Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Audax => Topic started by: ian_oli on 05 June, 2013, 12:56:09 am
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Aimed especially at LELers, I am running on July 6th the 300K Rutland Weekend from Baldock to, and slightly beyond, Rutland. Run a couple of years ago as a PBP tune-up, I will be repeating it this year. Three weeks before the big event, it is a chance to get in a hopefully pacey training ride and a good chance to test the exact rig you’ll be taking LEL. Of course non-LELers are also welcome.
It’s a basic event as I plan on riding it myself on the day, so the Arrivee is catch me in the pub/post the brevet back. It starts from the station at Baldock at a time that is reasonably handy for rail travellers and the trains from Baldock run till pretty late, engineering works permitting. More details of the ride at tinyurl.com/k2afkvu (http://tinyurl.com/k2afkvu), online entry at a mere £3.50 at http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/13-209/ (http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/13-209/)
I’v created a separate thread in the Sportive and Charity ride forum, but would like to add that on June 22nd, clubmate PBP ancien, Tony Willard, who’s daughter has recently had breast cancer, is organising two fifty mile loops near (not in!) Basingstoke – which can be combined into a 100 mile event. The event is Audax-style for Breast Cancer Care but not an AUK ride – see https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=72497.0
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Hmm, conveniently close to home and conveniently not-too-close to LEL, a full day's riding, sounds ideal, you've got me thinking ... Hereward the Wake 300 the following weekend and a two-week gap to LEL – given the last two months' riding, that sounds like tapering to me :facepalm:
Anyone else?
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Hmm, conveniently close to home and conveniently not-too-close to LEL, a full day's riding, sounds ideal, you've got me thinking ... Hereward the Wake 300 the following weekend and a two-week gap to LEL – given the last two months' riding, that sounds like tapering to me :facepalm:
That ^, pretty much. We might ride out to one or the other, depending on Other ThingsTM, who have been criminally neglected this year.
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Hmm, conveniently close to home and conveniently not-too-close to LEL, a full day's riding, sounds ideal, you've got me thinking ... Hereward the Wake 300 the following weekend and a two-week gap to LEL – given the last two months' riding, that sounds like tapering to me :facepalm:
Anyone else?
Did it two years ago. Don't think you'd be disappointed! Convenient train ride down to the start from Cambridge. Good-sized field (but then it was BPB year). Nice route on roads not visited by any of the East Anglia Audaxes afaik. Good caff controls. A couple of chevron climbs (not long but intense). Interesting section with unusual scenery around Rutland Water. And on that day excellent arrivee at a pub close to the train station, where Ian had arranged great value filled baguettes for the riders to buy if they wanted to stay around for a while. But even if the pub finish wouldn't happen still a great ride. Haven't decided yet but will try to make it.
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Did a routecheck of half the ride yesterday. Had forgotten how quiet and well-surfaced most of the roads on it are.
Spotted Red Kites ( or was it one following me spotted more than once?) north of Kings Cliffe. Further away from where they got released in the Chilterns than I have seen before.
While on the subject of spotting things - noticed a sex shop on the way into Sawtry sandwiched between that road and the A1M? IIRC there's a couple further south on the A1. What is with the A! and sex shops?
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While on the subject of spotting things - noticed a sex shop on the way into Sawtry sandwiched between that road and the A1M? IIRC there's a couple further south on the A1. What is with the A! and sex shops?
They are not your controls are they, get a receipt....?
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While on the subject of spotting things - noticed a sex shop on the way into Sawtry sandwiched between that road and the A1M? IIRC there's a couple further south on the A1. What is with the A! and sex shops?
They are not your controls are they, get a receipt....?
;D Nah! Dont open early enough
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Did a routecheck of half the ride yesterday. Had forgotten how quiet and well-surfaced most of the roads on it are.
Spotted Red Kites ( or was it one following me spotted more than once?) north of Kings Cliffe. Further away from where they got released in the Chilterns than I have seen before.
While on the subject of spotting things - noticed a sex shop on the way into Sawtry sandwiched between that road and the A1M? IIRC there's a couple further south on the A1. What is with the A! and sex shops?
Can't comment on the sex shops, but there were kites reintroduced at Rockingham (by Corby) which are spreading too, so it will be these rather than Chiltern kites.
