Round The Year Randonneurs Log

[mikewigley]

Two years done now.

Dec: DIY 200

Don't forget to send Maggie out for her December ride too!

[LittleWheelsandBig]

So how did April 2012 go?

[mikewigley]

So how did April 2012 go?

The Dorset Coast 200, along with 55 AUKs and (this surprised me) 62 non-members.  I'm not sure (as MemSec) how to react to such obvious interest in our events from non-members.

[andyp]

The Dorset Coast 200, along with 55 AUKs and (this surprised me) 62 non-members.  I'm not sure (as MemSec) how to react to such obvious interest in our events from non-members.

The Dorset Coast is something of an annual local cycling institution, and is supported by all the local racing clubs and CTC groups... The fact that Pete allows entry on the line for both the 100 and 200 means that turnout can be quite weather dependent, and huge on fine days. But it's one of those things, once you've done it a couple of times, you don't want to miss a year.

.. it was in a way a sportive before sportives existed, in the sense that it's a semi supported ride along a great route, everyone flies round the harbour, and the lead groups fly all the way.

I did it a couple of times before I found out it was part of a bigger thing called Audaxing, and long distance cycling. I can't understand is why everyone who finds out that there's longer distances out there doesn't decide to give it a go  ...but as an entry route into long distance cycling, it certainly hooked me.

Andrew
(with apologies for drifting off topic)

[tonyh]

Congrats Martin!

[caerau]

Another one to tick off - just 3 to go for RRTY now...
April 13 - Two Battles 200 (Tamworth)
May 13 - Cambrian Series 3A perm (300) 
June 13 - The National 400 (Tiverton) 
July 13 - The Buzzard 600 (Leighton Buzzard -  SR yay) 
August 13 - Dr Foster's Summer Saunter (Cardiff) 
Sept 13 - Wem We Get There 200 (Tamworth) 
               Border castles Randonne 200
               Ferryside Fish Foray 200
Oct 13 - Gower Getter 200
Nov 13 - Transporter 200 
Dec 13  Monmouthshire Meander    0 good one this time very satisfying ride

[tonyh]

Confidently backing you to finish all 12 months!

[SR Steve]

Just completed my 2 x RRTY for 2013. 

Jan - January Sale 200, DIY 200
Feb  - Burford Bumble 200, Cheadle Newport 200
Mar  - Vale of Belvoir 200, York Arrow 392
Apr  - Hardboiled 300, Dorset Coast 200, DIY 200, Plains 300 + 200 ECE
May - Brevet Cymru 400, Llanfair 400
Jun  - YLY 600, Moors and Wolds 400 + 100 ECE, DIY 200, National 400, DIY 300, DIY 200, Holl and back 600
Jul   - Buzzard 600, Mersey Roads 24 hour TT, LEL 1400
Aug - The 3 Provinces 300 (Ireland), DIY 200, DIY 200
Sep - DIY 200, DIY 200, Yorkshire Dales 200 + 400 ECE, Roses to Wrags 200 +100 ECE, DIY 300
Oct  - DIY 200, An Autumn Day Out 150 + 50 ECE
Nov - DIY 200, DIY 200
Dec - DIY 200, DIY 200

Hope to continue through 2014 and onwards to 2015 PBP.

[phil d]

2004       
2005       
2006       
2007       
2008       
2009       Injury stopped play after only two months. 
2010       
2011       

Jan12   Poor Student                                 
Feb12   Burford Bumble       
Mar12   Cheltenham Flyer     
Apr12    Double Dutch         
May 12  Chevy Chase           
Jun 12  Tour of the Moors     
Jul 12  Barbury Bash             
Aug 12  Over the Severn       
Sep 12  Up the Downs         
Oct 12   Barmouth Boulevard 
Nov 12   Cyrch Cymru           
Dec 12  Kings Castles etc     

Yet again near-perfect weather if a little chilly (what do we expect in December?).  Great ride!

So that's it.  RRTY number 10 complete.  And entirely on calendar events this year. 

