Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Audax => Topic started by: Tomsk on 01 January, 2011, 07:04:37 pm
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As I've used every spare moment between Xmas and now to mess around with setting up my 2011 events, including planning a new 300km, I'm now moving on to thoughts of Easter, and Arrows in particular.
Anybody got any plans? I want to look at a similar route to last year, but avoiding the hilly bit around Louth, that some members of the team still haven't forgiven me for! Route was: [starting 09:00 Good Fri,] Ardleigh[nr Colchester], Cambridge, Whittlesey, Sleaford, Louth, Brigg, Beverley, Howden, York. 415km iIrc. Maybe a south Essex start, like Shenfield, for good London access?
Breakfast at the Weatherspoon's pub in York last year was a Good Idea and I have been promised Crinkly Lion's special cake services again :thumbsup:! Worth repeating!
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Arabella & I are working on a Ladies Team for Ladies.
If you are a Lady, and are interested, get in touch.
(I may not be part of the team as I may be away practising riding on the other side of the road as Easter is a child-free zone for me, but don't let that put you off. It may even be viewed as a bonus!)
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The Essex team is open to anyone daft enough.... ;) Don't even have to be of an Excess persuasion!
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Hmmm, arrows. I'm probably daft enough, but not sure about fast enough...
Ponders....
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If you are a Lady, and are interested, get in touch.
It's probably always a good idea to have at least one Lady on your arrow team. Otherwise, you would have no-one to ask for directions if you can't find the cafe/shop/ATM etc
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Anybody got any plans?
The Desperate Housewives will be back this year, this time not hemorrhaging time at Chris' en route.
Breakfast at the Weatherspoon's pub in York last year was a Good Idea...........Worth repeating!
We'll likely be there also. Yet to confirm a room at the YH / Travelodge prior to DIYs home.
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If you are a Lady, and are interested, get in touch.
It's probably always a good idea to have at least one Lady on your arrow team. Otherwise, you would have no-one to ask for directions if you can't find the cafe/shop/ATM etc
Arabella was there for me last year.... :)Hmmm, arrows. I'm probably daft enough, but not sure about fast enough...
Ponders....
You'll be fine.....I'll arrange a tail wind for your fastest 400 ever, like last year.... :thumbsup:
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I shall not be planning to join a ladies team for ladies, because you would all finish out of time and hate me forever which seems like an all round Bad Plan (however "paging Kim, paging Kim, Silly_Bike_Adventure ideal for you over here - you know you want to!") but I shall indeed plan my very own not-arrow all of a couple of miles to the 'spoons complete with pannier full of cake.
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The current plan is to ride the arrow that didn't fly last year: Up the A6 from Manchester, cross the country to Hexham and down through Darlo to York.
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i'd like to do this again, but i'm running london marathon the sunday before, so not sure if my legs will be up to the task. it was a lovely ride last year!
cheers, Rimas
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Usual mix of Kent and Sussex riders starting from my place and following the LEL route to Lincoln, then over the Humber Bridge and across to Howden. Probably getting to York 9am Sat. We had breakfast at the Wetherspoons by the castle last time :-
The Postern Gate, York | Our Pubs | J D Wetherspoon (http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/home/pubs/the-postern-gate)
but we were a day after everyone else. Is this where you all met last time ?
I notice we did the lowest distance of any team last year. Got to have something to aim for.
Rob
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No, we used The Punchbowl (http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/home/pubs/the-punchbowl) as it's near the station and practically impossible to miss if you're coming from there. IMO it's also less of a depressing place.
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If you're looking for somewhere a bit different - on the opposite corner is the Bar Convent - York Cafe & York Teashop | Light Lunch & Refreshments Gluten Free (http://www.bar-convent.org.uk/cafe.htm)
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meant to include this... http://www.bar-convent.org.uk/pdf/2009_10_cafe.pdf
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The good thing about the Punchbowl is it's big enough to hold 20-30 grubby cyclists without getting in anyone's way. Also the food/drink is very cheap. Seems ideal to me.
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The good thing about the Punchbowl is it's big enough to hold 20-30 grubby cyclists without getting in anyone's way. Also the food/drink is very cheap. Seems ideal to me.
+1, its ideal for the post-Arrow recovery, though a Wetherspoons would not normally fit my description of a good pub. We will probably be re-visiting the one in Sleaford [The Packhorse] at the half-way point, as per last year; it serves food until 9pm, has adequate bike parking and lots of room inside, plentiful food, quick service and good washing facilities. [The only time I patronise McDonalds seems to be when Audaxing!]
