Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => Audax => Topic started by: simonp on 22 February, 2016, 01:26:42 am

Title: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 22 February, 2016, 01:26:42 am
Is under new management I see. With refreshments at the start and also ale at the arivee. Anyone know if the start is still peartree before I book the hotel?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: L CC on 22 February, 2016, 06:50:07 am
I hope so, we've booked the Holiday Inn (the Travelodge being ridiculously expensive).
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Ivan on 22 February, 2016, 01:44:21 pm
Still working out the exact logistics of the start/finish, but it will be from Peartree as normal. Routechecking is scheduled for this weekend - I would expect an update next week along with the GPX and other rider docs.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 22 February, 2016, 02:50:58 pm
Ta, everyone.  :thumbsup:

Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Audax Club Hackney on 28 February, 2016, 03:16:59 am
Just got back to the Peartree TL after the route check. ..
Watch this space
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: mmmmartin on 28 February, 2016, 12:02:10 pm
Just got back to the Peartree TL after the route check. ..
Look at the time on this message. Dedication, or what?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 28 February, 2016, 03:38:22 pm
I hope so, we've booked the Holiday Inn (the Travelodge being ridiculously expensive).

Strange. I just found the opposite.  HI £80  TL £45

But seeing as it would be too early for hotel breakfast, I'd be 8nclined to make the 40 minute drive in the morning rather than stay over.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: mattc on 28 February, 2016, 05:15:14 pm
Just got back to the Peartree TL after the route check. ..
Watch this space
Look at the time on this message. Dedication, or what?
He's just very slow - probably planned to finish ~9pm.

;)

Looking forward to ACH updates. If the beer-n-stuff is upto scratch I may be tempted to ride the cal event :) (first time since 2011 I think.)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Audax Club Hackney on 29 February, 2016, 07:42:38 pm
Hello folks
we probably should have used the term 'reliability check' in our last post?  After all, this route is a long-standing classic that requires no 'checking' as such. We were dead chuffed when Andrew kindly handed over the organiser reigns to ACH for this most excellent of rides.  Last Saturdays' group-DIY went very well, despite the wind-chill - chapped lips and shivering all round.

We are pleased to announce that the route was 'all clear' - nothing had changed since last years' route sheet and GPX were published.  Noting has also changed since last years' format, save the addition of light refreshments at the start and food 'n' ale at Arrivee.  For those who would rather scoot-off at Oxford upon arrivee, the usual postal finish is also still on offer.  However, if you do choose to return to the starting point you are most welcome to join us at 'Camp Audax Club Hackney' where you will find Beavertown Towns' finest ales: Neck Oil, Gamma Ray and the mighty Eight-Ball (the clue to the gravity is in the name) as well as some Granny Jones' Winter Broth to wash it down  ;)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Audax Club Hackney on 29 February, 2016, 07:45:01 pm
Sorry, we should have added - route sheet and GPX will be added to the AUK web tomorrow evening
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: mattc on 29 February, 2016, 08:01:29 pm
That sounds rather cool! (although anything more than a half knocks me clean out after a long day a-wheel  :-[

Will that all be al-fresco (with small charge for hwobbies,  blankets and/or horse carcasses)?

And (although this is probably the wrong place) is the perm still up for grabs? Still absent from aukweb. I might have more than a riding interest.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Jonah on 29 February, 2016, 08:14:36 pm
I was planning on registering the perm after the calendar event  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Jonah on 02 March, 2016, 11:00:09 pm
Route sheet & GPX are both on the Calendar  :)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Ivan on 03 March, 2016, 10:32:18 am
Note that there are no changes to the route from last year. Some of the potholes on the first stretch looked pretty familiar as well.

Also, the new Oxford Parkway station is pretty convenient for getting there if coming out from London the night before, and you can breakfast there on the return.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: vistaed on 03 March, 2016, 10:48:55 pm
Beaver town beers at peartree, that's worth riding straight back to the station and heading up there just to head back to the station in Oxford.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 04 March, 2016, 01:52:20 pm
can anyone confirm whether it is OK, to leave my car at peartree all day? I'm assuming there may be a parking charge, no problem with that.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: lahoski on 04 March, 2016, 03:00:28 pm
can anyone confirm whether it is OK, to leave my car at peartree all day? I'm assuming there may be a parking charge, no problem with that.
It's £2 for 24 hours I believe.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Jonah on 04 March, 2016, 08:50:45 pm
The ales
'Neck Oil' (session IPA) 4.3%
'Gamma Ray' (American Pale Ale) 5.4%
'8-Ball' (Rye IPA) 6.2%
x1 can of special edition 'Double Neck Oil' 8.5% will also be awarded during the course of the evening.

The scran
Granny Jones' Winter Broth with craft bread & artisan Patagonian Hacienda-Fed Goat Butter
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Mr Green on 04 March, 2016, 10:42:18 pm
I'm in. Looking forward to my first Audax of 2016
 :smug:
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: alotronic on 05 March, 2016, 12:58:31 am
Stretching the manor of Hackney an awful long way west... Lets face it Regents Park is West of Hackney, but Oxford? Are you trying to provoke Bristol into another 'boat race?'
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 13 March, 2016, 09:52:49 pm
Forecast looks like it will be chilly but dry, settled conditions. I'll take that!
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: hippy on 14 March, 2016, 02:07:19 pm
Can't do this because racing instead this year. Remember to pay your parking before you ride off!  :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: L CC on 14 March, 2016, 07:57:45 pm
I'm buying a new bike tomorrow, should be here in time. What could possibly go wrong?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Steve Orchard on 14 March, 2016, 08:52:37 pm
Looking forward to this. First loooong day out this year.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: jamesld8 on 14 March, 2016, 09:16:47 pm
wow how time flies-----had completely forgotten it`s The Dean time !! doesn`t seem like a year since last in 2015 and the scramble for PBP quals, so have completely forgotten to enter and don`t now have slot to ride it  :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Bikeabilityman on 15 March, 2016, 08:10:34 am
In for a penny, in for £10.50! The Dean is the only event I've ridden in each of my three year's membership, so why stop? I should manage a beer at the end, before the short ride home.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Chris S on 15 March, 2016, 04:43:53 pm
There's far too much Real Life going on for me to give Audax much of a time slot at the moment - and Audax is nothing if not a huge drain on spare time.

I'll be driving the VC167 transporter down from The North, but will be dealing with Real Life stuff on Saturday instead of riding  ::-).
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Jonah on 15 March, 2016, 09:24:23 pm
Sorry to hear this Chris S - You are most welcome to join us at Camp Audax Club Hackney on Saturday at anytime where there will be a distinct absence of real life.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Jonah on 15 March, 2016, 09:58:04 pm
Bring a large vessel and a sense of humor.  And a spork  :demon:
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Anthony on 15 March, 2016, 10:15:07 pm
'Neck Oil' (session IPA) 4.3%
'Gamma Ray' (American Pale Ale) 5.4%
'8-Ball' (Rye IPA) 6.2%
x1 can of special edition 'Double Neck Oil' 8.5% will also be awarded during the course of the evening.

I am going to have to go up to beavertown* myself on Saturday in order to allay my sadness at missing this car park piss-fest

*not a euphemism
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Audax Club Hackney on 15 March, 2016, 10:25:09 pm
82-entries and counting folks  :thumbsup:

No worries about entering on the day in case you were wondering  :)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 18 March, 2016, 12:07:33 pm
Forecast for tomorrow looks tolerable, cold and overcast but at least dry.  Northeast wind could make the return leg tough going.  My first calendar event, and first 300km.

Did I see something about food at the start? or is it just at the end?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 18 March, 2016, 12:13:06 pm
There was a headwind back from Chepstow a couple of years ago, and I had gone too hard or not eaten enough and had bonked at Chepstow. It was a bit slow back to Malmesbury but then I picked up.

If the forecast is accurate then this will be far from the worst conditions I've experienced on The Dean, which would be 2008, where cresting the Hackmen Hill climb brought you into the teeth of a gale with driving rain, or so it felt, and if the time limit hadn't been based on 14.3kph that year, I'd have been OOT. In 2010, I think, I finished in around 15h.

Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Bikeabilityman on 18 March, 2016, 09:03:22 pm
Season not going well. 50 kids at a school I was at on Wed off sick. Now I'm cold and don't feel great. Off to bed now. If I'm there, I'm there (if only for the beer!).
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Bikeabilityman on 19 March, 2016, 03:37:57 am
Well. I was all ready, but can't keep breakfast cereal bars down. Another DNS this year :(
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Audax Club Hackney on 19 March, 2016, 03:26:50 pm
62-started with just 2-known packed
Sorry for any confusion at the start Re. new position for registration
Hope you are all still enjoying the ride
Broth and Ale will be ready for Arrivee
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: tonyh on 19 March, 2016, 05:44:37 pm
That's very fine Organising, Mr Hackney!
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: vistaed on 19 March, 2016, 10:34:58 pm
I can confirm that the NE wind was indeed a bit tough. I've ridden the Dean every year since 2009 and for me this was the toughest, not helped by ridding the whole thing on my own.  But you know, it could have been worse. Back at the train station 6.40 :)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 20 March, 2016, 12:10:31 am
I can confirm that the NE wind was indeed a bit tough. I've ridden the Dean every year since 2009 and for me this was the toughest, not helped by ridding the whole thing on my own.  But you know, it could have been worse. Back at the train station 6.40 :)

that;s good to know, I was close to packing at Membury services, the section from Malmesbury to Membury was probably the slowest 50km I have ever done.  I just felt wrecked, no legs and so tired it was unbelievable. I had been thinking of entering Severn across if this went well, but at the end of the ride decided a flatter 400 would make more sense. Now it seams the Severn Across could be viable provided there is a south westerly wind.

Also a good job the white horse on the second climb was on the right side of the road, while the horse on the first climb was on the left, or I might have felt I was stuck in a horrific time loop.

If there had been an easy way back to Oxford from there I may well have taken it.  luckily after a short rest and a lot of food  (which was more expensive, less satisfying and took longer to acquire than the weatherspoons in Chepstow)

thanks to the organisers and the originator for a great ride, I loved the costwolds and the forest of dean, and even the climb up to the Somerset monument was challenging rather than painful. my next action is to work out how to make my garmin last longer, it died at Cumnor, luckily easy peasy to get back from there but a pain having to join gpx files together for the full ride

things I learned

eat more, controls are for stodgy food, and sugary foods for between controls.
on longer rides, make my own gps files for each section of the ride, the points were a little far apart, making the gps track a little vague in places
at each control read the routesheet for the next section, and note any "easily missed" turns
garmin only lasts 15 hours from a full charge. bring means of topping up on long rides.

what went well
stopping at whetherspoons in chepstow, a bit of comfort in the middle of the ride, decent food, quick and cheap. I was amazed there weren't more cyclists using it. apparently you can even reserve tables if you can predict your arrival time.
layering, base layer, merino jersey, softshell, and gilet  seemed about right for this  (switch gilet for the hi vis rain jacket for the night section)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 20 March, 2016, 01:17:11 am
A tough day with many minor issues. Front light cutting out when I hit a bump on the descent to Lambourn in the dark was the highlight.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Steve Orchard on 20 March, 2016, 04:31:10 am
Lovely route. Lrea
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Steve Orchard on 20 March, 2016, 04:45:03 am
Lovely route. Lrea
Meant to say :
Lovely route and reception at Peartree. The mini eggs were appreciated as I was too exhausted and cold to sample the broth and beer.

I learnt a few things out there. Need to be more chatty and ride with others as I spent far too long on my own or looking at someone else's wheel from 100+ metres. Look at the profile of the route in more detail as I was caught out by how much climbing there was and where the climbs occurred. Drink more. Take more layers for the night section.

On a more positive note I found that I can recover  (twice) from feeling too tired/ill to continue. Amazing what coffee, cake, a chat and a rest can do.

I will be back.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 20 March, 2016, 08:31:06 am

On a more positive note I found that I can recover  (twice) from feeling too tired/ill to continue. Amazing what coffee, cake, a chat and a rest can do.

I will be back.

So true,  I didn't think I'd finish but picked up a bit after going over the ridgeway,  even caught and passed some people after Stanford. In the Vale.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Frank9755 on 20 March, 2016, 09:59:09 am
I can confirm that the NE wind was indeed a bit tough. I've ridden the Dean every year since 2009 and for me this was the toughest, not helped by ridding the whole thing on my own.  But you know, it could have been worse. Back at the train station 6.40 :)

We must have been 5 minutes behind you passing the station!  For some reason, I went well yesterday.  I've done it evey year since 2011 - apart from the snowy one - and was round an hour quicker than I'd ever been before.  It was wonderful to see 'the dark section' from Lambourn Downs to Cumnor, in daylight.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Mark Walsh on 20 March, 2016, 10:44:06 am
Many Thanks to Club Hackney.
Car Park Camp was a top effort and the broth was spot on.
Great way to finish the ride.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: andyp on 20 March, 2016, 01:51:33 pm
Thanks to ACH for the send off and welcome back. As ever a great - if tough at times - early season 300km... really nice not to have the anti-climax of the garage forecourt final control - the heat, chairs, tea, stew, and beer were great!

It was a grey day, so the photos don't really do it justice, but mine are here: http://bit.ly/22qvXUN (http://bit.ly/22qvXUN)
Starva track here: http://bit.ly/1Mvj2Ew (http://bit.ly/1Mvj2Ew)

Andrew.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: StephenR on 20 March, 2016, 02:02:53 pm
Also big thanks to ACH for the car park camp, it was most welcome. Was quite tough at times on the return and thanks andyp and longflaps for the company and photos. Always find this first 300 of the year tough and now looking forward to the Easter arrow to York on Friday.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Von Broad on 20 March, 2016, 03:42:36 pm
really nice not to have the anti-climax of the garage forecourt final control - the heat, chairs, tea, stew, and beer were great!

Bet it was. Has it ever even happened before?
Great ride the Dean. Like to think I'd ride it again some day.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Bikeabilityman on 20 March, 2016, 06:12:18 pm
Oh no! Sounds like I missed a good ride (apart from the wind). I wasn't sick again after I decided not to venture out. Now I can't say I've done the Dean every year since I joined (unless I perm/diy it). Very sad. The broth and beer sound a real treat too!
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Audax Club Hackney on 20 March, 2016, 07:35:34 pm
Thank you very much to each and everyone of you who joined us to make this ride possible.  Thank also for your positive comments and thanks at Camp-ACH.  We at Castle Audax Club Hackney are very proud to be continuing this classic ride and I hope that you enjoyed yourselves at the event; I know we did.  :)

To those who finished in Oxford or couldn't be doing with the faff at Arrivee, please don't forget to post your brevets and receipts.

We also have a luminous yellow Carradice cover.  Please let us know if it's yours and we'll post on up.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Brakeless on 20 March, 2016, 10:21:15 pm
A great but tough day out, massive thanks to the Hackney boys for organising. I've done a write up of my ride here https://simonscycling.wordpress.com/2016/03/20/the-dean-300km/
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Bikeabilityman on 20 March, 2016, 11:06:13 pm
Great write-up, brakeless. I'd have had beans on toast and a pot of tea at the Newent tea room if I'd been there.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Mr Green on 21 March, 2016, 06:54:19 pm
Good ride,
Good organisation,
Good company,

Arthur
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Shell on 21 March, 2016, 08:19:05 pm
Whilst not at the top of the spectacular list, there's a bit of everything on The Dean and it's a great way to kick start the longer distances after the Winter.  Just a shame the sun didn't shine on the banks of Primrose and I didn't have an extra layer against that cold headwind.  It's also noticeable how much the UK's road surfaces are suffering under the pressure of austerity.  Thanks to ACH for the excellent and enthusiastic organisation and particular for the warming reception back at Peartree.  It was a tough day on the bike but must have been even tougher sitting in a car park all day!
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Swarm_Catcher on 31 March, 2016, 05:56:44 am
Many thanks to Audax Club Hackney for organising.  The Dean is the ride I have ridden the most of all audaxes.  I'm keen to get into double figures now and might do a midsummer DIY by GPS edition.  It's such a fantastic and varied route.

MyBlog (http://bikesandbees.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/the-dean-300.html)
MyPhotos (https://picasaweb.google.com/113386555289222850470/TheDean300?authuser=0&feat=directlink)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qUUtmLe4HRs/VvORed9nTII/AAAAAAAAZ4M/E-O0kKrg6G0s5Z9reKYONsHjB5J_P_R_ACCo/s400-Ic42/IMG_4878.JPG)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: robjordan on 07 April, 2016, 05:18:19 pm
Hi there

I did the Dean on March 19th, absolutely beautiful ride, the section through the Forest of Dean was stunning. And proud of completing my first 300k. Feeling a little anxious though about lack of results on aukweb... should we be concerned?

Thanks
Rob
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 07 April, 2016, 05:27:20 pm
I assume there's a delay due to the optional postal finish.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Jonah on 07 April, 2016, 05:46:08 pm
Hello folks
We needed to wait for 14-days after the event due to the postal finish.  I would have rather got it out of the way much earlier but it wouldn't be fair to have completed the finish list before time.  Ivan and I will have the finish list completed on Saturday 09-Apr-2016
J
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Jonah on 10 April, 2016, 03:11:02 pm
Hello Folks
the finish list was completed
Sorry for the slight delay - I had been helping on The Shark

J
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: mattc on 10 April, 2016, 05:13:32 pm
Can we expect the Perm to be sorted out this evening?


 :-*
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Jonah on 12 April, 2016, 06:29:45 am
Perm application sent  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Steve Orchard on 13 October, 2016, 08:02:51 pm
Is The Dean running again in 2017?
Really enjoyed (type 2 fun) the route and the challenge.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 13 October, 2016, 11:44:30 pm
All I can remember of the ride is wondering if my bike would be nicked at Membury. And wondering if I would care. Such a tough section between Marlborough and the control.

Lively route though, just wish I had taken more photos. And we'll organised last year. WI'll have to think about whether to do it again next year.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Audax Club Hackney on 14 October, 2016, 01:48:13 pm
ACH is pleased to announce that The Dean is scheduled for 25-Mar-2017

However, this year the rewards won't be quite the same as those years previous.  The AAA has been recalculated and will be reduced to more accurately reflect the climbing in the ride.  It will apparently be reduced to 2.5AAA!

Save Our Dean

What to do?
- 'Beef it up' a bit to bring it  back to it's former glory?
- Construct a DeAAAn to run alongside the classic route?
Or just
- Leave it alone as a timeless classic that should never be tampered with?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: redfalo on 14 October, 2016, 01:54:29 pm

- Leave it alone as a timeless classic that should never be tampered with?

This! I did it last year for the first time, and found it tough enough, especially as it is so early in the season.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Manotea on 14 October, 2016, 02:16:49 pm
ACH is pleased to announce that The Dean is scheduled for 25-Mar-2017

However, this year the rewards won't be quite the same as those years previous.  The AAA has been recalculated and will be reduced to more accurately reflect the climbing in the ride.  It will apparently be reduced to 2.5AAA!

Save Our Dean

What to do?
- 'Beef it up' a bit to bring it  back to it's former glory?
- Construct a DeAAAn to run alongside the classic route?
Or just
- Leave it alone as a timeless classic that should never be tampered with?

Agreed. There is no former glory just a passing abberation of how the route is assessed.

The Dean is a classic route and plenty tough enough for an early season 300km. More is not always more..
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: drgannet on 14 October, 2016, 04:08:32 pm
Or just
- Leave it alone as a timeless classic that should never be tampered with?

This, please!
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Hot Flatus on 14 October, 2016, 04:47:24 pm
Create a 'Bastard Child of the Dean' to attract the previous AAA points, if and only if the org can be arsed.

BUT most definitely leave 'The Dean' as it is., AAA points reduction or not. People ride that route because they like it. Not because of a bit of AAA.   That route performs a function of a testing early season 300, that can still be ridden in all but thd most horrendous weather.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 14 October, 2016, 04:49:38 pm
Going from 0 to 4AAA was a bit of a debacle. What's caused the revision this time?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Steve Orchard on 14 October, 2016, 05:00:41 pm
Keep The Dean. Never mind AAA points.

Sent from my SM-A300FU using Tapatalk

Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Hot Flatus on 14 October, 2016, 05:05:48 pm
Going from 0 to 4AAA was a bit of a debacle. What's caused the revision this time?

An overactive gland
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Bianchi Boy on 14 October, 2016, 06:38:49 pm
I think two routes would be good. As Andy has shown with his hard northern rides there is an appetite for stupidly hard rides.

BB

Sent from my E6653 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 14 October, 2016, 07:21:12 pm
So what does that mean.  A whole series of info controls on the top of various Downs  :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: mattc on 14 October, 2016, 07:32:36 pm
"keen" riders could just do multiple reps of Cumnor Hill at the end of the ride until they turn blue.

(Is that still a way to claim AAA points via GPX? I don't keep up with such things... )
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Ian H on 14 October, 2016, 07:38:04 pm
I have never ridden an event just to gather AAA points.  I couldn't even say, without looking, what AAA my own events merit.  I had assumed the Dean was pointless (and yes, I have ridden it).
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 14 October, 2016, 09:59:17 pm
ACH is pleased to announce that The Dean is scheduled for 25-Mar-2017

However, this year the rewards won't be quite the same as those years previous.  The AAA has been recalculated and will be reduced to more accurately reflect the climbing in the ride.  It will apparently be reduced to 2.5AAA!

Save Our Dean

What to do?
- 'Beef it up' a bit to bring it  back to it's former glory?
- Construct a DeAAAn to run alongside the classic route?
Or just
- Leave it alone as a timeless classic that should never be tampered with?
definitely don't beef it up.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: tonyh on 15 October, 2016, 06:40:51 am
Is that still a way to claim AAA points via GPX? I don't keep up with such things

That still works for "Advisory Route" DIY entries.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Manotea on 15 October, 2016, 08:06:53 am
"keen" riders could just do multiple reps of Cumnor Hill at the end of the ride until they turn blue.

(Is that still a way to claim AAA points via GPX? I don't keep up with such things... )

Is that still a way to claim AAA points via GPX? I don't keep up with such things

That still works for "Advisory Route" DIY entries.

To be clear, in the case of "Hill Repeats"...

Ride up and down the same hill from different directions, no problems...

Ride up and down the same hill repeatedly on the same road, problems...

I'd avoid the word 'still', as this inevitably causes Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt (FUD).

The thing to appreciate is that whilst new approaches to validating Brevets have been introduced, all brevet events comply to the same fundamental principles and they have not changed.

Organisers Handbook: Routes may NOT include multiple passes over the same circuit (i.e. repeated loops).
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Ivan on 16 October, 2016, 09:12:03 am
Going from 0 to 4AAA was a bit of a debacle. What's caused the revision this time?


We route checked it more than a fortnight before this year, so did it as a diy and thus our tracks were scrutinised by the AAA man. What was the debacle before? Was it contour counted?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 16 October, 2016, 10:33:49 am
I've done the Dean three or four times and, although it is has hilly sections, it never had the feel (to me) of being a AAAudacious event such as the Elenith or the Hardboiled.  Certainly, the times I took to get round it were consistent with a non-AAA event with rolling hills rather than one with AAA points.  However, it may also be that the nature of the hills on the Dean are more conducive to my riding style.  With or without points its still a very good route and the points won't impact my decision whether or not to ride it.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 16 October, 2016, 12:18:37 pm
Going from 0 to 4AAA was a bit of a debacle. What's caused the revision this time?


We route checked it more than a fortnight before this year, so did it as a diy and thus our tracks were scrutinised by the AAA man. What was the debacle before? Was it contour counted?

I believe it was originally 3900m (0 AAA). It was recalculated to 4000m (no idea how) and this made it 4AAA. The problem isn't in the measurement, errors do occur. The problem is in the binary nature of the AAA rules since they were changed. I think under the old system it would have gone from 0 to 0.25.

Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Manotea on 16 October, 2016, 01:57:06 pm
My impression was that at 3900 it was declared to be in 'the margin of error' of the threshold for AAA points for a 300km and allocated 4 points on that basis. Its possible Steve has since elected to give greater considertaion to isolating hilly stretches within the overall route (inspired by processing marginal DIYs?) and decided to reduce the tariff on that basis. 2.5AAA does seem more in keeping with my experience of the route. The first and last stages are more or less flat. Yes , I know the approach to Stow is uphill but I said more or less.. :)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: tonyh on 18 October, 2016, 06:31:49 pm
"keen" riders could just do multiple reps of Cumnor Hill at the end of the ride until they turn blue.

(Is that still a way to claim AAA points via GPX? I don't keep up with such things... )

Is that still a way to claim AAA points via GPX? I don't keep up with such things

That still works for "Advisory Route" DIY entries.

To be clear, in the case of "Hill Repeats"...

Ride up and down the same hill from different directions, no problems...

Ride up and down the same hill repeatedly on the same road, problems...

I'd avoid the word 'still', as this inevitably causes Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt (FUD).

The thing to appreciate is that whilst new approaches to validating Brevets have been introduced, all brevet events comply to the same fundamental principles and they have not changed.

Organisers Handbook: Routes may NOT include multiple passes over the same circuit (i.e. repeated loops).

For an Advisory Route DIY, the rider has (of course) to pass through the controls, and complete the distance, within the time allowed. I don't think the org is supposed to scrutinise the whole of the actual route taken, or to criticise it (anyway, the sort of extra climbs involved will be in addition to the conventional route) - so the AAA Man is able to award AAAs if enough metres have been climbed per km of actual distance ridden.

Wrong?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Manotea on 18 October, 2016, 09:49:19 pm
I've referred this to the powers that be. :)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Somnolent on 18 October, 2016, 10:47:45 pm
Its possible Steve has since elected to give greater considertaion to isolating hilly stretches within the overall route
I suspect you are probably correct.
A cursory look at the elevation profile would suggest the 160km stretch from Newent to crossing the Ridgeway north of Lambourn might be sufficiently 'scenic' to qualify for the 2.5 AAA points. 

If the first section from Peartree to, say, Cleeve Hill were an event in it's own right it might attract a point (or maybe only .75) - but IIRC you can only count one section, and if you combine the distances the overall hilliness looks like it isn't (quite) sufficient.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Greenbank on 18 October, 2016, 11:19:05 pm
Last time I looked at it (based on the route in 2008/2009) the closest section to qualify for AAA points (under the old system) was the stretch from Stow to the top of the climb at St Briavels, it was only a few meters short.

(I was in the Monmouth/Abergavenny area this weekend, made me want to ride lots of these rides again...)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: hillbilly on 19 October, 2016, 07:33:39 am
The new points perfectly reflect the reality of this ride. Hilly in sections but not all the way around. If I remember, it surprised me when it was reclassified as having gained enough climb to be "full fat". 

