Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Audax => Topic started by: FiveFives on 09 April, 2019, 04:01:44 pm
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I've just signed up, looks like a great route, hoping for a reverse in the prevailing winds to make the most of the fens heading home.
https://www.camaudax.uk/rides/the-capitals-of-east-anglia-300/2019/
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I am doing this one as well. I did Nick's Tour of East Anglia perm in 2017 which will have much in common with this event's route I think. Did the perm on my recumbent but will be doing this event on road bike. Just got the Easter Arrow to get out the the way the week before first. Think Nick is doing route check this weekend.
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I'll be tandeming it with the Wee McTaggart.
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I just hadn't gotten around to it, that's all 55s. Here's the promo blurb, with a photo of me on Dunwich beach staring at the North Sea pensively, hoping for an onshore breeze to blow me home:
A brand new 300km event from Cambridge Audax (https://www.camaudax.uk/cea) that heads far out into the ‘wilds’ of Suffolk, dipping a toe in the North Sea at Dunwich, and then to the civilisation that is Norfolk, before heading back to Cambridge via the ‘badlands’ of Fenlandia.
The route visits five capitals of East Anglia on its way, although the real interest is the predominance of very quiet lanes and B-roads that make up this route, taking you through some very picturesque farming landscapes of one of the most important agricultural regions of the UK, as well as visiting the Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB.
(https://www.camaudax.uk/rides/the-capitals-of-east-anglia-300/2019/img/DSCN5997.jpg)
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I'm riding the route-check tomorrow morning, and — lucky me — it looks like I'll have the aforementioned onshore breeze :thumbsup: I've just got to fight it to Norwich ::-)
I don't know what a good-sized field looks like for a 300, as this is our first, but I think it's going to be a decent size. There's still plenty of space, though! Baking doesn't start for another ten days ;)
Website here — https://www.camaudax.uk/cea (https://www.camaudax.uk/cea)
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I am doing this one as well. I did Nick's Tour of East Anglia perm in 2017 which will have much in common with this event's route I think.
The routes are the same to Tuddenham, about 5km after Ipswich, where they diverge, before rejoining thru Norwich and splitting once more on the other side. They don't rejoin until 2km before the end.
Really, after Ipswich they are quite different routes, but with a very similar feel.
Both go below sea-level thru Fenlandia ;)
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I'll be tandeming it with the Wee McTaggart.
Apart from Hartest Hill, this is a very tandem-friendly route :thumbsup:
Also fixed-friendly — even on fixed, Hartest only takes 2.5 minutes of tacking up the 10% bit from bottom to top, East Anglia is not known for its mountains ::-)
Edit — and, as Phil says further on, 'bent-friendly too, as there's not a lot of winching, and plenty of gently rolling, or very-flat, to really stretch the legs. In fact, if the wind is prevailing, some sort of 'bent or vélomobile would be the preferred option :D
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No mountains, but plenty of dutch hills normally available.
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And recumbent friendly as well having done the Tour of East Anglia perm and other events in that area on the recumbent.
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Looks great. But after doing 3down and the Easter arrow a 3rd all day ride in April is pushing it.
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Route check done.
It snowed — SNOWED!! — and temperature varied from -5° to + 7°C and back again!! Where did April go?!! :o
Blimey, that was a tough one. No major changes but some updates to follow.
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Blimey.
Chapeau!
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In fact, if the wind is prevailing, some sort of 'bent or vélomobile would be the preferred option :D
If the forecast wind speeds turn black like the Pork Pie then I may well turn up with the recumbent.
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Weather is looking 'lively', not too horrible, but certainly would of been nice to have this weekends weather (and wind!) instead!!
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Weather is looking 'lively', not too horrible, but certainly would of been nice to have this weekends weather (and wind!) instead!!
For those unfamiliar, riding from Lakenheath to Ely into a 30 km/h headwind will be a gentle introduction to what Fenland riding is all about.
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Well at least it's a new route so, not being a local, I won't be able to anticipate where the bad bits are :-) I will be in Normandicat training mode (eg riding alone, strictly to HR) so those long headwind legs will hurt.... but in the right way... Might even pop on the tribars to affect that full #farfast look, because it's what you look like in black and white photos that matters.