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Quite an audax day for sleepy old Oundle then, I'll be riding the Reservoir Single on this day.
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Mostly out of curiosity, is this ride suitable as a first 300? I'm looking at events nearish to home that aren't too hilly and this one looks like it might fit the bill.
I've got a 200 the weekend before and probably a 100 DIY a couple of days after the 200 (gotta get back home, and don't fancy ECEing a 200 into a 300 just yet) so a lot will depend how my legs are (I'm not remotely in LEL shape!), but keen to attempt a 300.
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Mostly out of curiosity, is this ride suitable as a first 300? I'm looking at events nearish to home that aren't too hilly and this one looks like it might fit the bill.
Yes, it's pretty flat north of Baldock up to the Fens, just watch out if the wind is blowing. It's very local to me but I'm off to the Alps this weekend.
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Mostly out of curiosity, is this ride suitable as a first 300? I'm looking at events nearish to home that aren't too hilly and this one looks like it might fit the bill.
I've got a 200 the weekend before and probably a 100 DIY a couple of days after the 200 (gotta get back home, and don't fancy ECEing a 200 into a 300 just yet) so a lot will depend how my legs are (I'm not remotely in LEL shape!), but keen to attempt a 300.
Organiser here...
I would say so - it actually has less climbing than shown on the AUK site and is pretty flat south of Oundle, it has a few more hills to the north, but nothing too bad. Roads are mainly quiet and smooth and there are several points to catch a train back if it turns out to be too much.
If you follow the link to http://iansaudax.blogspot.co.uk/ there is more info.
The only thing I would say is if you need to get back by train to London, you will need to be finished by about 11:30pm.
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Just sent the routesheets etc. out. Only trivial changes from last time. Lets hope we have the near perfect weather of last time!
Have a good number of entries for a basic event, but can still take plenty more!
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I might have a crack at this as part of my tapering for LEL, it will also serve as a good 300k towards an SR.
Am i allowed to use it as a taper ride ;) ?
I should add it goes close to my home nr Belvoir, so i could pop home for a bit of nosh!
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Mostly out of curiosity, is this ride suitable as a first 300? I'm looking at events nearish to home that aren't too hilly and this one looks like it might fit the bill.
I've got a 200 the weekend before and probably a 100 DIY a couple of days after the 200 (gotta get back home, and don't fancy ECEing a 200 into a 300 just yet) so a lot will depend how my legs are (I'm not remotely in LEL shape!), but keen to attempt a 300.
Organiser here...
I would say so - it actually has less climbing than shown on the AUK site and is pretty flat south of Oundle, it has a few more hills to the north, but nothing too bad. Roads are mainly quiet and smooth and there are several points to catch a train back if it turns out to be too much.
If you follow the link to http://iansaudax.blogspot.co.uk/ there is more info.
The only thing I would say is if you need to get back by train to London, you will need to be finished by about 11:30pm.
Thanks - I see on the calendar it's listed as having something like 2500m of climbing - I've done 200s with that much climbing and come in within a reasonable time so assuming the extra distance doesn't do me in (no specific reason to believe it should) I should be OK.
Just need to see how my legs are doing after a 200 and a 100 a few days apart and a few days before the 300.
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Informal Arrivee (you can just head off if you like and post in your brevet) will be The Orange Tree pub in Baldock. The Landlord said he'd serve food late and it stays open to 01:30 last orders if there's enough trade.
Food, Real Ale, ancient interior, beer garden if the weather is good. What's not to like?
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Food, Real Ale, ancient interior, beer garden if the weather is good. What's not to like?
Baldock. Only joking, it just invokes childhood memories of going to the huge Tesco there.
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I'm going to do this as part of my last big weekend before LEL. This on Saturday and then the Garboldisham Groveller 200 on Sunday.
I'm planning to stay at Radwell Lake campsite on Saturday night, but have just recieved info from them that says "Please note that we have nice, clean toilets, but no hot water". A freezing cold wash/shower after a 300 will make up for any lack of rain in trying to reproduce the spirit of LEL 2009.
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entered, also booked the train ticket arriving at 06:54. really enjoyed it last time - smooth roads and the right amount of hills.
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I'm going to do this as part of my last big weekend before LEL. This on Saturday and then the Garboldisham Groveller 200 on Sunday.
