.co.uk/post/2013/08/06/LEL-2013-Nearly-full-ride-report.aspx#continue
"Around 3 in the morning I spotted a bus shelter and decided another nap was in order. Unfortunately it was already occupied"
Only in audax...
We were nearly at the same time at Brampton-return (I'm guessing those times are check-in times, I was <2 minutes later), yet after that you were more than an hour behind. Did you sleep at Brampton or something? And what color was the velomobile in Alston? I was riding together with the black one but he didnt walk it afaik.
As I was leaving Brampton, my mate Marc arrived so I waited for him. We also stopped for 1/2 an hour or so at Alston garage for milkshakes.
The velomibile was very yellow.
-
Finally written mine up too, mainly so I can remember the details next time :)
http://markcharlton1.wordpress.com/london-edinburgh-london/lel-2013/
I've put in a few photos found online & credited the photographer - hope that's OK I've not done this before! :)
Nice write up,very enjoyable 8)
Paul
-
Here's my LEL 2013 report:
http://randomatteus.blogspot.fi/2014/03/lel-2013-report-in-english.html (http://randomatteus.blogspot.fi/2014/03/lel-2013-report-in-english.html)
I know it's a late, but it took me about 2-3 months to write (in Finnish), 1 month to format and 1 month to publish (as a Christmas calendar). Earlier this year I translated it, but my proofreader was even slower than me, so I decided to publish it now without proper review. So if you find spelling mistakes, awkward sentence structures and/or even factual errors, please inform me. Thanks.