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For those unfamiliar, riding from Lakenheath to Ely into a 30 km/h headwind will be a gentle introduction to what Fenland riding is all about.
Yes, exactly as Alex said :demon:
Still, at least it will be warm :thumbsup: By which I mean "not cold" ::-)
Just some final tweaks to go into the routesheet from helpers' ride on Saturday (which was in near-perfect conditions) and I'll send some more information out to entrants.
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Hopefully there won't be overly gusty sidewinds for our tandem.
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Hopefully there won't be overly gusty sidewinds for our tandem.
No, I think it'll be more a stiff breeze than a gusty wind.
You'll have mostly-tailwind to Dunwich. The crosswind section is Dunwich to Norwich, but this section is quite well hedged-in and mostly lanes. And then headwind all the way from Norwich to Watton (mix of hedged and exposed), and to Ely (very exposed, typical big-skies, character-building Fendland section), and back home (more hedgery). I'm not expecting anyone, even tandems, to have any specific wind-related issues, excepting the into-the-wind-suffering to Ely.
Thinking through the route, the only section that might feel exposed-crosswindy is from Feltwell to Lakenheath, and the wind will be from your right, which is the preferred I think. You'll be there after 7pm, some well after that, so traffic will be light anyway. The surface is smooth and I don't recall any potholes to avoid.
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Is this an annual event? I can't do this year, but would love to try it next year.
J
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Is this an annual event? I can't do this year, but would love to try it next year.
J
First running of a 300 by us this year. We'll see how it goes, but I'm hopeful it will turn into an annual event.
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Bottom bracket developed a creak on the Easter Arrow. It developed during hotter part of day and disappeared as it cooled down overnight. Suspect (hope) it has just worked a bit lose and needs taking out, regreasing, and refitting. Anyway that is today's job.
The Pork Pie brought strong winds, The Easter Arrow brought the first warmth, and ( inadequately dressed for ) night section freezing temps for me. If we get a headwind and the forecast rain then that will add to the conditions ridden in on this years brevets. Always worth getting reminders as you move back up the distances of what you might encounter. Helps you refine your kit choices rather than get lulled into those I'll be wam enough, it won't rain type thoughts.
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Looking on the bright side —
If we get a headwind ...
Every headwind comes with a tailwind, Phil :thumbsup: Except on The Flatlands 2015, which was just 600km of headwind ::-)
... and the forecast mere possibility of rain ...
FTFY.
... then that will add to the conditions ridden in on this years brevets.
Which is all grist to the mill for PBP preparation.
You're welcome O:-)
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I'm having a slightly more relaxed weekend on the Heart of Anglia 200. Looks like the routes sort of cross in the fens but I think you'll all be through by the time I get there.
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It's looking pretty windy and wet for this weekend at the moment
https://www.metcheck.com/WEATHER/dayforecast.asp?zipcode=Ely&locationID=57514&lat=52.4&lon=0.3&dateFor=27/04/2019
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Bottom bracket developed a creak on the Easter Arrow. It developed during hotter part of day and disappeared as it cooled down overnight. Suspect (hope) it has just worked a bit lose and needs taking out, regreasing, and refitting. Anyway that is today's job.
Yeah, the creak has gone, at least on the test ride. Did look a bit dry so hopefully the grease and refitting has sorted it.
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It's looking pretty windy and wet for this weekend at the moment
https://www.metcheck.com/WEATHER/dayforecast.asp?zipcode=Ely&locationID=57514&lat=52.4&lon=0.3&dateFor=27/04/2019
Don't worry Wilkyboy reckons it is a mere possibility of... me, I'm bringing my waterproof.
https://www.weatherbagel.com/f/d1211e52-34b1-4d29-8efe-5eb28b1aa0b4
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The weather's trying to blow itself out at the moment — it's raining in Girton at the moment, you won't see a drop on Saturday ::-)
Update: and the sun's shining at the same time! :facepalm:
Anyway it's character building, I know you know that :demon:
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I'm just being more cautious on Sat given how damned cold I got on the Easter Arrow last weekend. If it stays nice enough for the coat to stay packed, that's fine by me.
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I'm with you there — even on the sunniest rides I pack a jacket, just in case.
