Author Topic: Mildenhall Cycling Rally 23-26/8/13 (Read 19262 times)

Julian · « **Reply #175 on:** 26 August, 2013, 05:27:53 am »

Quote from: Wowbagger on 23 August, 2013, 11:38:21 pm

Bed-time bog visit. There seems to be an open invitation to eat bacon at Canardly's tent in the morning.

Quote from: Wowbagger on 24 August, 2013, 06:22:39 am

Just back from the bogs. It started raining when I was enthroned. There is a man out the who started selling burgers before 6am.

A seven hour bog visit??

Oscar's dad · « **Reply #176 on:** 26 August, 2013, 06:25:00 am »

Quote from: Wowbagger on 26 August, 2013, 01:55:27 am

I forgot to mention an impressive bit of roadkill on yesterday's ride: a mink! I had never seen one before, alive or dead.

Well, that's your winter wardrobe sorted!

Wowbagger · « **Reply #177 on:** 26 August, 2013, 06:31:18 am »

Quote from: Julian on 26 August, 2013, 05:27:53 am

Quote from: Wowbagger on 23 August, 2013, 11:38:21 pm
Bed-time bog visit. There seems to be an open invitation to eat bacon at Canardly's tent in the morning.

Quote from: Wowbagger on 24 August, 2013, 06:22:39 am
Just back from the bogs. It started raining when I was enthroned. There is a man out the who started selling burgers before 6am.

A seven hour bog visit??

And what's wrong with that?

Vince · « **Reply #178 on:** 26 August, 2013, 08:44:19 am »

As an outsider on this event, I'm getting the feeling that Mildenhall Rally only consists of Wow and Kim's visits to the bogs and a second rate pub!

Kim · « **Reply #179 on:** 26 August, 2013, 09:18:29 am »

Untrue. We also had rain.

gibbo · « **Reply #180 on:** 26 August, 2013, 10:05:57 am »

Meant to ask if anyone knows what happened to Ken and Nick Bowman of Iceni Velo? They started the 100km ride and we half expected them to join us at some stage having ridden with them on a CC Sudbury Audax from Bildeston so we kept an eye open. It wasn't until we got back and noticed their car had gone that made us wonder what happened. A txt from Dennis just said they were DNF, so I hope it was nothing more than a mechanical.

Gibbo.

Vince · « **Reply #181 on:** 26 August, 2013, 10:06:32 am »

Quote from: Kim on 26 August, 2013, 09:18:29 am

Untrue. We also had rain.

Oh, excellent. I must see if I can get a pass to next years event.

clarion · « **Reply #182 on:** 26 August, 2013, 05:13:28 pm »

We're home! What an astonishing weekend. Huge thanks to everyone who helped us.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #183 on:** 26 August, 2013, 06:10:10 pm »

We are rehydrating and carbo-loading at the 5 bells, Colne Engaine. 8 Mike's to our train.

We were overtaken by bobb somewhere near Barrow.

Basil · « **Reply #184 on:** 26 August, 2013, 06:23:21 pm »

Is that Mike otp, and his seven cycling mates who are also named Mike?

andrewc · « **Reply #185 on:** 26 August, 2013, 06:24:52 pm »

Back home in sunny Liverpeule.... the journey was enlivened by the train manager, who asked everyone to have their "tickets, passes or excuses" ready, told us at Sheffield that we were entering the capital of "The Peoples Republic of South Yorkshire" (President in exile is obviously Clarion) and at Liverpool South Parkway (serves Liverpool JL airport) "change here for Malaga & Alicante".....

andrewc · « **Reply #186 on:** 26 August, 2013, 06:38:15 pm »

It was a lovely weekend with friends , despite the weather on Saturday and the crap pub experience on Sunday. Baby Nye made loads of new admirers and was spoffled by everyone

A few grim bits though, Clarion's unpleasant experience on Friday, getting back on Sunday and hearing that a couple on a tandem had been hit by a car Tandem-cycle-rider-is-fighting-for-her-life-after-A11-crash and being warned of multiple bike thefts from the rally ground

Photos will be posted later..

Auntie Helen · « **Reply #187 on:** 26 August, 2013, 06:43:29 pm »

Quote from: Wowbagger on 26 August, 2013, 06:10:10 pm

We are rehydrating and carbo-loading at the 5 bells, Colne Engaine.