Whilst I'm sure it will still be a pleasant way to explore the back roads between Oxford and Chepstow, I personally hope the route isn't changed simply for the sake of a few more AAA points. I've always found it a wonderfully precocious route, weather permitting, with just the right amount of challenge and interest for those bold enough to ride just over 300km before the clocks change.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Audax Club Hackney on 19 October, 2016, 10:32:18 pm
I think we'll leave it  ;)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: vistaed on 23 October, 2016, 08:04:55 pm
I think we'll leave it  ;)
:thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Audax Club Hackney on 03 February, 2017, 08:32:08 pm
Big thanks to Mightee Bikee Mikee for solo reliability check.  The official ACH reliability check is next week - complete with newbie Audaxer and bar man from The Salisbury Hotel.  Wish him luck folks. Let's hope he pedals as mean as his well served Gamma Ray.

Meanwhile, back at Castle ACH, entries swell : 63 at last count!  You know the routine with The Dean folks.  Start at Oxtree (good portmanteau aye?) with the option of a finnish at Oxford Station to get the lastyrains or re-org at Oxtree for luxury petsonalised brevet collection -with Granny Jones'  Winter broth and Beavertown ale's - this year we're indoors as it was a bit parky last year aye?!

ACH
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: TigaSefi on 04 February, 2017, 06:38:19 am
Is it filling quick? How many cards?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: cgg on 04 February, 2017, 11:21:38 am
I'm looking at transport options from London. Earliest train arrives at Oxford at 06:21 and then I still have to ride to the start so I guess it's a no go. An ECE to 400 would add an element of fun but I'm not sure I want that either. More pondering is required.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Redlight on 04 February, 2017, 11:09:17 pm
I'm looking at transport options from London. Earliest train arrives at Oxford at 06:21 and then I still have to ride to the start so I guess it's a no go. An ECE to 400 would add an element of fun but I'm not sure I want that either. More pondering is required.

Travelodge next to the park and ride?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 08 February, 2017, 10:05:00 pm
Family room and share with another rider to keep the cost down.

Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Manotea on 08 February, 2017, 10:37:51 pm
I ve a bed free in the Peartree  travelodge on the saturday night and will be driving up from London W4 on Saturday morning.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: grams on 09 February, 2017, 09:47:49 am
There are two frequent 24 hour bus services (X90 and Oxford Tube) from London to Oxford and both take bikes.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Lady Cavendish on 09 February, 2017, 10:45:33 am
I just booked the Travelodge and entered- rooms are only £39 today. (37.05 with a business account)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Steve Orchard on 15 March, 2017, 10:58:17 am
Any emails sent out by the organisers yet?

Sent from my SM-A320FL using Tapatalk

Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 15 March, 2017, 11:03:52 am
I've not seen anything yet. I guess I'll think about it next week, this week I have to worry about the Cheltenham Flyer.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Audax Club Hackney on 15 March, 2017, 11:36:21 pm
Any emails sent out by the organisers yet?

Sent from my SM-A320FL using Tapatalk

Hit us with your questions - Happy to help  ;)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Audax Club Hackney on 15 March, 2017, 11:45:34 pm
123 Entries thus far sports fans  :thumbsup:
See you in the Peartree Park n ride for KICK OFF as usual - well be hanging around for late starters as last year If you can't make it on the button

Ales n Granny Jones' winter broth at Arrive if you choose not to go for an Oxford Stn Finnish


Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: TigaSefi on 16 March, 2017, 09:22:37 am
123 Entries thus far sports fans  :thumbsup:
See you in the Peartree Park n ride for KICK OFF as usual - well be hanging around for late starters as last year If you can't make it on the button

Ales n Granny Jones' winter broth at Arrive if you choose not to go for an Oxford Stn Finnish

I'll be there at some point. I have to wake up at 4.30am :( I see the finish line is some way away from the Peartree services. How do i get back to my car? Just read teh route sheet  :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: BobScarle on 16 March, 2017, 11:14:28 am
Really tempted by this even though I struggled round a 200 earlier this month. When will entries close?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Audax Club Hackney on 16 March, 2017, 10:15:43 pm
Entries don't close - it ain't one of those kind tides you know ;)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Audax Club Hackney on 16 March, 2017, 10:21:14 pm
That should read
It ain't one of those kinda rides
Which it isn't
Entries will remain open right up until kick off
We at Castle ACH don't need a settled 2--week period to worry about the figures before its time to kick off the first major 300 that herald's the start of the mating season
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Hot Flatus on 17 March, 2017, 06:50:06 am
How long are you hanging around for at the start?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: GPS on 17 March, 2017, 09:03:40 am
I'd love to ride this, but I've exhausted my domestic credit already.

The season's not even started  :'(
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Steve Orchard on 17 March, 2017, 06:40:05 pm
Any emails sent out by the organisers yet?

Sent from my SM-A320FL using Tapatalk

Hit us with your questions - Happy to help  ;)
I assume then that there are no changes from last year and all controls and info controls are in the same locations.
Same car park hospitality as last year?
Sunny weather booked?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Audax Club Hackney on 18 March, 2017, 02:58:21 pm
How long are you hanging around for at the start?

However long you need - last year we wite for an hour - give us a call if you get worried 07932 672 561 - if your gonnah be Uber late it's no big deal - we'll be in Partree KFC then The Holiday Inn bar for a barley brekfast
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Audax Club Hackney on 18 March, 2017, 03:07:32 pm
Nothing much has changed - Mightee Bikee Mikee has very kindly busted a route check and is recovering in the TL as we write.
The existing  route sheet & GPS are actally fine but MBM has also very kindly offered to offer a few minor updates tomorrow

More good news is that our hire car is booked and the Beavertown ale arrived yesterday - this year sees the introduction of Lupaloid ' at 6.6 percent she's no cooking beer but goes down too well
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Audax Club Hackney on 18 March, 2017, 03:13:30 pm
I'd love to ride this, but I've exhausted my domestic credit already.

Ask the manager for an overdraft facility

The season's not even started  :'(
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: GPS on 18 March, 2017, 09:36:57 pm
I'd love to ride this, but I've exhausted my domestic credit already.

The season's not even started  :'(
Ask the manager for an overdraft facility

There isn't one currently, and if one was ever offered, the interest would be mind boggling ...
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Jonah on 20 March, 2017, 09:13:41 pm
So you're bankrupt then?!  :'(
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 20 March, 2017, 10:12:56 pm
Ask for an IVA.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Audax Club Hackney on 21 March, 2017, 08:39:16 am
The Dean 2017 Route Sheet & GPX can be found on the AUK Web
Once again, a big thank you to Mighty Bikee Mikee for the Gold-Star route check.  There aren't many changes - it's still the same socialisoing, charming, breath-taking, Weaterspoonin', rollin' bleary-eyed, chilling adventure that it always has been.

Thanks to all those who have advised of their DNSs including a Big Get Well Soonl to 2016 FWC Champion Shawn Hargrieves who's had quite a nasty accident! Sorry to hear this matey!

Once again, there's light refreshments at the start
All are welcome to finnish in Oxford if you're brave enough to battle the pissed-up youth, broken glass and Turkish tumble-weed.
Or you can opt for a Gamma Ray, Lupoloid and Granny Jones' winter broth luxury finnish at the Peatree Services Car Park.

See you on Saturday folks, or Friday if you're staying in the TL?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: TigaSefi on 21 March, 2017, 10:25:09 am
The Dean 2017 Route Sheet & GPX can be found on the AUK Web
Once again, a big thank you to Mighty Bikee Mikee for the Gold-Star route check.  There aren't many changes - it's still the same socialisoing, charming, breath-taking, Weaterspoonin', rollin' bleary-eyed, chilling adventure that it always has been.

Thanks to all those who have advised of their DNSs including a Big Get Well Soonl to 2016 FWC Champion Shawn Hargrieves who's had quite a nasty accident! Sorry to hear this matey!

Once again, there's light refreshments at the start
All are welcome to finnish in Oxford if you're brave enough to battle the pissed-up youth, broken glass and Turkish tumble-weed.
Or you can opt for a Gamma Ray, Lupoloid and Granny Jones' winter broth luxury finnish at the Peatree Services Car Park.

See you on Saturday folks, or Friday if you're staying in the TL?

Will grab the new GPS :) See ya there! Super pumped to be doing this.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Redlight on 21 March, 2017, 11:31:07 am
Enjoy yourselves! And watch out for the surprisingly large and fast wild boar in the Forest itself. PieEater OTP and I had a very close call with one on this very ride in 2015.  :o
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: GPS on 21 March, 2017, 12:14:09 pm
So you're bankrupt then?!  :'(

Well, almost ... my credit rating plummeted when my calendar entries were noticed ... :demon:
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Audax Club Hackney on 21 March, 2017, 01:37:23 pm
The Dean 2017 Route Sheet & GPX can be found on the AUK Web
Once again, a big thank you to Mighty Bikee Mikee for the Gold-Star route check.  There aren't many changes - it's still the same socialisoing, charming, breath-taking, Weaterspoonin', rollin' bleary-eyed, chilling adventure that it always has been.

Thanks to all those who have advised of their DNSs including a Big Get Well Soonl to 2016 FWC Champion Shawn Hargrieves who's had quite a nasty accident! Sorry to hear this matey!

Once again, there's light refreshments at the start
All are welcome to finnish in Oxford if you're brave enough to battle the pissed-up youth, broken glass and Turkish tumble-weed.
Or you can opt for a Gamma Ray, Lupoloid and Granny Jones' winter broth luxury finnish at the Peatree Services Car Park.

See you on Saturday folks, or Friday if you're staying in the TL?

Will grab the new GPS :) See ya there! Super pumped to be doing this.

The GPX is the same as last year - the small changes to route didn't qualify a change but will update in time - the existing GPX is still 100% reliable and will also get you round
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Lady Cavendish on 22 March, 2017, 10:34:46 am
I've entered, and about 60/40 in favour of riding at the moment :)

Looks nice and sunny but with a pretty tough second half  ::-)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: vistaed on 22 March, 2017, 06:16:24 pm
Looking forward to heading to Pear Tree this time for some broth and a can of something made by Beavertown.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Manotea on 22 March, 2017, 10:31:42 pm
Looks good enough for me... :)

(https://93v1za-ch3302.files.1drv.com/y3pB8QEf9TGCJs-
Y5tTTM2OsYkGcswh2oXrfWPOEyilwZdwF2yNuSZateQJjYGLDEAzAHlT7brIIl4UyEttzVcnU7ispPRGzYYKIAuwejEg474RO4dGuaT1aMa56u2MuuANi_1rWUSLFFYRBN9NFki9bA/TheDean2017.jpg?psid=1)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Jonah on 22 March, 2017, 10:33:27 pm
I must say that it's a very poor show from CC Weymouth this year with just 1 entry.  Audax Club Hackney on the other hoof have 8 entries, making it a far mightier opponent.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Von Broad on 23 March, 2017, 05:47:27 pm
Looks good enough for me... :)

Oh, I'll say!
Compared to what this ride can throw up...that looks positively most agreeable.
Have a good ride.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 23 March, 2017, 06:49:56 pm
Strong headwind all the way back.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Chris S on 23 March, 2017, 10:05:48 pm
Looks good enough for me... :)

Oh, I'll say!
Compared to what this ride can throw up...that looks positively most agreeable.
Have a good ride.

Quite! How many finishers in 2013? :D
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Audax Club Hackney on 23 March, 2017, 10:20:26 pm
Do you remember the story of that poor bloke who was kept alive and tortured in a shed in the forest a few years back..?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: SoreTween on 23 March, 2017, 10:56:38 pm
As a forester I say that story was entirely unjustified. There was no squealing and no little piggies. Pure fiction.
Oinkay?

Happy to do emergency assist this weekend. Pm if in need or if organiser.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: grams on 24 March, 2017, 12:40:12 pm
I've mapped the route from the updated routesheet:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/19767841

It appears to be exactly the same, but the organiser-supplied GPX has low resolution routepoints so you might like to use this one if you have a modern GPS and want a nice clean red line to follow.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 24 March, 2017, 12:42:26 pm
zOMG, realised yesterday that I first rode this event in 2007.

Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: JJ on 24 March, 2017, 01:52:17 pm
Looking more than a bit iffy for this one, as I still haven't shifted the lergy.
It's a real shame as it's one of very few rides that I can fit in this year.

I wonder if it exists as a perm..
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 24 March, 2017, 02:28:27 pm
Looking more than a bit iffy for this one, as I still haven't shifted the lergy.
It's a real shame as it's one of very few rides that I can fit in this year.

I wonder if it exists as a perm..

it does
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: JJ on 24 March, 2017, 02:43:52 pm
it does

I'd better look into it, but it won't be anything like as much fun.

OTOH, anything beats leaving the M4 services at 9pm with a hacking cough!
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 24 March, 2017, 02:49:21 pm
Oh that's a shame. GWS.

I'm glad we didn't enter HORR as I'd have missed this for nothing. Mind you I could have entered on the line.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 24 March, 2017, 03:06:13 pm
weather outside is great. Forecast to be the same tomorrow. Can't wait!
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 24 March, 2017, 03:14:59 pm
Forecast winds seem to have dropped. It looks as though the tailwind out is stronger than the headwind home.

Having said that, similar conditions led to me bonking at Chepstow in 2015 (iirc) and having a really bad patch for the next 50km. Gotta pace myself.

Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 24 March, 2017, 04:28:52 pm
BTW, did ACH send out rider emails? Because I don't seem to have one and wonder if I'm off the entry list (I've paid according to Paypal - on Jan 9th - but the auk page went wrong and said my entry was canceled at the time).

I guess since entry on the line is permitted it shouldn't be an issue.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: TigaSefi on 24 March, 2017, 04:55:18 pm
BTW, did ACH send out rider emails? Because I don't seem to have one and wonder if I'm off the entry list (I've paid according to Paypal - on Jan 9th - but the auk page went wrong and said my entry was canceled at the time).

I guess since entry on the line is permitted it shouldn't be an issue.

I haven't got an email either apart from confirmation which should be enough.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 24 March, 2017, 05:12:54 pm
no email.  GPS and route sheet is download able on AUK website.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 24 March, 2017, 05:19:44 pm
Thanks both.

Already got those - just checking if I had fallen into the cracks in the entry system.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: halhorner on 24 March, 2017, 05:40:24 pm
Looking forward to this as my first ever 300 (and only second ever audax)... excited and nervous in equal parts!
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 26 March, 2017, 09:34:20 am
fantastic ride.

lovely weather, lovely scenario.  Challenging but not punishing.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: TigaSefi on 26 March, 2017, 10:23:41 am
Best Audax I've done in a long time. Fantastic scenery in Wales!!
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 26 March, 2017, 11:41:15 am
Best Audax I've done in a long time. Fantastic scenery in Wales!!
The only bit of Wales is between Chepstow bridge and the Severn bridge.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: TigaSefi on 26 March, 2017, 11:59:25 am
Best Audax I've done in a long time. Fantastic scenery in Wales!!
The only bit of Wales is between Chepstow bridge and the Severn bridge.

That's the joke.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: nolongertries on 26 March, 2017, 01:41:27 pm
A grand day out. It was great to see the Forest of Dean and the Cotswolds resplendent in the sunshine. I particularly liked the 'Valley of Clouds' somewhere in the Cotswolds and the sunset over those little bumps by the white horse etchings.

Thanks to FrankC for really great company from Marlborough to Oxford and to Mark, Grant and chap from Reading at various stages earlier.

Arrivee was great fun as we waited for cold stew and then burnt spuds. Not a serious word was spoken for about 15 mins - great craic. Thanks to Jonah for giving me his coat as I had a dose of the shivers. He must have been freezing.

Suitably refuelled, I headed off on my 100k ECE leg. Tired and sore when I got home but happy after a grand day out.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Audax Club Hackney on 26 March, 2017, 05:09:21 pm
Hello folks
We hope you all enjoyed riding The Dean. It was great to hear you all enjoyed the wonderful sunset. From our vantage point in the glamorous bus shelter, we enjoyed the view of stew and beavertown ales, which we hope you enjoyed to. The fact that it was all gone before 2:30am suggests you did.
All our thoughts are now with Mark Walsh, who collided with a car in Newant. 5 broken ribs and a bike that split in two... ouch. Hope the bike recovers soon 😉
Audax Club Hackney are proud to keep this classic ride going... any feedback and comments are most welcome.
Hope to see you all again next year...
❤️ from ACH
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: vistaed on 26 March, 2017, 05:21:16 pm
The booth and beavertown were very welcome. Thanks for running a great event guys
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 26 March, 2017, 05:47:17 pm
5 broken ribs. Don't make him laugh.  :hand:

I had a really nice day only marred by coming across the incident and a close pass.

The weather was truly stunning. My performance was not and there is a lot of work to be done. Only one 24" deployment though. Some great company on the road. Thanks to everyone who kept me company.

Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 26 March, 2017, 05:47:55 pm
PS and thanks again to ACH for keeping this event in the calendar.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: D O G on 26 March, 2017, 09:21:55 pm
Yes, thanks to the ACH crew for putting on the ride, first time for me riding the Dean, it lived up to the hype!

Trying to forget about that wind tho...
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: johny bath on 26 March, 2017, 10:15:22 pm
To the whole ACH crew - big thanks to all of you for taking this event on, organising it and making a great day out for us riders to do things that would just seem plain nuts to do on your own! Nice to have company, fantastic weather and a challenging yet scenic route for the whole day. Great to see so many people out on a 300 in March before the clocks changed - if you got back before 2am that is! Fantastic stew, and loved the beer - I thought it tasted better than your average brew, and have put it down to the unique ACH prepping method you put on your facebook page, but wager that you will need a few more ACH members if you are hosting a LEL party!
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Mark Walsh on 27 March, 2017, 03:54:05 am
It'll be a few weeks before I can laugh , cough or sneeze !
Although the morphine is helping me to actually move in and out of bed at the moment.



https://www.flickr.com/photos/149003184@N07/shares/0s3M0F
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Hot Flatus on 27 March, 2017, 06:59:35 am
Far Kinnell.  How did that situation arise?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 27 March, 2017, 09:32:21 am
Far Kinnell.  How did that situation arise?

from the impact, looks very much like car turning right across path of fast moving cyclist.

get well soon.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: grams on 27 March, 2017, 11:49:26 am
That crash looks awful. I'm glad you're not too badly injured, Mark.

I was nearly taken out by a big yellow tipper truck being driven at full speed round a blind bend just before the A38 around the 70 km mark. The truck was as wide as the tarmac and I had to dive into the dirt at the side of the road with half a second to spare. He didn't slow down one bit. Inevitably my video camera was between batteries at the time. Anyone else encounter him?

I enjoyed this ride a lot. The whether was relatively kind apart from the cold on the higher ground towards the end. Despite a healthy number of climbs it didn't feel particularly AAA-ish. I was riding my 1x bike (40t x 11-32t) which isn't great for steep hills but I only had to get off and walk once, round the hairpin past the alleged white horse (it was dark) near Marlborough. And those last few miles from Stanford to Oxford to Peartree took forever.

Cheers to the organisers and especially the guys staying out at the finish. You've successfully recruited an ACH member!

I encountered someone in a bad way falling asleep in the garage at Membury services. An older guy on a white Giant. Anyone know if he got back?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 27 March, 2017, 12:22:12 pm
Just before the A38? I was close-passed by a flat bed truck there. 200m before the turn.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: TigaSefi on 27 March, 2017, 12:38:02 pm
This is the one time i was glad to have two front lights. One failed and I was cold and wanted to keep cycling to stay warm so the other light was bright enough to last the rest of the journey. Some dark lanes out there. I agree with the miles from Sandford to Peartree taking forever.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: redfalo on 27 March, 2017, 04:33:52 pm
It'll be a few weeks before I can laugh , cough or sneeze !
Although the morphine is helping me to actually move in and out of bed at the moment.



https://www.flickr.com/photos/149003184@N07/shares/0s3M0F

Crickey! That looks shocking. What a pity about the Van Nich. Get well soon!
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: redfalo on 27 March, 2017, 04:58:41 pm
It'll be a few weeks before I can laugh , cough or sneeze !
Although the morphine is helping me to actually move in and out of bed at the moment.



https://www.flickr.com/photos/149003184@N07/shares/0s3M0F

Crickey! That looks shocking.  What a pity about the Van Nich but at least you seem to have come out of this in one piece. Get well soon!
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: mattc on 27 March, 2017, 06:26:40 pm
It'll be a few weeks before I can laugh , cough or sneeze !
Although the morphine is helping me to actually move in and out of bed at the moment.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/149003184@N07/shares/0s3M0F
Sorry to hear about your ribs - who is the dead guy in those pictures??
<joking>

Blimey. Never seen the front triangle break off a frame like that, certainly not for a rider that (sort of) walked away.

I find the neatly arranged water bottles rather amusing!

GWS
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: BlackSheep on 27 March, 2017, 06:37:52 pm
Get well soon Mark, if ever there's a gratuitous fracture - it's ribs.

Bet you'll be back in the saddle before me.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Mark Walsh on 28 March, 2017, 01:58:15 pm
Thanks for the all your well wishes.
I've had a difficult few days but am feeling better today.
I'm hoping to be well enough by Friday/Saturday  to eventually travel home and recover there.
Overall I've been pretty lucky with the injuries considering the force of the impact. Driver said he didn't see me ! He turned right from Tewkesbury Road into Stream Lane right in front of me. The bike hit the near side front light area and I actually felt it collapsing beneath me. I don't remember much after that but must have landed on the windscreen and then bounced into road. I couldn't get my breath at first and had a terrible pain in my left shoulder\back region which I now know must have been because I'd broken my ribs. I'm really grateful to David Foxcroft for stopping and waiting with me ( he took the pics of the collision).
Hopefully be out cycling again in next 4\6 weeks once I've sorted out a new touring bike.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Jethro on 28 March, 2017, 02:10:17 pm
I assume that the police are prosecuting the driver and that you will get a nice shiny new VN from his insurance company.  Have you thought about contacting one of those "no win, no fee" companies for compensation for your injuries too.

For now though, get well soon.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Mark Walsh on 28 March, 2017, 06:00:30 pm
I think Gloucester police  policy is to refer drivers who hit cyclists  for driver awareness courses unless they actually manage to kill them.
I've got a solicitor representing my interests in this through my house insurance legal protection policy so hopefully he'll be able to get the bike replaced and some compensation for injuries and lost income.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: citoyen on 28 March, 2017, 07:30:54 pm
Yikes! That's rotten, but it looks like you were lucky to get away with a handful of busted ribs.

May your recovery be full and swift, and likewise your justice.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: alotronic on 28 March, 2017, 11:07:12 pm
First Dean and a bit of an epic. Climbed well, remembering to keep a bit in the tank for later. Mostly by myself so the wind took a toll and I really crawled from then on, average speed dropping from 25 to 21kph and a lot of time hovering around 18. I was passed by a young woman who asked me if I was on the Dean, Don't think she could quite believe that an audaxer could be riding so slowly.... needless to say she disappeared up the road pretty quick. Stop at 200km I realised there were plenty worse off than me... hoping the aussie guy I was chatting to, who seemed pretty wrecked, made it through. At the next services I was surprised to see Agi and Robert there as they are usually a lot faster than me. Turns out they had mechanicals. And a guy turned up who had spent 90 minutes walking to a bike shop to get a new tyre... and he's caught me up! Beginning to feel old and slow, the only way I can keep up with the under 40s is if they have something to wrong... welcome to my future ;-)

Rode the last leg with Mr Colchester and Mr Scientist. We didn't say an awful lot, but the company through the pain was appreciated and thankfully only the one long slow hill in the last leg.

So yes, an epic, but a great ride to have in the legs. Highlights - the climbing in part one in among the lambs and the country and then later topping over the white horse and not walking and then the lovely sunset playing out on the hills down to Stanford - magic.

Thanks to ACH for their inimitable style and making sure this ride stays in the books, it's a good 'un - see you on Sunday for another (shark) bite.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: grams on 29 March, 2017, 12:06:31 am
You got sunset at Stanford and you think you're slow. Some of us had midnight at Stanford!
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 29 March, 2017, 12:25:24 am
I had visions of a 2am finish until I read that part. My fastest Dean had sunset as I climbed towards Membury.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Manotea on 29 March, 2017, 09:02:28 am
Ah, to arrive at Membury in daylight. The dream lives on...
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 29 March, 2017, 09:34:02 am
You got sunset at Stanford and you think you're slow. Some of us had midnight at Stanford!
Is that what they call humblebragging?

talking about being unbelievably slow for an audaxer while being in the top quartile.

I was happy to reach membury in the light, just. (sun had set but it wasn't dark)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Redlight on 29 March, 2017, 10:07:17 am
Beginning to feel old and slow, the only way I can keep up with the under 40s is if they have something to wrong... welcome to my future ;-)

Welcome to my world  ;)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: alotronic on 30 March, 2017, 09:19:18 am
You got sunset at Stanford and you think you're slow. Some of us had midnight at Stanford!
Is that what they call humblebragging?

talking about being unbelievably slow for an audaxer while being in the top quartile.

I was happy to reach membury in the light, just. (sun had set but it wasn't dark)

No, not humblebragging, just checked my town names again (sorry not a native, I get confused!) I am revising to Sunset coming off the Ridgeway. Does that make us all feel better?!?!?

I got back about 11:15pm so not in the upper quartile at all. Elasped time 17:12, on the road 14:28.

Maybe I have just got too used to Essex rides where 23.5-24kph is more the norm for me :-)

So I guess I will revise my self assessment to 'oldish and slowish'.

Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Greenbank on 30 March, 2017, 11:11:25 am
Hah. Reaching Malmesbury in the dark was my usual Dean.

I'm just lazy though, I could push harder but I can rarely be bothered. I'd rather relax and use most of the available time.

(Only once have I bothered to push a bit harder on an Audax and the organiser at the finish said "What are you doing here at this time!?")
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 30 March, 2017, 11:38:45 am
Somewhat relieved to discover that I'm not quite so far behind such a "slow" rider.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: mattc on 30 March, 2017, 12:49:30 pm
No, not humblebragging, just checked my town names again (sorry not a native, I get confused!) I am revising to Sunset coming off the Ridgeway. Does that make us all feel better?!?!?