There will be plenty of hot soup at the end, as we're acknowledging the merest possibility of riders getting back to us a little chilled.
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Aiming to do the same ECE route as in Oct (4 1/4hrs cycling), so leaving home before 1am to arrive by 5:15 for a leisurely coffee or two and brekky!
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I'm with you there — even on the sunniest rides I pack a jacket, just in case.
Me too, not least because I always finish near the end...
There will be plenty of hot soup at the end, as we're acknowledging the merest possibility of riders getting back to us a little chilled.
I'll be doing it on the Pino with @j4. It's really not the best in a headwind - we may be some time.
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Surely the wind can’t be as bad as it was on The Pork Pie? Or is that tempting fate?
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Surely the wind can’t be as bad as it was on The Pork Pie? Or is that tempting fate?
:P :P :P You've tempted fate! 50 mph gusts now! ;D ;D ;D
Storm Hannah, doesn't sound too bad...
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She may help us once we turn more easterly to Ipswich and Dunwich. Then we may feel weak and feeble into the headwind and rain on the second half return. It will keep us honest.
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Urgh. Might just flay myself with nettles at home instead if it continues like that... Review at 4AM!
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Urgh. Might just flay myself with nettles at home instead if it continues like that... Review at 4AM!
Might I refer you to this earlier quote ...
I will be in Normandicat training mode (eg riding alone, strictly to HR) so those long headwind legs will hurt.... but in the right way... Might even pop on the tribars to affect that full #farfast look, because it's what you look like in black and white photos that matters.
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The road from Lakenheath through to the junction turning left for Prickwillow has recently been resurfaced. It's a gravel dressing but has mostly packed down very well, only a little bit loose on a couple of bends.
The road down to PW then has a few bumps and potholes on the left "gutter". Keep an eye out for the Phone Box Art Gallery.
There's a big dent in the road just past the metal house out of Prickwillow to watch out for.
There's a couple of potholes near a pedestrian island on the Witchford Road under trees which are a bit deep.
The road out to Wilburton from Grunty Fen is rather rough, particularly just before the hill.
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Urgh. Might just flay myself with nettles at home instead if it continues like that... Review at 4AM!
Might I refer you to this earlier quote ...
I will be in Normandicat training mode (eg riding alone, strictly to HR) so those long headwind legs will hurt.... but in the right way... Might even pop on the tribars to affect that full #farfast look, because it's what you look like in black and white photos that matters.
Ha! I know, I know. But I have a cold now and need to be more cautious ::-)
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Ahhh, what the hell, will drive up and see what happens!!!
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Good luck to anyone who has ventured out today, for medical reasons the Big Saxon has to be careful and conserve energy, so not for me if too stressful.
Hoping for still sunny days ahead.
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The weather out there are the moment is a little, er.... "breezy" !
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For the record, I will never mention the weather before an event again. That was 300km of suffering!
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For the record, I will never mention the weather before an event again. That was 300km of suffering!
Well, it was nice to Dunwich (good wind assistance). Dunwich to Norwich was neutral - if you don't mind rain.
But after Norwich ... !
Crawling up that long drag into Watton with storm force wind blowing cold rain in the face, while being close passed by a stream of bossy drivers, counts as a ride low point. And grovelling through the Fens to Ely was just as much "fun" as predicted.
Fortunately Ewa's soup and cake made all well. Thanks to the family Wilkyboy for yet another quality event - even if I did begrudge Nick every one of the bonus 21km, which I'm sure were all Fenland ones :)
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Dare I say I’ll never do another Audax in similar weather? The crawl home was over an hour longer than the outward leg, too.
Great food again, Ewa.
Great route, Nick. Ian was like a tour guide in Norwich, and I think Raymond was trying to instil some discipline in me.
Now for some sleep.
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We started dry as we rode into Cambridge. Not more than 800m a rider had gone down hitting the infrastructure in Girton. The rider was groaning in pain with a fair few riders gathered round. Passing wide I kept to the road down to Cambridge. In the centre some went left, some right (me), and some straight on. Before long we were climbing the hill above Six Mile Bottom. I then joined Judith and Alex and we rode together to Ipswich. Alex opted for a quick stop with the cash point, Judith headed into the pedestrianised zone, and I headed for the shop on the way out. What should have been a simple stop turned into an extended affair with a till printer broken. After much fuss during which they kept the food I'd bought away from me, they finally managed to do me a receipt. Lamb Samosa, chocolate bar and drink.
