Hereward the Wake 300km Friday 28/05/21

[Lightning Phil]

Okay, who is having a bbq?  Go away rain…

[Alex B]

Rolled up the hill from Cambridge to Reed this morning for breakfast, and to photograph some of the HtW riders.

Everybody seemed to be in good spirits - impressive since they'd ridden 270km through the night!

[Suffolk Born]

Hello

Yes - cracking ride, good company, good weather all night - thankyou Tom.

[orejas]

Thanks to Tom and helpers for organising, the guys/women that I rode with and Alex for the pictures (let me know if you upload them somewhere). Weather was great, ride good, drive home required some concentration.

[Alex B]

... let me know if you upload them somewhere ...

Photos are here. Feel free to share, re-use etc.

[Bikeabilityman]

... let me know if you upload them somewhere ...

Photos are here. Feel free to share, re-use etc.

I was deep in thought when I spotted you. Think I heard a “smile” 🤣

[Bikeabilityman]

I enjoyed most of my first calendar event since PBP2019. I was with my TMK mate Milen, who joined Audax late last year, had done a couple of 200 DIY’s, a calendar 200, and now this. He’d never ridden through the night before, so was glad to be riding with company. Sad we didn’t stay with the rest of our group (hope I don’t hear they enjoyed some pub stops). Went to the Angel but couldn’t see any cyclists from the car park, so we endured a final climb into town for atm receipts.

Thanks for putting this on, Tom.

[Pepe]

My first sizeable ride all year. Great night and day in the saddle. Couldn't ask for better conditions. Rode through the night solo, then the last bit in good company 

Thanks for the Shandy and snacks near the end, Tom!

[Tomsk]

Rolled up the hill from Cambridge to Reed this morning for breakfast, and to photograph some of the HtW riders.

Everybody seemed to be in good spirits - impressive since they'd ridden 270km through the night!

I thought that might have been you behind the lens - cheers! Sorry we were blatting up the hill too fast to really register!

My first sizeable ride all year. Great night and day in the saddle. Couldn't ask for better conditions. Rode through the night solo, then the last bit in good company 

Thanks for the Shandy and snacks near the end, Tom!

Yes, we did enjoy the last stage, didn't we, what with leisurely icecream and shandy stops. Probably added about an hour onto our time, but very civilised and convivial. 

Afterwards, I sat down to watch the last few kms of the Giro d'Italia and promptly fell asleep!

[Lightning Phil]

Abandoned in the morning.  My rear disc brake failed, a bolt had fallen out (should have used thread lock). First rear wheel lock up, then no rear brake.   I found out this morning that one of the pads was also missing and calliper piston pushed out near rotor.  Piston doesn’t seem damaged thankfully. I did try another couple of downhills with just feathering front brake but decided it wasn’t the sensible option for distance remaining.

Sourced replacement parts at bike shop within a reasonable drive. So planning to fix this afternoon and get a DIY 200 in tomorrow to save RRTY.

Shame as near perfect conditions and for once I’d got my hydration spot on. Enjoyed the company and conversation and nice to stop and linger at controls longer than necessary. I’ve missed stopping in company this past year.

[Slimline Saxon]

Rode with Raymond and Dean until Therfield, right on the time limit at Biggleswade and had been suffering from severe foot cramp , or possibly too much compression above the ankle, but I had to keep stopping, as we did on the Ashwell lane where traffic was non stop. Made the decision to send Dean and Raymond on to get the time, with only 40 to go, but Raymond sacrificed his points to stay with me. Did not feel like moving from the Silver Ball after taking on liquids, but managed to get the the top of the Henham climb and had a sit down on the bench there, before rolling into the Angel and Harp after 6pm and dining with Raymond. So completed the ride, in our own time.

No problem with fitness but my feet still are sore now, and I wish I had my carbon bike back from the shop, it is worth 2kmh  extra speed but they cannot get the parts to service it, so that would have made a difference to my heavy winter bike. My first 300 since the heart attack, so happy to have pushed the distance and moved on from a mental blockage about going above 200 again.

