Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Freewheeling => Racing => Topic started by: simonp on 02 June, 2015, 12:57:16 pm
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I'm considering giving this a go. Abergavenny/Usk/Raglan is the main loop which looks like it will be pretty flat. I have a 16T sprocket in a box somewhere. I'll need some clip ons if I'm going to aim not to claim last place.
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Not ridden that one but have used 49*16 on 2*12hrs and last years lumpy Sussex 24hr. Definitely do some long rides in position - my back gave out with 3hrs to go on the first one I did and I had to radically adjust my position to get more comfortable.
I think Frank9755 and Oranj have done the WCA.
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I rode it as my one and only 12hr. Blisteringly hot and I wasn't fast. Course is okay apart from the traffic lights on the chainferry bridge.
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... and the other set of traffic lights on the first out and back to Hereford.
It's a nice course, but it's not easy, and it's not flat. It might be tricky for fixed as there are some steepish little climbs and some long downhills, especially on the A40 where you will want a big gear
I entered it a couple of years ago. I stopped after about 6.5 hours (I was doing ok but I was slightly off my target distance, so decided to save my legs to do other things with!)
The first leg out to Hereford is the hilliest bit. Then the main circuit and the finishing circuit (which I never got to) are very similar, both being half DC and half rolling but pleasant lanes. The steepest hill is a very short ramp up to Raglan village. It's not long, but I was just about in bottom gear for it.
Lovely atmosphere, enthusiastic marshalls, a fun day out - good luck!
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That's useful info. I have stripped the fixed bike down to the minimum and put some clip-ons on. If it looks too hilly for fixed then I'll have to do the same to the geared bike. The mudguards had to come off anyway as the rear one had about 5 cracks in it.
Got to ride the Pendle 600k this weekend so won't be doing anything to the geared bike until after that.
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I didn't mention the rice pudding cones, or the hand-ups of tea, which were done by our very own BlackSheep, as I heard they are not doing them any more :-(
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The steepest hill is a very short ramp up to Raglan village. It's not long, but I was just about in bottom gear for it.
I've just remembered that my wife, who was helping me that day, was trying to give me a bottle on the steep bit going into Raglan. She started to run gently, holding the bottle out for me to grab, but I had to shout to her to stop as I couldn't catch her up!
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How steep is steep? I've got a 73" gear on there at the moment.
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get your entry in Simon - closes today.
It' a small kick up to the LH junction in Raglan, you wouldn't even notice it on a normal ride but by laps 4/5 it's a monster ;)
Dave Lewis was handing up the Watermelon slices Oranj :) I recall them being amazing!
Sub55 was doing the Rice Cream cones again last year, hopefully be there this year - it all depends on # of volunteers.
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Got my entry in last week, online, as it looked a bit tight for postal. So unless it's full I should be in.
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See you there then :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Got the start info by email yesterday.
Went out for two hours practicing riding in position. 62.55km in 2:06, 74" gear.
My start number is 29. I think I'll find somewhere to stay locally as it's 1h20 drive from home and I don't like getting up at 4am.
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I'm off 35, I should have a static helper on the Main & finishing circuit if you want to have a spare bottle/food out on the course?
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I'm off 35, I should have a static helper on the Main & finishing circuit if you want to have a spare bottle/food out on the course?
Thanks! I had planned to dump stuff at the info desk but I now have an offer of help from Feline so I should be okay.