Author Topic: [LEL17] From Zim to AUK and Beyond.....LEL  (Read 2429 times)

[LEL17] From Zim to AUK and Beyond.....LEL
« on: 15 August, 2017, 06:59:42 am »
After all the preparations, countless hours of training, discussing, worrying the event was finally here. I felt I was as prepared as possible under the circumstances. Obviously there are so many variables that are beyond our control. A bit of luck would never go astray on a journey like this.

Firstly I would like to say a huge thank you to Debbi who gave me her full support the whole year. All the early mornings, weekends away doing various audaxes, looking after the dogs, listening to stupid o'clock whinging on the phone telling me go on, food preparation, bottle washing...the list goes on.

Big shout out to Danial, Phil, Roger and their huge army of volunteers that made the running of this event possible. The amount of work, organising, agonising and running around must be astronomical... THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.

There were a few problems at some of the controls which will be covered in more detail later and it was definitely beneficial to have an earlier start time if you were a full value rider. The main problems were no breakfast/food at Spalding and no food at Louth on Monday morning (Both controls were still officially open at the time). Edinburgh- arrived at the control with the extension on my handle bar holding my garmin and spare light having been 'rattled' broken over the roads- spoke to the mechanic whose response was its broken and I am going home. I do understand that the mechanic was a volunteer and had probably been there all day helping people however does this mean if I had started at an earlier hour I would have been helped? On the way back there was no food at Pocklington(arrived 2 hrs over my control time and 1 hr 45min after the control officially closed) as the control was closing down. For anyone that started at 1:45 pm or earlier and arriving 2 hours over time would have still been watered and fed. Spalding on the way back I arrived 18 minutes over my control time and 3 minutes after the official closing time and was told as the control was officially closed I was welcome to have a sleep/rest however no wake up call was available. Again if my start time had been 2 hours earlier I would have been allowed to have a rest with a wake up call.

The above happenings were not the fault of any individual or does not detract from my appreciation of the Volunteers however they are an indication of possible changes that can be made so full value riders being put into late start time slots get the same treatment and value for money as those starting at earlier times.

Unfortunately after leaving Spalding and riding through Whittlesey I fell asleep/passed out on the bicycle veered into the road and crashed. Two cars were also present however luckily both were missed and no lasting damage occured. I was awake but shaken after that and decided after a lengthy telephone discussion that continuing in this state especially with Cambridge and London coming up could be dangerous.

My London Edinburgh London (now Whittlesey) journey came to an end after 1301 km.

A full account with pictures and what I can remember of each day's journey will follow. This will be broken down into 'Legs' making easier reading and to avoid abandoning due to boredom.

Once again THANK YOU DANIAL, PHIL,and ROGER ET AL for an amazing adventure...

https://marklassman.wordpress.com/2017/08/15/london-edinburgh-london/

Re: From Zim to AUK and Beyond.....LEL
« Reply #1 on: 17 August, 2017, 07:14:24 am »
As mentioned previously I am breaking down my account of the LEL in parts.
Saturday: Registration day
https://marklassman.wordpress.com/2017/08/17/lel-registraion-day/

Re: From Zim to AUK and Beyond.....LEL
« Reply #2 on: 19 August, 2017, 07:57:00 am »
LEL write up continues- Start, Loughton to Spalding....

https://marklassman.wordpress.com/2017/08/19/lel-leg-1-loughton-to-spalding/

Re: From Zim to AUK and Beyond.....LEL
« Reply #3 on: 22 August, 2017, 06:14:18 am »
London Edinburgh London write up continues with Leg 2: Spalding to Barnard Castle...

https://marklassman.wordpress.com/2017/08/22/lel-leg-2-spalding-to-barnard-castle/

Re: From Zim to AUK and Beyond.....LEL
« Reply #4 on: 29 August, 2017, 07:36:03 am »
After a week off from cycling London Edinburgh London write up continues with Leg 3 – Barnard Castle to Innerleithen...
https://marklassman.wordpress.com/2017/08/29/lel-leg-3-barnard-castle-to-innerleithen/

Re: From Zim to AUK and Beyond.....LEL
« Reply #5 on: 03 September, 2017, 04:38:13 pm »
London Edinburgh London write up continues with Leg 4 – Innerleithen to Thirsk...

https://marklassman.wordpress.com/2017/09/03/lel-leg-4-innerleithen-to-thirsk/

Re: From Zim to AUK and Beyond.....LEL
« Reply #6 on: 08 September, 2017, 06:59:40 am »
London Edinburgh London write up continues with Leg 5 – Thirsk and a dash to the end...

https://marklassman.wordpress.com/2017/09/08/lel-leg-5-thirsk-and-a-dash-to-the-end/

Re: From Zim to AUK and Beyond.....LEL
« Reply #7 on: 23 October, 2017, 07:58:52 pm »
Latest blog entry... Life after the LEL and End of the 2016/2017 season
https://marklassman.wordpress.com/2017/10/22/life-after-lel-2017-getting-back-on-the-bike/