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If you're looking for somewhere a bit different - on the opposite corner is the Bar Convent - York Cafe & York Teashop | Light Lunch & Refreshments Gluten Free (http://www.bar-convent.org.uk/cafe.htm)
Audaxers are pretty set on their Wetherspoons - last year I tried to sell the idea of the Spurriergate centre but the board were having none of it! One good thing about the Punch Bowl is that it has windows onto a courtyard where you can wheel your bikes and watch them.
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We're due to arrive at 9am Sat and will book trains for about Noon, so will give plenty of time for post ride recovery.
Rob
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The Essex Team [official name still to be decided] will be setting off earlier than 09:00 now, due to Capt. Tomsk tweaking the route, but still needing to get to Sleaford before the 'Packhorse' stops serving food at 9pm. The 'Punchbowl' in York opens at 07:00, allegedly, so we may start at 7 or 8am on Friday.
We have our 3 definite team members, but have a place for one more thrill seeker, interested in a fairly flat ride of just over 400km. [Just pray for a tailwind across the shelter-free-zone of the Fens!]
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Bumping this one.
Entry forms are in. We're leaving Kent 9am Good Friday with a planned distance of 373k.
Is everyone still meeting up for breakfast in Wetherspoons ? Our train back is not until Midday.
Rob
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Our entry form will go in when I print it out - but isn't there a special one? Audax pages only give the standard print out yet I had a 'team' entry form last year ???
Also aiming for Punchbowl Sat am.
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New to the forum but am looking for a team to join for an Easter Fleche/Arrow. I am from Audax Ireland (member of AUK as well), is there anyone still looking for members? Or am I asking to late in the day, finding it hard to get any definites to join me on this side of the water.
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Depends if you're a Lady or not ...
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Our entry form will go in when I print it out - but isn't there a special one? Audax pages only give the standard print out yet I had a 'team' entry form last year ???
There probably should be. Write in your team members' names and who is captain.
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Depends if you're a Lady or not ...
:'( Alas no
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Hmmm... maybe I should start baking soon. What sort of cake would you like?
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Looks like I won't be doing one this year :'( I could only find one volunteer over here, might crack on with it solo just to see what it's like
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Will be tweeting #EasterArrow.
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Hmmm... maybe I should start baking soon. What sort of cake would you like?
If you insist ... that choco-banana was nice.
We're leaving at 8:00am to arrive Sat 8:00 am approx at the punchbowl
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Any team heading down from Scotland, please feel free to stop off at our house(Northallerton) from a break/breakfast.
Let me know how many and when you will be going by and I'll have the kettle on and food on the go.
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Arrivee: 8 am Friday at the 'Punchbowl' for 'Dick Turpin Rides Again', the Essex team [with an international membership, or at least substantially un-Essexian: Tom, Lars, Deniece, Joth, & Andy - don't need surnames do we, like Brazilian footballers? ;D]
We have earlier trains than last year btw: 10/11 am.
Looking forward to the full English and CAKE, [thank you CrinklyLion.]
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Bike fettled, batteries charging just packing then all ready. Shame I have to go to work tomorrow. I'm looking forwards to this.
Looking forward to the full English and CAKE, [thank you CrinklyLion.]
And this :thumbsup:
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Aye, we're planning to be there too.
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See you all there. Should be great conditions for a ride.
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Yes: warmish days, warmish nights & a decent moon
Should be a good one for you chaps :)
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I look forward to a time when I am fit enough/have the stamina to do an Arrow.
I hope this good weather persists for you all.
Bon voyage
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have a good ride, Tom & the team! are you taking the same route we took last year? best wishes to l'equipe.
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were in. A 4 man, 9wheeled Derby Merc team will be at Blyth services 11pm ish on fri. Bit late 2meet u in York- we ll b there 11am sat.
Looking fwd 2 a good warm overnight.
Route is south from Derby, melton, oakham, st ives, boston, lincoln. Blyth, humber bridge, great driffield, york
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I'm not; can't be arsed. I'll be thinking of you as I sit in the sun in Cambridge at a BBQ on Saturday.
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were in. A 4 man, 9wheeled Derby Merc team will be at Blyth services 11pm ish on fri. Bit late 2meet u in York- we ll b there 11am sat.
Looking fwd 2 a good warm overnight.
