9 counties - 2019 edition

[Wobbly]

Anyone else signed-up for this?

Is there an official GPS track available? I've found one on Ride With GPS which seems to adhere to the route sheet...

[oggy]

Yes I am signed up for this

There is no official GPX file and the one you have found is as good aa any.

See you on the ride

[saddlebag]

I’m on for this as my pbp qualifier. It will be nice to do a local ride rather than having to travel far on a Friday evening after work. I’ll use the route that’s still in the garmin from the last time I did it, though I saw that someone has posted a (possibly) quieter route for the bit near Melton over on the Audax Facebook page. I might get around to checking that out...
Hope the weathers good...

[davocon]

I’m in as a late change of plans as my planned 600 was the week after and now clashes with a family thing. Hoping I can manage a 400 and 600 in subsequent weekends. At least they’re both flat (this and Great North Road).

[Wobbly]

Anyone know if it's possible to kip at the start (i.e. the Scout hut) on Friday night? If not, is it possible to bivvy outside there?

[madcow]

Don't think so on both counts ,Wobbly.
According to the ride details, there isn't a sleepover facility on the return to Alfreton either. Looks like sleeping in the car.
 It really is a bare bones event.

Correction -we can sleep in the Scout hut if we bring our own bedding.

[zacklaws]

When I did it 2015 as a qualifier Rob, I slept in my car just across the road, also on the Sat night same again for a few hours but almost directly outside the Scout hut just for piece and quiet. But I do recall there is a lot of grassy area around the hut to bivvy up. (probably discreetly on the Friday night).

[davocon]

Well that was v tough into that awful headwind all the way back the Humber bridge!

[Wobbly]

The phrase "game of two halves" sums up this year's edition.

Day 1: lovely weather, fast, easy riding condition 

Day 2: fuck me this is horrible 

[davocon]

Day 2: fuck me this is horrible 

Quite. I shouted FFS at the wind so often on the last 2 legs. It didn't help the wind stop but it made me feel a little better!

[Dtcman]

Day 2: fuck me this is horrible 

Quite. I shouted FFS at the wind so often on the last 2 legs. It didn't help the wind stop but it made me feel a little better!

"Fuck off wind" shouted at the top of my voice a few times towards the end!

[Wobbly]

The usually gentle-but-dull climb out of Barton-on-Humber took on a whole new Bastard Ride From Hell persona given the relentless head-wind. Likewise the climb into Kirton in Lindsey. And if it wasn't a head-wind then it was an almost-as-bad side-wind.

There were only about 40 starters and apparently there was a DNF rate of about 25%. I'm not surprised; a few times on the Sunday I honestly thought I might end up out of time too.

[madcow]

Yes, it was LEL revisited with the headwind. Our little  group was well within time but the last stretch from Gainsborough was hard and at times the elastic nearly broke.
 At one point near Church Warsop , I fell off the back and could quite easily have just let the rest go. As a matter of personal pride ,I "dug in " big time and got back so that we finished together.
Apple pie and custard tasted so sweet at the finish.

Thank you Tom and the other helpers for the organisation and  support.