Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Freewheeling => Racing => Topic started by: Dees on 03 June, 2014, 04:13:58 pm
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Hi,
This is my first post on this forum, I hope it's ok that I'm getting stuck straight in :) I've been reading the past discussions about the 24 hour with a lot of interest as I'm doing it this year (yikes), it'll be my first one, myself and the hubby will be travelling over from Ireland for it, he's my support crew. I'll probably have a million and one questions over the next few weeks. The first one is, anyone here doing it this year?
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I'll be marshalling, so I'll see you at Prees.
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I'm planning to do it. My second attempt.
Mr B, I'll look out for you at Prees!
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I'm in. :o
It's my first one as well, so your questions will be of considerable interest!
No idea what I'll end up achieving, but I'm hoping to get close to 350 miles. As for prep.....my audax year has been royally screwed by illness so I'll be trying to do as many miles as possible, including a DIY 600.
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Glad to know I'm not the only lunatic ;) Mr B you might have the phone number handy for the nearest home for the bewildered as I may need it afterwards.
Frank, how did the first one go for you? What is the terrain like? I know it has been referred to as a flat course but I recently did a 12 hour where a 'flat ' course meant 10,000 feet of climbing so I'm hoping Mersey roads flat means flat, not Irish flat.
Chuffy I have no idea what I'll achieve either, but finishing it intact will be good for a first one. Sounds like you're getting more miles in than me!
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Welcome to the forum
I'm assisting with support for one of the Eccose riders otp.
There are several yacfers riding.
See this thread
https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=82953.0
hth
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Thanks jogler, that link doesn't seem to be working for me though, can you post it again if you get a chance please.
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It appears that I have mistakenly linked to your own post :-[
I intended to show this
https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=68809.0
which relates to last year's event but would indicate the interest shown by yacfers.
This thread
https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=81852.0
contains some references to this year's event although it is specific to a different TT
I hope that all that is clearer than mud :)
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I'm in.
Was waiting to complete my audax SR before comitting, thats now done so its all systems go.
G.
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Frank, how did the first one go for you? What is the terrain like? I know it has been referred to as a flat course but I recently did a 12 hour where a 'flat ' course meant 10,000 feet of climbing so I'm hoping Mersey roads flat means flat, not Irish flat.
Not a disaster but not terribly well, to be honest. I learned that there is a learning curve to riding these things, and that I was at the start of it! The main thing I got terribly wrong was my food and drink. I also had some disruption in the last couple of weeks which meant I didn't prepare properly and had a couple of technical hitches. If you're interested, my write-up is here: http://westerleycc.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/mersey-roads-24-hour-tt-21-22-july-2012.html (http://westerleycc.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/mersey-roads-24-hour-tt-21-22-july-2012.html)
It's a pretty flat course. The main circuit has only very gentle rolling bits while the shorter one has one hill. The finishing circuit is a bit lumpier, but that will take care of itself.
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Here's my report (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=77089.0) from last year, I hope you find some useful nuggets in there.
The course is almost flat, a sort of gently rolling. This is better than being completely flat as it allows you to move around a bit and keep the numbness at bay.
Think about how far you want to go, work out how far that will take you around the course and what that means for where you'll want your supporter (answer: probably Prees). Work out how much food you'll want and what that means for hand-ups: that will stop you either running out or spending loads of time stopping to take on far too much extra mass in the form of malt loaves. Spend a lot of time in the tri-bars beforehand so you're comfortable staying there for hours. Once you're there, enjoy the atmosphere!
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Thanks for posting all of those links lads, I'm taking loads of notes. The race reports are great, there's nothing like reading of other people's experiences to give you some idea of what you're letting yourself in for. Frank I'm very relieved to see your total climbing for the 24 was 2000 metres, my climbing for the 12 was 3000metres and I wasn't covering near the mileage you were :thumbsup:
Here's my report (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=77089.0) from last year, I hope you find some useful nuggets in there.