Route is south from Derby, melton, oakham, st ives, boston, lincoln. Blyth, humber bridge, great driffield, york
Beware of nutters in blue mondeos @ Blythe services....
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Yes: warmish days, warmish nights & a decent moon
Should be a good one for you chaps :)
Given the late Easter, I'd half-targetted a first arrow for 2011. Then other stuffs got in the way, and i never got organised...
I'm now hugely jealous!
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I can use a summer arrow for my AUK 25k award, can I? Only need the easter fleche for the ACP one?
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I can use a summer arrow for my AUK 25k award, can I? Only need the easter fleche for the ACP one?
Correct
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I look forward to a time when I am fit enough/have the stamina to do an Arrow.
I hope this good weather persists for you all.
Bon voyage
Join the club ... my plans (including perhaps qualifying for that ride) got well and truly scuppered by a 90 year old in a Peugeot.
Hoping to do a Summer Arrow if my back behaves itself though.
Thunderstorms(!) are forecast for Saturday and Sunday, though. My plants will like that, audax riders not so much I suspect.
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I can use a summer arrow for my AUK 25k award, can I? Only need the easter fleche for the ACP one?
Correct
OK. I might try for a summer arrow this season then.
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Can someone please look at my results*and work out which award I might reasonably aspire to, and when I need to ride an arrow to get it?
that's not much to ask, is it? Whaddya mean, 'RTFM'?!?
* (since 2007 - not worth looking before that)
[query moved to Brevet 5000 thread]
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Can someone please look at my results*and work out which award I might reasonably aspire to, and when I need to ride an arrow to get it?
that's not much to ask, is it? Whaddya mean, 'RTFM'?!?
* (since 2007 - not worth looking before that)
Brevet 5000 should be easy. You have LEL, mutliple SR, MC. That's sufficient for the AUK award. (Once you add an arrow)
Brevet 25,000 is a little harder. I'm on something like 216 accumulated points since 2006, have to get to 250 (adding UK events I've already entered, plus PBP this year, == 250). You need iirc 3x SR (got), 1x1000 (got) PBP and LEL (got) and an arrow (not got). For the 5K you have everything you need except the arrow, I reckon. 50 points over 4 years? Easily.
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Dublin jury reporting - 452k in near ideal conditions (how often do you get a tailwind both ways on an out and back loop?). The rails on my saddle snapped after 190k, had to clamp them back together and pedal another very ginger 30k to Galway. Found a closed bikeshop and hammered on the door until they agreed to sell me a saddle. Little did I know, my pain was only beginning....
I guess you're all ensconced in a pub in York with big breakfasts and pints right now. Sadly the pubs here don't open until 10:30 and I couldn't persuade my team to wait. Fair play, all of you.
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Well, there were no pints at that point - they didn't start serving alcohol 'til 9 ;D
I did my not-Arrow, all of a mile, maybe a mile and a half, to the pub where I found a plenty of audaxers and fed many of them cake and flapjack. Everyone seemed in fine fettle - rather less dishevelled and weary than last year when the weather wasn't quite so benevolent.
Lovely to see some familiar faces, and meet a few new ones too. Same place, same time, next year?
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Well, there were no pints at that point - they didn't start serving alcohol 'til 9 ;D
I did my not-Arrow, all of a mile, maybe a mile and a half, to the pub where I found a plenty of audaxers and fed many of them cake and flapjack. Everyone seemed in fine fettle - rather less dishevelled and weary than last year when the weather wasn't quite so benevolent.
Lovely to see some familiar faces, and meet a few new ones too. Same place, same time, next year?
It takes a bit to drag me in to town, but it was good fun nonetheless - I managed a slightly more respectable 5-and-a-bit miles for my not-an-Arrow :) I'm actually glad I had breakfast before I left home, largely because when I went up to get a drink the barmaid was telling some poor, crestfallen chap that he'd have to wait 40 minutes for some toast because they were serving 'rather a lot' of food. Can't possibly think why ;)
Had a couple of coffees, a bit of a chat and a rather nice pedal home - sadly, my plan to stop off via York Model Railway show was scuppered by unfeasibly large numbers of people. Probably good news for my credit card. Took a few photos of the usual suspects which I'll probably bung onto Flickr later on.