Unfortunately that doesn't help much - the route allows two goes at coming off the Ridgeway at sunset :P

(the 2nd crossing is after Lambourn - most folks don't notice such a gentle climb).
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: alotronic on 30 March, 2017, 01:27:25 pm
No, not humblebragging, just checked my town names again (sorry not a native, I get confused!) I am revising to Sunset coming off the Ridgeway. Does that make us all feel better?!?!?

Unfortunately that doesn't help much - the route allows two goes at coming off the Ridgeway at sunset :P

(the 2nd crossing is after Lambourn - most folks don't notice such a gentle climb).

Ah ok, that makes sense of the long drag *in the dark* out of Lambourn.

Well it wasn't my intention but I feel a little better in condition now! I guess I need to stop looking at the front of the field for comparison and start looking around me - e.g. STFU, look at the scenery and don't forget to enjoy myself ;-)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Audax Club Hackney on 04 April, 2017, 09:27:37 pm
Results will be in soon folks - just waiting for the last postal brevets - we got one this AM and will leave the trad 14-days as usual

ACH
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: grams on 05 April, 2017, 01:27:07 pm
So did anyone take the ring road back to Peartree avoiding the city centre?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Steve Orchard on 05 April, 2017, 01:31:24 pm
Not me. Quite enjoy a bit of traffic through the city after the very sleepy villages.

Sent from my SM-A320FL using Tapatalk

Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 05 April, 2017, 02:11:58 pm
So did anyone take the ring road back to Peartree avoiding the city centre?
You can avoid both the ring road and city centre by taking the cycle path from the Botley road to Wytham then road to wolvercote. I would have done this if I'd been solo,  but was riding with others and didn't want to get everyone lost if I went wrong.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: JohnL on 05 April, 2017, 03:25:03 pm
So did anyone take the ring road back to Peartree avoiding the city centre?
You can avoid both the ring road and city centre by taking the cycle path from the Botley road to Wytham then road to wolvercote. I would have done this if I'd been solo,  but was riding with others and didn't want to get everyone lost if I went wrong.
I took that route, it was loads nicer than the city centre route we did on the Poor Student. I'm deffo doing that in the future!

John
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Mark Walsh on 07 April, 2017, 07:12:41 pm
It was obviously a bad omen starting the Dean this year without you Andy  ! I had a difficult first week and had to stay down in Oxford but I travelled back to Chester last Saturday and seem to be on the mend now. Collision  actually broke 7 ribs, 2 transverse processes on my thoracic vertebrae and partially collapsed my left lung. I was lucky overall though not to have been killed or paralysed. The GPS had me at 20 mph on impact and he was doing 30/40 himself.  Seems I was flung over the bonnet into the windscreen on my back and that's the impact that damaged me. Fingers crossed I'll be riding again in another 4 weeks.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Audax Club Hackney on 10 April, 2017, 09:40:10 pm
Best of British Marky Boy  :thumbsup:

Results for this years' Dean will be finalised tomorrow folks.

ACH
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Audax Club Hackney on 12 April, 2017, 05:59:41 am
Finnish List has been finalised
93 got round  :D
Might take a little while to show up on the AUK web
Thanks to all those who started

ACH
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 12 April, 2017, 12:13:56 pm
Finnish List has been finalised
93 got round  :D
Might take a little while to show up on the AUK web
Thanks to all those who started

ACH
Thanks shows up on individual rides list.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Audax Club Hackney on 10 October, 2017, 06:52:38 am
Hello Folks
Once again, Audax Club Hackney is proud to present the The Dean 300.  The 2018 version is now in the calendar.  We are pleased to see that entries have already started to trickle in.
This year's edition will revert to an X-rated event, as pre 2016 versions of this epic ride.  Please be reminded that the start will always remain as The Oxford Peatree Park & Ride car park and that it will be a postal Finnish only this year.  Riders are free to end in Oxford or the Pear tree but please bear in mind for later arrivals that the distance between these two potential finishing points seems more considerable at that time of the morning.  Please also be reminded to return your breasts and proofs of passage promptly after the ride - to arrive within 14-days of the event.

Thanks again for all those who have entered so far - it's exciting to see such enduring interest for the 11th version of this classic 300 which heralds the start of the season.

ACH X
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Jonah on 10 October, 2017, 07:01:43 am
The Stag appears to have made a couple of typos in this last post but I am sure that riders will not be tempted to return anything else other than completed brevet cards and proofs of passage.
J
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: citoyen on 10 October, 2017, 09:58:40 am
The Stag appears to have made a couple of typos in this last post but I am sure that riders will not be tempted to return anything else other than completed brevet cards and proofs of passage.
J

Shame. I was envisaging a cycling version of that episode of Blackadder.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Ian H on 10 October, 2017, 10:25:04 am
The Stag appears to have made a couple of typos in this last post but I am sure that riders will not be tempted to return anything else other than completed brevet cards and proofs of passage.
J

Shame. I was envisaging a cycling version of that episode of Blackadder.

As long as it doesn't go tits up.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 10 October, 2017, 11:52:07 am
Entry in.

I might be on the start list 3 times this year due to Paypal checkout issues. I was told I was on the start list when paypal failed, twice. Third time lucky.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: TigaSefi on 10 October, 2017, 01:29:30 pm
I liked it last time and the weather was spot on! I might be interested again!
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 10 October, 2017, 01:30:42 pm
Peartree hotel showing £90 for two nights. Not a great deal this far out.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: TigaSefi on 10 October, 2017, 01:38:59 pm
I drove there last time so I'll do that again. Just need to remember £2 for the car park fees! Entered by the way! :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: NeilP on 10 October, 2017, 05:18:47 pm
Was hoping to do this but as it's the day after my annual pilgrimage to Cheltenham Festival I highly doubt I'll be physically up to it.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 10 October, 2017, 05:57:54 pm
I drove there last time so I'll do that again. Just need to remember £2 for the car park fees! Entered by the way! :thumbsup:

2h each way for me - no chance.

Premier Inn at Didcot is cheaper and is only 20m away.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: TigaSefi on 10 October, 2017, 05:58:55 pm
It costs £10 and an hour 10 mins driving! How much is premier inn?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: j_a_m_e_s_ on 12 January, 2018, 06:20:15 pm
Is anybody ECEing back London way?

The plan is to stay over Friday night, but in the spirit of Audax I'm gonna attempt my first 400 by ECEing back home on a cold March night.

Company would be well appreciated, especially up to about Beaconsfield. The last 300 I did was 17hrs flat, so anytime from 11 - midnight at the services I would expect to start the ECE part.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: francisbarton on 25 February, 2018, 03:26:15 pm
I'm just thinking about booking a room at peartree Travelodge for Friday night. Money is tight as ever, is anyone up for sharing a room? Please drop me a pm.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Manotea on 27 February, 2018, 11:25:33 am
I'm just thinking about booking a room at peartree Travelodge for Friday night. Money is tight as ever, is anyone up for sharing a room? Please drop me a pm.

@j_a_m_e_s if I stay over the night before then I'll ride home to West London, but whether I'll be at the services before midnight is a matter of conjecture at this point (and if I arrive much after I'll likely find a corner for a couple of hours Zzzs till dawn), so we shall have to see how it goes. 
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Audax Club Hackney on 27 February, 2018, 11:29:19 pm
OK Folks
X4 ACH'ers 'ran the gauntlet' with the reliability check last Saturday/Sunday.
The route is as sturdy and stunning as ever; the test-pilots on the other hand, froze their bearings off.
Back at Castle ACH we heard horror stories of patchy ice and frozen kebabs.
Rest assured nothing has changed but please be reminded that if this Beast from the East lasts until the calendar ride then BLOODY WATCH OUT FOR THOSE RARE PATCHES OF BLACK ICE THAT LOOM PRETTY QUICK.  As they discovered, knowing the route is NOT ENOUGH to get one through the unsuspected.

E.G. 119.4 soon R so Soundley (easily missed)

Could read: Winter Olympics

Honestly folks, this notoriously steep section seemed as normal until the the glassy black death ice bomb alley that ensued...

"That's it, let's role... Hey, let's be careful out there!"
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: j_a_m_e_s_ on 28 February, 2018, 10:12:28 am
I'm just thinking about booking a room at peartree Travelodge for Friday night. Money is tight as ever, is anyone up for sharing a room? Please drop me a pm.

@j_a_m_e_s if I stay over the night before then I'll ride home to West London, but whether I'll be at the services before midnight is a matter of conjecture at this point (and if I arrive much after I'll likely find a corner for a couple of hours Zzzs till dawn), so we shall have to see how it goes.

The way my legs feel this morning, I'll be lucky to make it by Midnight Sunday!

The weather may well slow me down considerably, and if I'm full value I might have to reconsider the ECE anyway.

Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Jonah on 28 February, 2018, 05:09:59 pm
After getting our bacon baps out we got off to a 07:00 start and proceeded to morph into solid blocks of ice for the remainder of the ride.

Our water bottles froze and I couldn't feel my feet all day.  However, the ride remains as spectacular and winter sun in the Forest of Dean thawed my old bones as we sped-off to the Chepstow Spoons.

We crawled in shortly before 04:00; the cold impeding our progress somewhat.

Can't wait to do it all again on the 17th
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: halhorner on 02 March, 2018, 02:22:08 pm
Nails!
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Von Broad on 02 March, 2018, 04:26:58 pm
Our water bottles froze and I couldn't feel my feet all day.

That's Audax.
I will doff my hat to you sir.
Hard as!

As I look out of the window right now [snow] I'd say it was a bit of a Dean kind of day today!

Terrific ride The Dean. Hope to do it again before I'm through with all this stuff.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Steve Orchard on 08 March, 2018, 08:20:37 am
Any changes/updates to the route we need to know about?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: halhorner on 13 March, 2018, 01:58:56 pm
Assume last years routesheet & .gpx are good to use again this year?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: TigaSefi on 13 March, 2018, 08:58:10 pm
I think I am going to be a DNS. I am going for a 100km ride tomorrow and see how I get on before deciding whether I am fit enough to get round this great route. Weather isn't great for me using my usual sources unless someone tells me different.

Actually : -5 and possible snow means health comes first!
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 13 March, 2018, 10:27:06 pm
Not having managed a 200k yet this season I've decided to DNS this and have entered the Cheltenham New Flyer instead. Also will be using gears as my wrist is still on the mend.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: j_a_m_e_s_ on 14 March, 2018, 07:33:24 am
Got the day off work today, so gonna get myself squared away today then its all systems go for Saturday I think.

Gonna be chilly so I'm told......
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: JohnL on 14 March, 2018, 08:27:36 am
Actually : -5 and possible snow means health comes first!

Where have you seen a -5 forecast? I’ve seen possibly 0 and light snow for the last few bits, but -5?

John
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: zakalwe on 14 March, 2018, 10:54:31 am
The return leg is going to be a bugger with the wind... just like last year :(
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: j_a_m_e_s_ on 14 March, 2018, 11:07:27 am
Actually : -5 and possible snow means health comes first!

Where have you seen a -5 forecast? I’ve seen possibly 0 and light snow for the last few bits, but -5?

John

Feels like.

BBC has got it down to -8 in Oxford around midnight.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: TigaSefi on 14 March, 2018, 04:04:40 pm
Actually : -5 and possible snow means health comes first!

Where have you seen a -5 forecast? I’ve seen possibly 0 and light snow for the last few bits, but -5?

John

Wind chill brings it down to those levels.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: vistaed on 15 March, 2018, 11:26:41 am
I'm not at all impressed with how the weather is looking for Saturday. Yellow snow warning FFS!  But with train and accommodation booked and already paid and a tight training schedule to be keep to, I'll be dammed if a bit of the white stuff and a stiff cold wind is going to stop me at least setting out to have a go.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 15 March, 2018, 05:04:38 pm
Just looked at the weather warning, the Saturday warning is all East of Oxford.

Weather bagel shows dry forecast throughout with positive temperatures at least until 21:00

Does show very strong winds though, tailwind out and headwind back.

Any chance of entry on the line?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Tillapaw on 15 March, 2018, 05:12:08 pm
Entries don't close until tomorrow so you still have a chance to enjoy that headwind back like we had last year.  Looks like it won't be patio weather at the Chepstow 'spoons this time though.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Manotea on 15 March, 2018, 06:33:56 pm
Never been patio time for me.... unless you count the garage forecourt! :)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Audax Club Hackney on 15 March, 2018, 08:58:31 pm
Hello Folks
As up-thread, no changes to the route or GPX

Weather's not looking too tidy aye?!?

ACH will be dealing brevet st the start but I can say now that we've had a fair few DNSs

ACZH
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 15 March, 2018, 09:42:11 pm
Yeah sorry about that. Earlier 200k DNS meant not yet ready for 300k.

Back next year to qualify for PBP I hope.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 15 March, 2018, 10:49:20 pm
Entries don't close until tomorrow so you still have a chance to enjoy that headwind back like we had last year.  Looks like it won't be patio weather at the Chepstow 'spoons this time though.
No, more like 2016, sitting in 'spoons watching others shiver on tesco forecourt
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Manotea on 15 March, 2018, 11:36:47 pm
Not too bothered about the temps but that headwind home is going to be fun. :)

I think I can assume I'll not be ECEing home.  ;D

(https://www.dropbox.com/s/jf3gjtdwv5jg2ah/DeanWB.jpg?raw=1)

That's for 20kmph riders, Full value types will be seeing -3C by the time they - er, we - reach Oxford. Plus windchill, of course.

However you look at it, not a day for hanging around at controls.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Bianchi Boy on 16 March, 2018, 06:22:00 am
I'm not riding tomorrow. Real life got in the way, but the main problem might be snow from the afternoon. If this arrives they may be very few finishers.  ???
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Manotea on 16 March, 2018, 12:23:48 pm
At least I'll not be fretting about whether to wear 'longs or not :)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: whosatthewheel on 16 March, 2018, 12:32:16 pm
Yeah, this could turn out to be a heroic ride... or a zero finishers one... look forward to hearing the reports from the "survivors".

Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Jonah on 16 March, 2018, 12:39:28 pm
Hello folks
We will be there handing out brevets as advised up-thread.  I was planning on riding with club mates but we have also decided to DNS.  Our reliability check 2-years ago ended at about -2 and it was deadly.  Conditions this time are predicted to far worse.

As always, normal Audax rules apply about attempting this ride and if you do ride please consider the possibility of being stranded.

best,
Jonah X
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Kangaroocourt on 16 March, 2018, 12:47:32 pm
Yeah, this could turn out to be a heroic ride... or a zero finishers one... look forward to hearing the reports from the "survivors".
or zero starters :o
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: JohnL on 16 March, 2018, 01:34:44 pm
Mmmmm.  :-\

Serious second thoughts, I suppose I could try on three wheels, but not sure if I’m ready for 300km on the trike.

John
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Huff n Puff on 16 March, 2018, 01:42:54 pm
Hello folks
We will be there handing out brevets as advised up-thread.  I was planning on riding with club mates but we have also decided to DNS.  Our reliability check 2-years ago ended at about -2 and it was deadly.  Conditions this time are predicted to far worse.

As always, normal Audax rules apply about attempting this ride and if you do ride please consider the possibility of being stranded.

best,
Jonah X


I see that other events have announced that Audax Rules allow riders to ride the route as a Perm within 30 days when there is extreme weather, so long as riders pick up their Brevet Card at the start (Gently Bentley, Occasionally Hilly, Mad March Exeter Excursion for example). Is this option available for The Dean?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: The Seldom Killer on 16 March, 2018, 06:59:47 pm
Already at the Travelodge so will pick up the brevet card in the morning. As ever, I'll be assessing conditions on the ground as I go along. Remember that just because you started riding, you don't have to finish.

I've also scoped a lot of alternatives to the roads less likely to be treated. Mind you, many of those and its already a clear indication that its time to bail out and head for home.

If anyone else is about, we'll be in the Holiday Inn for dinner in a bit.

Jonah, there's a beer with your name on it if you're about.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Peat on 16 March, 2018, 07:12:47 pm
Decided to DNS.  :-\

I like cycling, I don't like pneumonia.

Seriously good luck to those hardier than I. Go safe.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Manotea on 16 March, 2018, 07:13:34 pm
On previous form, I was expecting a rash of announcements regarding Travelodge rooms going spare by now! :D
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: j_a_m_e_s_ on 16 March, 2018, 07:54:53 pm
Yeah, this could turn out to be a heroic ride... or a zero finishers one... look forward to hearing the reports from the "survivors".

After my DNF after 195km ish on AWE on 27/02 in the snow, I must finish.

Can't start a DNFRTY now, can I?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: mattc on 16 March, 2018, 07:59:10 pm
On previous form, I was expecting a rash of announcements regarding Travelodge rooms going spare by now! :D
Perhaps they know how low the market value is now??

[but seriously, I feel for anyone booked onto this ride that has spent money. The forecast is particularly irritating - it's not *quiet* bad enough that i wouldn't consider riding, but I won't be at all surprised if the reality turns out very grim :( ]
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: The Seldom Killer on 16 March, 2018, 08:04:08 pm
There's worse places to be stuck unable to ride. At least this isn't Alfreton.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Manotea on 16 March, 2018, 08:08:57 pm
The key thing is the wind... the forecast I looked at half an hour ago shows a mad strong easterly from 12-4pm Sat but it calms down after that to more normal levels. I generally get to Chepstow around 2-3pm, and its fairly sheltered up to the Monument, so hopefully I'll miss most of that. Crossing the Severn Bridge will be interesting though. #BraveFace

Can't start a DNFRTY now, can I?

Pack early, pack often! :D
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Bikeabilityman on 16 March, 2018, 09:59:21 pm
The 2013 snow on the Dean wasn’t too bad in the end.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Bobby on 16 March, 2018, 10:30:24 pm
DNS from me, more fitness issues than weather.  good luck to any that choose to ride, stay safe out there :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Kangaroocourt on 16 March, 2018, 10:34:56 pm
another DNS here.   Took a lot of thinking about and will probably regret it.  Good luck to all who give it a go.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: whosatthewheel on 17 March, 2018, 10:42:26 am
doesn't look too bad snow wise... here in the midlands with a yellow warning we have seen a few flurries, nothing that sticks on the roads. Windchill is brutal though... wouldn't want to have that in the face
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Somnolent on 17 March, 2018, 10:46:03 am
The 2013 snow on the Dean wasn’t too bad in the end.
I don't seem to recall you using those exact words in your ride report at the time ... ;D
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: JohnL on 17 March, 2018, 12:19:37 pm
Well I tried, on the trike.

I was going to slow, beard was frozen and we hadn’t even got to any headwind bits. Aborted after about 70km. Taking the pretty way back. Currently thawing out in Letchford.

Good luck all who are fighting on!

John
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: vistaed on 17 March, 2018, 12:41:22 pm
So I started the Dean this morning with about 10-15 others. Bit of snow on the way the Stow and a pronounced tailwind. Temps around 1-2 degreess. Personally, I don't have the head to slog out that headwind on a flatbar single speed today. And given it will probably snow around dusk I'm now on the train home from Chepstow.  90 miles today is just fine. Know which fights to pick. This would have left me battered if I'd continued. All my best to those still out there.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Jonah on 17 March, 2018, 01:15:38 pm
Hello folks

Good effort to those 26 (out of 89) brave souls who left the Peatree services just as the snow started this morning.

We’re now down to 24 still going.  The wind chill outside the Travel Lodge Hotel was biting.  My hands went red and yellow from carrying the brevets to the start.

Great to meet a fair rew fixed-wheel riders too.

We at Castle ACH continue in our pride to be able to host such a cracking ride and I for one admire the True Spirit of Audax in each and every rider who crept out into this worsening winter maelstrom.

Jonah X
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Ian H on 17 March, 2018, 01:33:40 pm
Proper spirit of Audax!
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Jonah on 17 March, 2018, 02:02:07 pm
Unfortunately, we have 2-more hero’s out of the game.
Keep pedlin’ the rest of you.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Jack_P on 17 March, 2018, 03:21:24 pm
Hello folks

Good effort to those 26 (out of 89) brave souls who left the Peatree services just as the snow started this morning.

We’re now down to 24 still going.  The wind chill outside the Travel Lodge Hotel was biting.  My hands went red and yellow from carrying the brevets to the start.

Great to meet a fair rew fixed-wheel riders too.

We at Castle ACH continue in our pride to be able to host such a cracking ride and I for one admire the True Spirit of Audax in each and every rider who crept out into this worsening winter maelstrom.

Jonah X

2 Friends Andy and Nick are battling on, riding hard to keep warm, at Wooton bassett right now. Tracking available so you can get the beers ready. https://spotwalla.com/tripViewer.php?id=180475aab8c6c551cf
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Jonah on 17 March, 2018, 04:11:02 pm
Excellent!

(To confirm: this years event is X-Rated - postal finish only)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: zigzag on 17 March, 2018, 05:25:36 pm
just been briefly outside - heroic effort anyone who dared to go out to spend the whole day on a bike - so cold!!!...
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Doo on 17 March, 2018, 05:52:49 pm
DNS here. Think I made the right choice. Claps to those still cycling.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Bikeabilityman on 17 March, 2018, 06:03:10 pm
The 2013 snow on the Dean wasn’t too bad in the end.
I don't seem to recall you using those exact words in your ride report at the time ... ;D
How the memories fade after five years!
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: vistaed on 17 March, 2018, 06:10:35 pm
DNS here. Think I made the right choice. Claps to those still cycling.
First 90 miles were quite nice. But we had a 'little' taste of the headwind to come whilst on the short section of A 38 outside Tewksbury. That played on mind until Chepstow. But if they are also getting snow like in Birmingham then that's truly awful!
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: JohnL on 17 March, 2018, 06:34:52 pm
We peeled off early, but headed south and rejoined the route for the last 30kms bringing it up to a nice 150km. The headwind was already starting to build and was biting. I had literal icicles in my beard. There were flurries of snow too. I dread to think what it’s like out there now!

I’m glad we made the choice we did, but fair play to those still going!

John
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Manotea on 17 March, 2018, 06:50:33 pm
I'm out - issues with new bike* meant only sensible thing to do was to pack into Bristol, as to continue would likely have left me in dire straits come the evening.That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

As expected, crossing  the Severn was brutal. Having said that, the weather up till then was OK but getting very cold now.

Got a thermos of coffee in the car waiting for me. :)

Edit: *one of which was an issue I could'nt spot with my (old) dynamo front wheel which juddered on braking despite appearing true. I discounted it at the time tinking it must be rim damage. A couple of k in to my next outing the rim braking service split.... If I'd kept going on the day, this would have put me somewhere around the Somerset Monument. Now, that would have been fun. :)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Von Broad on 17 March, 2018, 07:43:36 pm
The Dean is always going to be hit or miss weather wise, but this outing must be the most challenging for years.
Being a full value rider, I have vivid memories of going over the Marlborough Downs when the wind was howling right good and proper in anger one year. And that was during the evening of a good day. I cannot imagine what it's going to be like out there tonight. No, actually I can imagine!!!
To those out there - wishing you all a safe journey.

Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Audax Club Hackney on 17 March, 2018, 08:10:09 pm
HEROIC

ACH
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: longflaps on 17 March, 2018, 11:42:33 pm
Hope everyone made it back safely.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: vistaed on 17 March, 2018, 11:44:06 pm
I've been watching the rain fall radar and if those riders pushed on then they had near blizzard conditions to deal with. Hope everyone is OK
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Lee Killestein on 18 March, 2018, 12:11:17 am
Made it as far as Membury. Snowed heavily from Malmesbury, progress was very slow. Booked into the Days Inn. Will weigh up recovery options in the morning. Better to be safe than sorry!
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: halhorner on 18 March, 2018, 03:13:13 am
Just home in Headington- made it as far as Cumnor on the 420 when a black cab took pity on me as I was trying to free my wheels from snow/ice build up for the nth time. A real struggle fro Malmesbury onwards, had to get off an walk a couple of times due to wheelspin, and had to fix a puncture during one of the Blizzards. By the time I got to Stanford I truly could not have given a flying f*** what colour the bench on the LHS by the turn was! The rest of it was great though😀
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: TigaSefi on 18 March, 2018, 05:33:20 am
Amazing stories on here already! I totally had a duvet day!
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: alfapete on 18 March, 2018, 08:36:23 am
One to tell the grandchildren!

Just home in Headington- made it as far as Cumnor on the 420 when a black cab took pity on me as I was trying to free my wheels from snow/ice build up for the nth time. A real struggle fro Malmesbury onwards, had to get off an walk a couple of times due to wheelspin, and had to fix a puncture during one of the Blizzards. By the time I got to Stanton I truly could not have given a flying f*** what colour the bench on the LHS by the turn was! The rest of it was great though😀
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: j_a_m_e_s_ on 18 March, 2018, 09:33:28 am
I am disgusted with myself. Another DNF and now my double RRTY is in tatters, 10months in.

Packed at Membury at 2206.

Was descending into Chepstow at about 1 o'clock, then it kinda went wrong. Gingerly crossed the Severn, at times riding with a 45' lean, controlling at the services at 1415.

Left at 1500 and from here it just got hard. Strong strong headwind, a couple of mechanicals (snow blocking mudguards and punctures) meant not controlling at Malmesbury untill 1800.

Left shortly after needing to maintain an average of 20kmh, which would allow us more than enough stoptime, and from here it just got stupidly hard. Stronger stronger headwind, blizzard conditions, a tumble from the chap I was riding with, a fair bit of walking from lack of traction downhill and up.

I had long decided that the ECE back home would be suicidal, and when it became apparent that I may not reach arrivee untill near 0200, I made the call to my wife and she picked me up. Last train from Oxford was a 2301 and I would long miss that.

Got to Membury and gorged on crisps, oreos and a big bar of bourneville.

The route is beautiful. Not the most physically taxing, but the conditions were brutal. Any rider that controlled at Membury anytime close to me gets a big chapeu if they finished - simply because they would have had the worst weather ever. Physically, I feel very fresh this morning, but I definitely made the right decision. Just a bit gutted - I wanted so badly to finish and be able to spin my yarns about the time I rode to Wales and back in a blizzard. Not badly enough though I guess.

Midsummer Dean would be gorgeous (thinly veiled hint).

I do have a couple of Perm cards to ride, so will definitely be revisiting this route in the near future.

Oh, and the colour of the bench would most definitely have been white, of that I am certain.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: whosatthewheel on 18 March, 2018, 10:05:04 am
Looks like the quicker riders had more luck, as the worst of the snow began to fall in the evening...

