Richard Ellis Memorial 100 & 200km, Saturday 5th October 2019

[Tomsk]

The ACME 2019/20 Season kicks off with the Richard Ellis Memorial 100 & 200km on Saturday 5th October 2019. Routes are now checked [thanks Wilkyboy] and AUKweb updated with new information and route sheets. GPS updated too [ditto, thanks Wilkyboy!]

A few new/missing signs but nothing major. Some re-surfacing evident, with 'kitty-litter' gravel hazards/unpleasantness. Road closures may be gone by next week, but all were passable by bike.

Email going out to riders soon.

Any more helpers for the start/arrivee welcome - you can get a 'helpers' ride' in this weekend and of course get a sub from the funds for food/drink and 'all you can eat' when helping on the day!

[alotronic]

Excellent, I will be there, probably on fixed given how broken my back wheel is on the bike with many gears.

[rob]

Best fixed bike in the shop for a new BB.  May or may not be back in time.

Spare fixed up and running for commuting but only has a front mudguard.

New geared bike may arrive by the end of next week.

I foresee Friday night involving some frantic spannering whatever happens.

[phil dubya]

Looking forward to riding this again, it's a great route and good company as all ACME rides are.  Last year's ride was cold and very very wet. I seem to remember this was the start of a 3 month period where it seemed impossible to ride in the dry.


Hoping for a warm dry day this year .

[drossall]

I've been targeting the 100km for a come-back ride after heart surgery, but I'm still not sure whether I'm quite going to make it

[alotronic]

Looking forward to riding this again, it's a great route and good company as all ACME rides are.  Last year's ride was cold and very very wet. I seem to remember this was the start of a 3 month period where it seemed impossible to ride in the dry.


Hoping for a warm dry day this year .

Indeed. I got soaked on pretty much every Audax in the first half of this year, and the Ellis was sodden from 100km on. Can't be the same this year can it... I mean can it...

[BFC]

The 200K route ridden Saturday 28th - any kitty litter has settled with no major collections on the roads. The GPS file worked well with no Garminisms. Some debris on the road from previous heavy rain.

Hope the weather is reasonable for the calendar ride, I'll probably be on car park duties at the start.

[Tomsk]

Healthy numbers for the 200km, about double the 100. I'll accept a swap on the day from 200 to 100 if the weather forecast is dire. It can't be worse than last Sunday's rain in Yorkshire for the World Champs Elite Men's race can it?

[drossall]

Forecast looks OK to me. I've signed up to potter round the 100km. Hoping that my son-in-law (who is about three times as fit as I have ever been) might join me.

[David H]

Forecast looking OK ATM.  Will be on the tandem with Mrs H for the 100.  My daughter has also decided to join us on her first Audax.

[wilkyboy]

As per previous years, I will see everyone at Grantchester to mark your cards 

[D]

I would just like to say a big Thank You to everyone who made a donation towards my Macmillan Collection, I am so happy and managed to collect £55.00, at the Manningtree Control, where there was a warm welcome from Andy's family and partner Mary, they are super hosts, and not to mention the lovely food!  At present I have managed to collect just over £200.00,  as I had a Macmillan Cake Day last Friday. 

It was also so nice to see lots of ladies, (I cannot wait to rejoin you all on your epic journeys with lots of laughs along the way), great to see so many new faces, I will be back riding soon.  Deniece

[Tomsk]

^ Yes well done D, many riders said they were glad to see you at Manningtree. There were noticeably more ladies this year for certain.

[nolongertries]

Thanks to everyone for a lovely day out - great route, great weather, great company, great cake, great tea and more great cake at the Arrivee. Even the M25 behaved itself.

It was nice to be back doing a calendar event.

Martin

[rob]

Stunning day out.   After a few years of dashing round events it was relaxing to site at controls, enjoy the food and the company.   The weather was great and we had a stunning late afternoon ride back to the finish.

It seems to have taken a little out of me as I found myself asleep on the sofa mid afternoon.

[alotronic]

A great day and a nice change from the *damp* last year. Still love this route.

Rode with TJ to start and swapped PBP stories, though he has 8 time more than me! Then rode by myself rest of the way, wanted to see if I had any fitness after PBP. Short answer, yes, not too shabby. Great to catch up with ACME folk on the way round, see a new wee face in the Ellis clan. The Andy Terry control has to be one of the best in the whole of AUK, awesome!

As D pointed out above great to see so many new faces, hope that Emilyofchappel can persuade people out to the Manningtree events next year too...

Once again thanks to Tomsk for organising and Wilkyboy for making his annual Red Lodge pilgrimage, fasted and fast as always.