LEL - News from/of riders

[hellymedic]

I posted a link to the pdf of the state of play at 12.30.
DNS list is towards end of document.
Dalkeith control opened officially at 07.40.
Audax maximum speed is 30kph...

[Mr Larrington]

The first rider arrived at Dalkeith about thirty minutes ago.

Yikes, isn't that something in excess of 15mph average (assuming an 8am departure).

I suspect it's the Italian pro and his mates, who find 30 km/h a bit, er, pedestrian...

[hellymedic]

The first rider arrived at Dalkeith about thirty minutes ago.

Yikes, isn't that something in excess of 15mph average (assuming an 8am departure).

I suspect it's the Italian pro and his mates, who find 30 km/h a bit, er, pedestrian...

Actually this speed is way below 30kph as the control had been open 5 hours by the time the rider arrived.
Timing seems almost identical to last LEL, when fasted rider arrived at Dalkeith at 13.04 on the Monday.
Expect return to Lee Valley between 2200 and midnight tomorrow. (Fastest rider arrived 23.09 Tuesday last time...)

Is Howard Waller riding this year?

[tatanab]

Is Howard Waller riding this year?

He rode the Mersey 24 - see quote from Tricycle Association website
"I have been advised, by the man himself, that Howard Waller (Oxford City RC) retired after 365 miles (19 hrs 48 mins) due to lack of feeling in his hands and feet. This was caused by the cold, wet conditions during the morning. Bad luck Howard, after 234 miles in the first 12 hours it was looking good."

[Weirdy Biker]

The first rider arrived at Dalkeith about thirty minutes ago.

Yikes, isn't that something in excess of 15mph average (assuming an 8am departure).

I suspect it's the Italian pro and his mates, who find 30 km/h a bit, er, pedestrian...

He must be out for a stroll then, as he's averaging around 25km/h.

[rogerzilla]

I'll see y'all at Alston, 7pm

[hulver]

According to his Twitter Richforrest has packed.

Twitter

[Basil]

That's bad luck, Rich.

[Ian H]

Toothgrauncher should be making his way to Gamlingay. He was marshalling on the 24hr, then afterwards falling asleep at the HQ.  He'll have done a respectable mileage by the time he's finished not riding both the 24 and LEL.

[vorsprung]

According to his Twitter Richforrest has packed.

Twitter

Doubtless we'll get the full story soon enough but it seems from twitter than it was wet and his shorts rubbed in the wrong way
It's the kind of little problem that can easily happen...too bad..

[hellymedic]

Poor Rich!
Wet friction can destroy skin very fast.
A snug non-slip fit in the dry can make for shredded meat in the wet...

[nuttycyclist]

A disappointing result.    I've had short pain in the past, but usually a spare pair in a pannier to change into which resolves things immediately.   (Not that I've been silly enough to try a ride of that distance.)

[Hummers]

Mrs Hummers here:

Just had a text to say that Hummers is at Alston. 

On schedule, but the climb into a headwind over Yad Moss has taken it out of them (I am assuming he is still with Postie).

Hope you did not mind me posting

Mrs H

[Giraffe]

Toothgrauncher should be making his way to Gamlingay. He was marshalling on the 24hr, then afterwards falling asleep at the HQ.  He'll have done a respectable mileage by the time he's finished not riding both the 24 and LEL.

So he's going for the full set? Rode 'em last time and not riding this time.

I hope he doesn't get a DNF this time - ultimate humiliation!

[Mr Larrington]

Doubtless we'll get the full story soon enough but it seems from twitter than it was wet and his shorts rubbed in the wrong way
It's the kind of little problem that can easily happen...too bad..

BTDTGTTS.  Put my leg-warmers under my shorts instad of over them on the first night of PBP.  Fail.

[DanialW]

The first rider left Eskdalemuir, heading south, at 17:00. There is a trickle of riders as far back as Alston heading north, then the flow thickens.

Full reportat London Edinburgh London communications centre

[hellymedic]

I see ten riders have now been to Dalkeith That's going some!

[Mr Larrington]

I notice Rob Bullyment is on the DNS list.  Did he enter twice or something

[hellymedic]

I notice Rob Bullyment is on the DNS list.  Did he enter twice or something

No.
I think there's been a transcription error.
The list of non-starters included  no 120.
This has become 122, Rob Bullyment. I pointed this out upthread.
I think errors like this will be corrected when Danial gets Melita's hard-copy list.
I know not where Melita is.
I daren't phone her but sent a supportive SMS earlier.

[hellymedic]

Will Rich be coming back to Lee Valley?
Does anyone know when?
Can he contact me on 07817
two two two 791

I'm at LV for the duration.

[eck]

I think errors like this will be corrected when Danial gets Melita's hard-copy list.

I wonder whether the DNS list includes everyone who sent in an entry way back when, even if they later withdrew and never paid the full entry fee. (Something very like but not quite) My name appears as a DNS even though I withdrew ages ago.) 

Not really important though; I dare say everyone involved has more on their mind than minor admin hiccups.
Good luck to all the riders.

[Von Broad]

Rich doesn't seem to be having he best of luck on the longer ridesthis year what with one thing and another.
And sorry to see Manotea on the DNF list as well [I'm assuming there is only one Paul Stewart!]

[Deano]

Just back from a 19-hour shift at Middleton Tyas. 

Saw a few of our lot there, but JBB and I were too busy to mark people off.  Saw Chris N a couple of hours ago, looking pretty fresh (I assume it was Chris N, cos he was wearing a black yacf top and someone called him Chris N*****). 

Saw Hummers and John Spooner a lot earlier - I was a little starstruck when I registered rider 001, and said something like "Wow! You're John Spooner!".  Couldn't even stop for a piss when they were in, it was that busy, so I didn't have chance to introduce myself.  We were about an hour behind with feeding people.

Ah, I've realised I saw (and fed) arallsop at about the same time as Chris N was in.  He disguises his identity too cunningly for me.  He seemed pretty fresh, especially considering the backstory!

Chatted to an Aussie bloke riding fixed who I think may have been Sandy V's husband.  Top bloke, either way.

Andy C could have been the first Brit through the control - he was the first Brit to arrive, but he faffed about in the entry, and a lad from Willesden Wheelers got in ahead of him.  That was about 5.45 am.  He was flying.  MSeries and Warburton arrived about three quarters of an hour later, looking remarkably fresh for people who'd ridden 470 miles in 21 hours without sleep.  They even beat Bob to the control, which was a first for MSeries.

I had a great time - there was an amazing wealth of cycling experience at the control, and smashing company.  I wish I didn't have to go back to work

It was amazing, and a bit sad, that apart from Peter Ralph and I, everyone at the control had come from miles away.  Chapeau to them for answering the call.

Photos to follow...

[toekneep]

Well done Deano, give yourself a firm pat on the back. And the same goes to all the helpers of course.

[DanialW]

The team at Thorne have been awesome. By the time we closed the control, it had been scrubbed clean, all the bedding and towels laundered, and the next food shop collected and stored.

My team of eight have to look after ten riders between now and dawn.

I'm going to bed until tomorrow. zzz

(PS - I'll try and look at the start list tomorrow. it doesn't appear to tally with the DNS list I was given, alas. Or, indeed, the brevet cards.)