Pretty heroic day out by the sound of it...  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Somnolent on 18 March, 2018, 12:20:45 pm
Respect to captslow OTP. Pushed on to finish his first 300 with 30 minutes to spare!
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Audax Club Hackney on 18 March, 2018, 01:44:47 pm
MUCHO RESPECT

ACH
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Audax Club Hackney on 18 March, 2018, 02:15:51 pm
WHOA
We now have 4-riders back so far...
Captslow
Gerard Overton
Anissa Auburn
Jason Clark

Herculean effort folks and we’re glad that you are safe

ACH
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: vistaed on 18 March, 2018, 02:18:50 pm
WHOA
We now have 4-riders back so far...
Captslow
Gerard Overton
Anissa Auburn
Jason Clark

Herculean effort folks and we’re glad that you are safe

ACH
That's amazing. Fantastic effort. Much respect.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Jack_P on 18 March, 2018, 02:24:12 pm
not sure if you can see this but Strava flyby shows six completions of the distance (obviously only for those riders on strava)

https://labs.strava.com/flyby/viewer/#1458187936?c=gcnjrfeg&z=9&t=1QhT2k&a=oC7qVm7n6lbC0O5Wa47wVk1291bD-O1WJD_tVg
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Peat on 18 March, 2018, 02:52:10 pm
Non member Nick Fisher 'completed' (Wantage to Wantage) at around 8pm last night. His first Audax.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Ivan on 18 March, 2018, 03:17:40 pm
Rob Jordan posted on FB that he finished around 1am with Ciaran, Jeremy and two others (Rob appears on the Strava flyby as well).
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Somnolent on 18 March, 2018, 03:25:57 pm
WHOA
We now have 4-riders back so far...
Captslow = Gerard Overton
Anissa Auburn
Jason Clark

Herculean effort folks and we’re glad that you are safe

ACH
FTFY
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: mattc on 18 March, 2018, 04:26:39 pm
WHOA
We now have 4-riders back so far...

...
... and a big chapeau to the posties between Oxford & Hackney. Quick work guys  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: JonBuoy on 18 March, 2018, 04:29:41 pm
not sure if you can see this but Strava flyby shows six completions of the distance (obviously only for those riders on strava)

https://labs.strava.com/flyby/viewer/#1458187936?c=gcnjrfeg&z=9&t=1QhT2k&a=oC7qVm7n6lbC0O5Wa47wVk1291bD-O1WJD_tVg

Strava users also need to be (readily) stalkable and there at the start as they weren't going to catch Andy Gregg.  Well done to Ray Cox and Rus Kesley too.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Audax Club Hackney on 18 March, 2018, 06:46:30 pm
I am disgusted with myself. Another DNF and now my double RRTY is in tatters, 10months in.

Packed at Membury at 2206.

Was descending into Chepstow at about 1 o'clock, then it kinda went wrong. Gingerly crossed the Severn, at times riding with a 45' lean, controlling at the services at 1415.

Left at 1500 and from here it just got hard. Strong strong headwind, a couple of mechanicals (snow blocking mudguards and punctures) meant not controlling at Malmesbury untill 1800.

Left shortly after needing to maintain an average of 20kmh, which would allow us more than enough stoptime, and from here it just got stupidly hard. Stronger stronger headwind, blizzard conditions, a tumble from the chap I was riding with, a fair bit of walking from lack of traction downhill and up.

I had long decided that the ECE back home would be suicidal, and when it became apparent that I may not reach arrivee untill near 0200, I made the call to my wife and she picked me up. Last train from Oxford was a 2301 and I would long miss that.

Got to Membury and gorged on crisps, oreos and a big bar of bourneville.

The route is beautiful. Not the most physically taxing, but the conditions were brutal. Any rider that controlled at Membury anytime close to me gets a big chapeu if they finished - simply because they would have had the worst weather ever. Physically, I feel very fresh this morning, but I definitely made the right decision. Just a bit gutted - I wanted so badly to finish and be able to spin my yarns about the time I rode to Wales and back in a blizzard. Not badly enough though I guess.

Midsummer Dean would be gorgeous (thinly veiled hint).

I do have a couple of Perm cards to ride, so will definitely be revisiting this route in the near future.

Oh, and the colour of the bench would most definitely have been white, of that I am certain.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Jonah on 18 March, 2018, 06:57:32 pm
Nice to meet you yesterday mate
Good effort and nothing to be disgusted about !
Unless someone else in ACH pulls off a miracle before, looks like your name's already on at least one of this year's ACH trophies.

J
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: j_a_m_e_s_ on 18 March, 2018, 08:13:09 pm
Nice to meet you yesterday mate
Good effort and nothing to be disgusted about !
Unless someone else in ACH pulls off a miracle before, looks like your name's already on at least one of this year's ACH trophies.

J

Best mudguards?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: The Seldom Killer on 18 March, 2018, 08:34:20 pm
Trouble right from the start as I discovered that I hadn't packed cycling shorts. Start the ride in boxers under fleece leggings and diverted after Stow to try and find some in Tewkesbury. Alas the only pair in town were decidedly too small and I had to wait until Parkend before I could get some much needed padding.

Crossing the Severn Bridge wasn't the slowest I've ever done but certainly the toughest. Maintaining a constant lean is bloody hard.

Discovered that Mrs. TSK wasn't too far behind so loitered at Malmesbury to ride the last 100k together. Snow wasn't too bad then although did mean walking up the Hackpen switchback and careful descending to Rockley. Miraculously almost all the road to Ramsbury was clear. The climb up to Membury, not so much. I had to have a little walk early on after loosing traction while being overgeared. We did make the services with a few minutes to spare.

Saw Lee K roll in and head straight to the main services. We thought about bailing then but the prospect of putting manky clothes back on in the morning and still having to get back to Oxford ended that. We pressed on with a couple of hours to make it back we thought we might just make it. Alas the snow really kicked in slowed almost any progress. For the record, the bench was snow free owing to the high winds. Alas, I  suffred similarly on the A420 and kept clogging up. (Definitely should have ridden the CX bike). Still, it was definitely better than hitting the lanes to get back.

We finally made it back to Peartree about an hour late and Mrs. TSK has finished her first 300k. Will optimistically submit brevet cards and hope the validation secretary is feeling kind. Based on experience, the effort put in was commensurate with that of a 400k ride, a hard one at that.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: 3peaker on 18 March, 2018, 10:05:21 pm
I see that other events have announced that Audax Rules allow riders to ride the route as a Perm within 30 days when there is extreme weather, so long as riders pick up their Brevet Card at the start (Gently Bentley, Occasionally Hilly, Mad March Exeter Excursion for example). Is this option available for The Dean?

See AUK FORUM for Q and Reply; copied here:

As an Organiser you have a Duty of Care to take “reasonable measures” to ensure the safety of your event,
for both participants and volunteers. Plan ahead for adverse weather conditions - whilst you can’t control
the weather there are plenty of things you can do to maximise the ability to run the event.
However, regardless of your contingency plans, there will be occasions when the conditions dictate that it
simply is not possibly to hold your event safely (e.g. Met Office Amber or Red weather warnings) either for
the riders, yourself or your helpers.
Riders have THEIR responsibility to assess the conditions and decide for themselves whether or not to ride
(they should not assume that conditions are safe because you haven’t cancelled the event). But this does
not mean that you are absolved of your responsibilities, so in extreme weather circumstances you may have
to make a decision whether to go ahead with the event or not at short notice.
Audax UK policy is to try to avoid unnecessary cancelations. But if you do decide that you cannot hold your
event because of weather conditions, you can agree with the Events Team to run your event as a “Weather
Cancelled Event” – this allows you to re-run the event for the original participants within 30 days of the
original date. Within this period you can choose whether to allow riders to ride at a time of their own
choosing (permanent style), or to arrange your own re-scheduled date (or a combination) – different options
will suit different events. You should contact the Events Secretary for more details.

However, you have to arrange to run a "Weather Cancelled Event" in advance. You can't run your event as normal and subsequently ask to run it as a weather cancelled event also.

I ran my Cheltenham Flyer events on Sat with 56% DNS/DNF. The Dean also ran (?) with even more disastrous DNF, so above applies?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: iddu on 19 March, 2018, 12:43:23 am
[OHO]

No.

The important part is

>However, you have to arrange to run a "Weather Cancelled Event" in advance.

Retrospective permission for such is not permitted.

[/OHO]
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: halhorner on 19 March, 2018, 07:52:58 am
That might have been me. Think you must be the couple who passed me as I was changing a tube just beyond Ramsbury...thanks for stopping to check I was ok. Hell of a ride for a first 300!
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: wilkyboy on 19 March, 2018, 08:24:53 am
I ran my Cheltenham Flyer events on Sat with 56% DNS/DNF. The Dean also ran (?) with even more disastrous DNF, so above applies?

I ran the Cambridge Pork Pie and Spring Dash events with about two-thirds DNS on the 200 and half on the 100, and of those who started about one-third abandoned at some point on both, mostly due to the combined wind and cold (and therefore wind-chill).

I believe it was the correct decision to go ahead — the conditions weren't as bad around Cambridge as they were the other side of the country and there were just a couple of patches where windward slopes had trapped the blown snow and there was a little slush on the road; everywhere else was clear, dry and ice-free.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: j_a_m_e_s_ on 19 March, 2018, 09:18:58 am
I believe it was the correct decision to go ahead

Absolutely. (In the case of The Dean)

The first half of The Dean, although on the slightly cooler half of comfortable, was absolutey brilliant. I even had conversations along the lines of the DNSers have missed out here.

Yes the weather turned, but even at my snails pace later on and because conditions were so favourable to begin with,the ride was still finishable.
My DNF came from mental weakness the pragmatic view of logistics -I couldn't warrant the cost of holing up at Peartree for another night, what with the Wessex weekend next week too, and absolutely could not expect my wife to pick me up at 0200.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Mark Walsh on 19 March, 2018, 10:39:30 am
The turn in the weather from the climb over the Cotswold Escarpment  to Marlborough was remarkable with an air temperature of -4 and wind chill down to -10 ( according to Dark Sky’s App) and blizzard like conditions with gusty winds driving snow and the roads covered in snow. I was lucky to meet up with another rider (Tim) before Malmesbury and have his suppport over to Membury Services. There we were joined ( around 21:30 ) by 3 other riders for the final 50 km back to Oxford. Finally finished around 00:30. I doubt I would have been able to press on without the support of Tim and these other lads.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: raymondoyo on 19 March, 2018, 11:25:16 am
heartening to read others found this a toughie.  After an eventful day, for Rus and me the snow came again as we left Marlborough and headed up the Kennet valley to Ramsbury.  The snow was now lying and covering the road in some of the villages.  The wind felt a bit like sandblasting. As we climbed up onto the downs it all seemed very remote. I dreaded the idea of a mechnical - Rus said we would defo knock on a door for shelter but I was not sure we wd find one. At least we were going uphill on the snow, speeding downhill when you could not see the surface would be a different matter. After a hot drink at the service station we pressed on anyway and made it back around 11.30.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Manotea on 19 March, 2018, 12:09:08 pm
...after a hot drink at the service station we pressed on anyway and made it back around 11.30.

Which is about the fastest I've ever got round! :)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Folly on 19 March, 2018, 12:09:44 pm
The turn in the weather from the climb over the Cotswold Escarpment  to Marlborough was remarkable with an air temperature of -4 and wind chill down to -10 ( according to Dark Sky’s App) and blizzard like conditions with gusty winds driving snow and the roads covered in snow. I was lucky to meet up with another rider (Tim) before Malmesbury and have his suppport over to Membury Services. There we were joined ( around 21:30 ) by 3 other riders for the final 50 km back to Oxford. Finally finished around 00:30. I doubt I would have been able to press on without the support of Tim and these other lads.

Thanks for the support and company for the last couple of legs. I suspect I'd have packed at Membury otherwise!
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: robjordan on 19 March, 2018, 03:25:18 pm
The turn in the weather from the climb over the Cotswold Escarpment  to Marlborough was remarkable with an air temperature of -4 and wind chill down to -10 ( according to Dark Sky’s App) and blizzard like conditions with gusty winds driving snow and the roads covered in snow. I was lucky to meet up with another rider (Tim) before Malmesbury and have his suppport over to Membury Services. There we were joined ( around 21:30 ) by 3 other riders for the final 50 km back to Oxford. Finally finished around 00:30. I doubt I would have been able to press on without the support of Tim and these other lads.

Hi Mark, I was one of the five, and my wheel-tracks you followed through virgin snow up to Membury! Lovely to meet you. And if the photos you took of me rolling through that foot-deep flood shortly before turn out any good, I'd love to have a look. My best memories include Jeremy's icicle encrusted beard, and his answer to the info question about the colour of the street in Marlborough: "Fuckin' pure white, man!"

Rob
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Somnolent on 19 March, 2018, 04:36:37 pm
I suspect the validation secretaries may get instructions regarding acceptable alternative colours for the two info questions.... ;D
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: 3peaker on 19 March, 2018, 04:37:11 pm
My Cheltenham New Flyer 200 (same day) used similar roads around Marlborough Downs; Vale of Pewsey, Lacock but went through Lacock before 17:00. They returned to finish by 21:00 when snow was settling and temp around neg 3. I had a 61% DNS on the 200. Technically, my event was not subject to the longer (+5hrs) night phase of the Dean and further West. If mine had been a 300 I question if I would have continued (i.e., postponed/cancelled) having heard the forecast. Orgs decision but riders respond accordingly! I had 2 Control teams down route with food and Halls booked, so quite a logistics nightmare to Cancel and re-organise. A very difficult decision to call in marginal conditions.

As compensation I am offering all my DNSs a free (event funded) Perm.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Mark Walsh on 19 March, 2018, 07:56:02 pm
Hi Rob
It was very reassuring for me and Tim to have your tracks to follow. We were both worried about the roads icing up beneath us on the run in to Membury. I have a short video clip of you riding through the ford and if you message me on 07815042606 I’ll what’s app it over to you. It was great to team up with you and the other two lads at Membury in conditions that were more akin to winter moutaineering than cycling.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: arabella on 19 March, 2018, 10:00:38 pm
To those who decided not to finish - sometimes that's the sensible option - it's only going to get later and colder and icier.
My one and only rrty took 23 months, as what for would have been the original 12th I DNFd an overnight before-dinner dart at 2:30am on account of the weather (head on snow) and holed up in a hotel lobby until there were trains.
It was a fantastic experience when I was riding (snow only wtarted after an hour).  But the possibility of falling over, knocking myself out and getting hypothermia aren't on my to-do list.
Besides, it wouldn't be audacious if success were guaranteed. 
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Jonah on 19 March, 2018, 10:43:52 pm
Nice to meet you yesterday mate
Good effort and nothing to be disgusted about !
Unless someone else in ACH pulls off a miracle before, looks like your name's already on at least one of this year's ACH trophies.

J

Best mudguards?

Not half as nifty as your '58 Pattern bastardised large-pack Carradice
 :demon:
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: wilkyboy on 20 March, 2018, 09:06:18 am
Besides, it wouldn't be audacious if success were guaranteed.

This  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Audax Club Hackney on 20 March, 2018, 07:21:17 pm
ACH would like to thank all the riders who have sent such kind thanks for hosting The Dean 2018
It makes it all worth it.

ACH X
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Pip on 20 March, 2018, 08:52:47 pm
An amazing thread. What a hardy and intrepid group.  Please validate Seldom Killer and Mrs SK's ride.  Anisa Aubin is a total legend
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Manotea on 20 March, 2018, 09:12:13 pm
I totally dropped Anisa on the first stage... mostly by taking a wrong turn and going off route. :)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Bianchi Boy on 21 March, 2018, 08:05:20 pm
An amazing thread. What a hardy and intrepid group.  Please validate Seldom Killer and Mrs SK's ride.  Anisa Aubin is a total legend
Rules are rules and I do not know the regulations well enough to know if ACP has scope to validate.
BB
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 21 March, 2018, 10:28:25 pm
I believe that in 2007, they added an extra hour or two to PBP due to the exceptional weather conditions, which were somewhat less exceptional that we'd encountered on the 2006 Bryan Chapman, both of which were mere rain and wind.  I didn't venture out at the weekend, but there was the small matter of 10cm snow that landed on Saturday night not too far from the Dean route.  I would hazard that was more exceptional that PBP2007 (although before anyone gets there - snow on PBP would be unusual)

Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Somnolent on 21 March, 2018, 11:19:15 pm
For PBP, ACP pretty much make it up as they go along, not even following their own published schedule for control time opening & closing times, so I don't think one can rely on that as precedent.

Article 10 of the BRM rules (http://www.audax-club-parisien.com/EN/322.html) suggests some lattitude at intermediate controls might be possible if a rider is delayed by factors that are a) unforseen and b) outside their control.
Certainly the weather was outside the control of riders, but I don't know that it can be said to have been unforseen.  Forecasts that I saw were pretty grim - and seem not to have been inaccurate.   

And I'm not sure there is any tolerance available on the time limits at the finish.  The French version "les delais impartis" suggests to me that it is a hard deadline without the possibility of tolerance that may be applied to the intermediate controls.

All that is not to say I would be against an appeal on behalf of those who finished hors délai - just that I'm not sure on what grounds it might succeed.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 22 March, 2018, 12:23:10 am
There was no extra time at the finish. I was led to believe there was during the ride which was unhelpful.

LEL 2009 allowed extra time as riders were being held at northern controls during the worst weather.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: mmmmartin on 22 March, 2018, 12:09:41 pm
Arabella, thanks for a great sig line.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: mattc on 28 March, 2018, 03:07:36 pm
I think the biggest factor delaying riders was the snow on the ground. One *might* argue that this is different to weather - it's more like a closed road.

If I was making the rules, I'd be in favour of allowing some extra time for finishers in those conditions. But not just because it was cold/windy.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Manotea on 28 March, 2018, 03:52:02 pm
Quote
If I was making the rules, I'd be in favour of allowing some extra time for finishers in those conditions. But not just because it was cold/windy.
Then exactly why? If it hadn't been cold and windy most would have finished...

Firstly, kudos to everybody who made it to Oxford, or even past Chepstow. As was I packed soon after (mechanical, gov, honest) but suspect the biggest factor was the biting cold headwind. The snow was just the icing on the cake.

I'm generally agin weather concessions. They rather undermine the whole spirit of what we do. All events are run to the same regulations and dealing with the weather is part of it, so why should one event or set of conditions be deemed more worthy than any other? Your pleasant summer day might be my heatstroke? How would concessions be managed for Perms? And so on. It's a can of worms best left closed.

Being audacious is about setting out with a sense of adventure, knowing there's a risk of failure and dealing with it. If you achieve your goal, great, if not then there's always next time, and the achivement will be the greater. For events like PBP and LEL other considerations may apply, but everybody who started the Dean had a very clear idea of what they were getting into.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: halhorner on 28 March, 2018, 05:09:39 pm
Quote
Being audacious is about setting out with a sense of adventure, knowing there's a risk of failure and dealing with it. If you achieve your goal, great, if not then there's always next time.

Speaking of next time... I am planning to revisit this as a perm on 14th April. So all being well I'll be back at Peartree at 6am in a couple of weeks time. Other Dean '18 Survivors welcome to join (or anyone else for that matter). Cycling karma dictates it will be a nice ride round in warm spring sunshine this time. You can enter on the AUK website in the Perms section in the normal way, I cheked with Jonah & he's ok.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: j_a_m_e_s_ on 28 March, 2018, 07:11:27 pm
Just seen the results - 14 finishers, all of whom are Spartans.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Manotea on 28 March, 2018, 07:19:43 pm
<blah blah ...>
 For events like PBP and LEL other considerations may apply, but everybody who started the Dean had a very clear idea of what they were getting into.
Why are they different?

They are different in having supervised controls under the direct management of the organisers supporting large numbers of riders from overseas and other parts of the country who have made considerable investments in time and money to take part in these events which occur only once every four years, who are likely to be unfamiliar with the route/terrain and who in the event of extreme weather would likely overwhelm other points of refuge. It also helps avoids any accusations of controllers forcing riders to continue whereas in the case of unmanned controls the responsibility would clearly lay with the riders. So it make senses to allow controllers on site to manage extreme situations by holding riders back and making allowance for this in the riding time allowed.

From a purist point of view I guess you could leave it to the riders to decide/kick them out regardless, but there is a case for recognising qualitative distinctions between occasional largescale events and more regular events.

FWIW, practically every time I've ridden in Wales I've been rained on, and not your nice gentle warm London rain either...
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 28 March, 2018, 10:58:28 pm
Quote
If I was making the rules, I'd be in favour of allowing some extra time for finishers in those conditions. But not just because it was cold/windy.
Then exactly why? If it hadn't been cold and windy most would have finished...


I thought the difference was quite clear, if it had ONLY been cold and windy many people would have finished but when people talk about having to walk uphill because of loss of traction and downhill because snow/ice build up makes roads too dangerous, and having to stop frequently to clear ice from tyres/mudguards it seems the weather is worse than would usually be expected.

Do we want to make allowances for that? or do we potentially want to be in the situation where riders chance a dangerous descent because they are close to the finish and walking downhill would be likely to push them over the time limit.

Although snow was forecast and we're all grown-ups. People could make their own decision about whether or not to ride. I'm surprised there were as many starters as there were with the low chance of success, and high chance of icy roads.

I'd be interested to know how many finished in the time limit. 89 entrants, 25 starters less than 10 finishers??  I think there may well be a case for time allowances when more people fail to finish at all than do finish because the weather is so bad. Although at this time there is no policy for such in place and others may have packed at location x when they realised they couldn't make the time limit, but might have continued if they had known allowances might be made.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: 3peaker on 29 March, 2018, 11:12:39 pm
Related ride was the Cheltenham Flyer 200 on the same day but with a 21:30 last-Finish. 27 finished from a 60 initial entry and a 28 start. The later returners were in the same geographic region as The Dean but earlier and reported neg 3 temps etc. I chose not to cancel as I also had 100km and 150km events, with a (slightly) more pleasant weather window. I reserve my opinion of my decision had my 200 been a 300km and my only event on the day.

On a Winter 200km Perm over Gospel Pass I rode Trike (deliberate choice to contest an icy passage) and it took an hour to ride/walk down to Hay-on-Wye from the Pass. I made it to F with minutes to spare. I knew when I started it might be tight and it worked. Audacious? Foolish?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Somnolent on 06 April, 2018, 09:50:54 am
On a Winter 200km Perm over Gospel Pass I rode Trike (deliberate choice to contest an icy passage) and it took an hour to ride/walk down to Hay-on-Wye from the Pass. I made it to F with minutes to spare. I knew when I started it might be tight and it worked. Audacious? Foolish?


Starting when you know success is uncertain = audacious
Making a decision based on the forecast to use different (slower?) equipment: reducing chances of success, still audacious, not foolish.
Walking rather than risking it on descent, further reducing chances of success:  ditto, ditto.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Ivan on 26 September, 2018, 01:48:13 pm
This is now in the calendar for 2019. We've finally had to address the underdistanceness of this venerable event using modern measuring tools so the final info control has been relocated slightly to get the min. distance over 300km. The alternative of making this a mandatory route event seemed inappropriate considering it's the origin of the Larrington Manoeuvre and also not to let riders worry about using alternative roads in case of bad weather.

Old files have been removed and a new GPX track (finally!) and route sheet will be available on the entry page once route checks have been completed, close to the start of the ride.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: TigaSefi on 26 September, 2018, 05:43:41 pm
Entered! Do I get number 1 on my brevet ?  ;D

Fake edit: and of course, let's hope winter doesn't wreck it this time!  ::-)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Jonah on 28 September, 2018, 08:12:13 pm
This is now in the calendar for 2019. We've finally had to address the underdistanceness of this venerable event using modern measuring tools so the final info control has been relocated slightly to get the min. distance over 300km. The alternative of making this a mandatory route event seemed inappropriate considering it's the origin of the Larrington Manoeuvre and also not to let riders worry about using alternative roads in case of bad weather.

Old files have been removed and a new GPX track (finally!) and route sheet will be available on the entry page once route checks have been completed, close to the start of the ride.

Nice one BOSS
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: grams on 08 January, 2019, 04:47:52 pm
Travelodge currently £16.80 for Friday night...
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Jonah on 10 February, 2019, 07:33:13 pm
Sheesh!
This year's reliability check was almost a liability!
The wind was so strong the only way you go was backwards (and this was going  downhill).

First 150 was a non-stop mash to Cheppers.  Then it started raining.

It wasn't all bad though.  There are some lovely new surfaces in the penultimate and final stages which made us up bags of time.

Reccee'd a great control, at Malmsbury (Waitrose Cafe: open till 21:00) Much better than grovelling around in the dark outside Co-op

Despite the seriously hard times Gadget, Ant & I had a cracking 21hrs a-wheel.  As we all know, this ride is a beautiful old friend and it was a pleasure to remind ourselves of just the same beast that she us.  The bridge was closed when we set off but the look of joy on our faces was priceless when we discovered that it was open again as we peddled into a gusty maelstrom. 



Meanwhile, entries swell!

JX

PS Does anyone remember that Denis Rousos song "My friend the Wind"?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Jonah on 10 February, 2019, 08:06:43 pm
No way!
Dennis is only on Radio 6 music right now...!
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Anthony on 10 February, 2019, 09:34:38 pm
21hrs a-wheel

19hrs 46mins
*for the record
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Ivan on 11 February, 2019, 11:12:36 am
Yes, but that's for the old, under-distance route which isn't valid this year.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Jonah on 11 February, 2019, 08:49:30 pm
Sorry Boss
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: quixoticgeek on 12 February, 2019, 02:56:24 pm
considering it's the origin of the Larrington Manoeuvre

What is the Larrington Manoeuvre?

J
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Ivan on 12 February, 2019, 03:09:19 pm
https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=10784.msg362412#msg362412
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 12 February, 2019, 03:40:43 pm
considering it's the origin of the Larrington Manoeuvre

What is the Larrington Manoeuvre?

J

I bet you've no idea why he's referred to as Monsieur le Maire in that thread either.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Von Broad on 18 February, 2019, 11:07:05 pm
considering it's the origin of the Larrington Manoeuvre

What is the Larrington Manoeuvre?

