The Richard Ellis Memorial 200 & 100km 02/10/21

[GavinC]

Nice to see we've got some weather coming in for the second half of the 200 tomorrow. I seem to remember this being a feature 3-4 years ago. A good test of the wet weather gear before we get colder conditions.

Yes if the forecast holds true, the section from the Maglio Rosso down to Manningtree looks particularly pleasant with heavy rain and straight into a 30-40mph headwind 

You on your recumbent?

Yes, so at least I’ll be a bit better off than if I were riding an upright  Should still be pretty bracing though!

Are you riding?
 

[GavinC]

But looking on the bright side, it'll then be a side/tailwind all the way back to Dunmow 

Good point 

[Lightning Phil]

Nice to see we've got some weather coming in for the second half of the 200 tomorrow. I seem to remember this being a feature 3-4 years ago. A good test of the wet weather gear before we get colder conditions.

Yes if the forecast holds true, the section from the Maglio Rosso down to Manningtree looks particularly pleasant with heavy rain and straight into a 30-40mph headwind 

You on your recumbent?

Yes, so at least I’ll be a bit better off than if I were riding an upright  Should still be pretty bracing though!

Are you riding?

No, got a sore throat and croaky voice at the moment.  But didn’t have plans for this event this year. I was planning on supporting niece at London marathon on Sun. But binned that idea now. If I was riding I’d have probably gone for ECEing the 100.

Main thing I notice on recumbent in strong winds that you don’t get pushed around particularly by cross winds. It’s just overall far less tiring.

[ElyDave]

If the cross winds are strong enough you bloody well do! One summer I got caught by a thundery squall, went from bone dry to driving sideways rain in about 2 minutes, wind so strong I was getting pushed across into the other lane by gusts.

I will agree though that if its a steady wind, you just lean into it.

I was on my airnimal for the 100 today, with newly fitted tribars which came in very useful

[felstedrider]

I had to be helped out of my kit when I got home.  142miles including the ride to and from the start.

Punctured by Stebbing airfield.  I may have had a tantrum.

[bobb]

I don't think I've ever been so wet. In fact, I didn't think it was possible to be that wet! Finally home, showered and dry (although I still feel wet!). I was crawling the last 10 miles or so back from Dunmow...

[Flatlander]

196 miles door to door. The first 100 to just past Maglia Rosa were fine although the rain had started. The rain wasn't too bad to Manningtree, certainly not bad enough for me to justify a waterproof. That changed by Bures possibly due to being knackered so limited power and heat gereneration but I didn't bother. At the finish I was shaking. I put waterpproof on for ride home which made it much better, wind direction may have helped on that bit as well.

Definitely my hardest weather timing session for a while but I don't think it was as bad as the 2007 PBP or 2009 LEL. The rain was much heavier at the end of the Arts & Sciences in London in July but that was only the last 2 hours and it was much warmer.

[Outtheback]

Enjoyed the 200 in a funny sort of way despite doing almost the whole thing on my own.  Got to the Angel and Harp around 6:50 in the evening.  Poked my nose in the door and it seemed quite unwelcoming to someone dripping wet and spattered with mud (and with a strong case of the shivers which started the moment i stepped of the bike) I went and got changed in the carpark and drove home forgoing the points.

Definitely need to rethink my fueling strategy though 

[psyclist]

I wanted to do a wet weather gear check, and that proved very possible. Confirmed my shakedry jacket is still keeping me dry inside … for once I had my layers spot on and I didn’t overheat.

Suspect it’ll take a few days to get my boots dry. I poured a lot of water out once I reached home.

[Slimline Saxon]

A successful day out despite the conditions, and good to show our support to Richard's family again. Having had a bad cold all week, the Straggler suggested we drop down to the 100, and he would ECE, which he did at 2.30 in the morning. Good move as he got 100 in before the event, and had to finish by 4.30pm, by which time the rains had come. Uneventful ride out, finally caught by Tomsk at 41km, then rode to Maglia Rosso together, Tomsk stopping for blackberries along the way. Saw the last 100s leaving the cafe, and passed by the first 200,so we found the cafe nearly empty as we had planned.. A full breakfast and a one hour stop, then back into what was already wet and windy conditions.