I'm planning to stay at Radwell Lake campsite on Saturday night, but have just recieved info from them that says "Please note that we have nice, clean toilets, but no hot water". A freezing cold wash/shower after a 300 will make up for any lack of rain in trying to reproduce the spirit of LEL 2009.
It's a shame I'm moved, you could've camped & used a hot shower in the clearing. No camping in the brewery yard though, sorry.
/no help at all.
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Have entered this to keep RRTY alive - but not riding LEL this time due to work deadlines.
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I am in for this - will be once the AUK website comes back up anyway.
Looks like a nice route for sure.
I'll do the train thing and hope I get around in time for the last train.
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I'm in!
I hope my thighs and knees recover from the 600k finished today.
Also have to some serious mechanical tinkering with my orange blob!
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"It's now or never" as the King said.
I will be tied up tomorrow evening, so will close out entries late this evening. So if you'd like a 300K in what looks like spiffing weather, now's the time to say "yes!!".
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I'd hoped to ride this one but just can't. I live close to bottesford though and plan to be out for a short ride over the week end, usual weekend loop when im at home is out to oakham a d dropping back in via bottesford. what time do people expect to be in the area and what's the route in to bottesford?
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Really wanted to ride this one, my legs have probably got what it takes to do my first 300 but had a few issues with the bike and really want to make sure they're fixed properly before I push my personal bests out. The last thing I want is to find something isn't done properly and I end up with a broken bike miles from home :(
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I'm riding & will be catching a train a silly o'clock from Kings Cross.
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I'd hoped to ride this one but just can't. I live close to bottesford though and plan to be out for a short ride over the week end, usual weekend loop when im at home is out to oakham a d dropping back in via bottesford. what time do people expect to be in the area and what's the route in to bottesford?
Bottesford is 160km. I expect we'll be there between half 2 and half 3? I'm a rubbish judge of predicted speed. Route in: Market Overton, Sewstern; crosses the A607 at Croxton Kerrial then through Knipton & Belvoir.
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I'm riding & will be catching a train a silly o'clock from Kings Cross.
6:06?
See you there.
I'll be the one regretting caffeine abstinence.
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I'd hoped to ride this one but just can't. I live close to bottesford though and plan to be out for a short ride over the week end, usual weekend loop when im at home is out to oakham a d dropping back in via bottesford. what time do people expect to be in the area and what's the route in to bottesford?
Bottesford is 160km. I expect we'll be there between half 2 and half 3? I'm a rubbish judge of predicted speed. Route in: Market Overton, Sewstern; crosses the A607 at Croxton Kerrial then through Knipton & Belvoir.
I should be at Bottesford about 12:30-1pm, looked at menu for control - looking forward to a large Doner Kebab After speaking with the missus, we are meeting for lunch at the Wheel Inn in Branston, our regular watering/eating hole, I've been told I will have to sit outside!
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I'd hoped to ride this one but just can't. I live close to bottesford though and plan to be out for a short ride over the week end, usual weekend loop when im at home is out to oakham a d dropping back in via bottesford. what time do people expect to be in the area and what's the route in to bottesford?
Bottesford is 160km. I expect we'll be there between half 2 and half 3? I'm a rubbish judge of predicted speed. Route in: Market Overton, Sewstern; crosses the A607 at Croxton Kerrial then through Knipton & Belvoir.
I should be at Bottesford about 12:30-1pm, looked at menu for control - looking forward to a large Doner Kebab After speaking with the missus, we are meeting for lunch at the Wheel Inn in Branston, our regular watering/eating hole, I've been told I will have to sit outside!
The wheel is a lovely pub, but I think I preferred it when it was two little rooms and all dark and cosy, probably because not many others used if then though!
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Will you be in your "orange thing"? If so I'll pop out and take pictures and video as you swoop down Southwick hill into Oundle :-) sometime between 6&7?
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yes I will be in the thing that is orange :thumbsup:
A quick calculation says that if i'm away from pub at 2:30pm which is 170km, Oundle is about 230km mark, so that is 60km. I would say I will at Oundle between 4:30 and 5pm.