Spend a lot of time in the tri-bars beforehand so you're comfortable staying there for hours. Once you're there, enjoy the atmosphere!
I've been spending a lot of time in the tri bars and got a new set fitted last week that are a lot more comfortable, especially on my neck and shoulders, should help a lot.
I was reading this article today, may have to rethink my race wardrobe..http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/video-loose-vs-tighter-jerseys-tested-in-a-wind-tunnel-energy-saved-time-gained-is-huge/ I'm not prepared to go skinsuit just yet though!!
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Ok - here's a proper newby question for you. How do you know you've finished? ??
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They tell you to stop when you pass the next recorder on the finish circuit after your 24 hours are up.
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Closing date for entries is today
Got mine in last week.
Accomodation sorted Friday & Sunday at Peremier Inn Wrexham North about 6 miles from start/finish.
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So, now we've got the Sussex one out of the way, we have Dees, Chuffy and ,
I expect TG will be doing it, and McNasty.
Anyone else?
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McNasty and I are in and hope to have no mechanicals this time.
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I am not now attending.
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Sadly, we are having to give it a miss this year too. :(
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I have stuffed a last minute entry in. Just need to oil the knees and grease the undercarriage.
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Get it the right way round ,Ian
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I have stuffed a last minute entry in. Just need to oil the knees and grease the undercarriage.
Greasing your nethers is probably beyond the call of duty for my minions. Unless they use a greasing sponge onna stick.
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I have stuffed a last minute entry in. Just need to oil the knees and grease the undercarriage.
Greasing your nethers is probably beyond the call of duty for my minions. Unless they use a greasing sponge onna stick.
Methinks you were familiar with Roman wc etiquette in a previous life.
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Hmm, probably best to get this thread back on track or we will be putting people off!
I'm doing Tomsk's excellent Hereward the Wake overnight 300km next Friday/Saturday as a final shakedown and try-out for the lights and other night gear.
No sign of a start sheet yet but it's early days. Would be good to get the latest gen on riding unsupported, in particular getting one's night stuff in the right place for when it gets dark, and how well the Prees set-up works. I had a helper last time so not got any experience of this.
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Im in
Got my son roped in to provide support, cant wait to see what time im off now.
Am going to concentrate on getting sleep in now rather than miles, with maybe a night ride to test out the full set up.
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Hmm, probably best to get this thread back on track or we will be putting people off!
Not at all, you can never have enough information ;D
What do you all eat over the course of the race? I plan on having bananas, ham sandwiches, fruit jellies, Cliif bars or something similar, rice pudding, gels for the last few hours when eating will just be too much of a faff and some sort of pasta based thingy if I feel like a proper meal. I'd like to have more savoury stuff on the menu so any suggestions will be taken on board. I expect to feel sick as a small hospital by the time I'm done. For drinks I'll alternate water and accelerade.
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There are no rules on what to eat: it really depends what you like and can best tolerate. Everybody is different on that score.
It's generally best to stick to the things that have worked for you on long rides in the past. A 24 is not the time to be experimenting with new recipes!
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I expect to feel sick as a small hospital by the time I'm done.
;D
I suspect I'll be eating a lot of jam sandwiches (slice of white bread spread with jam and rolled up, maximising the jam to bread ratio) as well as more savoury offerings (cheese spread, Marmite etc). Basically I'll be wanting stuff that's quick and easy to eat. I'll also (hopefully) be having quite a few Mars Thickshakes.
As for drinks, well I don't much like plain water so I'll be taking on squash (none of that sugar free crap please) plus my audax favourite of coke and orange juice. I'll probably go for another mix - lemonade/orange juice/tonic water as the tonic water has a pleasingly bitter edge which cuts through the sweetness and makes it very drinkable.
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Muller rice. Perhaps a bacon bap as a reward if I'm going well at 12hrs.
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FWIW, I had trouble swallowing sandwiches - the bread just congealed into a dry lump in my mouth. Yuk
I found pasta salads much easier to eat.