I had downloaded the old 100 routesheet, and was sure that when we reached Hawkedon we were off course, although the Garmins said we were on track, by then Tommo was riding with us on the return leg. So we made up a route to get to Clare, and found out later we had actually followed the official route, so experience counts. Tomsk caught us after Bardfield and led the train into Dunmow, into the Angel and Harp for a quick drink, followed shortly by the first 200 rider back who we met at Maglia Rosso earlier. I then realised I was wet through, having stopped, and decided to take Raymond to Chelmsford railway station, for a more comfortable journey back to Colchester, and we both took advantage of the heated seats to dry out. Then back to Buckingham avoiding flooded A and B roads and into a hot bath.

Two things happen this time of the year, I get a cold and the weather turns nasty hoping that the rain gods will favour us on the Silly Suffolk next week.

[bobb]

...and decided to take Raymond to Chelmsford railway station

I thought it was all replacement bus services between Chelmsford and Colchester yesterday (so no bikes)? I hope he wasn't stranded there!

[the straggler]

bobb, only found this out when I bought a ticket and starred at the platform departure times in disbelief.

I had to use my phone to navigate out from centre of Chelmsford through Boreham (luckily the rain eased off and stopped by now) to Hatfield Peverel; from here I knew my way home by using the A12 cycle path to Colchester.  An extra 45km for the day, only a few km shorter if I had to ride directly back from the event.

When Tomsk had bought a round of drinks at the Angel and Harp and made a toast - how ironic it later turned out, when I suggested to the 200km riders yet to finish as the rain bounced off the outdoor marquee. 

Thanks to Tomsk for making the event possible, and to Big Saxon for kindly going out of his way in giving me a lift.

[Bernster]

Well, that was a ride of two parts - 85k of favourable winds and nice weather, then pretty wet for the rest, so very much a case of plodding on, and making sure to get the layering right to stay warm. Safe to say my coat did a fantastic job, but my gloves are less waterproof.

Thanks to Psyclist, James and Adrian for the company (not sure whether the latter two are OTP), it's always easier when conditions are bad to have someone to chat to, and share turns into the wind. Thanks to Tomsk and helpers as well, I've not done many calendar rides since the pandemic, and it feels great to get back to some level of Audax normality (if any of this counts as normal).

[drossall]

ACME (Herts Branch)

We really should make that a proper thing (and I should join it)

[Bernster]

ACME (Herts Branch)

We really should make that a proper thing (and I should join it)

Always nice to spread the good word of ACME beyond the Essex borders - believe there are a few Herts based riders. 

[Tomsk]

Well done to all finishers, indeed chapeau to all who set out, given the forecast! I enjoyed a tourist pace with the elite and experienced Lanterne Rouge group, but started about 20 minutes late and stayed until well after the 100km closing time at the Maglia Rosso, so had a double session chasing the tail-enders.

Commiserations felstedrider, deflations were not exactly rare on Saturday: one rider reported 4 plus a slow one nursed along near the end ... unfortunately this resulted in being well out of time. The Straggler had the best plan for a 200, despite the train hiccup at the end.

Thanks to Wilkyboy, Mary and Ryan for controlling duties, and to Sonia and all at the Maglia Rosso for the food and hospitality.

Kit test revealed my 'waterproof' gloves both have a leak in the fingers, which spread to the whole by the end. Feet warm, but damp. Outdoor Research winter hat leaks, but it is very old. Gore jacket plus rainlegs did the job fine: temperature just right, though I did put my down jacket on when we stopped at the A&H to drink and drip, despite being under the heaters in the marquee. Every other ride I've done in the past few weeks has been wet at some point - reminds me of a winter in the west of Scotland in the '90s - ah but no, I remember now, that was every single ride for about three months!

[phil dubya]

I rode The Richard Ellis Memorial in 2018 and boy did it rain, surely not as bad again? No worse.