Good to see many familiar faces, Jane and Chris at every control until they passed us on the Ashwell lane, a mini posse at Whittlesey, and more riders than expected at Cambridge, being entertained or intimidated by the local racist drunk at the Esso garage, I thought it might turn nasty at one point. thanks to Tom for signing our cards and getting us out of there. The revellers in Cambridge were quite subdued this year which made for an easy passage. Special mention for Milen from Team MK, doing his first 300 with Ritchie. Not too long ago he was riding in the introductory club group that I lead, but with the encouragement and inspiration of Ritchie he has become a fully fledged nutter!   

So apart from the points, and any faint hopes of an SR this year, it was a successful ride and next time should be fine, I have done it before with 2 hours to spare and it is a usually a good time of year for night riding.

And finally big thanks to Raymond for being the friend that he is.

[Deano4]

Group E consisting of myself, Big Saxon, The Straggler, Bikeabilityman and his pal left Dunmow more or less on time. Before we even got to Dunmow we Bikeabilityman and his friend had left us behind.

Still we carried on at our own pace into the night, the temperature cooling slightly as the time wore on. At the first info control I put my long fingered gloves on and jacket on, better to put them on before I got cold, I thought.

Once in Cambridge we had one wrong turn (technically straight on) which was my fault. A little back tracking and we were back on route to the first free control where we met up with Tomsk, Josser, Jem and a few other familiar faces. Tomsk kindly signed our cards so we didn’t have to get a receipt and we pushed on into the night.

Can’t say I enjoyed the night section but at least it came first I guess? Believe it or not though we made good time throughout the night and had clawed back an hour or so. The petrol station in Whittlesey had a machine which served tea which was great and much needed, so a brief stop there and back into the night for the long stage to Newport Pagnall.

We stopped in a bus shelter for a quick 15 minute break and the carried on. A quick stop here as although we were still ahead of time we weren’t leading it by very much.

We got to Biggleswade for second breakfast and the sun was out, it was proving to be a very hot day. Second breakfast eaten and a refreshing coke and we left the control on time to start the next leg to Reed.

Here things went a bit wrong. We couldn’t find a pub in Dunton to answer the info question which was a bit annoying. Maybe more annoyingly our processed was slowed on this narrow road by lots of huge 4x4s and Pick Up trucks going past, some of them not even bothering to slow down. Good use of the passing spaces was made by us.

The next issue we had was that Big Saxon was having problems with his feet which was slowing our progress and after some quick calculations we realised at our current pace we wouldn’t reach the finish in time. After a team meeting Big Saxon and The Straggler decided that I should push on ahead on my own as I had more at stake to lose with my ECEing this wide up to 400km. So we said our goodbyes and headed off on my own.

We were actually quite close to Reed at that point, maybe 1 mile or so away, so my non strop sprinting got me there very quickly. I wrote the answer to the question down in the brevet and pushed on for the last 24 miles to Dunmow.

Impeded by the heat and the (seemingly) endless hills I managed to get to Great Dunmow at about 16:05 and got a machine from the cash machine to end an interesting ride as Laterne Rougue (I guess!)

Anyway, many thanks to Big Saxon and the Straggler for their company for most of the ride and of course for Tomsk for organising.

[Slimline Saxon]

Well done Dean, glad you got through in good time. First time I have ridden with you, hopefully next time I will be quicker.

I have just checked my time for Hereward in 2015, I spent the same time off the bike as this time, but rode three hours quicker. Down to the heavier bike and the sore feet this time, and 2015 was a big tailwind from Dunmow. I have a theory that wearing winter compression tights may have impaired the blood flow to my feet as the day got warmer, my legs were swollen when I got home.

So just an unfortunate day in terms of time, but easily rectified next time.     

[Deano4]

Well done Dean, glad you got through in good time. First time I have ridden with you, hopefully next time I will be quicker.

I have just checked my time for Hereward in 2015, I spent the same time off the bike as this time, but rode three hours quicker. Down to the heavier bike and the sore feet this time, and 2015 was a big tailwind from Dunmow. I have a theory that wearing winter compression tights may have impaired the blood flow to my feet as the day got warmer, my legs were swollen when I got home.

