Author Topic: Late season Super Randonneur 2020  (Read 13818 times)

FifeingEejit

  • Not Small
Re: Late season Super Randonneur 2020
« Reply #50 on: 11 October, 2020, 08:51:13 pm »
Just realized we're down to 10hrs of daylight round here.
Which means my Errochty and Trinafour loop will also be in the dark.... might have a rethink on that bit.
Although I can't lob a lap of Loch Tay in to extend my route north as that would mean going into the plauge zone.

Yeah I rode through 11 hours of darkness with 1.5 hours sleep in a church porch on my ride.  I’d been so focused on making sure I hit a place for supplies before 10pm curfew that I’d forgotten how early it now gets dark. I should have opted for bigger roads earlier.

Unfortunately big roads aren't an option up pitlochry way, I could switch the sleep stop to home right enough but I find it easier to get up early at the caravan due to sleeping on the sofa (can't sleep in the beds, too soft...)

rob

Re: Late season Super Randonneur 2020
« Reply #51 on: 11 October, 2020, 09:00:51 pm »
Well done everyone who is still going for it

I started my 400 at 3:30 am too. Nowadays I prefer to get my night riding in before sunrise than after sunset.

@Rob, it's that main road along the top of Norfolk OK?

I thought about doing that as a 600 from London, but ruled it out as thought it was a bit car-y. But from my house right round the whole Suffolk and Norfolk coast and back is 600km, so tempting if ok.

I joined the A149 near Sandringham and followed it round to Cromer.  You then follow a B road to Bacton direction.  The bit near Kings Lynn is a bit ropey and I wouldn’t go round by Great Yarmouth.

I can send you the gpx file if you like.

Feanor

  • It's mostly downhill from here.
Re: Late season Super Randonneur 2020
« Reply #52 on: 11 October, 2020, 10:17:40 pm »
Yes, kudos to all those fighting to get it done before closing time.

It's a hard task, in the short remaining timeframe.

I used the fact that I have a bunch of un-used holidays from work due to coronalurgi to do my rides midweek, which I would not usually do. But I could choose my days with an eye to the weather.

Re: Late season Super Randonneur 2020
« Reply #53 on: 12 October, 2020, 09:22:04 am »
Did my 600 this weekend, two loops from home. First a flat  380k from  Durham to Goole and Ferrybridge. I'm getting to be a regular visitor for an evening cuppa at the Crown Hotel in  Boroughbridge. This time paid for by a local drinker to encourage my ride back to Durham. The manager had a chat with me.  Another trike admirer (she particularly likes the colour, although has never seen it in daylight) Later start after eight and slower than I hoped for so home at 03:15 for a few hours sleep. Sunday was a more interesting route, trails and lanes with plenty of hills included around Northumberland. Tyne tunnel and 608k home by 21:30. Plenty of Sunday cyclists about more 'nice bike*' and interest from other cyclists and the GP.
* I don't correct but thank them.
 

Re: Late season Super Randonneur 2020
« Reply #54 on: 12 October, 2020, 11:47:44 am »
My wife has suggested I do a non audax 600km seen as SR blown.  So in effect 350km, full nights sleep in hotel. Then 250km return. Or variations thereof.  So now pondering options on this. Wish I was fast enough to do audax timings with a full nights sleep, alas I’d need to be quicker on the road.

Re: Late season Super Randonneur 2020
« Reply #55 on: 12 October, 2020, 02:29:42 pm »
Well done on finishing your 600 Aidan, I couldn't believe it when me & my mate Dave saw you near Glews Garage on your way back to Durham, about an hour after talking to you we got soaked near York & it looked pretty black over where you was heading.

Re: Late season Super Randonneur 2020
« Reply #56 on: 13 October, 2020, 12:25:21 am »
Nick, l was really lucky, never more than a light shower all of Saturday. Never bad enough to stop and put on waterproof. saw what i had missed by the puddles everywhere.