Picked up my Brevet from Tom who I hadn’t seen since he cheerfully waved at me just outside Brest.  Who would have thought the next 2 years would be so strange. 

I rolled out of Great Dunmow at 0802.  Tailwind, smooth roads, just tapping the pedals, all was right with the world.  I made Grantchester at 0955.  Said hello to Wilky Boy who pointed out my Altura base t-shirt was inside out.  It’s probably good luck, like wearing odd socks I thought.

Pushed straight on as I wanted to get as close to Maninngtree before the rain set in.  I think most had this plan too.

At Balsham I had a change of heart and decided stopped at the top of high street to eat and drink and enjoy the glory of the day before it faded, a few mins wouldn’t make too much difference.

5km later I dropped my chain at West Wickham.  Hmm, just bad luck or are the Audax Gods reminding me not to squander the better weather….

5km after that I have the unmistakable sensation of the rear wheel rim running on tarmac. The Audax Gods had dispatched the deflation fairy.   Good 1cm shard of glass embedded, oh well, at least it was a quality puncture.

Chain dropped again.

I’m not certain when, about half way to Maglia Rosso I think, the rear tyre whooshed and deflated hollywood style!  Initial inspection found a bent metal splinter hang out of the tyre, which when pulled promptly snapped!    It took around 15 mins of digging in the tyre with a 2mm allen key to remove the barbed fragment. (I always carry tweezers for such an event… but not today)

Arrived at Maglia Rosso 40 mins to spare, but the rain had started.  Gavin rolled in just behind me.

Many thanks to Mary and Ryan for signing my card 

Spicy Sausage roll, Carrot Cake and Large coffee and back on the road around 14:20.  Gavin decide it was best to head for Bury St Ed, and he was probably correct.  This meant I was now Lantern Rouge. Chain dropped again – On inspection a small flint was jammed in a link.  Flint removed, chain behaved itself.

The rain and wind was doing it’s best but I just kept it steady and arrived in Manningtree at 16:30.  Took 20 mins to eat and drink (I thought I would have learnt by now)

60km and 4.5 hours to Arrivee… with my secret weapon a third spare inner tube - ha!  The Fairy hadn’t seen that one coming!!! actually she had.    About 3km outside Manningtree, another flat.  Small thorn this time, at least it is varied.  I thought it would be wise to prep an inner tube just in case… My hands where really wet by this point and I struggled to get a Park Tools stick-on patch to hold, but on the second attempt one did and stowed it away.

Turning into Hundred Lane (circa 160km) (more a mud path masquerading as a byway)  I decided to walk the bike, I wasn’t going to be the fool here… just before exiting Hundred Lane a bramble wrapped itself around the front wheel and inserted a torn of biblical portions into the sidewall of my front tyre, I wasn’t even riding the bike!!  I looked up to see if the fairy was circling and then pulled the thorn.  I thought I heard a small pfsst but then nothing.  Press and squeezed the tyre but all seemed ok. That’s not bad then and promptly stepped in 6 inches of water, with both feet.  Time to press on with signs of twilight showing.
 
Some 5km later the fairy through me a flint as I approached Nayland on A134(165km).  It’s not all bad though, I jogged to a small business park for actual dry cover, out of the wind and an overhead electric light – luxury!  Using the patched tube, fixed the wheel and cycled approximately 3 metres before it was obvious the front tyre was now soft.  I had remained calm through I this, but I did say something like  “Oh [insert word]  the front tyre has a puncture”.  I hadn’t prepared a tube, I was just too cold standing with stopping.  I pumped up front tyre and it seemed ok.  So a slow puncture then.  I resolved to prep another tube, which took another 2 patches to get right due to soggy fingers and leave in the bag until required. 
 
By now the roads were awash and it was difficult to establish road from pot hole or sandy gravel trap, the going was slow.  Every 5km I pumped up the tyre, I should have changed the tube but I didn't want to stop and get cold, and well you know….
Every time I pumped up the tube my Garmin watch would assume I had just had a collision and try and call for assistance, maybe it was trying to tell me something…!