With any luck, I'll be leading Team Cripple on a 'proper' Arrow next year ;D
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With any luck, I'll be leading Team Cripple on a 'proper' Arrow next year ;D
I reckon I might be able to qualify for such an outfit
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With any luck, I'll be leading Team Cripple on a 'proper' Arrow next year ;D
I reckon I might be able to qualify for such an outfit
Well why not?
The last time I rode an Easter Arrow (which ended in failure but we won't go there) we settled on a 400km route through not-entirely flat terrain and were going great guns until circumstances got in the way. And this was despite utterly atrocious weather, too - a gust of wind which threatens to blow me over is a serious gust indeed ;)
Fitness permitting, I'm planning to do a Summer Arrow but if I can't get a team together I may well do it solo as a 'dry run' for next Easter.
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Well, there were no pints at that point - they didn't start serving alcohol 'til 9 ;D
I did my not-Arrow, all of a mile, maybe a mile and a half, to the pub where I found a plenty of audaxers and fed many of them cake and flapjack. Everyone seemed in fine fettle - rather less dishevelled and weary than last year when the weather wasn't quite so benevolent.
Lovely to see some familiar faces, and meet a few new ones too. Same place, same time, next year?
Nice to see you and some of my other cycling friends this morning in Wetherspoons. My Arrow is a mixed tale, I haven't done many miles this year and been suffering a virus for the last four weeks, broken and poor sleep. I struggled on some of the hills, the 70" gear, the heat made it hard work. SOme of the roads we chose made for single file riding so it wasn't sociable at times. I was talking about packing early, getting a train home to eat vindaloo with Mrs MSeries. But I didn't really want to do that. I pressed on, the others slowed for me a bit, it cooled down and the terrain got easier like I knew it would. I was fine. No sleep 'til tonight. My longest Fixed ride ever, pretty much doubling my previous longest at 427km
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Well, there were no pints at that point - they didn't start serving alcohol 'til 9 ;D
I did my not-Arrow, all of a mile, maybe a mile and a half, to the pub where I found a plenty of audaxers and fed many of them cake and flapjack. Everyone seemed in fine fettle - rather less dishevelled and weary than last year when the weather wasn't quite so benevolent.
Lovely to see some familiar faces, and meet a few new ones too. Same place, same time, next year?
Nice to see you and some of my other cycling friends this morning in Wetherspoons. My Arrow is a mixed tale, I haven't done many miles this year and been suffering a virus for the last four weeks, broken and poor sleep. I struggled on some of the hills, the 70" gear, the heat made it hard work. SOme of the roads we chose made for single file riding so it wasn't sociable at times. I was talking about packing early, getting a train home to eat vindaloo with Mrs MSeries. But I didn't really want to do that. I pressed on, the others slowed for me a bit, it cooled down and the terrain got easier like I knew it would. I was fine. No sleep 'til tonight. My longest Fixed ride ever, pretty much doubling my previous longest at 427km
Yeah, the first 100 miles were shite. Dunno who picked that route ;) Still, it'll be my one flat ride of the season, so a trundle down to Northamptonshire did the job. Rutland and the Vale of Beaver were especially lovely, we spotted a buzzard, a great spotted woodpecker and (while riding up the A1) a meteor shower.
Finishing at the Punch Bowl and seeing everyone was canny, plus fine cakes and (eventually) beer. I spotted Flat Earth Bob and AndyC drinking more beer at the station.
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Crinkly’s Coffee Cake with chocolate dusted Coffee Beans was a sight to behold.
Ah, I did wonder what they were.
Unfortunately, however, I did not partake of cake partially out of respect for my dysfunctional pancreas but mainly 'cos I'm trying to shift some of the lard I've put on as a result of being off the bike for damn near 3 months :-\
And I really did feel rather sorry for the poor guy who was looking at a 40 minute wait for some charred bread :)
Already sorted a route for next year. Mwaaahahahahaha! ;D
EDIT: Miscellaneous Cycling Bits - a set on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/interzen/sets/72157626027713182/) - I didn't take many pics, but those that I did take are in here. All four of 'em(!)
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Yes, nice to meet old and new faces, my journey up was much better than the journey down which was ac omplete fiascon containing cancelled trains, delayed trains, missed connections and trains to full to admit further bikes - I eventually arrived home 4 hours later than I should have done ..and the journey was only meant to be 3 hours >:( >:( >:(
Nice cake from Kat, apologies to those of you I didn't really chat to.
cba to add the details of the ride
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Quick thanks before I get down to preparing a big family Easter lunch.... to my team, 'Dick Turpin Rides Again' Andy, Deniece & Joth for making our 405km a success and commiserations to our 'man down', Lars: Hope your elbow gets better soon!