So just an unfortunate day in terms of time, but easily rectified next time.     

Thanks! Glad you made it to the finish anyway and there was nothing seriously wrong. Always another Audax to ride .

[Tomsk]

My first 300 since the heart attack, so happy to have pushed the distance and moved on from a mental blockage about going above 200 again.

  Chapeau! Medal for Achievement of the Event, I'd say.

And finally big thanks to Raymond for being the friend that he is.

  This is another thing that's great about Audaxers.

[Tomsk]

... And apologies about the Dunton info - the pub is being refurbished (looks like the exterior has just been re-painted) and the signs had all been removed temporarily since we checked two weeks ago. It doesn't look particularly 'pubby', more like a standard old village house, until you see the picnic tables in the little beer garden on the side.

[the straggler]

Abandoned in the morning.  My rear disc brake failed, a bolt had fallen out (should have used thread lock). First rear wheel lock up, then no rear brake. 

We passed you early in the morning somewhere near Upper Dean area whilst you kipped on the grass verge. My initial assumption being that you were on an ECE just needed a short doze. Such rotten luck for a mechanical like that to fail with no warning.

Also, it was unfortunate for Big Saxon to suffer a foot injury nearing the finish. It was looking good that we could finish within time as we kept the pace steady, measured and minimised time spent at the controls as needed throughout. Funnily with all the pressure taken off to finish inside the time limit, the last 40+ km were not that hilly as I had envisaged. Having spotted a bench in Henham, it was a good spot to rest a bit out in the late afternoon sun. With the view of a large detached thatched house with a 21 plate EV 4x4 on the drive in front of us, I quipped the 'owner must be a banker', not that I have anything against those in the financial sector, including Big Saxon.

Most importantly, I am pleased to hear that Deano4 finished well within the time  , albeit having to pedal faster and harder to the finish alone. Audaxing and time trialling in the same event is good value in my book. At the Biggleswade control, I was disappointed to only finish  3/4 of my breakfast but not surprised that Deano4 left his plate clean. It was something I learned about him in PBP, that is not to unnecessarily waste food. However I was most surprised Bikeabilityman drove to the start adding a few points to his single digit carbon footprint.

All in all, I enjoyed the ride, the fine weather and company and some would say all training miles are good.

Thanks to Tomsk for the organisation and for providing water bottle filling service at the start.

[Lightning Phil]

Abandoned in the morning.  My rear disc brake failed, a bolt had fallen out (should have used thread lock). First rear wheel lock up, then no rear brake. 

We passed you early in the morning somewhere near Upper Dean area whilst you kipped on the grass verge. My initial assumption being that you were on an ECE just needed a short doze. Such rotten luck for a mechanical like that to fail with no warning.

About a 30 min doze.  The verge grass freshly cut.  I always seem to need a doze round that time of day. I had caffeine tablets with me.  But decided to go with the flow and have a quick kip.

[Bikeabilityman]

I was most surprised Bikeabilityman drove to the start adding a few points to his single digit carbon footprint.

Actually, it was Milen who offered me a lift. I was thinking of ECE-ing to 500, as I always enjoy cycling to Essex (downhill), but not so much the ride back. In the end, you could say I halved Milen’s carbon footprint 😁👍

[dod]

Anyone ECEing to 400 or 600 (or even 500)?

I've heard from a few riders that they will be ECEing; now that we can - up to 600km anyway ...

First Flatliner 600km of the season for another on Tuesday too.

Btw, I've heard from a rider who lives up that way that the B1040 should be open now. However, if faced with 5 miles of 'kitty litter' up the straight road from Pondersbridge to Whittlesey, I'll take the Glassmoor Bank diversion route.

I was on the B1040 this morning Tom, it's a lovely stretch of smooth blacktop now.

[αdαmsκι]

First Flatliner 600km of the season for another on Tuesday too..

Lovely headwind slog this afternoon from before Ramsey Road to around Woodhall Spa . Hopefully I'll get blown back from Gainsborough in the morning....

[Lightning Phil]

The pub, Dunton