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OK, I will finish my 100km by 3'ish so that gives me plenty on time to ride home and pick up my cameras. My daughter is talking about trying to find some old green PMU hands that must be in the garage somewhere so that she can cheer you on TdF style :-)
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Anyone know how many entrants?
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On Wednesday it was mid 50's with a cap around 60, I believe.
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On a busy train full of bikes and I am looking forward to a very warm, maybe even hot, day out on the bike.
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Took a few photos at the top of Southwick Hill just before Oundle.
They will be posted on this page (http://www.nrtoone.com/gallery/index.php/sport/Audax) when I get a chance. If you didn't see me (it was a big lens (http://www.nrtoone.com/forum/images/smilies/photo.gif)), I had already left for coffee in the cafe in Oundle, you need to pedal faster! ;D
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tried to post from Bottesford that due to change of plan I would be earlier, unfortunately no way could I log onto the site!
I finished at 6:20, not massively fast but constant hills for 90% of the return portion plus 28deg C took it's toll on my resolve, I even stopped again at oundle mill to eat everything that I was carrying, pizza, Kendal mint cake, banana.......topped off with 2 pints of milk. I did this because I thought most of hills had finished - how wrong I was :sick:
I don't know the hill which you mention, but I did whiz past a couple on one hill not far out of Oundle, the man looked like he was asleep on the verge, and the woman was reading something, they had arrived by bike!
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That wasn't us, we drove out, and were in position just past the water tower from about 4.15pm. I did see you in the morning though, as I was riding a 100 heading out from Oundle as you were riding towards. Saw Chris S & fboab as well. I was wearing a tilley hat and riding a yellow fixed wheel, I did wave :-)
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I didn't notice the bike/gearing but hat yes - nice ;)
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Cracker of a ride. Really enjoyed it, great route, good controls and weather, well, maybe a touch too hot!
Waiting for train home now.
Huge thanks to Ian for organising a great ride.
I feel so grubby. Sweat and sun cream make for such a yucky combination.
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The positives: Cracking route throughout. Loved the red fields of poppies. The viaduct south of Bottlesford was a surprise - I've seen it before but hadn't realised I'd visit it today.
Negatives: Me. I felt bloody awful all the way back - really tired (had two time outs in fields), couldn't eat as I'd feel sick and was moving slowly. Eventually the lack of food caught up with me and I bonked massively with ~20 km to go, cue my riding companion dropping me and then more laying around trying to feel better. Dragged myself along the final part of the ride. I'm guessing it's all heat related, tho that's a bit odd as I've always coped really well with heat. Finished at 9pm, around 2 hrs later than I'd hoped / expected.
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In the pub with a pint, waiting for fish and chips. Finished just before 10. Contrasting route - flat and fast 80k got us to the first control only just after it opened.
In contrast, the section south of Oakham was very slow - big steep climbs in the afternoon heat were tough.
Great route though, we loved it!
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What a great ride! Just like two years ago. Coped well with the heat but was a bit low
on energy towards the end but no drama. Back at 8.15, enjoyed a pint at the pub finish
before riding over to the train back to Cambridge. Nothing like a post-ride pint - delivers
a buzz not experienced since days as a teenage noob drinker a long time ago! As we
discussed at the finish, strange not more rides head up Rutland way. Excellent roads
and landscape! :thumbsup:
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Wishing I'd done it now, although that is with the benefit of knowing that my fixes seem to be holding up (at least on the basis of a ride a mile down the road and a sprint back).
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superb day out in (almost) traffic free smooth roads, one of my favourite 300s. on the first leg we spent a lot of time chasing yanto in his "orange thing", the rest of the ride i rode solo. the stage from bottesford to oundle was quite tough, the afternoon heat combined with hills. after oundle felt fine again and finished strong. single speed ftw! :thumbsup:
welland viaduct:
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Ug6Hd_uI_6w/UdkaXOy8IGI/AAAAAAAAC-I/0cAdFL73UQQ/s576/Rutland300_1.jpg)
p.s. 1) saw arabella going opposite direction, but noticed too late to shout "hello!";
2) got stung by a bee that flew into my half-unzipped jersey and from frustration of not being able to get out planted it's sting into my waist. sorry, bee, for flattening you - i was in panic and it bloody hurt!!