Also ta+XX to Kat, for her Crinkly Cakes that rounded off the post-ride party breakfast splendidly. [PS My boys did get to eat the ones you gave me - I didn't succumb on the train, being asleep most of the time!]
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'twas a good day out, apart from the reception at Blyth services - we got the message that we were not wanted. All windows and doors left open, and surly reception - I suppose the night shift at a services is a fairly **** job but apart from us there were no other customers. I wonder why.
Alternative arrangements will have to be made next year
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417k from the Derby massive. Great weather-although one our lightweight riders did suffer with the cold in spite of a winter jersey.
11pm into Blyth 4a very unwelcoming visit. Windows open, doors open. They clearly didnt want us there. Find somewhere else next year. Early am cafe in Driffield couldnt have been more different, although the new girl behind the counter couldnt add up. But 4lots of scrambled egg on brown along with 4 teas was no prob.
11am into York-so a bit later than everyone else. We found a table by the river and managed a couple. Then onto the usual italian place on the corner-excellent and with the bikes just outside the window.
4some reason our train home was past 5pm-so killed a bit of time. The other mercury jim rode home, no 3wheelers on the train. That ll teach him.
Great day. And a new recruit blooded.
3buzzards for us-so 11 out of 10
Jim
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Proper report.
Me being Captain, the ride started from château Arabella so Els and Emma duly arrived Thurday evening having navigated across Ipswich without my directions as my normal route was blocked with Ipswich footy fans preventing Norwich footy fans reaching the trains ... (Ipswich lost by 5 goals or something).
8am Friday saw us speeding across the lanesy bit as I treated us to some nice'n'small roads. Alas the potholes had grown since Feb and as I bounced over on my front light fell off. I stuffed it in the panier to deal with later.
Jobsworth #1 at Saffron W Tescos who said we were blocking people passing* and there were bike racks over there**. I said we'd be only 15 mins as had nearly done by then (subtext: we aren't going to move them).
*untrue unless they wanted to squeeze behind pillars as well
** on the way out and not signposted
We continued to make good time for the rest of the ride, I think my fasted 200 so far. My direction-fu only let us down once when I failed to count to 2 and made it 1 instead. Quick look at the map put us back on track. A few slight somethings in the directions but nothing I didn't remember about from writing/riding the same bit at some other point.
It got dark roundabout Lincoln. My route through the pedestrian area seemed OK by the bobbies we passed - perhaps we were better behaved and more sober than local yoof. I was starting to feel yawny by Gainsborough but a cofee at the garage there put me right and cured the waht must have been caffeine-lack headache. Plus a bit of salt to make up for the loss. Most I've drunk too, full refill at every option and 2 cans of something at lunchtime. I left some lime cordial at Sleaford though as it was fizzy (sniff, as wall as asking for no ice I have to start asking for no fizz it seems).
The remaining excitements aere all north of the Humber. Our only visit, complete with pingfuckit which fortunately turned up at the edge of the road and had leapt over the grass. I put some lovely new batteries in my temperamental light and dropt it onto said grass so it would turn on. So far so good, and on we went, though rather chilly so we fancied a stop-n-warm-up, except the garages, even 24 hour ones, were empty ...
so it was we paid a visit to the Ramada Jarvis at Willerby.
Approach 1, Arabella: "Can we sit here for 30 mins and warm up, please?" Manager "10 mins".
Approach 2, Els, resulted in tea and crisps for 3, on the house, and to stay as long as we wished. Must find out which charm school I should visit ...
Come Beverley it was noticed my light had died again so I removed to repeat the 'gentle drop' approach. Drop, bounce, bounce, roll and trickle between two bits of a drain cover :-[. Bye bye light. Emma lent her equally temperamental spare which I patted to enlightenment instead. It went off to eventually but as it was getting light by then not a problem.
Dawn chorus was lovely and A19 suitably empty.
And so it was we met the gerneal massive at the Punchbowl.
Apologies to all those who were subjected to my ranting about jobsworth #2 as I returned from a failed visit to catch the cancelled 10:07.
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1st Arrow experience for me, certainly won't be the last. It made an excellent change from riding in the south west, & we visited some beautiful parts of the east. Lavenham sticks in my mind, as does over 400K with only one hill, excellent weather (I don't mind the heat) and a tailwind. Last time I was that way I had 250K into a headwind & 200K in the rain.