J

There's more than one  ;)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: vistaed on 19 February, 2019, 06:57:09 pm
Old files have been removed and a new GPX track (finally!) and route sheet will be available on the entry page once route checks have been completed, close to the start of the ride.
I've been using that old clucky gpx file since 2009. I can't believe it's been updated. It's like an old friend. Almost tempted to enter this year just see how using a new gpx file feels. Would it be like the first time all over again?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Frank9755 on 23 February, 2019, 08:04:22 pm
Just entered, having missed it for the last couple of years. 
Last  time I did it, in 2016, I got back to Oxford by dusk.  I doubt I'll be in anything like that shape this year as it will be my first audax for a year and longest ride for two. 
Travelodge rooms still going for £40.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Bikeabilityman on 24 February, 2019, 08:13:01 am
I did it 2013-15, then had a three year gap, and down for it this year (+ECE), first time under the new ownership.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Bobby on 26 February, 2019, 07:55:05 am
I’m in, it’ll be my 4th time I think, though not since 2015  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Ivan on 03 March, 2019, 09:24:50 pm
Route check completed yesterday in somewhat blustery conditions. The all new track is available to download here (https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29294486) and route sheet / notes here (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1s0tAnaqzdGDOh4-GyEHFyMGhP0GCdLSXt0V8G_WrvBQ). They'll also be on the event entry page in due course, but the links here should allow you to re-format / edit them if required. Note that the only changes to the route are after Stanford in the Vale from around 278km.

Ran into the Severn Bridge northerly cycle path closure as noted elsewhere, but it's a relatively easy diversion via the southerly alternative and expecting it will be open in two weeks time.

Also note that the recommended route brings you in through the centre of Oxford to appreciate all its late night charm, but if you are returning direct to Peartree it's possible to shortcut the route a bit from Eynsham, picking up the cycle path adjoining the A40.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: SPB on 03 March, 2019, 10:08:58 pm
 :thumbsup:  Downloading now
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Nutbeem on 07 March, 2019, 03:44:10 pm

Also note that the recommended route brings you in through the centre of Oxford to appreciate all its late night charm, but if you are returning direct to Peartree it's possible to shortcut the route a bit from Eynsham, picking up the cycle path adjoining the A40.

I'll probably go with this option. Is someone with local knowledge able to advise:

a) Are there cycle paths alongside both sides of the A40?
b) If so is either one a preferrable option?

Thanks
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: grams on 07 March, 2019, 07:17:45 pm
There are, they're pretty similar both sides as far as I recall. I'd stick to riding with flow (i.e. the north side).
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: JonBuoy on 07 March, 2019, 07:40:12 pm
Finishing via Cassington and Yarnton is 600m further and avoids riding along the A40.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: TigaSefi on 07 March, 2019, 08:49:15 pm
How much cash for peartree carpark? £2?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: JonBuoy on 07 March, 2019, 09:30:51 pm
1-11 hours: £2.00
11-24 hours: £4.00
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: TigaSefi on 07 March, 2019, 09:42:30 pm
An 11 hour 300km.... let me check my last Dean ride....
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Von Broad on 07 March, 2019, 11:29:53 pm
Note that the only changes to the route are after Stanford in the Vale from around 278km.

I have a question, and forgive me if this has been covered hitherto - but why is there now an info control in Bampton, other than making the ride a bit longer?
As a full value 'can I get round in time' rider......I see this, on face value, as an inconvenient unnecessary addition to a route that, at 303km, seemed perfectly ok as it was?
[And I do appreciate what folk do to keep these things going......but curiosity gets the better of me!]


Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: iddu on 08 March, 2019, 12:02:51 am
<OHO>
Dotting the I's & crossing the T's...
</OHO>
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 08 March, 2019, 09:34:20 am
An 11 hour 300km.... let me check my last Dean ride....

Don't forget 10 minutes before the start and 10 minutes after the finish for picking brevet card up and obtaining proof of passage at the services
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: mattc on 08 March, 2019, 09:35:36 am
Finishing via Cassington and Yarnton is 600m further and avoids riding along the A40.
This sounds like a good plan to me. Despite being local, I'd never ridden along that stretch of A40 until the Wimbledon 400 (I think??) sent us along there last year (also from Bampton!). It was "OK", but really no fun in the dark.

(Of course the pre-2019 Dean had an info further south, and you could enter Oxford from the more scenic SW, with optional town-centre tour. Ah the old days ... why do things have to change? mmm? ... )
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Ivan on 08 March, 2019, 10:19:43 am
I have a question, and forgive me if this has been covered hitherto - but why is there now an info control in Bampton, other than making the ride a bit longer?
As a full value 'can I get round in time' rider......I see this, on face value, as an inconvenient unnecessary addition to a route that, at 303km, seemed perfectly ok as it was?
[And I do appreciate what folk do to keep these things going......but curiosity gets the better of me!]

It might have been 303km on the routesheet, but the minimum distance between control towns was significantly less (https://goo.gl/maps/CisxMeQMnAT2), and as a advisory route event in a PBP qualifying year it was felt that it needed to be addressed.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: reynard on 08 March, 2019, 11:07:43 am

Also note that the recommended route brings you in through the centre of Oxford to appreciate all its late night charm, but if you are returning direct to Peartree it's possible to shortcut the route a bit from Eynsham, picking up the cycle path adjoining the A40.

I'll probably go with this option. Is someone with local knowledge able to advise:

a) Are there cycle paths alongside both sides of the A40?
b) If so is either one a preferrable option?

Thanks

That's my regular commute...there's a good cycle path both sides of the A40, I'd go with the North side as you are less likely to be dazzled by car headlights.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Von Broad on 08 March, 2019, 04:44:02 pm
I have a question, and forgive me if this has been covered hitherto - but why is there now an info control in Bampton, other than making the ride a bit longer?
As a full value 'can I get round in time' rider......I see this, on face value, as an inconvenient unnecessary addition to a route that, at 303km, seemed perfectly ok as it was?
[And I do appreciate what folk do to keep these things going......but curiosity gets the better of me!]

It might have been 303km on the routesheet, but the minimum distance between control towns was significantly less (https://goo.gl/maps/CisxMeQMnAT2), and as a advisory route event in a PBP qualifying year it was felt that it needed to be addressed.

okey-dokey, thanks
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Nutbeem on 11 March, 2019, 02:22:19 am
Finishing via Cassington and Yarnton is 600m further and avoids riding along the A40.

Thanks for this & also other responses on the shorter route back to Pear Tree Services.

The A40 cycle path looks OK on google maps, but there are some suggestions it's not such a good route at night?

Via Yarnton looks a sensible option, but does involve a short ride down the A44. I remember this as a busy road when I lived in Kidlington, but I didn't cycle then & would mainly have seen it at rush hour, I presume it's okay later on a Saturday night?


Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: JonBuoy on 11 March, 2019, 06:58:01 am
I have ridden down it a couple of times at the end of the clockwise version of the Poor Student and I don't remember it being too bad.  That would have been at 1800ish.  You obviously have to be cautious on the roundabouts.

Another option is to go to Stow via Bampton if it is the 'right' sort of info control  ;)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: TigaSefi on 12 March, 2019, 09:16:43 am
Everywhere I look seem to indicate that we are getting 40mph headwind till midday? Am I correct?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: mattc on 12 March, 2019, 09:24:06 am
Everywhere I look seem to indicate that we are getting 40mph headwind till midday? Am I correct?
The Norweigans are saying even stronger after midday (still SWerly) - which would be ideal if it happens!

But Saturday is a long way away ...
Title: The Dean
Post by: TigaSefi on 13 March, 2019, 04:18:10 pm
Super wet and stupidly windy. I may be DNS for this. I can do one or the other but not both. Sunday’s 200km looks much more benign. Gonna rock up and see what’s what.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: LiamFitz on 13 March, 2019, 05:26:26 pm
But Saturday is a long way away ...

Wise words. I am still smarting from a ride I DNS'd last year because, on the strength of the weather forecast, I went for a small sherry on the Friday night - only to wake with a hangover to the perfect audaxing day
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 13 March, 2019, 07:29:38 pm
Everywhere I look seem to indicate that we are getting 40mph headwind till midday? Am I correct?
The Norweigans are saying even stronger after midday (still SWerly) - which would be ideal if it happens!

But Saturday is a long way away ...
A southwesterly is best after 18.00 as chepstow to Marlborough is a southeast section so southwesterly wind will be a cross wind. But a strong southwesterly on the climb from lambourne woukd be awesome.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: David H on 15 March, 2019, 04:09:44 pm
Thinking I might play it safe and DNS
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: [tim] on 15 March, 2019, 04:14:30 pm
Thinking I might play it safe and DNS
I've spent all week hoping this would be a goer after DNSing last year.
The 40mph winds around Swindon for a few hours in the middle of the day are now concerning me a little, last weekend was pretty dodgy and they were 'only' 20mph
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: David H on 15 March, 2019, 04:26:45 pm
Weatherbagel is not looking good.

http://www.weatherbagel.com/f/25a2582d-aa34-4ca3-91ce-a264345ea9ce
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Kangaroocourt on 15 March, 2019, 04:42:19 pm
Weatherbagel is not looking good.

http://www.weatherbagel.com/f/25a2582d-aa34-4ca3-91ce-a264345ea9ce
Blimey - is that MPH or KPH?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: TrevorW on 15 March, 2019, 04:44:59 pm
Weatherbagel is not looking good.

http://www.weatherbagel.com/f/25a2582d-aa34-4ca3-91ce-a264345ea9ce
Blimey - is that MPH or KPH?
KPH
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Kangaroocourt on 15 March, 2019, 04:51:44 pm
Weatherbagel is not looking good.

http://www.weatherbagel.com/f/25a2582d-aa34-4ca3-91ce-a264345ea9ce
Blimey - is that MPH or KPH?
KPH
Ta.  Doesn't seem excessive ::-)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: David H on 15 March, 2019, 05:03:13 pm
40kph but likely to be gusting to 60
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Von Broad on 15 March, 2019, 05:15:09 pm
This is what The Dean is all about.

I'm looking at it, thinking..........well.........
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: drgannet on 15 March, 2019, 07:30:27 pm
What's all this talk of DNS-ing? Looks like a nice day out (lots of shelter in the FoD)!
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Bobby on 15 March, 2019, 08:16:24 pm
What's all this talk of DNS-ing? Looks like a nice day out (lots of shelter in the FoD)!

Less so on the bridge!  ::-)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: drgannet on 15 March, 2019, 08:28:37 pm

Less so on the bridge!  ::-)

Just smile and think of 2008  :P
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: robjordan on 15 March, 2019, 08:37:42 pm
I'd be up for coping with the headwind, but the bridge is terrifying me. I walked most of it last year in high wind, but I don't think it was this strong. Anyone remember wind speeds last year?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Bobby on 15 March, 2019, 08:40:54 pm
looking at facebook, i'm not the only person who has plotted the alternative route to go back to Gloucester & down to malmesbury (it adds 36km, but if it's 40mph + gusts I may buy that over a bridge crossing (I was almost blown off on my last ride over there = the last section was indeed terrifying)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Bikeabilityman on 15 March, 2019, 08:47:35 pm
The wind snapped my helmet visor on the bridge once, but then it might not have happened but for the helmet cover.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: mattc on 15 March, 2019, 08:55:00 pm

Less so on the bridge!  ::-)

Just smile and think of 2008  :P
I was going to mention 2008; were you both on that? I thought it was before Bobby's time ;)

The bridge wasn't toooo bad that time [I think I put my hat in my pocket early on]. The highlight was walking up Hackpen at the same speed as SimonP was riding in his twiddle gear - the wind had picked up by then. And it was dark, which seems to make my balance worse.

I don't see the bridge as an issue - the locals walk to Aust and back, so it can't take long ;)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Bobby on 15 March, 2019, 09:02:57 pm
I think 2013 was my first... worst I had was the snow year (I rode it as a diy in a blizzard a few days before the calendar event when only 2 people started) - type2 fun
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Frank9755 on 15 March, 2019, 09:17:23 pm
I didn't do 2008 but 2015 was pretty windy, I recall. I don't think it will be wise than that.
I lost my sunglasses on the bridge but other than that it was fine.
my main issue is that I've just packed up the car and was about to set off, and battery was flat! Hoping an hour on the charger will sort it out...
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 15 March, 2019, 09:23:44 pm
2008 was awful. That year it was a BR with a 14.3kph minimum. I was having a slow day anyway and would have been out of time if not for the slower minimum.

I’m glad I’m not riding tomorrow. Bon courage to everyone who is.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Bikeabilityman on 15 March, 2019, 09:53:21 pm
I think 2013 was my first... worst I had was the snow year (I rode it as a diy in a blizzard a few days before the calendar event when only 2 people started) - type2 fun
Three started, one abandoned on the way to Stow. The snow was replaced by floods the further west you got.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Bobby on 16 March, 2019, 12:10:20 pm
Well, made it to newent, it’s a bit blowy out there...
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Frank9755 on 16 March, 2019, 03:48:53 pm
I decided to turn back when I got to the flat section after Cleve Hill.  Heart wasn't in it as I don't need it as a PBP qualifier, and I didn't fancy being out if it got even windier, plus rain and dark, for the last section.  I was going to go to Newent and turn back but, when I got to the flat section and it was too windy to ride on aerobars, I thought there was no point. 

It was interesting doing a section of the route backwards.  The climb back up to Cleve Hill is really steep, maybe 20%.  Winchcombe Hill is also pretty steep, and I got blown off going back up there. 

Quite a lot of the descents felt uncomfortable, especially when the wind was from the side, as it was for much of the Cotswolds. 
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: RedStar on 16 March, 2019, 06:15:08 pm
Me and a friend bailed halfway between Stow and Newent after some sketchy descents and actually getting blown off the road twice - rode to Gloucester to get the train home!
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: mattc on 16 March, 2019, 06:47:39 pm
I have ridden down it a couple of times at the end of the clockwise version of the Poor Student and I don't remember it being too bad.  That would have been at 1800ish.  You obviously have to be cautious on the roundabouts.

Another option is to go to Stow via Bampton if it is the 'right' sort of info control  ;)
<waves at Jon - nice to meet you this morning, hope you get round oK!>

Fun fact - if you use the "JonBuoy Manouevre" i.e. collect the Bampton info on the way to Stow (instead of the "correct" order), Google gives the route as exactly 300km!
n.b. this assumes a Peartree finish - if you finish in central Oxford you'll be underdistance  :o

(google also sends you down a section of the A420 at the end, which is probably OK >7pm )

As it's a few years since my last Dean, I am seriously considering arranging a group perm for this summer sometime. Maybe in July when peeps are between qualifiers and The French Ride?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: ianrobo on 16 March, 2019, 11:50:34 pm
I have ridden down it a couple of times at the end of the clockwise version of the Poor Student and I don't remember it being too bad.  That would have been at 1800ish.  You obviously have to be cautious on the roundabouts.

Another option is to go to Stow via Bampton if it is the 'right' sort of info control  ;)
<waves at Jon - nice to meet you this morning, hope you get round oK!>

Fun fact - if you use the "JonBuoy Manouevre" i.e. collect the Bampton info on the way to Stow (instead of the "correct" order), Google gives the route as exactly 300km!
n.b. this assumes a Peartree finish - if you finish in central Oxford you'll be underdistance  :o

(google also sends you down a section of the A420 at the end, which is probably OK >7pm )

As it's a few years since my last Dean, I am seriously considering arranging a group perm for this summer sometime. Maybe in July when peeps are between qualifiers and The French Ride?

I did the rough Diamond and today no shame should be felt for bailing at all ! It was vicious out there but the Diamond was less climbing and less trick climbs !
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Bobby on 17 March, 2019, 08:17:44 am
I hope a few mins over at intermediate controls isn’t a problem? :(

I found getting round to Chepstow extremely hard with that wind, the bridge crossing was terrifying, Von broad rode past me at a crazy angle whilst I walked the last bit of it.  After Chepstow it rained for about 8 hours, then the sky cleared & it got cold... there were a number of us bouncing along at or slightly over the control times, but once past the hills the wind died down I got my head down, avoided the bits slightly flooded I rolled into oxford with 45mins to spare.

Never have regretted riding to the start as much as that, turning south into a slight wind to plod home was miserable!

Right now i’d Class it as type 2 fun, probably the hardest 300 i’ve Done - over distance and lack of miles this year don’t help, but boy, that wind!  I took it very easy when it was a cross wind, and had long stretches on the flat in 2nd gear unable to do more  :facepalm:

Hope everyone stayed safe, bumped into a number that bailed, congrats to all that tried at all
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Phil W on 17 March, 2019, 08:35:08 am
Bobby you will probably find the clocks where you got receipts were running a bit fast. Sure it won't be a problem.  Well those winds were brutal.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: mattc on 17 March, 2019, 08:39:23 am
Yup. Intermediate control clocks generally run fast on rides in bad conditions.  :thumbsup:

Finish clock less so!

...
avoided the bits slightly flooded I rolled into oxford with 45mins to spare.

Never have regretted riding to the start as much as that, turning south into a slight wind to plod home was miserable!
What's the problem - 45mins is about enough time for your ride home, isn't it??
;)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Von Broad on 17 March, 2019, 11:19:19 am
Well...I consider myself a fair weather Audaxer - but it perplexes me why sometimes, we are gripped by an inclination to conquer and owe the challenge, and other times, run a mile. Monitoring the forecast over the previous few days, it was pretty obvious that the headwind was going to be uncompromising and the ensuing rain was dead-cert-guaranteed. Nine times out of ten, faced with that, I'd have pulled the duvet back over me, but for some inexplicable reason, I wanted it. Admirable or irresponsible? I wouldn't like to say.

Very difficult descents, as Frank was saying, both in the wind then in the rain - especially the rain. I was dreading the descent after Hackpen into Marlborough, even though generally, that's a pretty good surface, but wet, puddled roads at speed are nerve racking - even when you're wearing the brakes out trying to give yourself a bit more time to see what's what. Elsewhere, I can't remember the number of times I hit a pothole thinking "oh shit, that's a frame break or a double pinch flat". Trying to navigate wet sub-standard roads is never easy, and that stretch from Malmesbury to Membury was by far the most stressful for me.

Golden moment though - riding through Mitcheldean, a group of young teenagers were suddenly distracted from their Saturdy afternoon gathering, an one of the girls jumped up and exclaimed "Wow, you look really cool'. Hey, I'm really cool [shame it's such an debilitating ordeal lugging the damn thing round audax routes! ] Gotta love kids - they just love the 'look' of recumbents whereas adults tend to stare with incredulity that has the verbal back drop of something like - 'what the **** is that'. Cracks me up every time. lol

Not so cool or clever however was a subsequent Holmer Simpson moment, when realizing the north side of the bridge was justifiably closed, I couldn't see an obvious way to get onto the south side cycle path, so, overcome with an impulsive sense of panic, I just cycling down the hard shoulder of the motorway and lifted the bike over the fence at the bottom....much to the understandable disapproval of the oncoming traffic! Many horns were sounded. Not my finest minute.

There have been harder Deans, as folks up thread have been reminiscing on, but this was by far my most demanding I've ridden. Even Mel Kirkland, a season Audaxer if ever there was one, described it as 'horrendous'!

Anybody riding yesterday, who has never done PBP and is looking to ride the event this year, then yesterday's Dean, psychologically, would be a good one to have in the bank. I met one such chap, Dave from Suffolk. He was just behind me, and at 68 he's looking to do PBP for the first time this year. Fair play to him. Hope he got round ok.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Chris S on 17 March, 2019, 11:31:45 am
Anybody riding yesterday, who has never done PBP and is looking to ride the event this year, then yesterday's Dean, psychologically, would be a good one to have in the bank. I met one such chap, Dave from Suffolk. He was just behind me, and at 68 he's looking to do PBP for the first time this year. Fair play to him. Hope he got round ok.

Probably David Coupe. His Strava feed suggests he made it round - but that doesn't surprise me, he's a tough one.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: kegere on 17 March, 2019, 01:17:27 pm
Well that was completed just a little faster than I'd expect to complete a 400 in the same direction, my body certainly feels like I've ridden at least a 400k! All controls reached with a few minutes to spare before finally claiming back over an hour.

A couple of cross winds just after Stow made me seriously considering DNF, mainly because I paranoid the bride would be closed. Fortunately I had the lovely company of a lady from Sheffield for large sections of the ride, sorry you decided to bail at Malmesbury.

As to the Severn Crossing, if I ever arrive to find it is closed due to weather I DEFINITELY wouldn't want to argue about it, very pleased the South side was open, the thought of crashing into the cabling (which I was hugging) was quite appealing compared to being blown towards the railing ;D
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Jonah on 17 March, 2019, 02:44:12 pm
AUDAX!
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: JonBuoy on 17 March, 2019, 05:18:18 pm

<waves at Jon - nice to meet you this morning, hope you get round oK!>

Fun fact - if you use the "JonBuoy Manouevre" i.e. collect the Bampton info on the way to Stow (instead of the "correct" order), Google gives the route as exactly 300km!
n.b. this assumes a Peartree finish - if you finish in central Oxford you'll be underdistance  :o

Good to meet you too.  I did indeed get round - finishing in a somewhat battered state at about 11pm.

I didn't bother with that particular cunning plan as it seemed a bit anti-social.  I did however take the track through Foxholes rather than the loop via Bruern Abbey and Kingham station.  It was an interesting variation but the surface has deteriorated significantly since the StreetView vehicle went down there and the extra mud I collected probably lost me more than the five minutes I saved.

I also did a Larringtonesque manouevre as I don't trust myself to remain sensible descending Sudeley Hill.  Getting down off the tops early also seemed like a good idea as fighting the gusty crosswind was mentally and physically hard work.  This cost me loads of time but that was because I was lured into Gotherington Post Office by their bacon roll and a coffee sign.

I followed the advertised route for the rest of the ride and found it pretty tough.  Whilst the bridge was windy it wasn't particularly gusty and it was easy to spot and anticipate the upwind obstructions.   The proper rain arrived at about 6pm but it did allow me to test my new jacket  :thumbsup:  There was some kind of embedded squall line which made it pretty unpleasant for a couple of minutes on the climb after Ramsbury but other than that the main concern was whacking a pothole disguised as yet another puddle.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Ben T on 17 March, 2019, 07:13:43 pm
Loads of toads crossing the road near marlborough. Hope nobody ran any over.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: grams on 18 March, 2019, 01:11:06 am
That was rather eventful - two punctures, including one 8 km from the finish when I was racing to meet the cut off. I finished at about 1:59 am and of course the cash machine refused to print a receipt, which then of course required rousing the garage attendant and picking from the items behind the counter to get a receipt ASAP. Hopefully the audax gods will be kind!

I also got one of the straps on my waterproof pannier cover ripped off and got trapped behind the cassette and was briefly riding Di2  fixed gear! Which was fine for climbing but dropped the chain immediately trying to descend. For a while I thought it was fatal, but lots of poking with cold wet fingers unwrapped it.

Some time after Marlborough my feet were so cold I decided to pack and got so far as finding a train from Hungerford - it was only my fear of GWR bike reservation arguments that forced me to turn left up the hill to Membury instead.

Yup. Intermediate control clocks generally run fast on rides in bad conditions.

The control closing times were based on the minimum distance, which is 12.5 km different from the route sheet at Malmesbury (i.e. the best part of an hour). Of course on a BRM, more generous intermediate control times can leave you snookered on the final leg.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: York_Badger on 18 March, 2019, 06:17:58 am
Thanks to Justin for organising and to several of you for company and friendliness: especially the man with the cape who has prompted me to explore the "light" feature on my Garmin watch, the woman who flew passed me with encouragement at least twice and liked my pink socks, the recumbent guy who also experienced almost going backwards on one section from Stow to Newent, and the 2-3 year audaxer (like me) who spoke of the virtues of volunteering to be a controller.  Anyone else see the guy with a backpack walking his bike across the Severn Bridge in the opposite direction to us?  He was barely able to hold onto it, and when I passed him it was flailing around like an out of control umbrella.  The Dean  was firmly type 2 fun - so in retrospect what a great day out. Best wishes to all.

Stephen

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Bikeabilityman on 18 March, 2019, 09:41:54 am
I'd aimed to leave home at 3am, knowing I'd be riding into that SW wind almost all the way, but I faffed, and left at 3:30, knowing I'd have to avg around 14mph to get to the start for 6. The wind put paid to my plan of riding easy all day as I had a power test to do at the gym Monday, and needed to be fresh. There was a time when I thought I'd arrive with ten minutes to spare, but I was dreaming. I reached the A4 roundabout at six, and was saddened on exiting it to see a sea of cyclists heading the other way. At least there were others late setting off. no time to eat my brekky (a choccy spread sarnie, although I'd had a couple of shortbreads on the go).

At 6:10 I set off, alone, but thankful I wasn't into the wind. I got overtaken by a few faster (and I hope younger) cyclists. I remember the rain started again after 5km, but stopped before I saw the first puncture victim at 10km. Oh no, the "P" thought was in my head, but at least I was carrying a new spare tyre and three (I had two punctures on my last 200) inners. The first test was the climb in Finstock, and I thought back to the time Ian and I drew to a halt in the snow on it. I had a long wait for a GWR train at a crossing, and coulda eaten my sarnie (the tandem/recumbent couple broke out the flapjacks). I was caught by an older man (on a lighter looking bike with fewer supplies though) I'd met on the dean and other rides before. I wanted to call him Ricki Goode, but I knew it wasn't him. It was nice to have someone to chat to, and I remarked how different this section we were on to Stow looked so different in the daytime, as I'm on it at night when I ride to and from Tewkesbury. I lagged just behind him as I caught that sudden gust of sidewind at the junction just below the climb into Stow. Hot choc and a few bites of my sarnie was enough there, as I was dreaming of a café or 'spoons stop. A wait for the loo and taking off the overtrousers that had done a grand job and I was gone (on my own again).

There was some hard climbing (short steep and long drags) which I'd been expecting, and took it easy. I was glad to put Cleeve and Winchcombe hills behind me. Another blast at a crosswinds caught me out slightly, but the worst was the headwind on the open B4211 as the route turned towards Newent. Does anyone else remember the ripped plastic sheeting on the field of agricultural frames, blowing frantically? I headed straight for the Good News café in Newent, thinking a stop there would be quicker than 'spoons in Chepstow (and I wanted a sit down and hot food right now!). Standing in the queue was the first time I'd looked at the control times. I got my receipt showing 12 mins in hand. The server said food would be 10-15 mins. I shared a table with another Audaxer, and hopefully didn't worry her when I said there was a long hill out of Newent, and I had it in my head we might be climbing Yat Rock (another Audax). It was gone 12:30 and still no food. I was confident we'd make up time on the next section, as the Forest of Dean would shelter us. The Beans on toast arrived, and I ate faster than I would normally. We both went outside but she said not to wait. I think it was 1pm now (40 mins after control closing).