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Make sure you practice with any cereal bars beforehand. Opening them with your teeth can be a hassle. The consistency is important, we got Frosties bars handed up one year, the worst thing I've ever tried to eat on a bike, you'll be breathing hard enough to choke on anything brittle. I used to like Nutri-Grain bars, but over-reliance on them means I don't like them any more. I went off bananas as well, I coined the word amnausea for packing foods that you suddenly remember you don't like enough to eat on the hour, every hour for a whole day.
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The opening thing is a good point.
I am not very good at riding no handed (used to be as a kid!).
So each time I filled my little top bar bag, I made sure I opened each of the bars etc. as I put them in.
If you are supported, then obvious you could get opened bars handed up for refilling pockets etc.
Do not try it with gels! ;).
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And yes to rice pudding. By the latter parts, your mouth will be sore and it is easy and soothing to eat.
And yummy.
And pretty good fuel.
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I filled my top-bag with gels and snacks. I did put some mini flapjacks in but they were quite greasy and that coated th gel sachets. I dropped at least one as it was a bit slippery.
I carried sandwiches, bars and some mini-soreen loaves. I couldn't eat the soreen loaves and sandwiches after the first 4-6hrs and switched to rice-pussing but then had to stop longer to fuel.
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switched to rice-pussing.
There can be some unwanted side-effects from 24s. This sounds like a very creative use of Ambrosia to fill that gap.
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The starting order has just gone up on Facebook.
Jill W is having another shot after things not working out for her in Sussex. She could be a strong contender for outright winner. Otherwise Greg Woodford has done over 460 before (and rode the Sussex one last month but I don't know what he did in it) and Chris Hopkinson has just come back from RAAM, so should have some miles in his legs.
1 George Berwick Edinburgh RC
1 Phillip Jurczyk West Lothian Clarion
2 Stewart Cox RNRMCA
2 Bob Richards RNRMCA
4 Charles Kitson Wansbeck CC
5 Michael Wallis Derby Mercury RC
6 Joe Applegarth Houghton CC
7 Dave Stokes Musselburgh Roads CC Trike
8 Graeme Wyllie Edinburgh RC
9 Geraint Catherall Anfield BC
10 David R Parkes Coventry RC
11 John Hassall Bossard Wheelers
12 Russell Pindar Beeston CC
13 Bob Watts San Fairy Ann CC
14 Jenny Bonham API-Metrow
15 Roger Squire Wrexham RC
16 Rob Simmonds Exeter Whs CC
17 Jim Hopper Derby Mercury RC Trike
18 Frazer Herald Liverpool Century RC
19 Mike Wigley Saddleworth Clarion
20 Ray Retter North Devon Wheelers
21 Ian Crosby Amersham Road CC
22 Angus Welsh Angus Bike Chain
23 Steve Ralphs Loughborough Phoenix CC
24 Sandra Deery Bottecchia Racing Club W
25 Graeme Walsh Stirling Bike Club
26 Ian Lea Exeter Whs CC
27 Frank Proud Westerley CC
28 Andrew Preston CC Weymouth
29 Edgar Reynolds Congleton CC
30 Steven Abraham North Bucks RC
31 David Bayley Audax Ireland
32 Fred Newton Wessex Road Club
33 Steve Davies Addicombe CC
34 Kenny Cliffe Hinckley CRC
35 Jill Wilkinson Chester RC W
36 Ian Hawkins Fibrax-Wrexham RC
37 Mark Nicholson Border City Whs CC
38 John Appleby API-Metrow
39 Nigel Holl Stirling Bike Club
40 Dave Fearon Weaver Valley CC
41 David Dudley Rhos-on-Sea CC
42 Pete Vance Renegade Racing
43 Robert Whittall Chester RC
44 Neil Ridsdale Bridlington CC
45 John Forbes Birkenhead North End CC
46 Richard Birkin Nottingham Clarion
47 Matt Simmons Andover Whs
48 Phil Nelson Hemel Hempstead CC
49 Matthew Armitt Southport CC
50 Gregory Woodford Reading CC
51 Mark Leadbetter Stirling Bike Club
52 Richard Walker VTTA (North Midlands)
53 Euan Ritchie Angus Bike Chain
54 Matt Smith Leek Cyclists Club
55 John Payne Leigh Premier RC
56 Ian Hennessey Exeter Whs CC
57 Graham Jones Edinburgh RC
58 Paul McGowan Warrington Road Club
59 Laurence Hewetson BADtri
60 Chris Hopkinson API-Metrow
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(and rode the Sussex one last month but I don't know what he did in it)
Neither does anyone else. No results out yet.