Re: Late season Super Randonneur 2020
« Reply #57 on: 13 October, 2020, 02:51:00 pm »
Did a 600 DIY Sunday-Monday, using some of TG’s York Arrow route to Bridlington. The first 50 or so miles were great, but the head and cross headwinds took their toll. Shoulda waited outside Whittlesey ‘spoons for it to open, but decided to carry on and just ride slower. I can’t believe that footpath on the outskirts of Spalding is still sunken and closed! Didn’t enjoy the rolling Lincs Wolds with tired legs and wind, but did enjoy the Humber bridge in daylight. Zig -zag through Hull, following the trans pennine trail, and onto the Hornsea rail trail (think this was on TG’s route, but not sure). What a shock; nothing like the Camel trail or other smooth surfaced former railway lines. Slipping around on mud and water filled potholes, rocky ascents and descents where it crossed roads, bulging tree roots where there was some tarmac (Hull suburbs).  Met two Audaxers on a 400 Sheffield to Flamborough diy outside Hornsea, and the brief company (my first on a diy) was very welcome. Got to my dad’s much later than expected, and in the rain. I enjoyed a bath, mac cheese, cake, a beer, coffees, and watching the telly in the five hours there. Weatherbagel has predicted the wind would turn anti-c, and it felt accurate, so a lot of headwind back when I left at midnight. This time it was the Humber bridge at night (still not crossed it more than the Chepstow bridge). I tried to enjoy the Wolf’s scenery, but I was demoralised at my slow speed, and for not entering this as a 300. The last few hours were in the rain (Weatherbagel got that wrong). Needless to say, my avg for the return leg was lower. I had thought about not bothering with an SR this year, but now I’ve done the 600, I’ll have to do a 400 in the next two weeks.
Bikes are for riding, not cleaning!

Re: Late season Super Randonneur 2020
« Reply #58 on: 13 October, 2020, 07:54:57 pm »

I joined the A149 near Sandringham and followed it round to Cromer.  You then follow a B road to Bacton direction.  The bit near Kings Lynn is a bit ropey and I wouldn’t go round by Great Yarmouth.

I can send you the gpx file if you like.

OK, I've seen your route on Strava, but thanks for offer. MOst of it seems fine then, but I have always fancied that bit by Great Yarmouth / Lowestoft as never been out there, easternmost point, etc. Will be something for next year now.


FifeingEejit

  • Not Small
Re: Late season Super Randonneur 2020
« Reply #59 on: 17 October, 2020, 02:27:32 am »
Route in for this weekend need some sleep before the alarm goes off at 5am...



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FifeingEejit

  • Not Small
Re: Late season Super Randonneur 2020
« Reply #60 on: 17 October, 2020, 07:10:07 am »
Route in for this weekend need some sleep before the alarm goes off at 5am...



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Urgh well that didn't work don't think I'm up for a 9am stsrt on a 600 when I don't have monday off...

Update: and definitley not a 1pm start. Slightly annoyed as the weather's looking pretty benign, but I guess I proved I can still ride distance with the 400 the SR was just a bonus in an otherwise written off year.

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mattc

  • n.b. have grown beard since photo taken
    • Didcot Audaxes
Re: Late season Super Randonneur 2020
« Reply #61 on: 17 October, 2020, 05:28:49 pm »
Monsieur Teethgrinder started a 300 very early this morning, first of an "SR inna week".

Should be finished around now. Forecast looks pretty decent for the rest of the week  :)
Has never ridden RAAM
---------
No.11  Because of the great host of those who dislike the least appearance of "swank " when they travel the roads and lanes. - From Kuklos' 39 Articles

FifeingEejit

  • Not Small
Re: Late season Super Randonneur 2020
« Reply #62 on: 17 October, 2020, 05:37:21 pm »
Route in for this weekend need some sleep before the alarm goes off at 5am...



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Urgh well that didn't work don't think I'm up for a 9am stsrt on a 600 when I don't have monday off...