I felt good on this section to Stow (and the little climb out of Newent got confused with another). I stopped to take a few pics en route (have forgotten how to put them on here). The Parish of Little Dean was a picture. Lots of ups and downs and beautiful scenery until the exposed high up sections before the drop into Chepstow. I looked at my watch whilst waiting at the lights on the old bridge and my heart sank seeing I was just out of time. I thought I'd been riding so well (must stop taking pics). Straight to Tesco where I was told the atm was rcptless. the older chap from earlier was there (milk again?). I got a yazoo then looked for batteries (the four pairs I brought weren't lasting). 17 mins out of time, although the Brevet said 139km and I was on 146 or something. No time to waste, so off to Malmesbury.

Up the hill, to the very top this time (for a change, and a better view of the bridge). I'd used the right side cycle path two weeks ago, so knew about going under it. I've had to lean into the wind before on it, but that was harder, and my upper arms ached after. Now I wished I was on the Rough Diamond (not done it yet), as that route follows the estuary towards Gloucester. I can't remember when it started raining again, but it meant the Somerset monument climb was wet, and I was hoping I wouldn't get wheel slip whilst out of the saddle. I was cold and upper body wet by Malmesbury (my Gore jacket might need to retire), and sheltered with others near the co-op (rcpt 11mins in hand). I drank and ate more of my sarnie (still regularly eating shortbread on the bike).

Set off alone again but kept meeting and chatting to others. I was chatting to someone when the rider in front said something like "I know that dulcet voice, is that Ritchie?". I rode alongside, recognising the chap, and remembered he was another Ian. We chatted awhile, even up the climbs. Found the Marlborough info control (after I'd got it into my head it was in Rockley), and went on alone to Membury, as I was longing to be inside, and change some clothing. No hot food at the garage there, and that was all my taste buds felt like, so I just had a mocha, a sit down with others, and put my spare base layer on (took a while peeling off and putting on wet clothes). The loo hand dryer was useful.

Set off alone again, but again I found people to chat to on those dark, remote looking roads. I was amazed at the sight of the church in Buckland, all lit up, and so I took a pic with the flash on (didn't come out well though). Someone caught me at the Bampton info, and we rode together. On my previous three Deans I'd ridden back through Oxford, but the A40 cycle path sounded interesting. I was ahead of him and just behind two others in Eynsham, when I decided to go straight on at a roundabout to get onto the A40 earlier. They all went right. The so called cyclepath was more like a footpath the council had decided to put shared user signs on. I saw the others at the lights, and they were heading to get onto the outward route. I almost got on their wheels when I heard my front tyre flatten whilst coming off the cycle path. only around 6km from the finish! After I swapped tyre and inner my dynamo wouldn't come back on. A quick wire jiggle and it was sorted, but when I rode on I knew my rear tyre felt softer. I joined the queue outside the garage (I'd hoped Starbucks would be open 24hrs now), held up by Ian asking the cashier to look for toothpaste  ::-) I got my rcpt with 47 mins to spare. Ian did ask if I had everything before we said 'bye (I'd commented on the rear tyre).

I left looking forward to no headwind home (if I had a tailwind, I was too tired to notice). I was going slower than I'd have liked (tyre pressures and trying to do it as a recovery ride), and I was cold again. My rear inner gave up at Ambroseden, and I stopped under a streetlight to change it, getting the guilty flint out aswell. After pumping up, I was shocked to see it go down again. The replacement had a patch, but I'd checked it before bringing it. On checking, the hiss was coming from the patch, so onto my third and last patched inner. I always used to carry two unpatched ones, but now I have loadsa patched ones in the garage, not getting used. The last one stayed inflated, and so I set off again, having lost maybe 30 mins. I counted down the villages until Winslow (9 miles from home), where I felt I could just walk the rest of the way if I had another puncture (I was carrying a repair kit though), or wake up my wife with an early morning call and ask her to drive out with another bike. No more mishaps though, and I arrived home, shivering, after 4:30am. I was still shivering when I awoke in the bath an hour later!

I think whatever the weather, the Dean is a challenge, and this one felt like the hardest Audax ever.



Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Rumps on 18 March, 2019, 02:42:33 pm
Thanks Justin for organising and giving us all the opportunity for an "interesting day out ". I had ridden the Dean once before a few years ago with the Sloth who was then childless and in training for a fast, PBP, 53 hours and the National 24 hours TT ( 450 miles) . He hauled me round the whole ride in dry , windless conditions , not allowing me inside a single cafe for a proper sit down. Result was we finished just as it was getting dark but with me absolutely shattered-truly  in pieces.  I was asleep in the car by the first roundabout on the A 40.

I had prepared myself for a rather different experience on Saturday. I rode all the way round with my fellow SWRC clubmate , Paul. We started with Richard also of SWRC but he was having a very good day and he rode away from us . The gap  was compounded when Paul started to have problems with one of his tubeless tyres before we reached Newent. Latex,  worms, latex on his bike ,did I know how comfortable tubeless tyres are ,  hissing, you can seal holes even the size of a 50p piece with these worms you know , what a  great invention tubeless tyres have been  ,  latex on his legs ,   were to be recurrning snippets of our conversation for the rest of the day , when not snatched away by the gentle breeze. Culminating in ,  feckin bloody useless things, some hours later.
Once "fixed" in Newent we made good time through the Forest of Dean -really enjoyed that bit  again-to Chepstow. The crossing across the bridge required no little concentration as others have commented , but we had prepared ourselves for walking it  and that was not necessary, so were happy enough with that.
I felt for first timers who might have been thinking that once across the Bridge , the ride was done as of course there is some serious climbing to follow. It gives you a bit of a lift to see the Somerset Monument and the two white horses on those climbs to mark one's progress but they do not help to make the climbing any easier.

We had been seeing Chris Herbert regularly at each of the controls, or when his craving for tobacco was so severe he needed a break , until we finally rode together to Malmesbury. We had promised ourselves a visit to the rather fine Summer Cafe there , where Mark from Oxford , also stopped. We must have looked fairly wretched as the waitress told us in hushed tones that she had slipped an extra pancake and surplus nutella on our portions.  We had a good chat with Chris , as we had not seen him since the Mille Pennines last summer. He was pleading fatigue. That seemed a bit strange as he is extremely strong even allowing for him smoking 80 a day , but he then explained he had ridden 117kms to the start from Wimbledon , leaving home at 1.30am. As he was riding the Gently Bentley the next day , that was enough for him and he was cycling the 8 miles to Chippenham to take the train to London. Pathetic. Youngsters nowadays........

The rain after Membury was not required to lodge the day in my cycle memories. It would have been firmly fixed without that . However, hissing, latex, worms, more latex,more worms,  more hissing ,more swearing, and finally one of those old fashioned black stretchy things that people used to put inside their tyres made an appearance, were to reappear in our day. With only about 30kms to go Paul's tyre had finally given up.  We had been riding with Mark from Membury and he said that there was a pub, the Trout, about 300 yards down the road -and he was right. Joy. At least Paul would have some light and with any luck Mark and I would have a nice warm pub. Not only was it nice and warm it was cyclist, wet , dripping, mucky cyclist, friendly. They made us hot drinks and even let Paul bring his wheel into the pub , once he had disposed of most of the l***x ,as he was fast going hypothermic outside in the rain. After explaining to disbelieving normal people what we had been doing , our welcome culminated in one couple offering to drive us back to Oxford or let us stay the night with them. An extremely generous and kind offer.
But finally, though they could not believe us turning them down, after just shy of 1.5 hours we were off and at 11.10 we joined a few others in the queue to buy a mars bar from the security locked garage shop at the finish. Oh the glamour of this audaxing lark.


Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: duncan on 20 March, 2019, 11:48:47 am
We quit at Newent, having arrived 7 minutes out of time. Just coudn't make any progress into the winds. Crikey that was windy. The 100k or so of cycle back to Oxford was very fast.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Bikeabilityman on 20 March, 2019, 02:34:26 pm
Duncan, you were half of the tandem couple? I called out to you as I left the side road that led to the back of the Good News cafe, not knowing if you knew about it. I really needed a rest and hot food there, even though it meant leaving Newent 40 mins after time. I was wondering if you’d abandon. A mighty tough day.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Ben T on 20 March, 2019, 05:19:06 pm
Will make a note of that one for next time as i'm typically ready for a sit down by newent. I went to Erol's courtyard cafe. Questionable clientele.  :-\
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Bikeabilityman on 20 March, 2019, 05:25:42 pm
I don’t know Erol’s, but the Good News is featured on the route and food list, and featured on this and other Audaxes. It was busy this time, so the queue and wait for food made up most of my 50 mins there. £3.10 for good beans on toast (2 slices of tasty brown).
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Ben T on 21 March, 2019, 12:24:55 am
Erols pie and chips was good, quick and sufficiently calorific but the pie was a bit cold. The hot chocolate was great though.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 27 March, 2019, 09:40:19 am
Over 10 days since the ride. So most (if not all) brevets should be back with the organiser.

Any indication on the dns and dnf rate?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Ivan on 27 March, 2019, 12:30:02 pm
Spoke to Justin briefly about this on Sunday, whilst we were route checking The Shark - think he's got 70ish cards back out of 90ish starters, but annoyingly a few people have sent their cards back recorded delivery which are now languishing at a distant post office and not sure when these can be collected so delaying the entire validation process.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: TigaSefi on 27 March, 2019, 08:05:03 pm
Recorded delivery!!!!! Blimey...
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Phil W on 27 March, 2019, 08:28:09 pm
Recorded delivery!!!!! Blimey...

PBP qualifier. They want it to count.  I would certainly take more care over a postal finish if I needed it for PBP qualification.   Mostly that would involve scanning the brevet card and all the receipts but can also see why some would send recorded.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 27 March, 2019, 11:53:33 pm
Recorded delivery!!!!! Blimey...

PBP qualifier. They want it to count.  I would certainly take more care over a postal finish if I needed it for PBP qualification.   Mostly that would involve scanning the brevet card and all the receipts but can also see why some would send recorded.
yes I did a scan, recorded doesn't help if it gets lost, or if the envelope should be damaged and lose contents in transit
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Ivan on 28 March, 2019, 09:51:41 am
It's also a bit pointless as all the cards then have to get sent to the validators in Orkney by regular post. As the Organiser's Handbook says:

Send your returns using normal First-class post, NOT Recorded, Registered or Special Delivery. If,
however, you have experienced difficulties with the post, please contact the Validation Secretaries
to make arrangements to use a tracked delivery service.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: mattc on 28 March, 2019, 11:20:43 am
Who sent the validators to Orkney?? And in a PBP year!
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Bus Shelter Bertie on 28 March, 2019, 11:27:58 am
Recorded delivery!!!!! Blimey...

PBP qualifier. They want it to count.  I would certainly take more care over a postal finish if I needed it for PBP qualification.   Mostly that would involve scanning the brevet card and all the receipts but can also see why some would send recorded.

Never send important post recorded. It is not a tracked service, it is only to counter disputes when the receiver says he didn't receive it. If it doesn't get delivered because a signee is unavailable then it will go back in the postman's bag, with the potential to be forgotten and lost ( especially if he then goes on holiday). Because it is not tracked it cannot be connected to any postman. Essentially it can only ever add risk to the delivery.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: grams on 28 March, 2019, 11:32:02 am
Sending it recorded is to make the sender feel better that it actually got delivered*.

I hand delivered mine because I am a cheapskate.

(* delivered somewhere, anyway)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Philip Whiteman on 28 March, 2019, 01:46:16 pm
I recall a former organiser observing the request to send brevet cards via the normal post.   Over 300 cards went missing.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: JonBuoy on 02 April, 2019, 05:36:24 pm
Over 10 days since the ride. So most (if not all) brevets should be back with the organiser.

Any indication on the dns and dnf rate?

The provisional results are up on aukweb.  There are 141 names on the list but as that includes people who I know were either dns or dnf I am guessing that that was the total entry.

I am still waiting anxiously to see whether the Royal Mail delivered my envelope.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: andyp on 02 April, 2019, 08:53:27 pm
I gather from Justin it's around 75 finishers out of 96 starters from over 150 entrants.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 02 April, 2019, 11:40:40 pm
Strange that the results page is showing 143 finishers. Including someone I know didn't start.

I guess it will get sorted out in time
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Kangaroocourt on 03 April, 2019, 08:56:54 am
Strange that the results page is showing 143 finishers. Including someone I know didn't start.

I guess it will get sorted out in time
It's on my results page and though I'm knocking on a bit I'm pretty sure that I remember being a DNS
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: S2L on 03 April, 2019, 09:01:04 am
Strange that the results page is showing 143 finishers. Including someone I know didn't start.

I guess it will get sorted out in time
It's on my results page and though I'm knocking on a bit I'm pretty sure that I remember being a DNS

Best possible outcome... the points without the hassle of actually having to do it  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Diagonaliste on 07 April, 2019, 06:19:25 pm
The results for The Dean 2019 are no longer showing on the AUK website. Any idea why they have been taken down? Perhaps to sort out the finishers from the DNSs & DNFs?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: iddu on 07 April, 2019, 11:04:33 pm
The results for The Dean 2019 are no longer showing on the AUK website. Any idea why they have been taken down? Perhaps to sort out the finishers from the DNSs & DNFs?

Short answer: Yes.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: JonBuoy on 10 April, 2019, 05:30:04 pm
...and they are up again with a more believable 67 finishers this time   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: grams on 11 April, 2019, 10:01:21 am
Denied :(
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: JonBuoy on 11 April, 2019, 05:50:26 pm
Can you ask for a recount based on the fact that your GPS time is more accurate than your receipt time?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: S2L on 27 November, 2019, 09:03:41 am
Was checking about parking a car at Peartree... apparently it's £ 15... any tip to avoid the fee?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: TrevorW on 27 November, 2019, 09:57:11 am
Was checking about parking a car at Peartree... apparently it's £ 15... any tip to avoid the fee?
It was only £4.00 this year, and still seems to be that on their web site.  Where did you get £15.00 from?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 27 November, 2019, 10:59:50 am
Was checking about parking a car at Peartree... apparently it's £ 15... any tip to avoid the fee?
It was only £4.00 this year, and still seems to be that on their web site.  Where did you get £15.00 from?

My guess is the £15.00 is parking at the Travelodge for 24h.

Edit: no. £4 for a resident, £10 for non-resident.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: S2L on 27 November, 2019, 11:12:51 am
Was checking about parking a car at Peartree... apparently it's £ 15... any tip to avoid the fee?
It was only £4.00 this year, and still seems to be that on their web site.  Where did you get £15.00 from?

Here

https://motorwayservicesonline.co.uk/Peartree
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 27 November, 2019, 11:21:09 am
Was checking about parking a car at Peartree... apparently it's £ 15... any tip to avoid the fee?
It was only £4.00 this year, and still seems to be that on their web site.  Where did you get £15.00 from?

Here

https://motorwayservicesonline.co.uk/Peartree

That's the services. Don't park there. The event starts from the park and ride car park, which is £4. If you are staying in the hotel it's £4 to park in their car park.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Ivan on 27 November, 2019, 11:22:41 am
Specifically this: https://www.oxford.gov.uk/directory_record/352/pear_tree_park_and_ride
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: S2L on 27 November, 2019, 11:23:00 am
Was checking about parking a car at Peartree... apparently it's £ 15... any tip to avoid the fee?
It was only £4.00 this year, and still seems to be that on their web site.  Where did you get £15.00 from?

Here

https://motorwayservicesonline.co.uk/Peartree

That's the services. Don't park there. The event starts from the park and ride car park, which is £4. If you are staying in the hotel it's £4 to park in their car park.

Ah OK, very confusing that the AUK page says "starting from Peartree services"  ::-) ::-)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: mattc on 27 November, 2019, 08:25:29 pm
Does it also say you have to park there?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: S2L on 28 November, 2019, 07:06:17 am
Does it also say you have to park there?

No, but above he says it actually starts from the Park & Ride... hence why I got confused. Not a big deal
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 29 November, 2019, 08:40:52 am
Does it also say you have to park there?

No, but above he says it actually starts from the Park & Ride... hence why I got confused. Not a big deal
It has always started from the park and ride before, not sure if this is a change or the event page is wrong.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: S2L on 29 November, 2019, 09:33:10 am
Does it also say you have to park there?

No, but above he says it actually starts from the Park & Ride... hence why I got confused. Not a big deal
It has always started from the park and ride before, not sure if this is a change or the event page is wrong.

Well, either way, I've signed up... now fingers crossed for some rideable weather...  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 29 November, 2019, 07:08:03 pm
Does it also say you have to park there?

No, but above he says it actually starts from the Park & Ride... hence why I got confused. Not a big deal
It has always started from the park and ride before, not sure if this is a change or the event page is wrong.

I'm not sure but the services and park and ride are right next door to each other so it's not a massive difference - I usually finish at the Services anyway as you need a finish receipt, though central Oxford is permitted as well (based on past experience - notes from the organiser will clarify this closer to the date).
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: JonBuoy on 29 November, 2019, 07:37:09 pm
The map shows the Park & Ride - as usual.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Colinf on 15 February, 2020, 09:47:38 pm
Ive got a bit of the fixed bug, I've done a couple of lumpyish 200,s on fixed this year, apart from a snapped chain all went ok, has anyone ridded this event of fixed or is it a step to far for a relatively fixed novice. ??
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Manotea on 15 February, 2020, 09:57:18 pm
Not too bad on fixed... it's not the climbing it's the gradient... Just one toughie, the climb up towards the Somerset monument... I've never made it... but it's relatively short. It's a great ride, just do it.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Colinf on 15 February, 2020, 10:02:22 pm
Not too bad on fixed... it's not the climbing it's the gradient... Just one toughie, the climb up towards the Somerset monument... I've never made it... but it's relatively short. It's a great ride, just do it.
Not the climbing the gradient, are you saying all of the climbs are steep, is the climb up to the monument the steepest climb ?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: drgannet on 15 February, 2020, 11:03:10 pm
As Manotea says, the only steep bits are up to the monument, and then the 2 hills at Broad Town and Broad Hinton (but also fairly short); As well as Somerset Monument I also walk Hackpen Hill after Broad Hinton. Most of the rest of the hills are relatively gradual - all the Forest of Dean hills are 6-8% (apart from the very short bit just after Bream), and the same out to Stow through the Cotswolds.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Colinf on 15 February, 2020, 11:16:36 pm
As Manotea says, the only steep bits are up to the monument, and then the 2 hills at Broad Town and Broad Hinton (but also fairly short); As well as Somerset Monument I also walk Hackpen Hill after Broad Hinton. Most of the rest of the hills are relatively gradual - all the Forest of Dean hills are 6-8% (apart from the very short bit just after Bream), and the same out to Stow through the Cotswolds.
What gear did you use ? i am think of 69inch ?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 16 February, 2020, 12:35:13 am
Not too bad on fixed... it's not the climbing it's the gradient... Just one toughie, the climb up towards the Somerset monument... I've never made it... but it's relatively short. It's a great ride, just do it.

I have walked that on gears and got up it on fixed.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 16 February, 2020, 12:35:52 am
I’ve always used 65”.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Manotea on 16 February, 2020, 08:54:01 am
I almost made the monument climb once but had to stop when s car came down, thank the lord. :)

But I'd forgotten about broad town and broad Hinton, bream, St Bravils, Stowe... Time is a great healer... All doable... Though not necessarily all in one go.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: grams on 16 February, 2020, 08:57:14 am
There’s also the weather factor. Grinding into a strong headwind (as is typical for the first half) on your first fixed 300 km doesn’t sound like fun to me.

Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 16 February, 2020, 09:04:28 am
There’s also the weather factor. Grinding into a strong headwind (as is typical for the first half) on your first fixed 300 km doesn’t sound like fun to me.
I've done this ride 3 times, only one once did I notice a headwind in the first half (2019, great prep for windy PBP) 2016 was cold and 2017 was mild. 2018 I didn't ride. It snowed a lot.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 16 February, 2020, 09:07:28 am
Ive got a bit of the fixed bug, I've done a couple of lumpyish 200,s on fixed this year, apart from a snapped chain all went ok, has anyone ridded this event of fixed or is it a step to far for a relatively fixed novice. ??
I followed someone riding fixed the first time I did this. He nearly managed the Somerset monument hill, walked about fifty metres as I recall.

It's not just the climbs though there are some descents that will have your legs spinning
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Manotea on 16 February, 2020, 09:13:17 am
Yeah, the descent into Chepstow for sure... and if you're with a bunch at Membury, best to set off five minutes early otherwise you'll be dropped within ten minutes on the descent into Lambourn...
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: drgannet on 16 February, 2020, 09:16:51 am
As Manotea says, the only steep bits are up to the monument, and then the 2 hills at Broad Town and Broad Hinton (but also fairly short); As well as Somerset Monument I also walk Hackpen Hill after Broad Hinton. Most of the rest of the hills are relatively gradual - all the Forest of Dean hills are 6-8% (apart from the very short bit just after Bream), and the same out to Stow through the Cotswolds.
What gear did you use ? i am think of 69inch ?
68
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Colinf on 16 February, 2020, 10:12:15 am
Ive got a bit of the fixed bug, I've done a couple of lumpyish 200,s on fixed this year, apart from a snapped chain all went ok, has anyone ridded this event of fixed or is it a step to far for a relatively fixed novice. ??
I followed someone riding fixed the first time I did this. He nearly managed the Somerset monument hill, walked about fifty metres as I recall.

It's not just the climbs though there are some descents that will have your legs spinning
Is the Monument hill on the way back on the LWL ride ?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: zigzag on 16 February, 2020, 10:33:08 am
rode the dean on 69" single speed (six years ago), all the hills were rideable, iirc three of them felt hard - the hill into bream, white horse hill(s) and the monument.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: mattc on 16 February, 2020, 12:11:10 pm
Is the Monument hill on the way back on the LWL ride ?
It used to be - assuming both rides still control at Malmesbury?
Happily it comes after a fairly benign section.

(little bit of history - back in the day I happened to meet the people who devised each route, and they found the leg back from Chepstow independently! )
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: S2L on 16 February, 2020, 12:28:20 pm
Ive got a bit of the fixed bug, I've done a couple of lumpyish 200,s on fixed this year, apart from a snapped chain all went ok, has anyone ridded this event of fixed or is it a step to far for a relatively fixed novice. ??
I followed someone riding fixed the first time I did this. He nearly managed the Somerset monument hill, walked about fifty metres as I recall.

It's not just the climbs though there are some descents that will have your legs spinning
Is the Monument hill on the way back on the LWL ride ?

yes
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 16 February, 2020, 08:04:47 pm
Is the Monument hill on the way back on the LWL ride ?
It used to be - assuming both rides still control at Malmesbury?
Happily it comes after a fairly benign section.

(little bit of history - back in the day I happened to meet the people who devised each route, and they found the leg back from Chepstow independently! )
Both take different routes from chepstow to malmesbury. Even more different after malmesbury as the dean crosses the ridgeway twice with a trip to Marlborough.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: mattc on 17 February, 2020, 07:21:06 am
Both take different routes
...
What, BOTH of them do? wow.

;)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: S2L on 20 February, 2020, 04:36:43 pm
How's everyone feeling about this?
I managed to do some good miles in December, but lately, with storms and deluges haven't been able to go out very much... last long ride was 180 km in late December, then nothing longer than 100 since... I feel a bit unprepared for a 300...

Oh well, 3 weeks to go, things might still turn... ::-)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 20 February, 2020, 04:41:43 pm
I'm feeling like a DNS for me would be the only sensible option. I have had two months almost entirely off training due to illness. I'm planning to get on the turbo this evening.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: iscunonove on 20 February, 2020, 08:37:33 pm
I'm wondering about the chances of the flood waters receding, and if not, what diversion may be required.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 20 February, 2020, 09:24:05 pm
I'm wondering about the chances of the flood waters receding, and if not, what diversion may be required.
Still 3 weeks away, plenty of time for water to recede.  As long as it stops raining.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 20 February, 2020, 10:30:30 pm
I'm wondering about the chances of the flood waters receding, and if not, what diversion may be required.
Still 3 weeks away, plenty of time for water to recede.  As long as it stops raining.

At least a week more according to the forecast I saw yesterday, and then the jet stream looks like cycling again for another burst.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: S2L on 21 February, 2020, 09:08:59 am
Weatherwise, I am also limited... small car*, the bike only fits without mudguards... fitting the guards takes 10 minutes at home, but it's a nightmare to do in the dark in a car park, so I can only really ride this with a benign forecast.

* Yes, I have heard of such things like trains, but none would get me to Oxford in time for the start and I am not going to pay money for overnight accomodation before AND after
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: LiamFitz on 21 February, 2020, 11:56:03 am

[/quote]
Both take different routes from chepstow to malmesbury. Even more different after malmesbury as the dean crosses the ridgeway twice with a trip to Marlborough.
[/quote]

The suggested routes from Chepstow to Malmesbury are pretty similar as there are not really that many ways to cover the ground. It's after that they diverge and only come together again around Lambourn before The Dean makes a bee line for Oxford and LWL works its way up to Henley.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: veloboy on 23 February, 2020, 12:18:19 am
Staying overnight before rhe event means I can either ride or get he train (they day before). Travelodge Peartree services, may not be the most glam 'desintation' in its own right, but certainly very convenient base before the start.
I think this is the mildest February I can remember for years. No ice. Sure, there is plenty of rain (and some flooded lanes); but not that bad.

Spring is in the air - Just go for it!!!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: S2L on 23 February, 2020, 06:41:21 am

I think this is the mildest February I can remember for years. No ice. Sure, there is plenty of rain (and some flooded lanes); but not that bad.

Spring is in the air - Just go for it!!!  :thumbsup:

You probably forget that February last year we had a heatwave with 16-18 degree temperatures and wall to wall sunshine for days?
I remain to be convinced that the weather is so great this winter  ::-)

So far in middle England it has rained 15 days out of 23 in February and 22 out of 31 in January
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: S2L on 28 February, 2020, 06:23:24 am
Inching towards throwing the towel on the Dean...

I was hoping for a long ride this weekend, but with another storm coming, it's unlikely to happen... with two weeks to go, 300 km seems a very long way, something I haven't done since April last year... last 200 was in September  ::-)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: JonBuoy on 28 February, 2020, 07:03:13 am
Once the main rain has cleared through early on Saturday morning the rest of the weekend is just looking a bit breezy with the possibility of a shower or two.

I am planning on a 200k up into the Peak District on Sunday.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: S2L on 28 February, 2020, 08:08:06 am
Once the main rain has cleared through early on Saturday morning the rest of the weekend is just looking a bit breezy with the possibility of a shower or two.

I am planning on a 200k up into the Peak District on Sunday.