At Shalford Green circa 200km the slow puncture did what all slow punctures do… and I changed the tube.  I probably should have done that 10mins after applying the patch and saved time.

All went well from here.  No deflations, flooded roads or pot holes.  Rolled into Arrivee at 21:50.  Late but actually pretty rewarded in a strange way.  If you can’t compete, then complete. 

Tough day, not least due to cycling alone for all but 2-3km with Gavin, but actually quite rewarding to have got around the course albeit out of time.

Well done to everyone who finished, I take my hat off to you. 

A massive thanks to Tom, Nick, Mary and Ryan for putting on an event during these still difficult times, it means a lot.

[LittleWheelsandBig]

HK and I drove to Dunmow (unlike the hard cases) and left the start a touch before 08:30, she on her Kinesis, me on the trike.

Rolled to the first control with a tailwind followed by some civilised coffee in the garden. A bit more effort required to the second control where we enjoyed some hot lunch, more coffee and some chat.

The rain was in full flow when we left and it stuck around till close to the finish. My trike might have been better equipped with bladed spokes or blades on my rear hubs. The bridleway was well overgrown and there wasn’t sufficient traction to ride out of the creek. Having to get off into a clump of nettles just made me curse the route creator a little harder. A flint flat a bit further down the road required a rear tube swap on my trike, in the rain, what joy!

The third control was yet another coffee before grinding it out to the finish in the gathering dark. Hand over the card, back to the car for a change of clothes and the heater on full blast.

Not our fastest 200 but not quite our slowest. Not the wettest brevet we’ve done but that isn’t a record we ever want to try to beat. Sunshine and tailwinds the whole way round next time please.

[Lightning Phil]

Nice to see we've got some weather coming in for the second half of the 200 tomorrow. I seem to remember this being a feature 3-4 years ago. A good test of the wet weather gear before we get colder conditions.

Yes if the forecast holds true, the section from the Maglio Rosso down to Manningtree looks particularly pleasant with heavy rain and straight into a 30-40mph headwind 

You on your recumbent?

Yes, so at least I’ll be a bit better off than if I were riding an upright  Should still be pretty bracing though!

Are you riding?

How did you get on?

[GavinC]

Yes, so at least I’ll be a bit better off than if I were riding an upright  Should still be pretty bracing though!

Are you riding?

How did you get on?

Not great - I managed about 130km before bailing out and catching a train home. As expected I wasn't really bothered by the wind on the 'bent (though I did get quite a buffeting from crosswinds!), but I need to sort out my wet weather gear. My midriff got soaked through thanks to the puddle that formed on my lap!

[Tomsk]

I think the last of the postal finishes have dribbled in, so will make a start on validation tonight.

[Tomsk]

100km event data uploaded; 200km: brevet-lost-in-the-post situation to be resolved ...

[Tomsk]

All loose ends tied up, paperwork done. In due course the brevets will get stickered-up and returned. A couple of them have interesting mould growth after festering soggily in their polybags for a week or more ...

While the card for the new design is maybe just a little flimsier than of old, the pre-creased fold lines make brevet prep much quicker. Top marks to the AUK brevet production team!

[psyclist]

All loose ends tied up, paperwork done. In due course the brevets will get stickered-up and returned. A couple of them have interesting mould growth after festering soggily in their polybags for a week or more ...

Great news. I suspect my card might be a little worse for wear … even though I was trying to shelter under a shop awning opposite the bank where I got an ATM receipt in Dunmow, there was a lot of water about at that time!

No rush for my card … any Wednesday when MEMWNS isn’t too far west will be fine.

[felstedrider]

I was trying to get everything marked up in the dry underneath a building overhang opposite Barclays.  The entire population of Dunmow seemed to want to use it as a walkway while I was there.  I should have just headed for home and sorted everything out there, but I was so close to Tomsk’s house that it seemed a little inefficient.

The following morning was lovely and I rode to Chelmsford and watched the half marathon in the sunshine.

Anyway, calendar Essex SR done.  Shame I didn’t do the Grand but onto next year.