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A smashing route this – I look forward to re-riding it in a couple of years' time. Deceptively lumpy start from the get-go, but settling into a flat run to Oundle and then uppy-downy into the Belvoir valley with a great view of the castle over your right shoulder. And then back again. The return run seemed lumpier than the outward leg?
I rode to the start from Cambridge with the plan of ECE'ing this 300 into a 400. I got to the start with 50km in my legs and 10 minutes before the off. Bumped into Lars, no sign of the tandem (were you really there?).
And then it all fell apart: there's a gentle 50m climb out of Baldock and by the time we crested this, I was lanterne rouge and stayed there or thereabouts most of the day. WTF?! Normally I start quick and then gradually see new faces during the day as I tire and get passed. But at least I get to meet other riders. Nope, not on this ride.
This is the last I saw of most riders just out of Baldock:
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7403/9227923891_3c28eb9fb7.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wilky/9227923891/)
So since I was at or near the back, I stopped for sandwiches and milkshake in St Ives and sat by the river: call it breakfast, as I'd started out at 5am.
A couple of riders, Toshi and Yoshijen caught up with me just before Oundle and we rode in together, but did our own thing control-wise – perhaps they were late starters? I forgot to ask.
I bounced the Oundle control as best I could and did pass a few riders sat up at the café – woohoo! Toshi and Yoshijen caught up about 10km before the Rutland control. But by the time we got to the Crazy Fox I was back at the back (or at least it felt that way): the girls in the café reckoned there were still more to come through, eh? Having over-bought in Oundle, it was time for another waterside picnic with a view of the church-on-the-lake, although first a quick visit into the bike shop for a new set of shades, having somehow snapped the old ones. I was considering having a snooze on the shore, feeling tired'n'all, but convinced myself to get back on the bike.
The sun was high – too hot! My pace fell away completely. I eventually got my lie-down on the verge in the shade just before Sproxton. While I was lying there I heard several other riders pass: I thought I was at the back? Well I was certainly getting there. When I got to Bottesford, Toshi and Yoshijen were just leaving and there was a fixie rider finishing off. So a leisurely baked beans and coffee: in that time not a single other rider appeared, looks like I had got there: all the way to the back.
The return run just felt hotter than the outward leg: hot hot hot!! That meant the climbs were naaaasty! But I made it up all the big ones. Now that I was on my lonesome, I rode conservatively: I could still feel last weekend's 600km in my legs and the heat and dehydration was a big drain, so plenty of taking it easy.
So imagine my surprise when I rounded a corner just after Harringworth to see another rider in front of me: eh?! It turned out to be Yoshijen, who had reached his limit and was trying to work out how to get back to Baldock. I broke out the map and guided him to Corby and continued. I passed another rider just a few miles later: one of us? I don't know, I don't think so, because they didn't pass me back.
At Oundle I bumped into Toshi again as he was about to leave. So back to lanterne rouge, sigh :(
After Oundle I somehow found my legs again: they had deserted me most of the day, but now I was able to pick a cadence and tap along nicely. This is recurrent theme on all the longer rides where as the day goes on I wallow around a bit with a slowing cadence and then at some point it all slots back together and I can tap along at a steady 80-85 strokes, around 24-26kph with my bike's limited gearing. I think it's a heat thing, but the morning hadn't been particularly good, so perhaps it's just at the point when the pain in my hands drowns out everything else and my legs go onto autopilot?
At this point I had decided to forego the ECE: I seem to have picked up ITBS in my ankle and I don't need to make it any worse than it is before LEL. I tweaked the cleat to open up the heel a bit, probably undoing the tweak I did the other day, point noted. So now it was a race for the last train back to Cambridge.
I tapped along at a steady 25-ish for a couple of hours and re-caught Toshi in St Neots. However, now I was feeling the tiredness in my legs and had to drop the speed down a bit: had I done enough? As it turned out I had: I got into Baldock just after 00:35. By the time I'd got a bank slip and back to the station I still had 20 minutes to wait for the train, so I stopped to chat to a rider packing away, was he the one I'd passed just after Harringworth? I don't know. I mentioned Toshi and Yoshijen and he pointed to a van over the other side, and it turned out Toshijen had just arrived back to Baldock on the train and so a successful bail :thumbsup:
For me the highlight was undoubtedly getting chatted up by a group of women at the cashpoint in Baldock, although in retrospect I looked a bit like their dad being dressed like a highways contractor as I was, so perhaps they were taking the proverbial :facepalm: Seriously, the route was brilliant, intricate, smooth (mostly). The weather was amazing. The bad points for me was the way I was dropped like third-period French at the start: it seriously made me wonder whether I hadn't underestimated LEL. That said, I was only a couple of hours behind others, although they would have stopped for longer at the controls.