Maybe I should restrict my Audax season to Half April to Half July and do something else the rest of the time, something that is no so weather reliant... I was lucky in 2017 and 2018 that all the events I signed up for had very decent weather... in 2019 I think I DNS more than half, 2020 looks even worse ATM  ::-)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: S2L on 05 March, 2020, 07:22:34 am
Thrown the towel... with the diversion in place, the route comes at 324 km... I haven't done more than 100 in months...
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 05 March, 2020, 10:04:45 am
Thrown the towel... with the diversion in place, the route comes at 324 km... I haven't done more than 100 in months...
I think a shorter diversion is possible, but you must decide to leave the route earlier. It's also possible that the flood could be gone by the 14th
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: S2L on 05 March, 2020, 10:23:35 am
Thrown the towel... with the diversion in place, the route comes at 324 km... I haven't done more than 100 in months...
I think a shorter diversion is possible, but you must decide to leave the route earlier. It's also possible that the flood could be gone by the 14th

To be fair, it's not the extra 7 km that worry me... it's more the basic 317... it's just too early in the year... had it been last year, with good weather in February, we would be talking a different story... right now 200 miles seems way too far
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Bagman on 05 March, 2020, 10:55:01 am
I have got 316km plus diversion on the 'official' route.  I have my own adjusted route down to 310km.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 05 March, 2020, 12:02:24 pm
I have got 316km plus diversion on the 'official' route.  I have my own adjusted route down to 310km.
Is that using the original bridge?
I know you can save 5km either by finishing in oxford or by not going through oxford on the way to the park and ride.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: David H on 05 March, 2020, 12:48:02 pm
The best I can get it down to is 319.  Share?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Bagman on 05 March, 2020, 01:44:37 pm
316km (3240m)  route - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31966755

310km route (2930m - does include section of A48) https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31997560

311km (3170m) route (no A48 section) - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/32062509
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: David H on 05 March, 2020, 02:11:23 pm
 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 05 March, 2020, 04:43:42 pm
316km (3240m)  route - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31966755

310km route (2930m - does include section of A48) https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31997560

311km (3170m) route (no A48 section) - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/32062509
You can save 4km from the 316km route (from 65km go through cleve hill Southam Swindon village and down hattersley before rejoining at Longford). I need ty o check these roads on street view though.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 05 March, 2020, 06:03:07 pm
I'm out. Nothing to do with diversions; still have that cough and have barely done any training yet this year.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 06 March, 2020, 10:40:32 am
316km (3240m)  route - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31966755

310km route (2930m - does include section of A48) https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31997560

311km (3170m) route (no A48 section) - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/32062509
Be aware there are also road closures due to flooding in Tewkesbury check for latest conditions before diverting north
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Bagman on 06 March, 2020, 01:18:07 pm
I intend to check on here before I choose which route:
https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/highways/roads/roads-in-severe-weather/current-road-closures/

Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Smeth on 09 March, 2020, 03:21:40 pm
Er, what diversion? No problem diverting but unaware of location. Has org. info been emailed?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: simonp on 09 March, 2020, 03:24:01 pm
Org email 3rd mar with newent detour
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Smeth on 09 March, 2020, 03:40:13 pm
Org email 3rd mar with newent detour
Thanks a lot - nothing in spam, my entry's definitely in. - have dropped TS a msg. Waders strapped to the rack :)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 09 March, 2020, 08:11:46 pm
Er, what diversion? No problem diverting but unaware of location. Has org. info been emailed?
At the crossing of the severn. The route uses the only bridge between Cheltenham and Tewkesbury. But that route is impassable. 
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Colinf on 10 March, 2020, 06:58:08 pm
Are we able to park at the services for a reasonable price, or is it best to park away from  the services ??
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: JonBuoy on 10 March, 2020, 07:25:16 pm
Not sure about the services but the Park & Ride is £4 for 24 hours.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Smeth on 10 March, 2020, 08:36:38 pm
Has org. info been emailed?

Anyone had the route sheet/info email yet? If not I won't further hassle the org for a bit. It'll be on it's way.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Colinf on 10 March, 2020, 09:34:08 pm
Have a look in your Spam folder.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Smeth on 10 March, 2020, 09:50:47 pm
Have a look in your Spam folder.
Thanks, not spam but contact now made. Web entry weirdness. Ta.

Sent from my SM-J510FN using Tapatalk

Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: paulworthington53 on 10 March, 2020, 10:24:42 pm
Are we able to park at the services for a reasonable price, or is it best to park away from  the services ??


This page tells you all you could wish to know. I've gone for the automated Hozah thing. One less thing to think about...

https://www.oxford.gov.uk/directory_record/352/pear_tree_park_and_ride
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: BlackSheep on 11 March, 2020, 06:44:46 pm
316km (3240m)  route - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31966755

310km route (2930m - does include section of A48) https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31997560

311km (3170m) route (no A48 section) - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/32062509


The 310km route is fine, drove along the potentially wet bit today. No problem, road was well above flood
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: longflaps on 13 March, 2020, 04:25:26 pm
316km (3240m)  route - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31966755

310km route (2930m - does include section of A48) https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31997560

311km (3170m) route (no A48 section) - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/32062509


The 310km route is fine, drove along the potentially wet bit today. No problem, road was well above flood

Thanks for checking BlackSheep. I was secretly hoping to pop into The Royal Hop Pole for a cheeky breakfast via the diversion ;)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: RideHard on 16 March, 2020, 12:55:57 pm
Loads of toads crossing the road near marlborough. Hope nobody ran any over.
Must be an annual thing, same this year.. not Biblical thank goodness!
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: iscunonove on 16 March, 2020, 02:49:01 pm
Loads of toads crossing the road near marlborough. Hope nobody ran any over.
Must be an annual thing, same this year.. not Biblical thank goodness!
I only had clouds of flies to deal with... must dig out the sun glasses from their winter storage.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 16 March, 2020, 06:41:01 pm
Loads of toads crossing the road near marlborough. Hope nobody ran any over.
Must be an annual thing, same this year.. not Biblical thank goodness!
I narrowly missed one on the last leg from Bampton to Oxford
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: thing1 on 06 March, 2023, 07:13:21 pm
Just checking if anyone has seen a route sheet for the 2023 edition circulating yet?
The controls seem fairly obvious on the gpx file, but I like to review it before hand if I can.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 06 March, 2023, 08:12:58 pm
Just checking if anyone has seen a route sheet for the 2023 edition circulating yet?
The controls seem fairly obvious on the gpx file, but I like to review it before hand if I can.
controls are traditionally
oxford
stowe
newent
chepstow
malmesbury
marlborough (info)
membury services
bampton
oxford  (they used to allow finishing at the train station, but as a BRM returning to pear tree services will be mandatory

email was sent on march the second though
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: thing1 on 06 March, 2023, 11:39:15 pm
...
email was sent on march the second though

Ah, thank you. Looks like another 2 emails sent today too, but all three had gone to the spam folder   ::-)
Now retrieved. Cheers
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: TomAplomb on 07 March, 2023, 11:55:34 am
I'm hoping any snow melts in time, and that the Friday night isn't cold enough for ice...
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 07 March, 2023, 01:13:25 pm
I'm hoping any snow melts in time, and that the Friday night isn't cold enough for ice...
forecast for 7C in Oxford on Friday, any snow will be melted long before the start

same in Newent and Chepstow. reckon it will be fine.

Overnight lows of 2C so expect some frost on the roads early doors. Watch out for the corner in Bledington. Should be the typical misty valleys in the Cotswolds. Enjoy the views around the Wychwood and on the way to Winchcombe
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: RideHard on 08 March, 2023, 09:40:29 am
2023 The Dean has a new shorter route to the finish at Peartree Services than last year's route:

https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=125184.0

Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: RideHard on 08 March, 2023, 09:41:41 am
Yes, see https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=125184.0
Is under new management I see. With refreshments at the start and also ale at the arivee. Anyone know if the start is still peartree before I book the hotel?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: thing1 on 08 March, 2023, 09:51:44 am
I'm hoping any snow melts in time, and that the Friday night isn't cold enough for ice...
forecast for 7C in Oxford on Friday, any snow will be melted long before the start

same in Newent and Chepstow. reckon it will be fine.

Overnight lows of 2C so expect some frost on the roads early doors. Watch out for the corner in Bledington. Should be the typical misty valleys in the Cotswolds. Enjoy the views around the Wychwood and on the way to Winchcombe

My forecast has 5° max Friday and -2°C overnight so I'll definitely be on alert for any lingering pockets of ice on the lanes.
Also, need to allow an extra 20 mins dressing time for all those extra layers I'll be donning 😂
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: TomAplomb on 08 March, 2023, 09:53:13 am
I'm hoping any snow melts in time, and that the Friday night isn't cold enough for ice...
forecast for 7C in Oxford on Friday, any snow will be melted long before the start

same in Newent and Chepstow. reckon it will be fine.

Overnight lows of 2C so expect some frost on the roads early doors. Watch out for the corner in Bledington. Should be the typical misty valleys in the Cotswolds. Enjoy the views around the Wychwood and on the way to Winchcombe

The Met Office has changed their forecast to -3C on the Friday night, coupled with the rain/snow from Thu and Friday, it's looking pretty bad for ice :'(
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 08 March, 2023, 11:25:24 am
I'm hoping any snow melts in time, and that the Friday night isn't cold enough for ice...
forecast for 7C in Oxford on Friday, any snow will be melted long before the start

same in Newent and Chepstow. reckon it will be fine.

Overnight lows of 2C so expect some frost on the roads early doors. Watch out for the corner in Bledington. Should be the typical misty valleys in the Cotswolds. Enjoy the views around the Wychwood and on the way to Winchcombe

The Met Office has changed their forecast to -3C on the Friday night, coupled with the rain/snow from Thu and Friday, it's looking pretty bad for ice :'(
yes, temperature forcecast has dropped since I posted., heavy rain and mild temperatures tomorrow should clear away the snow, the only question is whether Friday is enough to dry the roads out before the sub zero temperatures on Friday night.

I'll wait until Friday before worrying too much, everything is very fluid 3 days out. as it stands chance of ice on any ungritted road before noon I would say. Concerning on the roads between Stowe and Winchcombe and also the descent to Bishops Cleve.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Peat on 08 March, 2023, 12:17:06 pm
Too chilly for me to be outdoors for 16hrs i'm afraid. Good luck to the Audacious randonneurs who give it a go.

Any reason that the finishes along the A40 nowadays? I know Oxford Station rail bridge is closed to motor traffic but assumed it was open to peds. Or is it to do with minimum distances?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: drgannet on 08 March, 2023, 12:49:34 pm
If the route does use the A40 into Peartree, there are cycle lanes alongside between Eynsham and Oxford (a lot of repurposed pavement + some new shared pavement).

The work on the Botely Road has not started yet (delayed), but when in place there will be continual cycle and pedestrian access under the railway bridge (according to traffic plans released recently).
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: grams on 08 March, 2023, 01:22:02 pm
The A40 will be empty, at least at full-value o’clock. Avoiding slogging into and then out of the middle of Oxford is a big improvement.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 08 March, 2023, 02:19:58 pm
Too chilly for me to be outdoors for 16hrs i'm afraid. Good luck to the Audacious randonneurs who give it a go.

Any reason that the finishes along the A40 nowadays? I know Oxford Station rail bridge is closed to motor traffic but assumed it was open to peds. Or is it to do with minimum distances?
I think because the control put in at Bampton to ensure minimum distance is 300km makes this the shorter route, it's about 7km further and having to contend with oxford city centre traffic.

Eynsham - Botley - pear tree = 15km
Eynsham - A40 - Pear tree = 7.8km  (4.8km on the A40)

However personally I would rather cross the A40 at Eynsham, and proceed through cassington and yarnton to return along the A44. It's only the same length of A44 used on the outbound route, and there is a wide pavement that may or may not be officially a cycle path, but looks very bike suitable if traffic levels make people uncomfortable.

Eynsham - A44 - pear tree = 8.1km (1.6km on the A44)

I don't know if the organiser has decided the A44 is not bike suitable in the evenings, or if this is done to avoid confusion on the outbound route with the fork in the gpx track.

if I had used the A40, I certainly would not loop all the way around the A44/A34 junction  to enter the services as per the route sheet, instead taking the park and ride exit and walking in to the services from the pedestrian stairs in the corner of the services car park. (maybe lock the bike in the car before getting a receipt)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Peat on 08 March, 2023, 03:11:10 pm
Cheers all.

I only ask because when i compared the new .gpx to the one i had stored in RWGPS from 2018ish, i noticed the inclusion of the Bampton control. That route came in at 302km so could well imagine someone getting it done under that if willing(mad enough) to ride on the A420/A34 on the run-in.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Jethro on 08 March, 2023, 04:46:19 pm
Some years ago (cant remember which year exactly) there was heavy snow the night before this event.  I believe that there were still two or three riders that finished the event but there was a lot of talk that the event should have been cancelled that year.

Good luck to everyone that is riding this year and fingers crossed for no icy roads.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Bikeabilityman on 08 March, 2023, 04:55:04 pm
Some years ago (cant remember which year exactly) there was heavy snow the night before this event.  I believe that there were still two or three riders that finished the event but there was a lot of talk that the event should have been cancelled that year.

Good luck to everyone that is riding this year and fingers crossed for no icy roads.
That was 2013, and my first Audax month. I was sensible enough to look out the window, see the snow, decide not to cycle to the start but try to sleep a bit longer, opting to drive there instead.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Hot Flatus on 08 March, 2023, 05:57:11 pm
Jo (red Marley) gave me his Travelodge room, so I went to Oxford for the first time, had a curry with Caerau (FOTP), then spent the next day going round all the museums
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Von Broad on 08 March, 2023, 06:35:41 pm
Too chilly for me to be outdoors for 16hrs i'm afraid. Good luck to the Audacious randonneurs who give it a go.

Ummmm.....give me 18hrs and I feel the same! Although I might say I haven't made a decision this far out......I think I have.

I don't mind a bit of torrential [done a few of them in the past], but not prolonged cold - those temperatures Friday night give me chills a bit. Having come a cropper a few times on ice I tend to pull the hatches up now pretty damn quickly.
Shame.....The Dean's a terrific ride, and hopefully I'll be back for another encounter before age [or attitude] pulls me away permanently!
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Hot Flatus on 08 March, 2023, 06:39:20 pm
I'm entered for the Bristol 300, but if it's like this I'll opt out. 13-15 hours of chill. Nope.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Paul D on 09 March, 2023, 08:55:56 am
I was 90% decided I wasn't riding in icy conditions then luckily tested positive for covid this morning.  ::-)

Heart of England 300 in April is the backup, a much better time of year for my nesh self to do longer rides.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Jethro on 09 March, 2023, 09:31:27 am
I reckon some will still start.  But will they all finish?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: TomAplomb on 09 March, 2023, 09:45:07 am
The forecast is still saying -3C for Friday night. Stow-on-the-Wold and Winchcombe are also forecast more snow tomorrow morning.

Therefore, it's an unambiguous decision to withdraw - I have zero tolerance for ice. It's a shame, as the route is great and I was looking forward to the large field!
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 09 March, 2023, 09:58:05 am
I reckon some will still start.  But will they all finish?
still intending to start, but I will take a view based on conditions driving to the start.

reckon anyone who makes it to Newent will finish as it will get easier after that.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: postie on 09 March, 2023, 10:20:20 am
I am thinking starting might not be wise given the current conditions and cold temperatures, much rather live to fight another Day.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 09 March, 2023, 10:42:47 am
I am thinking starting might not be wise given the current conditions and cold temperatures, much rather live to fight another Day.
wise
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: mattc on 09 March, 2023, 01:08:26 pm
I reckon some will still start.  But will they all finish?

reckon anyone who makes it to Newent will finish as it will get easier after that.
Yes. Looks very dodgy at the moment, roads are soaked here (nr Oxford) and unlikely to dry by Sat.

If I absolutely HAD to ride this, I'd take A-roads to Stow, then the main road to Tewkesbury and the safety of the flatlands.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Diesel on 09 March, 2023, 02:09:57 pm
Agree with Matt about main roads options. I will go to the start and see. If I start then main road to Stow and take a view from there. And yes consider main road to Tewksbury.

There is also the option of collecting the card at 6 and not starting until 8 or getting to Stow and drinking coffee for an hour or two if I think it might improve as the sun comes up. Last time I did this I had a couple of hours in hand at the end so might think when this could help me.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Hot Flatus on 09 March, 2023, 02:15:49 pm
I was 90% decided I wasn't riding in icy conditions then luckily tested positive for covid this morning.  ::-)

Heart of England 300 in April is the backup, a much better time of year for my nesh self to do longer rides.

Hope yow feel better soon
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 09 March, 2023, 07:57:52 pm
Agree with Matt about main roads options. I will go to the start and see. If I start then main road to Stow and take a view from there. And yes consider main road to Tewksbury.

There is also the option of collecting the card at 6 and not starting until 8 or getting to Stow and drinking coffee for an hour or two if I think it might improve as the sun comes up. Last time I did this I had a couple of hours in hand at the end so might think when this could help me.
yes I was considering the late start, Stowe control is 45km, so the control close time will be 9am, don't think setting off at 8 is viable, but Newent control time is 12:40 by my reckoning, so maybe a 2 hour stop in Stow in somewhere warm would be perfect
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: thing1 on 09 March, 2023, 09:56:48 pm
I reckon some will still start.  But will they all finish?

reckon anyone who makes it to Newent will finish as it will get easier after that.
Yes. Looks very dodgy at the moment, roads are soaked here (nr Oxford) and unlikely to dry by Sat.

If I absolutely HAD to ride this, I'd take A-roads to Stow, then the main road to Tewkesbury and the safety of the flatlands.

What would folks consider the best A road route to be?  A44 to chipping Norton and then A436?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: postie on 10 March, 2023, 06:32:00 am
Forcast has not improved, still freezing conditions till 9/10 o'clock, currently a yellow weather warning in place this morning for the area
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Hot Flatus on 10 March, 2023, 06:50:01 am
Well, I've just pulled out of Bristol 300. Don't fancy a -2⁰ start, and 190 miles with the temp maxxing at 4⁰. Plus, I'm fending off a cold.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: mattc on 10 March, 2023, 07:14:48 am
I reckon some will still start.  But will they all finish?

reckon anyone who makes it to Newent will finish as it will get easier after that.
Yes. Looks very dodgy at the moment, roads are soaked here (nr Oxford) and unlikely to dry by Sat.

If I absolutely HAD to ride this, I'd take A-roads to Stow, then the main road to Tewkesbury and the safety of the flatlands.

What would folks consider the best A road route to be?  A44 to chipping Norton and then A436?
I was thinking A40 to Burford mainly due to familiarity; your way may be hillier, but I haven't honesty looked at it.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: thing1 on 10 March, 2023, 08:13:16 am
I'm on the verge of pulling out, I already have a bad shoulder from a fall in December, don't fancy the matching pair.

If anyone can make use of a Travelodge room in peartree tonight at, let's say half price or less, please do PM me ...
Travelodge changed to be on route to Heart of England 300 instead :)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Diesel on 10 March, 2023, 08:14:13 am
A44 to Chipping Norton - I've done this early on a Sunday morning and it was quiet.

Then either A44 / A436 or take the B4450 to rejoin the route before Stow. But it all depends on conditions on the day - whether I start / turn back / continue whatever.

Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 10 March, 2023, 08:25:35 am
Forcast has not improved, still freezing conditions till 9/10 o'clock, currently a yellow weather warning in place this morning for the area

and those who survive the early icy roads can look forward to 5C and rain from Chepstow onwards
https://www.weatherbagel.com/f/44fa8e4e-0245-41ab-bba1-27a111ad53f7

such a shame because the forecast for Sunday is much better. hmmmm
https://www.weatherbagel.com/f/2a3cae4c-8fc4-4795-adec-a3a87345cd85

A44 to Chipping Norton - I've done this early on a Sunday morning and it was quiet.

Then either A44 / A436 or take the B4450 to rejoin the route before Stow. But it all depends on conditions on the day - whether I start / turn back / continue whatever.


surprisingly this is not further than the actual route
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Owen on 10 March, 2023, 10:57:48 am
I'm going to give it a go.
But I'll be taking the A44, A436 route to Stow and then assessing the situation from there.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Phil Hears A Who on 10 March, 2023, 11:48:45 am
For anyone that doesn't fancy dinging it down A roads all the way to Stow, this is the map of Oxfordshire's gritted roads https://otapdev.exactrak.co.uk/whereismygritter/org/MilestoneOxfordshire/#ex-layers_

FWIW I'll probably take the A44/A4095 as far as Long Hanborough, then Stonesfield, Charlbury, Chippy, and B4450 to rejoin the route at Bledington. Gritted from there to Stow. Can't be arsed to pore over Gloucestershire's map so if it still looks sketchy past Stow I'll sit in a cafe for a couple of hours or just turn around.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 10 March, 2023, 04:07:24 pm
forecast at the met office now saying 0C overnight and at the start in Oxford a big shift from the -3C predicted this morning.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: thing1 on 10 March, 2023, 04:14:00 pm
For anyone that doesn't fancy dinging it down A roads all the way to Stow, this is the map of Oxfordshire's gritted roads https://otapdev.exactrak.co.uk/whereismygritter/org/MilestoneOxfordshire/#ex-layers_

FWIW I'll probably take the A44/A4095 as far as Long Hanborough, then Stonesfield, Charlbury, Chippy, and B4450 to rejoin the route at Bledington. Gritted from there to Stow. Can't be arsed to pore over Gloucestershire's map so if it still looks sketchy past Stow I'll sit in a cafe for a couple of hours or just turn around.

Good tip! I tried alternative but the A44 to Chippy works out shorter so have left it with that for now. I found the Gloucestershire gritted road map here (https://maps.gloucestershire.gov.uk/MapThatPublic/Default.aspx?treeid=55)

So far as I can tell now, this is the gritted-road route for the first 2 stages (Oxford - Stow - Newent)
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42198461

inc a small detour to avoid Cleeve hill, and a few other detours after Bishops Cleeve, meaning it's 5km over distance by the second control (although actually 5km shorter in the first stage)

Full disclosure: I'm unlikely to ride, so just sharing here as a public (dis)service. Do your own research etc etc.

Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Phil Hears A Who on 10 March, 2023, 05:20:47 pm
So far as I can tell now, this is the gritted-road route for the first 2 stages (Oxford - Stow - Newent)
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42198461

inc a small detour to avoid Cleeve hill, and a few other detours after Bishops Cleeve, meaning it's 5km over distance by the second control (although actually 5km shorter in the first stage)

Nice one, I might well make use of that! Cheers
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: JasGill on 10 March, 2023, 07:09:00 pm
For anyone that doesn't fancy dinging it down A roads all the way to Stow, this is the map of Oxfordshire's gritted roads https://otapdev.exactrak.co.uk/whereismygritter/org/MilestoneOxfordshire/#ex-layers_

FWIW I'll probably take the A44/A4095 as far as Long Hanborough, then Stonesfield, Charlbury, Chippy, and B4450 to rejoin the route at Bledington. Gritted from there to Stow. Can't be arsed to pore over Gloucestershire's map so if it still looks sketchy past Stow I'll sit in a cafe for a couple of hours or just turn around.

Good tip! I tried alternative but the A44 to Chippy works out shorter so have left it with that for now. I found the Gloucestershire gritted road map here (https://maps.gloucestershire.gov.uk/MapThatPublic/Default.aspx?treeid=55)

So far as I can tell now, this is the gritted-road route for the first 2 stages (Oxford - Stow - Newent)
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42198461

inc a small detour to avoid Cleeve hill, and a few other detours after Bishops Cleeve, meaning it's 5km over distance by the second control (although actually 5km shorter in the first stage)

Full disclosure: I'm unlikely to ride, so just sharing here as a public (dis)service. Do your own research etc etc.

Thankyou for this; Much appreciated.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: teethgrinder on 10 March, 2023, 11:43:33 pm
Almost certainly a DNS for me. Mostly because I haven't ridden the Audax bike since I put it away after the Essex 1000 last year and it needed quite a lot of TLC and I, as usual, have left it to the very last minute. I'm taking my time getting it up to a reasonable standard, replacing knackered bits and if I am very lucky, it'll be ready to go before I set off at 3am to make the start and I might even get the route onto a GPS before then too, so although it's unlikely I'll start, you never know! But I might be sleepy by then, or just go to bed anyway. The risk of ice for about 6 hours doesn't appeal and neither does the bash along the A44, let alone the A34 to get to the start on gritted roads.
I don't think the roads will be that bad but definitely a risk of ice. The roads seem mostly dry but I popped out for shopping at 10pm and water on the cycleways was already turning to ice. It only takes one small patch to end the ride and maybe rule out riding for several weeks or months, which isn't good when you need to ride to earn your living on the gig economy.
All is not in vain. It means I should be ready for the Tewkesbury 300 next week with at least one bike ready to go.
Have fun... :-*
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: PeeJay on 11 March, 2023, 11:27:54 am
Surprised no one's mentioned Torvill and (The) Dean yet


Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Hot Flatus on 11 March, 2023, 12:00:50 pm
Reckon I would ache for a year if I spent 14 hours in 4⁰
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Hot Flatus on 11 March, 2023, 06:44:35 pm
It's gross out there. Just ride 2 miles to brewery and back. Was horrid
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Phil Hears A Who on 11 March, 2023, 11:06:48 pm
A bit of a day of two halves. Roads were fine in the end, dry, a few frozen puddles on the side of the road but no frost. Chilly start but nothing unmanageable, then lovely sunrise and some views of snow capped Malverns.

Then had my first proper tubeless failure in the forest of dean, and a rather wet and windy stretch from Severn bridge to Membury.

Cheers Tim for organising.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: P.P. on 12 March, 2023, 06:51:25 am
I took the A44 option from the start to Stow and it was absolutely fine, ice free and with minimal traffic. There were a couple of minor ice patches after Stow but nothing worrying and once we dropped off the Cotswolds the roads were fine and dry.

A great run down to Chepstow, and then some blustery wind fun for the run home, accompanied by some (read lots) of icy rain. A puncture in the dark after Marlborough, courtesy of an almost invisible sliver of flint required 2 tubes before I found the little blighter (and may have resulted in a bit of a sense of humour failure).

A final flatter, faster, wind assisted leg back to Oxford made up for the days trials and tribulations though, and all in all it was a great day out, along a lovely, if somewhat hilly, route.

Many thanks for organising and sitting at the start in freezing conditions to hand out the brevet cards and see us all off, and chapeau to all who ventured out in yesterdays wintery weather.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: mattc on 12 March, 2023, 08:03:39 am
Anyone know numbers? Entered, started?
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: thing1 on 12 March, 2023, 09:16:05 am
Well done for everyone that started, and chapeau to those that got around.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Bikeabilityman on 13 March, 2023, 02:17:14 pm
Still can’t believe this ride lost its 4 AAA points.