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Is that Andy Wilkinsons wife I see at No.35?
Could be interesting!
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Amnausea :D
Rice pussing :D
Not on the start list :'( but probably just as well after lack of riding.
Frank, thanks for the list.
Good luck all!
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yes, an early start time 13.08
Will set my sights on dave stokes then the old pair on the tandem. !
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yes, an early start time 13.08
Will set my sights on dave stokes then the old pair on the tandem. !
Look out behind you for our Gus - he's flying!
Have a good one , - sorry not to be able to join the fun this year. :(
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The starting order has just gone up on Facebook ...
... and on the CTT website. What does the figure in column N2 signify? I have a suspicion it's age, so I'm wondering what I put on the entry form as it's 40 years out for me.
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Hi folks, it's Mr Dees here. I'll be support crew, chef, masseuse, bike mechanic, clothing distributor, encouragement and profanity shouter etc next week for my better half at the Mersey 24.
I have a copy of the maps from last year and I'm just wondering where the best places are to park up to provide support. I don't intend to leapfrog as support and think parking up would be better. What do other peoples support crews do? How do the crews know when their rider has moved onto the next loop?
How cranky is she likely to get, on a scale of "a bit quiet" to " you can swim home beside the ferry" ? :) :)
Thanks in advance. Is there anyone else staying at the Ramada in Wrexham before the race and more importantly is there a bit of a gathering in a local hostelry on the Sunday night after a few hours rest?
P
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Hi folks, it's Mr Dees here. I'll be support crew, chef, masseuse, bike mechanic, clothing distributor, encouragement and profanity shouter etc next week for my better half at the Mersey 24.
I have a copy of the maps from last year and I'm just wondering where the best places are to park up to provide support. I don't intend to leapfrog as support and think parking up would be better. What do other peoples support crews do? How do the crews know when their rider has moved onto the next loop?
How cranky is she likely to get, on a scale of "a bit quiet" to " you can swim home beside the ferry" ? :) :)
Thanks in advance. Is there anyone else staying at the Ramada in Wrexham before the race and more importantly is there a bit of a gathering in a local hostelry on the Sunday night after a few hours rest?
P
Same question here. There's a good support crew looking after me and a couple more friends but I'm struggling to know what to tell them re: positioning. I'm hoping to pick the big brain of Mr Ian H, but any other tips or advice will be gratefully received.
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In 2008 we based ourselves at the soi-disant "Prees Island", which has plenty of parking space and a handy cafė.
Edit: it's where the A41 and A49 meet.
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The two main circuits are Prees and Quina Brook, and they both pass Prees Island. That makes it an ideal stopping place. The first leg from the HQ to Prees means that you pass it at 16 miles and then 53 miles, so you might want to start your team off somewhere south on the first lap, then move them up to Prees for the rest of the time until they move to the finishing circuit.
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its probably helpful to your support crew to know that the transition to the Quina circuit will happen once riders have been round the Shawbrook circuit twice (95 miles), though slower riders among later starters might get turned back at Term Hill or Espley. Riders might also get turned back at Tern or Espley on Sunday morning too in order to keep the field together so if somebody in the support crew is tracking distances its handy to know this in advance and its a good idea to have a copy of the course details to hand at the event.