A fine day out, thanks guys :thumbsup:
Pics (not many): http://www.flickr.com/photos/wilky/sets/72157634522419755
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Good write up wilkyboy. I don't think you need worry about underestimating LEL - you still rode a 17.5 hour 300 in challenging conditions. You will be fine!
And you pulled in Baldock - life can't get much better!
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Good write up wilkyboy. I don't think you need worry about underestimating LEL - you still rode a 17.5 hour 300 in challenging conditions. You will be fine!
And you pulled in Baldock - life can't get much better!
Thanks Marcus and :D (although now I'm worried: is that the best I can do?)
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Really enjoyed this ride. Loved the quiet roads and scenery. I even did the scenic route around the lake. I took a few pictures, see if you can spot yourself.
https://plus.google.com/photos/103859694843212820136/albums/5897888771395806961 (https://plus.google.com/photos/103859694843212820136/albums/5897888771395806961)
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Really enjoyed this ride. Loved the quiet roads and scenery. I even did the scenic route around the lake. I took a few pictures, see if you can spot yourself.
https://plus.google.com/photos/103859694843212820136/albums/5897888771395806961 (https://plus.google.com/photos/103859694843212820136/albums/5897888771395806961)
Lovely - really captures the mood of the ride. Hot! You can almost feel the heat radiating off the tarmac.
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If you can manage that pace on LEL, you will have 7.5 hours in hand - that is a whole chunk of time for sleeping.
I am not an outstandingly fast rider, I can manage 15 hour 300s in average terrain as my typical pace (yesterday was a 14 hour ride) - I do not intend to be at that pace for LEL.
Don't stress over it. Yesterday was a hard day in that heat - hydration and nutrition were challenging. I know I had a really rough time between bottesford and Oakham dealing with hills and heat. You'd got a 600 in your legs from last weekend - don't underestimate the effects of that either.
As the man Hummers says, you are only as good as the ride you are on. You had a bit of a tough day yesterday (but still plenty respectable enough). You're going to be just fine on LEL.
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I am not an outstandingly fast rider, I can manage 15 hour 300s in average terrain as my typical pace (yesterday was a 14 hour ride) - I do not intend to be at that pace for LEL.
But you are quite fast, marcus. Why else would we jettison the "Sucker Killer" bag-of-doom in Potton to try and dislodge you from our wheel, if not to say - "You fast people don't need a wheel to follow!" :demon:
We really enjoyed the company of our small train of carriages over the flatlands. Funny how you all deserted us when the hills arrived :).
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Wilky, Lars... at least two riders we know - who we didn't even know were on the ride - we never saw you at the start! Was there more than one start? Perhaps you came on later trains - and overtook us at controls (we spend a lot of time hiding in a pub from the heat, in Bottesford)?
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It only needs for you to be 5 minutes from another rider and you feel like you're alone on a ride. And one never feels as though one is alone way out in front!
We stopped at one point because I was making kicked dog whimpering noises every time I tried to straighten my right knee. Lots of riders passed us (we had already enjoyed pint & natter & ice cream for 90 minutes :facepalm: in Bottesford) and Chris became convinced we were at the back.
Photographic proof we were there:
(http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae7/fboab/2013-07-06112009.jpg)
(http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae7/fboab/2013-07-06172135.jpg)
Some idiot :-[ left the camera in the car so we don't have many, and they're off a sweaty phone.
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They will be posted on this page (http://www.nrtoone.com/gallery/index.php/sport/Audax) when I get a chance.
Photos now uploaded, at least one YACF rider from the pink shirt. I also had a video camera set up but haven't looked at the footage from that yet.
I saw someone taking photos of this ride in the morning near Gt Gidding, any idea who that was? Apparently he took one of me although I was on a different event and travelling in the opposite direction.:-)
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Photos now uploaded, at least one YACF rider from the pink shirt.