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_m6kcha3N9og/TbUrIrxWE2I/AAAAAAAAAWU/rjfMceHybJE/s640/IMAG0200.jpg)
"Dick Turpin Rides Again" ready to leave Great Dunmow
The route took us from great Dunmow through Lavenham, Haverhill, Red Lodge, Ramsay, Spalding, Brigg, Beverley, Howden to York.
Thing1 was following Thing2's progress on twitter, and we were invariably a bit behind after tacking through the first few controls. We asked a barmaid in the Packhorse in Sleaford if they had seen them; she smiled and said "Oh no, they've already been and gone". On the A164 drag up to Beverley I spotted some bike lights in the distance. It could only be the ladies team, nobody else would be cycling around here at 2 in the morning. A 3 mile pursuit followed, even when we realised that there were only 2 lights. It was 2 policemen going home after the night shift. :facepalm:
+1 to all the comments about the Arrivee at the Punchbowl - it really did make it feel like an occasion and good to meet some new faces. Thanks for the cake Crinklylion :thumbsup:
Low points - Lars' accident in Ramsay. I hope you recover quickly. Train was cancelled in York (same one as Arabella) Got onto the 10.30 as far as Peterborough then a stopping train to Stevenage, but was much later than I should have been which screwed up my evening.
But everything considered an excellent day out, many thanks to Tomsk for organising.
PS Google maps tells me that my house in Blandford is 400K from York. Mind whirrs
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No ride report because I didn't do an Easter Arrow but the Cardiff Byways trio (Lewis, Swallow, Tout) rode a 400+ Arrow the day before riding the Buckingham Blinder 400.
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Proper report.
Me being Captain, the ride started from château Arabella so Els and Emma duly arrived Thurday evening having navigated across Ipswich without my directions as my normal route was blocked with Ipswich footy fans preventing Norwich footy fans reaching the trains ... (Ipswich lost by 5 goals or something).
8am Friday saw us speeding across the lanesy bit as I treated us to some nice'n'small roads. Alas the potholes had grown since Feb and as I bounced over on my front light fell off. I stuffed it in the panier to deal with later.
Jobsworth #1 at Saffron W Tescos who said we were blocking people passing* and there were bike racks over there**. I said we'd be only 15 mins as had nearly done by then (subtext: we aren't going to move them).
*untrue unless they wanted to squeeze behind pillars as well
** on the way out and not signposted
We continued to make good time for the rest of the ride, I think my fasted 200 so far. My direction-fu only let us down once when I failed to count to 2 and made it 1 instead. Quick look at the map put us back on track. A few slight somethings in the directions but nothing I didn't remember about from writing/riding the same bit at some other point.
It got dark roundabout Lincoln. My route through the pedestrian area seemed OK by the bobbies we passed - perhaps we were better behaved and more sober than local yoof. I was starting to feel yawny by Gainsborough but a cofee at the garage there put me right and cured the waht must have been caffeine-lack headache. Plus a bit of salt to make up for the loss. Most I've drunk too, full refill at every option and 2 cans of something at lunchtime. I left some lime cordial at Sleaford though as it was fizzy (sniff, as wall as asking for no ice I have to start asking for no fizz it seems).
The remaining excitements aere all north of the Humber. Our only visit, complete with pingfuckit which fortunately turned up at the edge of the road and had leapt over the grass. I put some lovely new batteries in my temperamental light and dropt it onto said grass so it would turn on. So far so good, and on we went, though rather chilly so we fancied a stop-n-warm-up, except the garages, even 24 hour ones, were empty ...
so it was we paid a visit to the Ramada Jarvis at Willerby.
Approach 1, Arabella: "Can we sit here for 30 mins and warm up, please?" Manager "10 mins".
Approach 2, Els, resulted in tea and crisps for 3, on the house, and to stay as long as we wished. Must find out which charm school I should visit ...
Come Beverley it was noticed my light had died again so I removed to repeat the 'gentle drop' approach. Drop, bounce, bounce, roll and trickle between two bits of a drain cover :-[. Bye bye light. Emma lent her equally temperamental spare which I patted to enlightenment instead. It went off to eventually but as it was getting light by then not a problem.
Dawn chorus was lovely and A19 suitably empty.
And so it was we met the gerneal massive at the Punchbowl.