The rain set in after Ipswich only clearing up in the final approach to Dunwich. I rode solo but with the tailwind and easy rolling this passed pleasantly enough. I overlapped with a couple and a single guy in black whom I would see for the rest of the ride. The GPS low battery came on but kept going for another hour to Dunwich where I changed the batteries over. Three sausages, chips, mushy peas, pot of tea, toilet stop then off to Norwich.
Again solo but overlapping the others as above plus another rider. No tailwind benefit and headwind in places but not too bad and no wrestling the bike like on the pork pie. The rain started up again then eased by Norwich. In Norwich I stopped in a noodle bar just before the keep. Egg fried rice, caramel chicken, and sweet and sour pork plus a coke. Delicious food and just what I needed. Unfortunately not address on receipt. So a protracted discussion whilst I tried to get them to write the address on the back. Is this for VAT, no etc
The exit from Norwich had busy roads as the one we were on led to the A47. No close passes like Alex but I was glad when it quietened down again. But my god, that wind as we headed down the B road to Watton. I was glad when we turned into the lanes which had some respite due to the hedges. Average speeds dropped as the wind just relentlessly pushed against progress. In Watton I stopped at a kebab shop but alas they said kebabs from next week, just fried chicken today. Not my taste so left. I opted for the post office and got some snacks instead. The guy was super helpful helping undo the bottle tops and letting me use the toilet out back.
Onwards into the fens, rain still falling, and there was no hiding. I slowed to a crawl and just kept turning the pedals not thinking about how much of this there was. There were lights ahead and behind on the impossibly long straights. I wasn't gaining on the ones ahead and those behind were not gaining on me. I was glad it wasn't just me crawling along. Oh how I wish I was on my recumbent low racer at that point. I'd focus on the lights in the distance which were just farms and isolated buildings in the nothingness. There were a few level crossing before Ely and I was super cautious , particularly Prick willow which I crashed on on my recumbent ending last years arrow for me at the next control. I looked for Ely cathedral in the darkness but it sprang up on us shortly after Queen Adelaide. Loved the ride past the cathedral but bit wary of the cobbles and flag stones round that section. Controlled at the 24hr garage which was an oasis of riders I'd seen throughout the day. I sat down with a strawberry milk, rapidly cooling, and began to shiver. An ambulance woman came in, asked if I was alright? Yes, will warm up once I get going. The other riders left and another five came in before I headed out for the final leg. I left what was left of the strawberry milk for any rider that wanted it.
The headwind confirmed I'd turned the right way. Another solo effort, with more southbound riding the wind didn't seem too bad and one easterly section turn was lovely. All relative of course the Storm Hannah was still there! Dry mostly the rain returned about 30 mins out from Girton. Thanks rain. Past the busway and final 5 mins. Up into Girton , then turning carefully to not hit a curb in the hall car park in the dark and wet. Nick wrote arrival time in card. Then I went to get changed into dry clothes with nice warm down duvet. Receipts checked , times written in card, then handed to Nick. More riders arrived some being wrapped in silver foil blankets. It was not pleasant out there and rain was getting heavier again, Bit of chat with Alex and Dave then off to drive the hour home. The warm car in the headwind and rain was great, it read 7c on the display.
Two down, two to go for PBP. Easy recovery walk today me thinks and oh how calm it is now!
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Excellent ride report Phil :thumbsup:
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Once I started (about 10’ late) and I had worked off my hangover I felt good and enjoyed it up to Whatton. From then on the wind was too gusty to get on the aerobars so it became a slow slog and to Ely. The last leg Ely-Girton was easy psychologically as it was short with more regular out of the wind bits. Ewa’s soup and cake made it all worthwhile! :thumbsup:
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This was only my second Wilkyboy event (strange, as the start is closer than Essex), and I began preparations by shaving off a few km from the October ECE route to bring it down to just over 100km (Girton is closer to MK than that, but I want the points). I stayed off the coffee all day Friday, yawned away, and went to be around 7:15, but didn't sleep. Raining at midnight, when I went to collect my daughter from the train station, but this soon stopped, so I submitted my route. Left just after 1am, and enjoyed near empty roads out of MK. to make 100km, my route was a zigzag roughly NE, SE through St Neots, NE then SE into Girton, so mainly tailwind with some head and crosswinds thrown in. Arrived just after 5am, fuelled by two coffees at home, energy drink and two shortbread fingers on the move, to enjoy lots of tea, toast and crumpets. whilst my devices recharged, chatting away as the hall slowly filled. I was pleased to see the Straggler arrive, but no Team MK mate Big Saxon (although a shrewd move given his medical history).