αdαmsκι. Looking haggard. ;)
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They will be posted on this page (http://www.nrtoone.com/gallery/index.php/sport/Audax) when I get a chance.
Photos now uploaded, at least one YACF rider from the pink shirt. I also had a video camera set up but haven't looked at the footage from that yet.
I saw someone taking photos of this ride in the morning near Gt Gidding, any idea who that was? Apparently he took one of me although I was on a different event and travelling in the opposite direction.:-)
I like the one of me embracing my inner tramp and sitting by the bin!
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They will be posted on this page (http://www.nrtoone.com/gallery/index.php/sport/Audax) when I get a chance.
Photos now uploaded, at least one YACF rider from the pink shirt. I also had a video camera set up but haven't looked at the footage from that yet.
I saw someone taking photos of this ride in the morning near Gt Gidding, any idea who that was? Apparently he took one of me although I was on a different event and travelling in the opposite direction.:-)
I like the one of me embracing my inner tramp and sitting by the bin!
What an excellent strap line for Audax UK - "Embrace your inner tramp". :thumbsup:
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I am not an outstandingly fast rider, I can manage 15 hour 300s in average terrain as my typical pace (yesterday was a 14 hour ride) - I do not intend to be at that pace for LEL.
But you are quite fast, marcus. Why else would we jettison the "Sucker Killer" bag-of-doom in Potton to try and dislodge you from our wheel, if not to say - "You fast people don't need a wheel to follow!" :demon:
We really enjoyed the company of our small train of carriages over the flatlands. Funny how you all deserted us when the hills arrived :).
I will accept quite fast. But not outstandingly fast for sure.
The bag attack certainly was a bit of a buttock clencher - must have been worse for adamski though!
I was very nervous on your wheel after that - especially when I noticed the buckle on the bag was undone again!
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Wilky, Lars... at least two riders we know - who we didn't even know were on the ride - we never saw you at the start! Was there more than one start? Perhaps you came on later trains - and overtook us at controls (we spend a lot of time hiding in a pub from the heat, in Bottesford)?
I was there milling about in the parking lot. Saw you arriving and setting up the tandem but was engaged in discussion with a chap about to embark on his first 300, and a bit worried about how he'd fare. Guy had dual panniers and looked a bit overloaded. But proved to be more than enough competent for a double-century as he overtook me like a rocket approaching the 160k control, not to be seen again! Plus I was checking out the infamous "orange blob" and chatting with its captain! Oh and maybe you didn't recognise me in my new ugly Audax beard present since a couple of weeks! :P
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Plusses:-Enjoyable route, scenery, villages with thatch cottages and pretty gardens looking great in the sunshine.
Large entry meant lots of riders to ride with, and chat with - in particular riders aiming for LEL for the first time.
Not needing to carry waterproofs-just had a reflective gilet for the evening.
Minuses:- Sat Nav download problem meant that I was relying on the route-sheet alone, for the first time in ages. Route-sheet was fine, but I missed a turn and rode an extra 12k at one point.
Being involved in an accident on hill after Barkstone. A mountain-biker shot round the bend of the scarpment descending on the wrong side, as I was climbing, so I swerved to the left, but he was going so fast he stayed on his right, and was bearing down on me with great speed....I turned the wheel away just enough but he clipped the edge of my front tyre as he shot past (about 4 feet from my side of the road), bringing me down quite hard on one knee/elbow (but only mild bruising today). He couldnt hold the road and I ran down the hill to find him in the ditch, with a broken collar bone and a nasty head cut - he wasnt wearing a helmet...He immediately apologised for the accident. I called an ambulance and he phoned his wife and his nephew also came out to help and recover his bike.Fortunately, as I have learned today, he didnt have any other injuries or concussion or worse, but his collar bone is broken in 4 places..One of the riders (Lee?) also kindly stayed with me and we were delayed around half an hour.
At the Tesco in Oundle around 7.00pm I have never felt so thirsty, drinking milk shake, smoothy, refilling bottles and drinking rest ofstrawberry flavoured litre bottle of water, and eating two bananas.
Later on as it got dark I teamed up with another will -be first time LEL rider (Josh), who doesnt read this forum yet. I said he should check out the LEL sub-board for advice.
