Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => Audax => Topic started by: Delph Cyclist on 13 March, 2019, 08:26:04 pm

Title: A Pair of Kirtons 600
Post by: Delph Cyclist on 13 March, 2019, 08:26:04 pm
I see that the Plains 300, a fine offering from Peak Audax, is now closed to the further entries.  I've also closed the Llanfair PG 400, which has disappointed a few would be riders, so here is fair warning - the Pair of Kirtons 600 is filling up fast and I'll be putting the stop on that when the last 4 places get taken.

I blame that French affair for generating all this interest.
Title: Re: A Pair of Kirtons 600
Post by: aidan.f on 13 March, 2019, 09:49:45 pm
Thanks for the heads-up. Now entered.
Title: Re: A Pair of Kirtons 600
Post by: Wobbly on 13 March, 2019, 11:32:58 pm
Although this is a ride I would have entered, the hospital where my wife works has changed the holiday booking system so she doesn't yet know which weekends in June she's working :(
Title: Re: A Pair of Kirtons 600
Post by: Graeme on 16 March, 2019, 08:08:46 am
I've volunteered to stamp Brevet cards at the Green Dragon in Welton again. Hope you get nice sunny weather.

I plan to do the helpers ride and not fail as badly as last time. If there are other control volunteers thinking of a helper ride it could be good to talk about a group ride.
Title: Re: A Pair of Kirtons 600
Post by: basset on 28 March, 2019, 02:16:35 pm
I can feel a pint of bitter(shandy) coming on at the green dragon again 🍻🙃💨
Title: Re: A Pair of Kirtons 600
Post by: Delph Cyclist on 31 March, 2019, 06:47:39 pm
I've now closed my Pair of Kirtons.  I'm sure there's a joke there somewhere, but it's not funny if you wanted to ride this as a PBP qualifier.

I've checked out bits of the route today, particularly around Donington services where there has been some road changes since last time, but it all look as if it needs very little change to the route sheet.
Title: Re: A Pair of Kirtons 600
Post by: Ben T on 01 April, 2019, 11:36:12 am
Oh no! I've got a couple of friends who were planning on entering, Kurt 'n' Rod, not sure if they will be able to get a brevet card now? Anyhow, I've told them they'll have to just pull themselves together next time.
Title: Re: A Pair of Kirtons 600
Post by: Delph Cyclist on 01 April, 2019, 12:46:21 pm
...  they'll have to just pull themselves together next time.

I saw what you did there
Title: Re: A Pair of Kirtons 600
Post by: Wobbly on 14 April, 2019, 01:45:50 pm
I've volunteered to stamp Brevet cards at the Green Dragon in Welton again. Hope you get nice sunny weather.

Sunny like this you mean?

(http://imagehost.cc/images/2019/04/14/2017PairofKirtons600-8.jpg)

 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: A Pair of Kirtons 600
Post by: Graeme on 14 April, 2019, 04:47:55 pm
I've volunteered to stamp Brevet cards at the Green Dragon in Welton again. Hope you get nice sunny weather.

Sunny like this you mean?

(http://imagehost.cc/images/2019/04/14/2017PairofKirtons600-8.jpg)

 :thumbsup:

It's a hard job, but someone has to do it. I'm also hoping to do a helper ride version without DNF this year. I found riding much tougher than stamping cards.
Title: Re: A Pair of Kirtons 600
Post by: Delph Cyclist on 21 May, 2019, 10:10:24 pm
Gosh.  Am I spoiling my riders?  We've got deluxe accommodation at the start, with a church hall booked for the Friday night.  I've also booked the same hall from 2pm Sunday, although I expect fast riders might beat me back from Corby Glen.  Not to worry, I'll make some provision for them.  We've got the finish control booked until 10pm, so there's an opportunity for the riders (and me!) getting some rest before setting of home, but there is no post-ride overnight stop.

The mid-ride sleep stop at Corby Glen is going to be a tight squeeze as I calculate there's room for half the number of beds as riders.  I'll have some tents there to give me more lying-down space but the bed times are going to have to be rationed.  I hope it's not a cold night.  But it's a qualifier, right?  It's just a training ride for the 1200k main event, right?

I just hope I can get enough sleep on Friday night to allow me to drive to Corby Glen for the overnight control, and to drive back for the finish control.