I left just after 6am, behind the main field, with the Straggler and his CC Sudbury mate Ian (still can't think where we've met), and enjoyed the near empty Cambridge centre street (even though we went wrong a few times). We didn't make the most of the tailwind to Ipswich, but I enjoyed the scenery, and chatting. Some climbs were a shock (six mile bottom being one, which I think I've done before). Another rider (Paul?) had tagged onto us leaving Cambridge, and I admired his Genesis Equilibrium (both myself and Big Saxon have variants). Paul stopped at a café in Ipswich to meet a mate, and we headed towards the centre to find a café where we could lock our bikes outside. I spotted the Sunrise Café at the big roundabout, and we were the only cyclists there. Quick service (veggie burger and a tea for me), which was just as well, as although Ian and the Straggler had bigger plates, I'm the slowest eater.
Now we were heading NE through the picturesque Suffolk coastlands, and the RSPB Minsmere reserve, to the busy (and pricey, for a northerner?) beach café at Dunwich. No time to look at the history of the place (been there, done that), although we had a leisurely sit down (just cake and tea for me). Busy with cyclists and normal people. The rain had been off and on so far, but I kept being informed it would get better, and the wind would ease by 4pm.
It was cold when we left, and the rain became a pain. We were now heading NW feeling the wind in places. Thoughts of my first Arrow two years ago as we sailed through the start town of Bungay (would like to go back there some day). My average speed was still down on the norm, but I was enjoying the company (and several faff stops meant I could chase back on), but I was to get lower later on. I enjoyed Norwich (Ian telling us about the Anglia TV building, the cathedral, etc), as we toured the centre after our leisurely Sainsbury café stop (tea, toastie, and an apple turnover).
The worst section has to be the SW grind to Ely, hoping for hedge, building or tree cover when in a crosswind, getting blown towards the centre of the road one minute, towards the ditch (images of those car into ditch warning signs coming to mind) the next. Why couldn't a slow lorry or tractor appear to shelter us when the wind was head on? Ely couldn't come soon enough, and I was shocked when I saw the time on the atm receipt. I had thought about a McD McFlurry ao shake heading there (if Ely has one), but my shortbread on the move would have to do, now I knew a midnight finish was off the table.
We passed a BP garage (where a lot went?) on the way out of Ely, and I put the suggestion to my companions, but we soldiered on, along the (bleak at times) roads. We were all suffering now, and the kms ticked by slowly on the gps. I think the Straggler had just announced we had 12km to go when the road surface under the rear wheel began feeling harder. P thoughts had entered my head on the ECE bit, but I thought I had eradicated them. It got softer and softer, and I rode out of the saddle, feeling too cold to have to stop and fix it. After some minutes I gave up, and stopped. I said to my grupetto to carry on, but they'd only do it with my Garmin. A bunch went by, so they had the opportunity to get on their wheels, but they chose to stay. The Straggler helped, amazed I had a spare tyre (I'm not feeling around the errant tyre with cold hands looking for a flint). A dodgy (not checked it yet) valve on a new inner, and slow inflation with two pumps on the other, costed time (but not the 45 minutes I was accused of!), but we were on our way again, making it back for 1:15 (only 45 minutes in hand, and I'm sure my worst for a 300, even though it was nearly 320 km).