Update: and definitley not a 1pm start. Slightly annoyed as the weather's looking pretty benign, but I guess I proved I can still ride distance with the 400 the SR was just a bonus in an otherwise written off year.

Sent from my BKL-L09 using Tapatalk

Just been out for an afternoon spin on a regular route, and was riding pure tosh, like how I usually ride when I'm suspecting I've got a cold or getting over one.
It could be a result of something that floored me after a perfectly normal feeling night ride a couple of Tuesdays back, or it could be because I'm still in the time period when the flu vaccination is still troubling the immune system messing stuff up.

2 weekends left to see if I can be arsed trying again.

Re: Late season Super Randonneur 2020
« Reply #63 on: 17 October, 2020, 06:11:19 pm »
Monsieur Teethgrinder started a 300 very early this morning, first of an "SR inna week".

Should be finished around now. Forecast looks pretty decent for the rest of the week  :)

Wow !   Good luck to him  :thumbsup:

Re: Late season Super Randonneur 2020
« Reply #64 on: 18 October, 2020, 10:43:38 am »
Our attempt at the Kernow & SW ended early.  The second section from Bude to Looe destroyed us  and we didn't recover any speed later on.  The only 'food' we could find at Penzance was KFC.  It was utterly inedible, totally disgusting.  We ground on to Newquay, still in time, but the prospect of night miles back to Bude was not appealing, so we stopped and found (at the fifth attempt) a room for the night.

Friday we grimped across to St Awful and caught the train back to Exeter. 

I suppose 9k metres of climbing was a little ambitious after a year of not much distance and few events.

Alex B

  • Headwind specialist
    • Where is there an end of it?
Re: Late season Super Randonneur 2020
« Reply #65 on: 18 October, 2020, 11:19:49 am »
I had "just" a 600 to do to secure a minimal SR series, and with all the COVID confusions decided that the safest option was loops from home: four 150km ones. With 42 hours that should give enough time for two loops, a decent sleep, and then another two loops. Having the SR series in sight would surely be enough to get me out of bed on Day 2 I thought.

As if. The lure of duvet easily won against the lure of getting up at 4am for a grind across the Fens to Mildenhall Services.

Oh well, there will be other years ...

Re: Late season Super Randonneur 2020
« Reply #66 on: 18 October, 2020, 12:54:59 pm »
Bad luck both. Sod all being open after 10pm was certainly a problem on my 400 attempt and all I needed was AA batteries. Any garage would have done but even after 10pm and before midnight they were shut up. I didn’t even need food , if you need food after 10pm it’s dire.

Re: Late season Super Randonneur 2020
« Reply #67 on: 18 October, 2020, 01:11:42 pm »
Sorry to hear others challenges, it’s been difficult with all the restrictions.

My 600k is now completed for a lockdown SR. 1500km+ of completely solitary riding and the two longest rides in deepest darkest October. A new experience of all DIY’s close to home for my 9th SR Series, hoping that will not be the case next year. I would like some variety.

Had a few years off from long distances and had a fair bit of additional weight to carry around being well over weight at over 90kg, I was not quick but happy with my ability to keep on the move.

I set out from east London at 05:00 for a 360k loop from home and took the LEL route to St Ives through Hertfordshire and into Cambridgeshire. Cut back across the NCN 51 guided busway. Continued east into Suffolk and finally south down into Essex back to London. There were repeated rain showers all day which were short and sharp and not predicted.

Earmarked the Red Lodge Cafe as a proper stop at 170k but found it has now shut down permanently as a result of Covid19. Ended up riding the whole day without a stop as had plenty of food.

The northerly wind which was head and cross for the majority of the day pushed me home. Great Dunmow Church provided a useful water stop. Got in a bit after 22:00.

Had 8 hours at home to eat, sleep and recuperate before heading out for 240k on day two around quiet Essex lanes and B roads complete with inevitable poor driving and unnecessary close passes.