We'll go back onto the Shawbirch circuit about 9.30pm or so (*) and will be on that overnight and will switch again to the Quina circuit early Sunday morning (from memory I think about 7am but tbh its always been a blur by then). Riders start getting directed to the finish circuit not long after 10am or so.
Ive seen support crews moving from Prees to another location on the Shawbirch circuit (Espley is polular) when we head to the Shawbirch circuit for the second time, so that their rider(s) will pass their support crew twice during the Shawbirch loops rather than every 39 miles or so if they stay put at Prees (39 miles can feel like an awful long long way at night).
This might be stating the bleedin obvious but remember that the make up of the ride will differ between early and late starters as later ones will spend longer on the finish circuit given the need for the entire field + timekeepers to be in place for 13.01 Sunday.
(*) many riders take this as an opportunity to sort out lights and other nighttime stuff.
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Thanks for the replies guys, that's a great help. Is there anywhere I can download a race brief or something similar. I'd just like to be able to plan where I'll be at each stage and know when she moves onto the next circuit. I don't want to be standing with a bottle in my hand if she's on another loop with her tongue hanging out :P
I'm really looking forward to getting over there now after seeing all the YouTube vids.
P
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Thanks for the replies guys, that's a great help. Is there anywhere I can download a race brief or something similar. I'd just like to be able to plan where I'll be at each stage and know when she moves onto the next circuit. I don't want to be standing with a bottle in my hand if she's on another loop with her tongue hanging out :P
I'm really looking forward to getting over there now after seeing all the YouTube vids.
P
You should receive by post a booklet which contains full course details though bear in mind that riders can be redirected at pretty much any time. I got mine through the post at the weekend.
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Thanks '
Got the booklet this morning so I think I have a bit of a loose plan. I'm probably going to just follow the crowd though to see where everyone else goes. To maximise on food stops I was thinking Hodnet for the Prees circuit so she will pass me 4 times and Prees on that lap so she'll pass 6 times. I'd like to maximise the number of times I can pass up bottles etc as it's her first 24. She did a horribly wet and windy and hilly 12 hr here in Ireland in April with only 3 food stops and got on fine so I thought if she can see my grinning mug more often on the 24 it's bound to help (ehh maybe not). Are there designated spots that crews are encouraged to use?
I presume most support crews will be doing the same thing and there'll be plenty of people around and when I see everyone packing up and moving that I'll know it's on to the next circuit. It mightn't be good for marital harmony if she's on another circuit and I'm 40 miles away eating her jam sandwiches.
Sorry for all the probably blaringly obvious questions.
Pauric
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Yes, Hodnet / Epsley roundabout is the best place to be on the night circuit. There is a big layby on the north side of it but, best of all is the large grass verge immediately on the south side (where riders will be going slower). If I had a support crew that is where I would ask them to be!
On the Quina Brook (small) circuit, I would most likely ask them to be somewhere on the massive hill that we go up near Prees village as that is where people are going slowest for handups and / or encouragement. Prees Island is not bad: you are better placed there to spot when people get switched - but it is a bit busy and also quite fast. Perhaps just before Prees would be good, so she will be slowing for the RAB and you can see if they switch her.
The big variable on swithching between circuits is when they send you to the finishing circuit. I wasn't sure about this so I asked the organiser. My recollection from 2012 is similar to YLG above, that it was about 10am, but that was a bit of a hazy recollection! The answer from the organiser (Sam) was not so straightforward:
'Normally we send the first riders on towards the finishing circuit around 8am - again depending on positions on the road and other unforeseen circumstances. ... it is the slower riders that are sent first so if you are going well it will be later. We have had some information that there is a road race clashing with a part of the finishing circuit so it is likely we will be sending people later than normal this year.'
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Thanks Frank, I had a quick look at those on Google earth so I think I have a rough idea what I'm at, although I have been known to get lost on the way to the kitchen.
