Mad Jack's (JSM) (21st) 125 km Saturday 22nd February 2020 @ 09.00

[Mad Jack]

We have 20 spaces left with a closing date 12/02/2020 or when sold out. So come on down 

Those of you that are in training for the Wessex series  ( Hard Boiled, Porkers, Brimstone etc) this is ideal and was originally
Set up for that purpose. 

[Mad Jack]

7 cards left closing 15/2/2020
The roads are being washed and what's left of the dead wood removed from the hedges and trees this weekend again!! 

[psyclist]

The roads are being washed and what's left of the dead wood removed from the hedges and trees this weekend again!! 

We should have lovely conditions all round then, if it weren't for the fact that the forecast is currently showing a lull in the winds early next week, but then picking up again by the end of the week.

I think I'll wait a bit before deciding my ECE route. It usually involves lots of additional climbing, but with strong winds I might need a flatter route to make it easier to remain within the allowed time.

[Mad Jack]

The roads are being washed and what's left of the dead wood removed from the hedges and trees this weekend again!! 

We should have lovely conditions all round then, if it weren't for the fact that the forecast is currently showing a lull in the winds early next week, but then picking up again by the end of the week.

I think I'll wait a bit before deciding my ECE route. It usually involves lots of additional climbing, but with strong winds I might need a flatter route to make it easier to remain within the allowed time.

We may be lucky and everything crossed here. Saying 14 mph westerly , but that's changing every hour or so.

ECEing from where? Try and finish with a tailwind would be advantageous.. 

3 spaces left as ordered maximum cards and close tonight folks 

[psyclist]

ECEing from where? Try and finish with a tailwind would be advantageous.. 

I usually drive down to Southborough and ECE from there. If I park slightly east from there, i could at least finish with a side wind.

[grimpeur du sudocrem]

And anyone who hasn't had enough of Mad Jack (and Battle) by the arriveé might like to go to The Fascinating Tale of Mad Jack Fuller at Netherfield Café the same evening. Tickets £10 which includes dinner.

Facebook event details https://www.facebook.com/events/749117618947187/

[Mad Jack]

And anyone who hasn't had enough of Mad Jack (and Battle) by the arriveé might like to go to The Fascinating Tale of Mad Jack Fuller at Netherfield Café the same evening. Tickets £10 which includes dinner.

Facebook event details https://www.facebook.com/events/749117618947187/

Thanks for the link, just called and they are full with over 50 in attendance, so we're on the reserve list.

Funds raised will help with major refurbishment work on John Fullers (Mad Jacks) Pyramid/ tomb in St Thomas a Becket Church in Brightling.
 (I picked up a leaflet from the Church, please contact the following if interested-) £45K is needed for the work to go ahead. If anyone would like to make a donation please pledge to-  fullernew@gmail.com with your full contact details and amount pledged or cheque payable to Parochial Church Council of Brightling and on the reverse write "Pyramid" send to The Treasurer, Brian Holliday, Staceys Barn Dallington TH21 9JS.

 

[Mad Jack]

Event update part one.

Cards have arrived (thank you brevet production) and labels printed.

Route sheet/ route observations-

The second storm in the space of two weeks has left a lot of dead branches etc across the roads, add to this with hedge cuttings,  potholes, mud gravel, field wash and flooding your in for an excellent winters day out here in East Sussex. The sun has been out today so there is some good news 

Pothole alert (but not all of them)- Please ride on the roads like you normally do on a non event with potholes and gravel etc.

06.22km- 08.18km Cinderford lane, there's some large potholes to work your way through along this section with gravel and mud etc.

09.09km to the INFO, be mindful on a fast descent/ bends there are hidden potholes that have been repaired but need redoing again.

12.49km L @ T some large potholes and gravel across the lane in the dip/ hollow on the fast descent.

14.31km on Farthings lane, lots of running water due to blocked drains, plus hidden potholes on descents.

16.89 1st L $ Penshurst, again pothole to pick you way through on this section and be aware of the surface conditions on the fast descents.

25.15km 2nd Exit at RAB into BATTLE, there are some large potholes on the approach and exit, plus a raised surface on the Zebra crossing in a few metres (you go over this in both directions)!

GPX users, remember to continue along the High Street and the new control X3 at Burtons tearooms and the R in front of the Abbey, see route sheet (we are not at Scarletts Café along Mount street as that is no longer trading).

Update 2- Please ride on the roads like you normally do on a non event with potholes and gravel etc.

58.90km Descend over narrow Bridge, mind potholes

60.97km 1st R Hurst Lane BLIND turn, mind the potholes gravel and uneven surface on this section.

65.00 INFO CONTROL, mind the potholes on the assent up to T and on Goathem Lane descent.

69.62km L $ DOLEHAM HALT, mind the potholes on the assent and descent along this section.

74.45km- 74.84km 1st L $ Guestling Church, mind the large pothole on the R Hand bend and on the return leg.

77.66km R@T BLIND SUMMIT $ Fairlight Church rough roads surface along this section and the descent retracing and down Battery Hill, so take
it easy on this section.

80.48km 2nd L $ Rosemary Lane, mind the potholes and narrow section plus the uneven surface up the T.

83.60km, as mentioned above re: pothole by Church!

85.30km 1st L $ THREE OAKS, mind the pothole just after Rail Bridge and on the bends as you descend.

89.81km R $ BREDE again more potholes up the T.

90.31km SO X $ Cottage Lane, mind the descent for potholes and on the assent to T and again along to 94.71 km and to the A21 on Crazy lane.

96.13km along this section and near to the level crossing in Battle.

Last section-

Again be mindful of the road surfaces and potholes especially on the fast descents down from 107.50km from Ninfield. Also the descent from the A271 @109.90km and 111.00km to the info with gravel across the lane and potholes.