Apologies to all those who were subjected to my ranting about jobsworth #2 as I returned from a failed visit to catch the cancelled 10:07.
Very well done - Ist ladies team for how long? :thumbsup:
I was with you in spirit and thanks to Salvatore for keeping us up to date with the Yarrows as we rode 1st leg of the H of E. Well done to all the teams.
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(http://yacf.co.uk/home/tom/Pictures/2011/04/22/IMG_1472.JPG)
Great fun through central London, busy A roads to Oakham, wonderful quiet lanes to Lincoln, three hours in the Premier Inn, over the Humber to York, with the last few miles spent hanging on the VC167 peloton before breakfast at the Punchbowl.
Rode home from Kings Cross, shower and tea at the in-laws.
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Fantastic day out! Great big thanks to Tomsk for putting together our route and team, really nice mix of scenic roads in the day and faster moving, easier navigating stuff once it was dark. Really enjoyed my first visit to That Bridge, makes a nice 2am punctuation in what can be long drags through the dark.
Interesting experience to do my first solo ride over 180km. Really appreciated the company to get me through it, nothing but respect for anyone who goes out doing multiday DIYs entirely solo. There one moment that made me chuckle inwardly when I was about to say "you're very quiet back there" before remembering there was no Thing "back there"!
Hope Lars makes a fast recovery from scrapes and bruises.
The group RV at the Punchbowl makes a great finish. We then went and slept at our friend's house before spending the evening and most of Sunday eating, looking around York, and eating.
The CAKE was very highly appreciated CL. :thumbsup:
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(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_m6kcha3N9og/TbUrIrxWE2I/AAAAAAAAAWU/rjfMceHybJE/s640/IMAG0200.jpg)
"Dick Turpin Rides Again" ready to leave Great Dunmow
is there something wrong with the aspect ratio of your photo? Deniece looks really short and Tomsk looks rather more burly than usual!
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is there something wrong with the aspect ratio of your photo? Deniece looks really short and Tomsk looks rather more burly than usual!
Deniece is really short!
Tomsk is more burly than usual!
More seriously: Tom and Lars are giants so anyone will look short next to them. I'm stood back a bit which probably makes me appear a bit taller than reality, and furthering the effect.
I don't think I was intending to puff up my chest in that way :hand: maybe we'll all just agree it's hard to get a nice photo first thing in the morning!
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is there something wrong with the aspect ratio of your photo? Deniece looks really short and Tomsk looks rather more burly than usual!
Deniece is really short!
Tomsk is more burly than usual!
More seriously: Tom and Lars are giants so anyone will look short next to them. I'm stood back a bit which probably makes me appear a bit taller than reality, and furthering the effect.
I don't think I was intending to puff up my chest in that way :hand: maybe we'll all just agree it's hard to get a nice photo first thing in the morning!
Hmmm "hard to get a nice photo first thing in the morning".
Did you actually mean "hard to get a nice photo _of_ first thing in the morning"?
Since the rest of us look so smashing in the photo! :smug: :smug:
Elbow is better now. Still very sore in the groin. Been icing generously during the first 48 hours
after the accident as one should. Now switching over to heat and stretching.
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That was a great day for the Easter Arrow. Loved the meet up at York, and the cake! Many thanks to Arabella and Thing2.
Blog: Clicky (http://cyclinglifeafterlel.blogspot.com/2011/04/easter-arrow-2011.html)
Photos: Clicky (https://picasaweb.google.com/worzelbenga/EasterArrow2011#)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_91QslVU2iAc/TbUueG5UfEI/AAAAAAAAJ6o/DcedBaRtYjo/s400/IMG_2320.JPG)
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The event details state the Easter Arrow is BRM, but it is not really is it? Anybody know for sure?
http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/11-144/ (http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/11-144/)
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It doesn't count as a PBP qualifier. It is recognised by ACP though, and counts towards an ACP Brevet 5000
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It doesn't count as a PBP qualifier. It is recognised by ACP though, and counts towards an ACP Brevet 5000
I understand now, thanks Mal Volio!
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The event details state the Easter Arrow is BRM, but it is not really is it? Anybody know for sure?
http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/11-144/ (http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/11-144/)
From that page:
Easter Arrow 360k needed to claim your free ACP medal.
Hello! Back in time for tea and medals?
Where do we apply? :)
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Free Certificate for the Arrow - it will turn up eventually
You need a few more rides to get the ACP Brevet 5000
(just 1000km +pbp+ some shorter ones)