I'm going there for lunch on Wednesday with the church walking group!

Markipoos · « **Reply #188 on:** 26 August, 2013, 07:16:46 pm »

Just got back. Great weekend. Hot too, although somewhat damp to start (understatement!)

Mark

Kim · « **Reply #189 on:** 26 August, 2013, 08:00:49 pm »

Back in smoggy Brummingham having dropped off turista. Next year I intend to spend more time cycling than driving, though. Might have to enter an audax to be on the safe side.

I predict the weekend is going to end with an argument about the fuel gauge in the van tomorrow morning, as I've just stuck 25 litres in and the level hasn't gone up.

ETA: Did any of the bikes that hitched a lift in our van have SRAM kit on them? I've found a SRAM branded pingfuckit (small, black end cap looking thing) rolling around in the back. It may have come from the trike, but it's not something I recognise.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #190 on:** 26 August, 2013, 08:08:53 pm »

We put in a tremendous burst if speed to catch the 7.18 from Marks Tey to find that it didn't exist. Instead we caught the 7.14, which had been delayed by disruptive passengers, arriving at 7.22. These passengers were just a little too disruptive because we arrived in Shenfield to see out connection disappearing, so we are stuck here for half an hour. Bugger.

Canardly · « **Reply #191 on:** 26 August, 2013, 08:35:23 pm »

A fine week end tainted somewhat by the events highlighted by Andrewc above.

mike · « **Reply #192 on:** 26 August, 2013, 08:51:37 pm »

Quote from: Basil on 26 August, 2013, 06:23:21 pm

Is that Mike otp, and his seven cycling mates who are also named Mike?

yup. We are becoming a universal measurement - 'How far to London? 35 Mikes.

They're a bit like Miles but with more giggles.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #193 on:** 26 August, 2013, 09:22:17 pm »

Those Mike's can easily be converted to Kim O'Litres.

We are home, my arse is sore and the fish and chip shop is shut.

I need food.

Kim · « **Reply #194 on:** 26 August, 2013, 09:28:16 pm »

Some photos...

We were cheating, with a big van and a large tent:

...but you can stand up in it!

Meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum, there was more modest accommodation for the hardened randonneurs:

It stopped raining, and we went for a ride:

We were doing quite well for recumbent trikes:

Some of us formed a splinter group:

...and got attacked by man-eating spiders:

Meanwhile, Regulator missed out on the opportunity to purchase this:

More here.

Wobbly John · « **Reply #195 on:** 26 August, 2013, 09:55:28 pm »

A few photos from Sunday:

Riders gather

Back at the YACF corner of Mildenhall Rally

Turista's Wood gassificating stove

turista · « **Reply #196 on:** 26 August, 2013, 09:57:04 pm »

That was quite an experience, a three day journey to get there. A fantastic night sleeping on my bivvy bag "near" Draycote water with a fantastic full moon. The next night in the bivvy was my third ever and my first experience of rain in one! Survived that in a field near Higham Ferrers then a night in a campsite to shower and relax, then a recovery ride to Mildenhall....where friendships were made and deepened.
Did the 105km Audax in the drizzle and and the abbreviated YACF ride and so missed the Pub lunch.
I had some fun playing Ready Steady Cook with the wood gas stove and yes celebrated my 100th and 101st nights in my tent.
Among this, I am angry at Clarion's experience - so plus one to what Andrew said.
Kim thank you for spending some hours driving and getting me home safely.
Now I still have a bag of Suffolk Turnips and some Red Onions (and not much else in the kitchen!), back to work in the morning.
Yeah it rained but we had a fabulously sunny morning this morning to dry everything out.
What a lot of fun.
Terry

Wobbly John · « **Reply #197 on:** 26 August, 2013, 10:01:43 pm »

Quote from: andrewc on 26 August, 2013, 06:38:15 pm

A few grim bits though, Clarion's unpleasant experience on Friday, getting back on Sunday and hearing that a couple on a tandem had been hit by a car Tandem-cycle-rider-is-fighting-for-her-life-after-A11-crash and being warned of multiple bike thefts from the rally ground

It's good to read that the tandem rider's injuries are no longer life threatening - there was a rumor on the rally site today that the collision was fatal. $:-\$