See you all there,
Pauric
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Thanks Frank, I had a quick look at those on Google earth so I think I have a rough idea what I'm at, although I have been known to get lost on the way to the kitchen.
See you all there,
Pauric
No need to worry about getting lost: every deviation from the road you are on will be signed and marsalled. :thumbsup:
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Heather and I are doing our regular graveyard slot at Espley. I plan to be at the HQ for the start. I then tend to move on to the lay-by North of Tern Hill on the A41, as it's a good spot to film from. It's also a good spot to support from, as you get a long view of your rider coming from Tern Hill, they are going slow enough to hand up to, and they can pull into the lay-by if they don't feel confident about picking up food on the move.
The worst place to hand up is just before the Prees Heath roundabout on the Quina Brook circuit, it's better to walk back up to the Armco barriers about 200 metres South on the A49.
We'll be happy to give updates on riders at Espley, but we will be focused on getting numbers so don't expect undivided attention, when it's quiet we'll be pleased of the company.
Sam Williams decides who gets turned at Espley in the morning, she's the blonde lady with glasses, wearing a hi-vis coat. That's assuming she's there, she's doing a postgraduate degree in oncology in Madrid, but she usually gets back for the 24. Ask her when the turn will happen, again she may be concentrating on something else, so be prepared to be momentarily ignored.
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The weather is starting to look interesting.
It's a bit unsettled so may change in the next couple of days but at the moment there seems to be talk of thunderstorms on Saturday afternoon. A bit of rain might even be welcome to cool things down, but riding in wet kit is not ideal.
It should be pretty mild through night and Sunday seems fine, at least.
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YR.NO has been showing a shift towards an earlier clearance at Shawbury, which is close to Hodnet and is a meteorological station. Judging by that forecast I'd be wary of camping at the HQ, but the forecast is good for the ride itself.
http://www.yr.no/place/United_Kingdom/England/Shawbury_Weather_station_(WMO_3414)/
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I'll take that forecast!
Let's hope it doesn't slip back a couple of hours.
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Officially starting to get excited now... Have been shopping for supplies and am having a conference at the pub this evening with support crew & Lord Audax. Glory and aching knees will be mine! :thumbsup:
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I am now unable to travel to do this and have informed the organiser Im a DNS :(
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Officially starting to get excited now... Have been shopping for supplies and am having a conference at the pub this evening with support crew & Lord Audax. Glory and aching knees will be mine! :thumbsup:
I suppose we're as ready as we'll ever be. Who was it said, 'like fun but different'.
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YR.NO has been showing a shift towards an earlier clearance at Shawbury, which is close to Hodnet and is a meteorological station. Judging by that forecast I'd be wary of camping at the HQ, but the forecast is good for the ride itself.
http://www.yr.no/place/United_Kingdom/England/Shawbury_Weather_station_(WMO_3414)/
Not looking so good now! I made myself a small mudguard last night. >:(
Although XC is now a bit more optimistic.
I expect there will be an hour or two of rain at some point but it looks like showers rather than prolonged rain.
I am now unable to travel to do this and have informed the organiser Im a DNS :(
Sorry to hear that!
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Before everyone sets off just a quick "bonne route" to everyone riding, and supporting!
I hope everyone gets the distance they want and enjoys it.
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Before everyone sets off just a quick "bonne route" to everyone riding, and supporting!
I hope everyone gets the distance they want and enjoys it.
+1, and no doubt lots more!
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Still raining in Leyland, so I'm not keen on a motorcycle journey to Farndon. I don't want to revive my sciatica by standing around in wet kit. I'll see you all later tonight at Espley.
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Leaders at 12 hours:
Hoppo 261
Greg Woodford 253
Jilko 248
TG is looking comfortable.
Frank's packed.
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Thanks for the update. Really sorry to hear about frank.
Any news on Ian h or chuffy?
Is the weather being kind?