Please note the finish is in the Freedom leisure centre café and not  the car park as per start, please see route sheet.

Any further and last updates will be posted on Thursday evening.
 





 







 

[Mad Jack]

update 2 added to the above 

[Mad Jack]

Those traveling via four wheels from Kent, Essex, East London and the M25, may want to avoid using the A21 on Saturday, allow and extra 1.30 hrs if using the A21 heading South

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.kentonline.co.uk/tonbridge/news/amp/major-road-to-close-for-10-days-221501/

[rob]

Those traveling via four wheels from Kent, Essex, East London and the M25, may want to avoid using the A21 on Saturday, allow and extra 1.30 hrs if using the A21 heading South

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.kentonline.co.uk/tonbridge/news/amp/major-road-to-close-for-10-days-221501/

I heard that on the news last night and didn't make the connection.   A22 it is then.

[Mad Jack]

Those traveling via four wheels from Kent, Essex, East London and the M25, may want to avoid using the A21 on Saturday, allow and extra 1.30 hrs if using the A21 heading South

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.kentonline.co.uk/tonbridge/news/amp/major-road-to-close-for-10-days-221501/

I heard that on the news last night and didn't make the connection.   A22 it is then.

Thanks Rob,

Or use the M23..

[Mad Jack]

Update 3.

Burwash Control will be outside Batemans National Trust property on the right hand bend to the left in the layby and a mobile control with some limited food and drink (I did ask at Batemans if we can use the Tearooms, but as it's a National Trust and non members will have to pay £14.00 to gain entry into the grounds, so this is not an option). The BP Garage is still at the refit stage as of this afternoon and will not be ready by Saturdays event.

The Start is as mentioned on the route sheet and the finish is in the Leisure centre and not in the Carpark!

Battle control is at Burtons Tea rooms and not Scarletts café which is not trading. GPX users take note of this please.

Uneven surface to pick your way trough are also from113.06km to 114.77 R@ T $ Rushlake Green.

See those of you that have entered on Saturday from  07.30. ECE riders please allow extra time to get to the start as we roll away from 09.00 to set up in Battle and you will miss your brevet card!

Please bring the weather you like with you 


 

[rob]

Brilliant day out despite the wind.

First time I have felt good all day in months.

Thanks to Mad Jack and his team of helpers.

[grimpeur du sudocrem]

Indeed it was a great day out as always, new cafe control was very friendly with plenty of space for us.

Roads were the usual brutal test of climbing legs and descending skills, happily I remembered both this year and avoided mechanicals and last year's 20km navigational error 

Thanks to all who made it happen!

[psyclist]

Lovely day out ... somehow the hills and vegetation sheltered us from the worst of the wind, at least for most of the time. I would definitely prefer yesterday's conditions than the somewhat cooler event 2 years ago.

My ECE was completed at around 9pm. Definitely a slow and steady return leg ... the wind had died so my tailwind push didn't quite happen, and I'd forgotten quite how hilly it gets around Crowborough and then looping back to Southborough to where I'd parked my car.

Always good to see so many cheerful faces helping out on these events. Thank you for your time in making this ride what it is.

[Le Mitre]

Man, what an awful course to ride! How is it possible to find the most potholed roads in the UK and then choose to run an audax over them?!  Certainly takes some doing.

Lovely cafe checkpoint though so it wasn't all bad!

[peter simplex]

On the contrary, what a great course to ride -  125km of traffic-free lanes in SE England with so many testing climbs.  You have to keep your eyes open all the time but the Tour of the Potholes is a brilliant event - thanks to all concerned.  Yes, the cafe was as good as the Pink Cabbage.   Looking forward to whatever the weather will throw at us next year.

[LittleWheelsandBig]

I suppose the potholes help to discourage cars from infesting the lanes.

[Mad Jack]

Thanks team and well done to the 50 of you that were successful. Some testing conditions be it wind or the road surfaces, 21 years ago there were hardly any potholes but due to the fact that most vehicles are four wheel drive and some being nearly three tonnes they just kill the lanes plus the fact that it has been nonstop rain since September, what does one expect, oh and East Sussex (according to the news last week) wins with the most potholes in any county across the UK!   Tour D Potholes it is then..

Results submitted, 87 entered, 23 DNS and 14 DNF.

Helpers are Anton, K, E, Chris, Richard T and Richard P. 

Remember other GDS events are here- https://sites.google.com/site/grimpeursdusud/

The Mad Jack talk and meal was fabulous 

[DavV]

I rode up all the hills, didn't fall down any potholes, brilliant organisation, and friendly cafe. Highly recommended.

[grimpeur du sudocrem]

Maybe the repeated downs and ups of crashing through the craters might justify an extra .25 AAA points? It's got to be worth asking the AAA man 

Glad you enjoyed the talk - wish I could have made that.

[Mad Jack same old]

Greetings, this and Hills & events all seems like a long time ago now and we just bagged it before everything was locked down!

Just for the record my email provider (V#####.net) deleted my email account and so one couldn't log on here, so new name (the end bit).

Events are on hold but monitoring and seeing how it all pans out in 2022.

Keep getting the miles in  MJ (so) 

[mmmmartin]

Dear Mr Same Old,
                             Delighted to hear they'll run at some point. Please put me down to help as normal, at the usual places.
                                                                                                                                                                                 yours ever, M 

[Mad Jack same old]

Great your in, let's hope the café's are still out there and can welcome us all back, even if it's alfesco.

See you up the road soon 

Dear Mr Same Old,
                             Delighted to hear they'll run at some point. Please put me down to help as normal, at the usual places.
                                                                                                                                                                                 yours ever, M