I picked up a light between Chepstow and Malmesbury. If anyone messages with what it was. I’ll bring it to the Rough Diamond on Saturday if you are on it. I lost my Cateye Ampp 500 the second time it bounced off somewhere before Membury ☹️
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 13 March, 2023, 02:28:43 pm
Still can’t believe this ride lost its 4 AAA points.


looking back over my results as a regular

2016 - 4AAA
2017 2.5AAA
2019 2.25AAA
2022 2.5AAA
2023 0AAA  (not ridden)

personally I feel the 4 may have been a bit generous, but the 2.5 felt about right. my records show between 3100 and 3700m of climbing on my attempts, with the climbing all finished by the second crossing of the ridgeway.

I don't know if the points have been lost because it's been decided the hills can be avoided without skipping controls, or just because the elevation has been recounted using a stingier assessment.

I'm sure the route has not changed.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Bikeabilityman on 13 March, 2023, 02:43:47 pm
It was my fourth or fifth time, and I still go up hills I don’t remember, whilst others I do, and then I wonder why I’m back! I said to someone in Chepstow spoons I shouldn’t be having pizza and a pint before the climb out, and they weren’t aware it. “Ignorance is bliss”, or something like that, he said.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Ajax Bay on 13 March, 2023, 03:46:49 pm
Still can’t believe this ride lost its 4 AAA points.

personally I feel the 4 may have been a bit generous, but the 2.5 felt about right. my records show between 3100 and 3700m of climbing on my attempts, with the climbing all finished by the second crossing of the ridgeway.

I don't know if the points have been lost because it's been decided the hills can be avoided without skipping controls, or just because the elevation has been recounted using a stingier assessment.
If the route has not changed, how can your records vary by 600m yet retain any credibility? Anyway:
https://www.audax.uk/awards-pages/audax-altitude-award-aaa/aaa-points/
"To qualify for AAA, an event must be hilly enough. Hilliness is measured by the rate of climbing which varies with the event distance, and is based on the original AAA formula thresholds:
    100km or less, 15m/km
    200km, 14m/km
    300km, 13.33m/km

The first 40km are flattish and so are the last 60 but whichever way you cut it, no section merits AAA points. Well done for everyone who was bold. "The wonderful Mike Wrigley's" Rough Diamond promises (per forecast) to be a lot warmer.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 13 March, 2023, 05:50:42 pm
If the route has not changed, how can your records vary by 600m yet retain any credibility?
looks like 3600m and 3700m were measured as per garmin 530 altimeter, while 3000m was provided by "strava gpx". whether this was due to using phone app or correction applied I can't tell. But strava is not consistent with this data, because if I take that gpx track and convert to a route, suddenly their route builder finds 3700m of elevation gain again.  ???

the fact remains that 6 years ago this route was considered to be worth 4 AAA points, I have never measured 4000m of climb on the entire route.

then for a number of years since then it was 2.5AAA

Now it's none. so the upshot is the route has been remeasured with a more miserly (maybe more accurate) measure, taking away AAA points, unless the rationale is that some hills may be bypassed while still hitting controls.

AAA requirement
150km   2175m   14.50m/km   2.25

By my estimation playing with the route and cropping a section starting with the last climb before Stow on the wold and ending at the top of the somerset monument would be 2147m in 141km, exceeding the 15m/km requirement (15.22m/km) and earning 2.25 AAA, but it's close to the wire (<1.5%) and maybe the AAA tool thinks otherwise.

If I take a section from the last climb before Stow for the next 100km (ends just before the descent into Chepstow) I get 16.2m/km which is less marginal. (8%) that would at least give the ride 1.5 AAA

I need to have a play with the AUK AAA tool, to see how different those figures are.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Diesel on 13 March, 2023, 05:58:39 pm
A few thoughts.

Whilst some took the official route to Stow, a lot of us took the A roads - which were well gritted and quiet for traffic. After Stow there was some slush and roadside snow/ice but nothing bad (and nothing like some of the northern audaxes this weekend I suspect!) Most then followed the official route but I stayed on the B road then a little bit of the A46 to Tewksbury.  Which again was quiet enough.

The rain started soon after I left Chepstow and persisted for most of the second half. It wasn't that hard but I should have put on more layers and was cold and wet by the time I got to Malmesbury. It was just above freezing so I was seriously cold by then. Big learning point for me.

Then a bit of a Waitrose disaster. They closed the cafe as we arrived and pointed us to their in-store coffee machine. But other staff wouldn't let us use that - no MyWaitrose card - so no hot drink. Might need to get one for the future just in case?

Quite demoralised at that point, so much of Audax is mental challenge. I'd been riding with a Leics rider called Peter for a while and we agreed to stick together to support each other to the end. That was a big help.
Added a couple more layers and dry gloves so I was wearing more now than when I started at the sub-zero start.

Really appreciated Membury Services. Not just the hot coffee! But it's a good warm up spot. You can wheel your bike inside through the back door and the Starbucks is open pretty late.

Got back later than expected nursing that 'never again!' feeling.... that seems to dull after a couple of days...

A few lessons learnt as always. 

I picked up a light between Chepstow and Malmesbury. If anyone messages with what it was. I’ll bring it to the Rough Diamond on Saturday if you are on it. I lost my Cateye Ampp 500 the second time it bounced off somewhere before Membury

Rode with a South African guy who had lost his main light - I think his name was Dave? but I don't know him I'm afraid. 
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Bikeabilityman on 13 March, 2023, 06:31:42 pm
Thanks Diesel. I was gobsmacked when I arrived at spoons as you were finishing your meal! I’d been looking forward to a pint since well before Newent.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: teethgrinder on 13 March, 2023, 10:48:32 pm
I can't believe it was ever worth any AAA points! But I lost interest in AAA some time in the early 1990s when yet another method of calculating them was argued at the AGM, ad infinitum for years to come... I remember when The Elenith was worth 1.5, then something else the following year, then something different the next and so on...

But a 300 in March is good going and just finishing a relatively easy one is plenty good enough. 300s never got going until April 25 years ago and most people struggled round them then.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Lightning Phil on 14 March, 2023, 09:09:06 am
A few thoughts.


The rain started soon after I left Chepstow and persisted for most of the second half. It wasn't that hard but I should have put on more layers and was cold and wet by the time I got to Malmesbury. It was just above freezing so I was seriously cold by then. Big learning point for me.


How wet it is, can make a big difference to how cold you get. I think water conducts heat at about 60 times the rate of still air, or something like that.

I was out in the snow, sleet, and hail, and rain last Thursday.  Only 3 hours, but after 1.5 hours I changed my mitts to some dry spare warmer ones as could feel hands chilling.  The wet mitts I’d removed had been fine down to -6C when dry during the cold snap before Christmas.  But wet and 1C and they weren’t enough to keep my hands warm.

In a way I’m glad we are getting this cold snap after it had warmed up.  A reminder not to go too light in the spares / extra layers I carry as backup as my events come up.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: TheBerkshireGrinder on 14 March, 2023, 11:35:47 am
Some from me, as per Strava:

Tough - possibly tougher than last year. The day started reasonably, despite needing to fill the newly fitted tubeless rear tyre with sealant in the car park at the start as I hadn't had the time to ride the recommended 25km post-filling the manufactures recommend. Luckily, leaving the track pump at home wasn't a problem too.

A fear of ice meant I took gritted main roads to Newent, rather than the recommended route, adding a few extra K, but missing out one big climb, which I was pretty happy about. After Newent the headwind made its presence felt, which was quite unwelcome given the hills and a snapped spoke in the back wheel didn't help, although I thought I could nurse it round.

Much like last year, the wind meant I was too busy chewing the stem and cursing gravity to appreciate the scenery but I eventually made it to Chepstow and the Severn Bridge. The north side path was closed, but the south was fine, and offered a back way into the Severn View services where I controlled, going large on a Burger King whopper meal. Unfortunately, the moisture in the air crossing the estuary wasn't sea spray, and by the time I left it was raining, which continued for the rest of the ride - another 10+ hours.

Getting to Malmesbury the back wheel gave up the ghost, with (we determined in hindsight), the snapped bit of spoke getting stuck in the rear cassette, impeding freewheeling. Cold, wet and knackered, I dithered around trying to decide what and where to eat, and how I might get back to Oxford by myself. Luckily, one of the staff in the Co-Op suggested trying the Wheelers' Retreat, a bike shop in town which I'd seen, but appeared closed. He said the owner would sometimes help out of hours, so seeing the shop lights were still on, I rang the doorbell and to my utter delight shop owner and wheel builder Gary opened up, and was kind enough to fit a new spoke, true the wheel, straighten the bent rear mech hanger and generally sort me out, charging only a very reasonable amount. The guy's a legend, and I can't thank or recommend him highly enough, especially if you're in the market for handbuilt wheels...

Leaving the Malmesbury out of time, I pushed on into the headwind which was utter purgatory: unlike last year the ESE wind blew right down the climbs, with Hackpen Hill being endless misery, and some of the hills feeling like we were in the rain clouds up there. The info control at Marlborough had different descriptions on the brevet card and the route sheet, and was off-route anyway, something I've noticed from this organiser before. Seriously, how difficult can it be?

From Marlborough we got a bit of a tailwind, although I was pretty close to the time cut at Membury, where some free 'BBE date today' crisps from the nice lady at the services helped, and the flatter terrain dragged up the average speed and down the estimated arrival time. Falling in with Owen and 2 other ACME riders, we eventually TT'd down the A4 and back with about an hour to spare. Finished, in every sense of the word. RRtY 5/12
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: alfapete on 14 March, 2023, 12:16:34 pm
How to explain why you love audax:

Tough - possibly tougher than last year.

A fear of ice....I was too busy chewing the stem and cursing gravity....  and by the time I left it was raining, which continued for the rest of the ride - another 10+ hours.

the back wheel gave up the ghost, new spoke, true the wheel,  the guy's a legend, and I can't thank  him enough,

Leaving  out of time, I pushed on into the headwind which was utter purgatory: Hackpen Hill being endless misery, The info control at Marlborough was off-route . Seriously, how difficult can it be?

I was pretty close to the time cut at Membury, where some free 'BBE date today' crisps from the nice lady at the services helped, and the flatter terrain dragged up the average speed and down the estimated arrival time.

Finished, in every sense of the word.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 14 March, 2023, 12:31:22 pm
The info control at Marlborough had different descriptions on the brevet card and the route sheet, and was off-route anyway, something I've noticed from this organiser before. Seriously, how difficult can it be?


On one ride the distance between the route and the expected info control answer was 4.8km, not visible even on a clear day. Needless to say, no one was turning up at the finish with the "correct" answer.  :facepalm:

There seems to be a general attitude that info descriptions on the brevet card are not important as the information required is on the route sheet.

I think it's part of a backlash against the use of GPS files to navigate, as not being part of the one true way of audax. If I have time, I like to make my own gpx files from start to info 1 and info 1 to info 2 etc based on the route sheet, so I don't miss them.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Von Broad on 14 March, 2023, 06:27:29 pm
Tough - possibly tougher than last year.

Chapeau to you good rider!
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: N0rb3rt on 15 March, 2023, 11:18:24 am
(...) The info control at Marlborough had different descriptions on the brevet card and the route sheet, and was off-route anyway, something I've noticed from this organiser before. Seriously, how difficult can it be?(...)

It's a shame. Organizers does not provide GPS coordinates to 'Info controls' . Description is often not accurate. When I  asked one organizer I got told: 'never been asked for them in 20 years of organising audax events'
Also asked Audax UK, but no help either.
If you don't have the exact location planned on your Garmin, it will be a pain to look for an unlit pub in the rain at 2am. It happened to me: rolled through the village, no pub visible,and of course I didn't go back up-and-down looking for it, instead at the finish I looked it up on Street View ,and wrote the name of it on the brevet card. It was indeed unlit, and no lights up at all, no wonder I haven't seen it at 2am in the dark.
If you have a friend at home with a computer, just take a picture of the brevet card Info Control question at the start,send it to them, and they can look it up on Street View,and you don't have to bother with it. In this way you can plan the route on your Garmin before the event.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: N0rb3rt on 15 March, 2023, 11:27:22 am
(...)I think it's part of a backlash against the use of GPS files to navigate, as not being part of the one true way of audax.(...)

Looks like they are giving us deliberately a hard time, or some of the organizers don't know how to right click in Google Maps, and copy the first line of  the pop up menu.




(...) If I have time, I like to make my own gpx files from start to info 1 and info 1 to info 2 etc based on the route sheet, so I don't miss them.(...)

No you can not make your own GPX files without the Info control location. By the time you turn up at the event, you can not make any adjustments to the already loaded GPX files on your Garmin. Rerouting by Garmin is useless, got myself into trouble using that function. So basically Garmin only good for pre made routes from your computer.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 15 March, 2023, 11:53:13 am

No you can not make your own GPX files without the Info control location. By the time you turn up at the event, you can not make any adjustments to the already loaded GPX files on your Garmin.
I mean I spend an hour with the route sheet (which has the info locations and is sent out before the event) and route planning site ridewithgpx/strava etc creating my own route files of the route. not doing this once I arrive at the start. But instead of one track for the event I will have one track for each info control location, (full controls are harder to miss)

My point is that the info control location as defined on the route sheet is generally more specific than what is written on the brevet card. Brevet card distances are also variable between organisers sometimes being on the road distances and sometimes being shortest route between controls. Also if you have deviated from the route at any point your distance will not be correct so "at the T junction ( 167km) ..." can be misinterpreted, while the end of a gpx track cannot be missed on the road.

so when I arrive my garmin will have 4 tracks
start - info 1
info 1 - info 2
info 2 - info 3
info 3 - finish  (don't even need this one really, can just load the organisers gpx to the finish.

I can't believe it was ever worth any AAA points! But I lost interest in AAA some time in the early 1990s when yet another method of calculating them was argued at the AGM, ad infinitum for years to come... I remember when The Elenith was worth 1.5, then something else the following year, then something different the next and so on...

But a 300 in March is good going and just finishing a relatively easy one is plenty good enough. 300s never got going until April 25 years ago and most people struggled round them then.

I've always considered it a hilly ride, cotswolds, forest of dean, double crossing of the ridgeway, somerset monument. But looking at the ride elevation profile it's striking how much flat or gentley undulating terrain there is in long sections between the hills. So maybe it's just the time of year makes it feel tough.

with Hackpen Hill being endless misery,
I remember one windy year when I found it slowly going riding up hackpen hill with the wind howling and horizontal rain, to find a camper van parked up at the top, it was dusk by then or maybe even full dark so it seemed they had settled in for the night, and I thought it was a pretty bleak place to spend the night given the conditions.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: teethgrinder on 15 March, 2023, 03:03:54 pm



I've always considered it a hilly ride, cotswolds, forest of dean, double crossing of the ridgeway, somerset monument. But looking at the ride elevation profile it's striking how much flat or gentley undulating terrain there is in long sections between the hills. So maybe it's just the time of year makes it feel tough.


I think so. I've done rides in winter that were easy in summer but were really tough in December. The Dean does have a good few climbs and I wouldn't cal it a flat ride either. Just not especially hilly.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Phil Hears A Who on 15 March, 2023, 04:36:16 pm
The info control at Marlborough had different descriptions on the brevet card and the route sheet, and was off-route anyway, something I've noticed from this organiser before. Seriously, how difficult can it be?


On one ride the distance between the route and the expected info control answer was 4.8km, not visible even on a clear day. Needless to say, no one was turning up at the finish with the "correct" answer.  :facepalm:

There seems to be a general attitude that info descriptions on the brevet card are not important as the information required is on the route sheet.

I think it's part of a backlash against the use of GPS files to navigate, as not being part of the one true way of audax. If I have time, I like to make my own gpx files from start to info 1 and info 1 to info 2 etc based on the route sheet, so I don't miss them.

I was also caught out in Marlborough, fortunately I wasn't fussed about getting the ride validated so opted to just crack on and get out of the cold and wet. None of the other riders I bumped in to seemed to have had any luck with it either.

Interesting point RE brevet card info vs route sheet info - I've never bothered to carry a route sheet (I'm firmly part of Generation GPS, and I'd have to buy a printer whose exclusive use would be printing route sheets). I'm relatively new to audax and I'd assumed the gpx and route sheet contained the same information: how to navigate between the controls. Maybe I need to buy a printer and learn more about this "one true way" you speak of...
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: cygnet on 15 March, 2023, 11:55:26 pm
You may misunderstand.

Typically if a gpx is provided, it will follow the route sheet. (Or these days vv)

But a control distance on a Brevet card may be recorded as at the minimum distance from the start. If you follow the route sheet/gpx, you may be several km over-distance by the time you reach a late control.

This is a function of advisory vs mandatory routing.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: grams on 16 March, 2023, 01:04:42 am
The question in the brevet card is often not sufficiently detailed to locate the feature, so you need to cross reference with the route sheet to work out which corner or pub or sign they’re interested in.

If you’re really lucky the route sheet instructions will lead you to the right location for the previous year’s question and won’t have been updated.

But in any case the root cause is AUK’s unexplained obsession with enforcing minimum distances, which no other country cares much about.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Owen on 16 March, 2023, 10:02:21 am
I carried the route sheet and had the latest GPX.
Yes I appreciate the brevet card distance maybe wrong but the clue should be right, and it was right, it just wasn't on the provided route.  :facepalm:
Having gone up and down the road (where according to the route sheet the info was) a couple of times me and the friends I was riding with decided to push on.
On arriving at Membury and chatting to a couple of riders who had ridden The Dean previously, they were happy to push me in the right direction.
So on Sunday morning I set to on Google maps and found the info. The answer was approx. 0.5km off route for the GPX and over a 1km off route for the route sheet ?
Without that push in the right direction I wouldn't have found it
So if that was you helped me, thanks :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Lightning Phil on 16 March, 2023, 10:07:37 am
It’d be kind of funny, an info not being on the route, if it wasn’t a PBP qualifying event. I’m surprised that wasn’t picked up by the organiser route check a week or so before.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 16 March, 2023, 10:59:45 am

Interesting point RE brevet card info vs route sheet info - I've never bothered to carry a route sheet (I'm firmly part of Generation GPS, and I'd have to buy a printer whose exclusive use would be printing route sheets). I'm relatively new to audax and I'd assumed the gpx and route sheet contained the same information: how to navigate between the controls. Maybe I need to buy a printer and learn more about this "one true way" you speak of...
The GPX and route sheet do take you on the same route, both are perfectly fine for navigating the course, but the GPX file is not usually flagged with the info locations. so you need to identify them from either the brevet card or the route sheet.

The brevet card may say "at the t junction; distance to Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogogoch", "wetwang; last collection time on postbox" or "Nether Wallop; name of pub", but by reading the route sheet you will know for sure which T junction or location you should be at.

By spending some time creating your own bespoke gpx files, aside from gaining a better understanding of where you will be riding, it will be impossible to ride past an info. Many times I have seen riders ahead of me ride straight past an info, or seen them taking down information before they have reached the info.

Of course this does not help if the info isn't actually on the route. In such cases I just file this under "organisers rides I do not wish to enter in the future", because life is too short to be wandering around a village or town at 2am in the rain trying to find something which should have been on the route.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: TheBerkshireGrinder on 16 March, 2023, 12:34:53 pm
It’d be kind of funny, an info not being on the route, if it wasn’t a PBP qualifying event. I’m surprised that wasn’t picked up by the organiser route check a week or so before.

Sadly this was also the case with another PBP qualifier organised by this individual - to the point that at the end he was telling people what the info control answers were, or correcting those which riders had got wrong/missed on account of his p!sspoor instructions.  If he bothered with a route check at all, he must have done it with his eyes shut.  Getting it wrong on one event is perhaps mere incompetence.  More than once seems wilful. 
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: PAC on 16 March, 2023, 10:49:20 pm
It’d be kind of funny, an info not being on the route, if it wasn’t a PBP qualifying event. I’m surprised that wasn’t picked up by the organiser route check a week or so before.

Sadly this was also the case with another PBP qualifier organised by this individual - to the point that at the end he was telling people what the info control answers were, or correcting those which riders had got wrong/missed on account of his p!sspoor instructions.  If he bothered with a route check at all, he must have done it with his eyes shut.  Getting it wrong on one event is perhaps mere incompetence.  More than once seems wilful.
😮😆
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Bikeabilityman on 28 March, 2023, 04:31:28 pm
Still got the light I found on the way to Malmesbury (bought a direct replacement for the Cateye one I lost). I can take it to the Brevet Cymru on 29th April, unless I hear from Tim first.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: TheBerkshireGrinder on 06 December, 2023, 01:05:10 pm
Anyone know if this is running in 2024? I should probably confirm "never again" for a 3rd time before not entering it....
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: LiamFitz on 05 February, 2024, 01:44:09 pm
Have signed up for another dose
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 07 February, 2024, 02:58:23 pm
signed up for another ride.

hoping for reasonable info controls
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Lightning Phil on 07 February, 2024, 06:04:08 pm
Sure the info’s will be in the same county as the route.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: veloboy on 08 February, 2024, 01:30:53 pm
Entered  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: P.P. on 08 February, 2024, 06:50:34 pm
I didn't get cold or wet enough last year, so I thought I'd better sign up for another go.  ;D
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: iddu on 16 February, 2024, 09:15:11 pm
In, back on the fitness trail..

I'm in the Travelodege Fri/Sat with space for +1 if anybody needs.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 20 February, 2024, 03:40:07 pm
I think this is going to be a challenge again, I haven't ridden over 100km in a day since I bailed on the full fat festive 500 at 250km, maybe get a 200km ride in on the 2nd of March
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: thing1 on 21 February, 2024, 11:55:13 am
I was thinking about this one, but see it sold out already! (It used to be X rated and fairly unconstrained for size, perhaps that changed?)
Think it'll be Horsepower ECE for me that day instead :)
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: mattc on 21 February, 2024, 02:22:08 pm
I was thinking about this one, but see it sold out already! (It used to be X rated and fairly unconstrained for size, perhaps that changed?)

Now it sounds like it's SUPER X rated ...
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 22 February, 2024, 09:13:50 am
I was thinking about this one, but see it sold out already! (It used to be X rated and fairly unconstrained for size, perhaps that changed?)
Think it'll be Horsepower ECE for me that day instead :)
still x rated, so no reason to be constrained on numbers, but the event info has already been sent out (really early), perhaps the organiser set a deadline because they are busy/away between now and the start.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Lightning Phil on 23 February, 2024, 05:20:43 pm
still x rated, so no reason to be constrained on numbers,

Well that depends on how much event admin the organiser wants after the event.  It’s not press a button and done job. Every extra rider adds time, not so much at the start, but certainly during post event validation, and posting cards back.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 08 March, 2024, 10:22:52 am
Looking like a wet afternoon tomorrow, showers forecast all over the return route from 13:00 onwards.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: TheBerkshireGrinder on 08 March, 2024, 12:17:09 pm
Looking like a wet afternoon tomorrow, showers forecast all over the return route from 13:00 onwards.

"Brisk easterly winds" too, says the BBC.  How nice. 
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: P.P. on 08 March, 2024, 12:33:17 pm
Well if its going to rain you might as well have the rain thrown in your face by an icy easterly too for the full effect.

Sounds earlier reminiscent of last years weather.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Lightning Phil on 08 March, 2024, 12:49:37 pm
Interesting route map
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: bhoot on 08 March, 2024, 01:13:21 pm
I see what you mean!
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 08 March, 2024, 01:44:13 pm
Looking like a wet afternoon tomorrow, showers forecast all over the return route from 13:00 onwards.

"Brisk easterly winds" too, says the BBC.  How nice.
that's fine, since I'm developing a penchant for getting the train back to the start, at least I get the tailwind leg first.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: TheBerkshireGrinder on 08 March, 2024, 02:13:49 pm
Looking like a wet afternoon tomorrow, showers forecast all over the return route from 13:00 onwards.

"Brisk easterly winds" too, says the BBC.  How nice.
that's fine, since I'm developing a penchant for getting the train back to the start, at least I get the tailwind leg first.

I might just do it in the car....
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: iddu on 09 March, 2024, 07:04:43 pm
Meh -an early/rare  DNF for me (by Stow), with recovery via PRS (Partner Recovery Service).

Steering went / felt really wierd and unsafe..

Rummage...

(https://i.imgur.com/oZyWuWO.png)

So (ringed) ball had split in half,, loading & causing premature wear on the two each side, which ended up rubbing metal on metal.  Bah..
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Lightning Phil on 09 March, 2024, 07:27:54 pm
Been a harsh winter for headsets. I replaced my headset bearings last month.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Von Broad on 10 March, 2024, 11:46:35 am
Meh -an early/rare  DNF for me (by Stow), with recovery via PRS (Partner Recovery Service).

Bad luck on the DNF iddu.
Hope the 'comeback' is still on track henceforth.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: LiamFitz on 10 March, 2024, 04:47:51 pm
Meh -an early/rare  DNF for me (by Stow), with recovery via PRS (Partner Recovery Service).

Steering went / felt really wierd and unsafe..

  Bah..

I kept wondering why you were the only rider not to overhaul me!

That felt like a tough ride although my Strave figures say otherwise. However, I did not appreciate my Garmin at 305km having a hissy fit at the A40 junction and telling me I was off Course (sending me round in circles for 10 minutes), then having a visitation as I went around in circles and then trying to fix it as I started getting the shakes (cold and very wet by then).

Note to self - riding a 300 the day after long haul travel isn't terribly wise.

My highpoint was the incredible kindness of the staff at Malmsbury Waitrose. The cafe had just closed when I got there but they still found me a hot coffee and a place to sit down.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: mattc on 10 March, 2024, 04:58:20 pm
still x rated, so no reason to be constrained on numbers,

Well that depends on how much event admin the organiser wants after the event.  It’s not press a button and done job. Every extra rider adds time, not so much at the start, but certainly during post event validation, and posting cards back.
Each one also adds ££££££s. Presumably a very good hourly rate to process the extras.

Odd.
Title: Re: The Dean
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 11 March, 2024, 10:03:18 am
Well that was my slowest ever completion of the Dean, even slower than the time I had only just recovered from Covid. Conditions felt relatively kind on the way out, but heading back east was tougher than usual.

Interrogation of my strava trace shows pretty much all of the eastbound segments from Chepstow To Membury were my slowest ever. Met up with 3 riders at the services and had a nice social ride to the finish.

Never felt in danger of DNF or out of time