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Argh, argh, argh. :sick:
394 on my computer (19:41, 4:19 off the bike) @evens. Provisional result 383. Ian H for 389 provisional. We had a top, top team supporting us (+one other rider). Flopped out in Travelodge now, trying to work out what I want to eat.
Not doing that again, it was brutal!
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Great stuff! Well done.
Not doing that again, it was brutal!
Yeah, yeah, I said the same. Maybe not next year, but I will certainly give it another go at some point!
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Provisional result http://www.timetriallingforum.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=91967&pid=1272969&st=0&#entry1272969 (http://www.timetriallingforum.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=91967&pid=1272969&st=0&#entry1272969)
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Well done everyone.
I'll have a go again but not next year. My osteopath only finished straightening my back and neck out yesterday.
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Well done to everyone who stayed the distance!
I have to confess that I made a tactical retreat. Main reason was that I was behind my schedule. While I was on track for a decent ride, it wasn't quite what I had hoped, so I decided I would withdraw and save my legs for other challenges. I abandoned after 6.5 hours and rode back to the HQ and curled up in my tent.
I had a few other things which went wrong, none of which were showstoppers, but which made it easier for me to stop. The worst was losing a 1 litre bottle on a bump after having carried it around for 4.5 hours and when I was about to start using it. That meant I had to make a stop 2.5 hours earlier than planned and it threw my feeding strategy out of the window (my mix of liquid and solid, what of each I had and and what I could carry just got too complicated to recalc with a tired brain). Another was my contact lens playing up which I can cope with in the daytime but not very well at night.
The worst bit about giving up was that the organisers and marshalls had gone to such lengths to put on such a wonderful event that it felt very bad to let them down by not going the distance. After the initial drenching, the weather was pretty kind too. However, on the plus side, I was able to drive home safely yesterday, can work today and my legs are still in one piece, so it seemed like the right thing to do. No regrets about having a go: what I had planned did not work but I learned lessons about riding a 24 that I could not have otherwise learned.
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Well done to everyone and commiserations to those who didn't finish, it must have been very tough going in that rain and humidity on Saturday. I'm glad I wasn't riding this year, put it that way!
Looking at the splits that Mr Bunbury posted, I'm surprised the final distances weren't higher to be honest - was this just the result of fatigue from the earlier foul weather (I'm assuming the weather overnight and on Sunday was okay), or does something else explain it? Maybe I'm being unfair and those are decent splits?
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Well done to everyone and commiserations to those who didn't finish, it must have been very tough going in that rain and humidity on Saturday. I'm glad I wasn't riding this year, put it that way!
Looking at the splits that Mr Bunbury posted, I'm surprised the final distances weren't higher to be honest - was this just the result of fatigue from the earlier foul weather (I'm assuming the weather overnight and on Sunday was okay), or does something else explain it? Maybe I'm being unfair and those are decent splits?
I'd love to see the full splits. My feeling from the first 100 was that several riders who passed me were going faster than they were likely to be able to sustain and would pay for it later on. However, Greg Woodford, the winner, who looked very smooth when he came past me, did something like 253/230, which seems like a well-paced ride.
The weather was better than the forecast! It was drizzling from the start and then there was a very heavy shower that lasted for a good hour. But then the sun got out and it was a nice evening. There was little if any more rain overnight and the wind was light.
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No idea what my exact split was, but I had 190 miles at the 10hr mark. Loads of time in hand to rack off a big 12hr figure and smash 400! So, of course, with 2hrs in hand I had a 1.5hr loafing stop... :facepalm: That said, without a nice break off the bike I might have fallen apart later, so I can't say what could have been.
We were very lucky with the weather - there was some rain to start, but it wasn't very cold and once the rain cleared it stayed pretty pleasant. Saturday was also ok and not too warm, although the temperature was climbing towards the end. No real wind to speak off, although there was a perceptible head/tail breeze on the Shawbirch circuit. Not enough to make a significant difference though.