I enjoyed two cups of the butternut soup (memories of October!), a cheese roll, and lovely fresh coffee. I did look at the carrot cake, but decided to be good! It was raining when I went outside with the track pump to do a better job on the rear tyre, and how I wished the Big Saxon was there to take pity on me. I eventually left around 3am, into the wind and rain, and had probably the slowest, coldest (even with the extra layers on I'd carried), ride home ever. I had a bus shelter nap of 10 mins or so when I realised I'd been closing my eyes. The one highlight was hearing the dawn chorus again. I got home, after several faff stops (one to oil the chain), about 8:15am (ride time 70 mins slower than the outward leg), and, after a bath, enjoyed a long sleep (yes, some of it was in the bath). 323 miles was a big step after 215 last week, so I don't think I'll ECE the Lincs Poacher 400 next week (80 miles away).
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Another great ride report :thumbsup:
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Urgh. Might just flay myself with nettles at home instead if it continues like that... Review at 4AM!
Might I refer you to this earlier quote ...
I will be in Normandicat training mode (eg riding alone, strictly to HR) so those long headwind legs will hurt.... but in the right way... Might even pop on the tribars to affect that full #farfast look, because it's what you look like in black and white photos that matters.
Ha! I know, I know. But I have a cold now and need to be more cautious ::-)
Well dragged myself up to Girton, inspired by Psyclist's mercliess ribbing, and did the bloody thing. Wind made it a ride of two halves, the first half was 200km long and the second half was the 120km left...
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Well dragged myself up to Girton, inspired by Psyclist's mercliess ribbing, and did the bloody thing. Wind made it a ride of two halves, the first half was 200km long and the second half was the 120km left...
Superb. I'm sure you'll have sufficient material for another epic story now too. Its a win-win :)
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At 02:30 I left the house to cycle the 40 miles to Cambridge and start ‘The Capitals of East Anglia 300km’ knowing full well that a storm was coming, madness! I arrived perfectly as planned at 05:30 to start at 06:00.
Not even 100m in there was already a crash as someone had hit a bit of road furniture. Hopefully he was ok although it did sound very painful. For Stage 1 I was riding with Jan and Elliot. This stage was very long at 91km or so and quite rolling. We broke it up with some breakfast in Lavenham.
Then onto Ipswich which wasn't quite as long but just as rolling. The wind making itself known but still not a real problem yet. We stopped at Ipswich and ctonrolled with a quick purchase from Tesco.
After that the wind was supposed to be with us to Dunwich but it certainly didn’t feel like it, still no sign of any rain yet though. Nice bit of comedy off road through the woods to fish and chips in Dunwich then on to Norwich where all my problems started.
About 7 miles away from Norwich I began to lose touch with Jan, Elliot and a bunch of other riders who had joined us, I caught up a couple of times but soon lost them again. I had been snacking on these porridge bars I bought in Tesco before the ride and although they were helping I still got really hungry and lost power in my legs. I also felt a slight pain starting to develop in the top of my thigh so I slowed down to a more comfortable pace and eventually crawled into Norwich around 17:30. Originally the plan was a quick supermarket stop to save some time in the tough fen stages. However I needed to sit down and get some calories so found my way to the McDonalds. Whilst there I bumped into a couple of a crazy tandem whom I had overtaken on the way into Norwich. We compared notes about the wind and much further we had to go.
Encouraged that the next stage was only 24 miles I headed out into the first visit to the fens. I felt my better and strong after all the calories from the McDonalds and worked out that if I can keep an average speed of 11-12mph I should make it to Girton with an hour or so to spare and allow time to have a quick bite at Watton and Ely. This didn't quite go to plan as I took a few wrong turns leaving Norwich and then was slowed by the wind. I had to stop in a bus shelter to put on my waterproof trousers. The sun was beginning to set and the rain falling down with it. My knees were red and although they didn't feel cold yet, I thought it best to try and keep them warm.
I made it to Watton and bumped into the Straggler and a few other familar faces, they were just leaving the Spar as I went in. I didn't know what to buy, I was hungry again but not starving, so I quickly got a meal deal to take with me, ate one of my porridge bars and headed out back into the rain, bumping into the tandem couple again as I was leaving.
The stage to Ely was probably the most difficult. I had in my notes that the wind would begin to die down in the evening but I guess as I as heading straight into it maybe it felt worse than it was. The rain had seeped into my map holder and turned my routesheet into mush, so I could no longer read it. On my phone I had my TomTom app, so punched in the postcode for the petrol station in Ely and listened to the directions. This worked well for the most part and it took me a little bit through Thetford forest where there was some nice shelter from the trees, eventually though the forest came to an end and I was back in the fens.