By the way, there's no chance of anyone on the waiting list to get a ride.
Title: Re: A Pair of Kirtons 600
Post by: Delph Cyclist on 05 June, 2019, 08:21:56 am
Entries for this 600 have temporarily been reopened to replace a few recent drop outs
Title: Re: A Pair of Kirtons 600
Post by: Wobbly on 05 June, 2019, 02:59:39 pm
Damn. Would love to have ridden this year's edition but sadly the wife is having to work on Saturday :-(
Title: Re: A Pair of Kirtons 600
Post by: Delph Cyclist on 08 June, 2019, 09:28:26 am
There are 49 starters heading off into the rain.  39 DNS
Title: Re: A Pair of Kirtons 600
Post by: Von Broad on 08 June, 2019, 09:59:24 am
There are 49 starters heading off into the rain.  39 DNS

Crikey!
Proper audax weather out there up north today.
Title: Re: A Pair of Kirtons 600
Post by: Wobbly on 08 June, 2019, 10:33:39 am
39 DNS?!?!

(https://i.postimg.cc/yxk3k5WT/mad.gif)

Title: Re: A Pair of Kirtons 600
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 08 June, 2019, 10:37:35 am
A combination of folk entering a backup 600 for PBP but qualifying with their first 600 (no need to do another) and a not-particularly nice forecast. I prefer entering the second qualifier only after DNFing the first (feels more polite) but some events sell out months beforehand, so the panic sets in.
Title: Re: A Pair of Kirtons 600
Post by: Phil W on 08 June, 2019, 11:01:28 am
I prefer entering the second qualifier only after DNFing the first (feels more polite) but some events sell out months beforehand, so the panic sets in.

I'm  the same, though I'm sure Wobbly told me shortly after I'd abandoned WCW, that if I contacted a 600 organiser explaining I needed it for a PBP qualifier, they'd find space. Not that I was particularly receptive at the time!

Anyway I'm one of those weird folk who does better when it is cool and rains.
Title: Re: A Pair of Kirtons 600
Post by: JBB on 08 June, 2019, 11:04:13 am
I suspect the Fenland friends is going to be busy! Mind you I was very glad to have a back-up when I packed on the Southern Shires due to weather,  mainly wind. I have come to the conclusion not to.cycle if it's weather l wouldn't go sailing in.
Title: Re: A Pair of Kirtons 600
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 08 June, 2019, 11:26:27 am
I prefer entering the second qualifier only after DNFing the first (feels more polite) but some events sell out months beforehand, so the panic sets in.

I'm  the same, though I'm sure Wobbly told me shortly after I'd abandoned WCW, that if I contacted a 600 organiser explaining I needed it for a PBP qualifier, they'd find space.

This is almost always true, even if entries have officially closed.
Title: Re: A Pair of Kirtons 600
Post by: madcow on 09 June, 2019, 10:17:33 am
There are 49 starters heading off into the rain.  39 DNS

That is very disappointing for an organiser and the helpers.
No doubt some had done their 600 k qualifier and some saw the weather forecast.
Title: Re: A Pair of Kirtons 600
Post by: Exit Stage Left on 09 June, 2019, 10:38:52 am
DNS's on that scale are a function of accessibility and affordability. The costs of not turning up are very low. That's one reason why expensive sportives are popular.

You've invested a lot as a way of binding yourself in to the project. A higher profile can do that as well. Obscurity means that you can fail without being noticed, but it also means that success is less visible.
Title: Re: A Pair of Kirtons 600
Post by: Wobbly on 09 June, 2019, 10:55:10 am
When I start organising events they'll all cost hundreds of pounds to enter. That'll reduce the DNS rate!

(https://i.postimg.cc/MHzvptXK/biggrin.gif)
Title: Re: A Pair of Kirtons 600
Post by: Exit Stage Left on 09 June, 2019, 11:44:40 am
When I start organising events they'll all cost hundreds of pounds to enter. That'll reduce the DNS rate!

(https://i.postimg.cc/MHzvptXK/biggrin.gif)

That'll help pay for a masseur for the participants' egos.
Title: Re: A Pair of Kirtons 600
Post by: Wobbly on 09 June, 2019, 11:46:16 am
 The organiser's ego, surely  8)
Title: Re: A Pair of Kirtons 600
Post by: alwyn on 10 June, 2019, 07:24:16 am
I hope you all got back safely. It was good to see some of you at Corby Glen - you were far drier than I feared you would be.
Title: Re: A Pair of Kirtons 600
Post by: Revellinho on 10 June, 2019, 05:42:26 pm
Fear not.  We got a bonus downpour on Sunday afternoon.  I must say that the homemade soup, bread and crumble at Corby Glen were excellent, as I assume the other things were (but that's what I chose).  On another note, although the weather made it challenging this time round, this really is a good 600, which I would recommend to anyone who is stepping up to the distance.