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You had a dramatic day then! Thankfully you didn't come off too bad from the sound of it! And i'm sure the chap who hit you despite a smashed collar bone is thankful that you weren't a car doing 30mph up the hill! Maybe he will learn to descend at pace suitable for his skill/ road conditions in future!
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I was the second person waiting with Peter for the ambulance to turn up. I was 30yds ahead of Peter on the hill and I wonder if saying a cheery hello to me caused the MTBer to lose concentration and then his line into the bend. I heard a strange noise behind me, glanced round to see Peter on the ground, a mountain bike in the air and no sign of the rider. Given the range of things you can hit when leaving the road at ~30 mph I think he was very lucky to land in soft undergrowth.
I got the start late, just as the field were leaving (after camping only 1 mile away - bad night, forgot my sleeping bag). I overtook 1 person before the 1st info control but then nobody else in the whole day so must've been right at the back of the field.
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Blimey Pete - glad you came out of it okay(ish). Sounds like a really nasty incident.
I've written up my memories of a superb day out here - http://marcusjb.wordpress.com/2013/07/08/rutland-weekend-300-perfect-lel-prep-ride/
It really was a cracker and there aren't too many summer days like that really.
I think I am ready to tackle LEL now.
Just need to solve the click that has appeared in the drivetrain before LEL or it will drive me mad!
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If you can manage that pace on LEL, you will have 7.5 hours in hand - that is a whole chunk of time for sleeping.
Ah, the sleeping I can handle: the last two rides I have been practising on grass verges, very comfy ;D
Nice write up, btw :thumbsup:
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Thanks Ian for a great route - a revelation of the wonderful countryside that's to be found in this part of the world - and quiet roads too! I'm another who was affected by the blazing hot day as I didn't look after myself properly: was dehydrated to start with, didn't drink any where near enough during the early part of the ride, got overheated to the point of feeling sick for much (most, I think) of the ride, didn't want to eat (I did, just not enough). And what's more, made the mistake of thinking I could keep up with Marcus on the first leg (fail)! Late in the day, the group that I was with stopped at the Windmill Cafe and I got an ice cream which saved the day for me - for some time I'd been on the point of stopping anywhere in some shade and I'd even been looking at streams and culverts we'd been crossing to see if there was enough water to stick my head in to cool down.
Great company along the way though I'm afraid I know few of their names. Had a great run in just three of us (all in light blue shirts - two chaps and a lady) and really sorry that the other guy bonked apparently at the last info control - shame as we all three had been going well together. Also, pleased to meet the tandem crew who I was happy to hang on in behind from time to time - though wary of fboab jettisoning further depth charges to fend off the solos (or "slow-los" as she appears to call them).
Thanks to those who managed to take pics. Nice write-up, Marcus.
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The Windmill Cafe looked lovely - I wish I had stopped there, I was beginning to get into serious trouble on that stage and an ice cream there would have been very beneficial. By the time I reached Oakham, I was done for. I think most of us struggled on what was the first really hot day of the year. You forget what it is like and just how much you have to drink etc.
Good to ride with you first thing.
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Great company along the way though I'm afraid I know few of their names. Had a great run in just three of us (all in light blue shirts - two chaps and a lady) and really sorry that the other guy bonked apparently at the last info control - shame as we all three had been going well together
That was me, sorry I did not get any of your names, when I left the last control I felt dizzy and sick for an hour after leaving. I had that same problem on rides before, I think it is my body telling me to wait a bit after eating to let it settle down when I have not eating a lot during the ride. I was fine after it had settled but just had to take it easy as I was cramping big time in the thighs like last week when I did an unofficial 200 up this way last week, but I was happy to get back just after 10.
Great day out along with the route, even got a fly past of an WW2 Dakota aircraft as I was passing RAF Cottesmore.
Good warm up for the Buzzard on Sat, see you there whoever is going.
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Hi i cycle (another face to a forum name, or is it the other way round). Nicky and I decided to memorise the last info and head on immediately. We didn't realise that you weren't with us until a little way down the road. Had I known you were under the weather at that stage, I'd have offered you some gel bars - might have helped.
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This is just up road from me, but I was away in Alps. Another year, sounds like all had a great time. Heat is also my Achilles heel and I hope it does cool down or I may be joining Marcus in more night riding on LEL.