The TomTom lady wanted me to turn right through a locked gate, so I ignored her and carried on. I should have know I was going in the wrong direction as it was so easy and felt like I was going really fast. 3 miles down the road, I stopped and checked my phone as she hadn't said anything yet. The directions were saying to turn around so I did and 3 miles back into the wind having wasted all or at least most of the time in hand I had. I decided to carry on into the wind and was soon overtaken by the tandem couple from McDonalds. I asked if they had controlled at Ely yet and they hadn't, so at least I was heading in the right direction.
Another 'shortcut' and I found myself in the middle of a field in the middle of the night in the pouring rain and wind wondering what I was doing? Complete sense of humour failure and I just wanted to curl up and sleep but that wouldn't help, so I went back to the road and found the quick turning for Ely and was back on track. I got a receipt from the cash machine, I think it was 23:59 or something like that. Another cereal bar and it was the last 18 miles back to Girton.
Thankfully, there weren't any more detours on this stage and it was hard work in the wind but the rain had began to ease off. My watch beeped to let me know it was now 01:00, I didn't want to stop to see how much further there was to go but it still must have been a while as Girton wasn't on any of the road signs yet. In the distance ahead I could see the rear light of the tandem, so tried to keep them in my sights. My watched beeped to say it was now 02:00 and I turned into the control. I didn't take account for the slightly raised and slippery curb and the bike fell from under me. I landed on my feet and quickly got back on and raced through the car park. Ewa was holding the door, saying it was ok! And I dripped into the hall and handed Nick my card and then I remember that I hadn't filled in the times or circled them on the receipts. So I quickly did that and handed it back to him before having some soup, cake and about 4 cups of tea to get me the 40 miles back home. I dragged myself back into the cold and made it home just before 07:00.
My thanks to Nick and Ewa and the helpers. Now that I have had a full night's sleep I can see that this was quite the adventure and hopefully that's the 300km PBP qualifier done. Will try to avoid riding 300km into a storm in the future though.
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That was quite an event! All riders really wanted to talk about was the wind, although a few did mention they'd enjoyed the route, too ;)
59 starters, 7 abandons, 3 hors délais — I locked up just before 5am Sunday.
Longer write-up to follow.
Not more than 800m a rider had gone down hitting the infrastructure in Girton. The rider was groaning in pain with a fair few riders gathered round.
Just to add: the bike's fine, only the chain fell off :demon:
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Also, the rider's okay :thumbsup: Only a dislocated collar bone. I use the word "only" as someone who's never dislocated anything, but I can imagine the pain was all too real for him :'(
He was very embarrassed to have gone down in the first place, as he's a seasoned club cyclist, just not looking where he was going and not expecting a kerb and bollard in the middle of the road (it's a stupid piece of road layout) and the group in front didn't call it (apparently). I left the team to clear up the hall and megajoulesexpenditure and myself stood around directing traffic around him and providing entertaining conversation. An off-duty paramedic cycling on his own way to work stopped to assist, as he legally must, and then started to get hypothermic himself! The ambulance — eventually, over 90 minutes after the initial call! — took both of them to Addenbrooke's, with our rider back home by lunchtime.
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A few pics from the event here: https://www.facebook.com/camaudax/photos/a.3141263129224499/3141263209224491/ (https://www.facebook.com/camaudax/photos/a.3141263129224499/3141263209224491/).
I'll post them onto a non-Facebook page hopefully later on, for those who despise it.
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I was further back as I like to sit in clear air at the start of any ride till it calms a little. Someone who was close when it happened said he was fiddling with his GPS. Agree though, stupid bit of infrastructure, we have it in a village round here and I ignore it every time, glad to hear just a dislocation and nothing broken.
Oh and I did enjoy the route apart from the exit from Norwich. Minsmere and the forest around Brandon was particularly nice. Says thanks to your helpers.
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... and the group in front didn't call it (apparently) ...
Everybody in PBP preparation mode then?
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A few pics from the event here: https://www.facebook.com/camaudax/photos/a.3141263129224499/3141263209224491/ (https://www.facebook.com/camaudax/photos/a.3141263129224499/3141263209224491/).