Felt fairly decent all of the second day, some mental fatigue aside, and treated myself to some brief cafe stops and a few celebratory pints on the final run in. 540k control was at Crouch Vale Brewery in an industrial estate in South Woodham Ferrers. Would recommend if you enjoy cask ale and observing a wide cross section of Essex personalities.

Gidea Park Micropub was an extra control at 590k to provide a final boost and to fill up the musette with takeaways.

A lot of enjoyable riding in changeable October conditions interspersed with amazing autumnal sunshine, beautiful sunrises and sunsets. I’m feeling very content as it was not easy.

All rides went into Essex, so may see if 4 DIY’s count for an Essex SR in this strange season.

All set up for getting my Ultra Randonneur next season.

Late season Super Randonneur 2020
« Reply #68 on: 18 October, 2020, 02:35:09 pm »
I didn’t see that coming! Especially in 2020. I am not by any stretch of the imagination a natural cyclist, but last night, I got home from a 400 DIY, making this year a first SR for me. All squeezed into the last 3 months.

LOTS of people made this possible. I just did the fun bit. Thanks especially to my mentor Tony H. The wise woodsman from the West.

simonp

Re: Late season Super Randonneur 2020
« Reply #69 on: 18 October, 2020, 02:53:35 pm »
I didn’t see that coming! Especially in 2020. I am not by any stretch of the imagination a natural cyclist, but last night, I got home from a 400 DIY, making this year a first SR for me. All squeezed into the last 3 months.

LOTS of people made this possible. I just did the fun bit. Thanks especially to my mentor Tony H. The wise woodsman from the West.

Tough year to do your first SR, chapeau!

Re: Late season Super Randonneur 2020
« Reply #70 on: 19 October, 2020, 08:17:38 am »
Great achievement mentality and physically to do a SR this year  :thumbsup:

Re: Late season Super Randonneur 2020
« Reply #71 on: 19 October, 2020, 08:51:23 am »
Earmarked the Red Lodge Cafe as a proper stop at 170k but found it has now shut down permanently as a result of Covid19.
A bit more awkward to get to, and without the special charm of Red Lodge, but can I recommend the Pancake Shack at 5 ways RAB? It's the former Little Chef - you get to it from the Barton Mills pub car park, on a bike.

https://www.facebook.com/pancakeandwaffleshack/

ALL THE CALORIES


zigzag

  • unfuckwithable
Re: Late season Super Randonneur 2020
« Reply #72 on: 19 October, 2020, 09:32:40 am »
having done a 300 yesterday, there are still 400 and 600 to do during the next two weeks. i should start listening to audio books on these rides as it gets a bit tedious with no one to talk to the whole day.

JonB

  • Granny Ring ... Yes Please!
Re: Late season Super Randonneur 2020
« Reply #73 on: 19 October, 2020, 01:42:48 pm »
Completed the SR this weekend with a 400. Having done the 600 in September I was starting to think this wouldn’t happen as both weather and a cold had meant postponing planned rides.

With the lack of available places to eat and rest during the night, I went for a return home at 270km. Three of us rode an adaption of a 300km route I’ve done a few times. Headed north from Bristol, through Cirencester to Bibury before turning south and a first stop at Lechlade. Next up was the rolling hills of the North Wessex Downs to Salisbury and then headed home along the Wylye Valley, Warminster, Bath (via two tunnels) and Bristol. The night ride was a straight run up the A38 to the 24 hour garage at Quedgeley nr Gloucester. The last section went through the lanes of the Severn Vale where we encountered one car over about 70km and that was a police car.

Very pleased to have completed  :)

rob

Re: Late season Super Randonneur 2020
« Reply #74 on: 19 October, 2020, 02:07:23 pm »
having done a 300 yesterday, there are still 400 and 600 to do during the next two weeks. i should start listening to audio books on these rides as it gets a bit tedious with no one to talk to the whole day.

Funnily enough that’s exactly what I’ve been doing.  Audible is quite a good app.