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Woo! I had an 11 mile discrepancy between my computer and what the timekeepers had. I made an enquiry and yes, there had been an error and I'm being credited with another 8 miles! Final total - 391! ;D
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A few pics here:- http://s264.photobucket.com/user/Evilchuffy/slideshow/Chuffys%20Mersey%20Roads%2024tt (http://s264.photobucket.com/user/Evilchuffy/slideshow/Chuffys%20Mersey%20Roads%2024tt)
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What a great event. I was crewing for Mrs Dees and she thoroughly enjoyed it if enjoy is the right word. It was her first 24 and most things went to plan. The heat was overwhelming though. Not what we're used to on the west coast of Ireland :)Well done to all the organisers and marshals.
She has just sent an email aswell, her Garmin shows she should have another 13 miles more than the results but with the amount of work the marshals have to do a few small discrepancies is to be expected.
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Woo! I had an 11 mile discrepancy between my computer and what the timekeepers had. I made an enquiry and yes, there had been an error and I'm being credited with another 8 miles! Final total - 391! ;D
391 miles with over four hours off the bike? You shouldn't be so excited: these numbers can only mean one thing :demon:
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Woo! I had an 11 mile discrepancy between my computer and what the timekeepers had. I made an enquiry and yes, there had been an error and I'm being credited with another 8 miles! Final total - 391! ;D
391 miles with over four hours off the bike? You shouldn't be so excited: these numbers can only mean one thing :demon:
My first school report said 'could try harder'. I'm 45 and still can't be arsed. :D
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An 11 minute film from what I shot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJ_azKRsBT4
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Nice one as usual ESL. I love the shot of the aero TT bike leant against the lamppost with Jim then riding past on his trike, very witty :)
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My photos are up here (https://www.dropbox.com/sh/bruwr5e5dlfgooa/AADCCk60gGlsy8YjSCiHGBgLa). Contact me if you'd like a hi res copy.
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Those pictures graphically illustrate that cheap folding chairs are a false economy.
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And that artics. are HUGE!
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I was looking at some video of 2001, and the tented village at Prees Heath didn't exist. The event has become more concentrated over the years, with more and more visits to that roundabout. The presence of the 24 hour transport cafe makes it sensible to focus the event there, but some guidelines about where to feed riders might be useful.
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Great stuff! Well done.
Not doing that again, it was brutal!
Yeah, yeah, I said the same. Maybe not next year, but I will certainly give it another go at some point!
Already wondering about next year. I reckon I left at least 50 miles on the road this year....
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I was looking at some video of 2001, and the tented village at Prees Heath didn't exist. The event has become more concentrated over the years, with more and more visits to that roundabout. The presence of the 24 hour transport cafe makes it sensible to focus the event there, but some guidelines about where to feed riders might be useful.
I spent 10 minutes filling my bottles because of that. I was looking for the usual bag drop tent and saw about a dozen tents with no sign which one was the bag drop where I'd get some water.
Then I saw a sign which implied, to me, that it was in the cafe (it wasn't) so I rode over the gravelly potholed car park to the cafe to try and find some water. I spent a few minutes walking around the building trying to find "the tap" which was no longer there and there was no sign of a bag drop.
I asked a few people and eventually got some info about where the bag drop was (it was hidden behind a campervan)
But at least they did give us some water on this event (and tea and coffee etc) unlike the National 24 hr Champs, where I had to find my own around the course or ride through the car park then run into the night circuit village hall HQ to fill my bottles up every lap of the night circuit.
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I've got video of Teethgrinder sleeping in the scaffolding and polythene sheet structure that used to be put up on the old night circuit outside Hodnet. That was 2001, when he rode LEL the week before. It's a combination of a compressed course and more widespread support that has led to the Prees Heath 'pits'.
The first time Heather and I rode in 1999 we passed through Prees Heath twice, once on the way to Battlefield Island, and once on the way back. It's now a lot easier to marshal, and to arrange support.