I'll post them onto a non-Facebook page hopefully later on, for those who despise it.
Nice, thanks Nick.
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Thanks to WilkyBoy and Ewa for a fantastic event. I'd say those are some of the clearest audax directions I've ever experienced - more distances on the route sheet would make me happy, not because we need them for route finding, but because they help tell us know when to celebrate landmark distances, etc. The food was awesome as well - the bean chilli was exactly what was needed after all that fighting into the wind.
As everyone else says, a ride in two parts - easy and fast with the tail wind to Dunwich, mighty hard work back through the fens into the headwind, which the Pino really doesn't excel at. The stretch through Sedge Fen was pretty brutal - my wind break was only really whimpering by the end, and nothing normally stops her talking. It always helps to be repeatedly overtaken by someone who takes long cuts though - thanks Deano_44!
We nearly came off going over the bump coming into the car park as well - so probably worth warning people about that.
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It always helps to be repeatedly overtaken by someone who takes long cuts though - thanks Deano_44!
We nearly came off going over the bump coming into the car park as well - so probably worth warning people about that.
I didn’t want to make it too easy ;D.
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A few pics from the event here: https://www.facebook.com/camaudax/photos/a.3141263129224499/3141263209224491/ (https://www.facebook.com/camaudax/photos/a.3141263129224499/3141263209224491/).
I'll post them onto a non-Facebook page hopefully later on, for those who despise it.
Nice, thanks Nick.
You're welcome: https://www.camaudax.uk/rides/the-capitals-of-east-anglia-300/2019/report (https://www.camaudax.uk/rides/the-capitals-of-east-anglia-300/2019/report) :thumbsup:
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I didn’t want to make it too easy ;D.
I do remember one particular time where we could literally see the junction with a nice B Road a couple of hundred metres ahead and you went off down a lane to the left. I nearly assumed you knew where you were going :-)
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That would have been a good short cut if it was a nice road but it just turned into a bumpy field! I saw where it rejoined the proper road once I was back on track.
If I knew where I was going I’d be dangerous. All part of the adventure I say.
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That would have been a good short cut if it was a nice road but it just turned into a bumpy field! I saw where it rejoined the proper road once I was back on track.
If I knew where I was going I’d be dangerous. All part of the adventure I say.
Did Nick give you a special route sheet to cause all these long cuts?
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That would have been a good short cut if it was a nice road but it just turned into a bumpy field! I saw where it rejoined the proper road once I was back on track.
If I knew where I was going I’d be dangerous. All part of the adventure I say.
Did Nick give you a special route sheet to cause all these long cuts?
I'm saying nothing :demon:
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My report - 'Wistful in the Fens' (for you Alex) now up: https://audaxery.wordpress.com/2019/05/02/wistful-on-the-fens-capitals-of-east-anglia-300/ (https://audaxery.wordpress.com/2019/05/02/wistful-on-the-fens-capitals-of-east-anglia-300/)
I have nicked a photo of Nicks. Thanks for the excellent after care Nick, all we need is the 400 and 600 for the Cambs SR Series ;-)
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Just a quick one.
This event is showing in my results now but there is no ACP number for PBP qualifying. Will this be added later?
-Dean.
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Just a quick one.
This event is showing in my results now but there is no ACP number for PBP qualifying. Will this be added later?
-Dean.
Normally a few days (upto a week) after the AUK number appears
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Just a quick one.
This event is showing in my results now but there is no ACP number for PBP qualifying. Will this be added later?
-Dean.
Normally a few days (upto a week) after the AUK number appears
Thank you.
Never paid much notice to it until this year. Won’t panic just yet then. :)
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It's with the Validation Secretary. Everyone's ride is validated (i.e. we're all good), but ACP have to issue their brevet numbers and those'll be added to everyone's results when they arrive :thumbsup:
I know that ValSec has been incredibly busy for the past couple of months with checking and stickering, as well as Real Life, it all just takes time.
UPDATE — I just checked my results on AUK and the ACP brevet numbers appear to now be up :thumbsup:
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Just checked mine again and it’s showing the ACP number now. I guess I spoke too soon. Thanks for confirming. :)