I'm stopping now.  Rumours that I have entered Poor Student, and am planning a group ride of Marlborough Connection in February are just that - malicious rumours unfortunately completely true.  I just couldn't help myself 

Hmm.  Paul's "Winter Boat Trip" seems to have made another year, so 11 now.  Is it possible to get off this merry-go-round?

[Chris S]

(Snipped excellently audacious stuff)

Is it possible to get off this merry-go-round?

No. See you at the Poor Student? 

[tonyh]

Is it possible to get off this merry-go-round?

No (as you are clearly demonstrating).

But our excellent RRTY recorder, Mr W., does give excellent advice about not taking it TOO seriously!

(Now for a lie-down after reading Mr Steve's list of rides...)


(Edited to avoid any confusion with our excellent Recorder of Everything, Mr PpP !)

[MaggieL]

Don't forget to send Maggie out for her December ride too!

Already done ! I did my December DIY the day after Pete's.

Which makes my 2013 RRTY....
January - Poor Student
February - DIY 200
March - Kennet Valley
April - Heart of England
May - Gospel Pass
June - National 400
July - DIY 200
August - LEL
September - Wylye and Ebble Valley
October - DIY 200
November - Upper Thames
December - DIY 200

So, 2 years completed !

[tonyh]

Hooray for Maggie and Pete!

[crowriver]

That's December's DIY 200 done (STV). Unseasonably mild at the moment,and dry.  Good riding conditions except for the wind that got stronger as the day progressed.

Three months to go. Roll on January.

[Phil W]

Dec DIY 200 done and dusted. My God that wind just got stronger and wringer on the last 90k.

[tonyh]

Dec DIY 200 done and dusted.

... and on the Results!

[Phil W]

Dec DIY 200 done and dusted.

... and on the Results!

Excellent. Jan will be a calendar 200 and February I'll ECE a calendar 100 up to 200.

[Lars]

Dec DIY 200 done and dusted.

... and on the Results!

Excellent. Jan will be a calendar 200 and February I'll ECE a calendar 100 up to 200.

'tis was a tough weekend for sure w.r.t. to various RTY stuff. At start of it yesterday had a RRTY and an AARTY possible to be kept alive. Outcome was RRTY started in March still alive, but AARTY needs to be re-started sometime in the future! Alarm clock going off at 6.30 am in time to get up in time for train trip to 100k AAARTY ride this morning resulted in a nah, won't be bothered, will go back to sleep. moment! Which one did. And one won't feel bad about that decision! One can't be bothered enough.

[StantheMan]

December DIY 200 km done. Temp -8C to -17C, but otherwise very good weather here in Finland, Kuopio area. 33rd monthly 200 km mostly DIYs. This time it took 12:49h with studded winter tires.

[wilkyboy]

December was a DIY200 on Sunday with Fidgetbuzz, which is always a pleasure.  On big wheels, too   

We could've done without the punishing headwind from Lakenheath to Sible Hedingham, and less rain would've been nice (although I'll take rain over wind any day).  Temps were significantly above freezing all day – Stan, that's proper cold you're riding in there!

[JamesBradbury]

Only started Audax a few months ago and the RRTY seemed like a good way to get used to 200s before aiming for SR in 2014.

Here's the progress/plan:

2013-14
September: Border Castles 200 
Oct: AAAnfractuous 200 (DNS - Daughter had suspected chicken pox)   
       Poor student permanent 200 (starting from Malmesbury) 
Nov: Upper Thames 200 (DNS - I was ill) 
        DIY by GPS (Westbury, Fairford, Tetbury) 200 
Dec: Kings Castles Priests & Churches 200 
Jan: Mr Pickwick's January Sale 200
Feb: Sam Weller's day trip to Wochma 200
Mar: Kennet Valley Run 200
Apr: Yr Elenydd 300
May: Brevet Cymru 400
June: Mae Mr Pickwick yn mynd i chwilio am ddreigiau a chwedlau 600
July: ?
August: ?

[Littlesox]

I'm giving it a go and am up and running !

05/10 DIY Perm by GPS 222km
03/11 DIY Perm by GPS 209km
01/12 DIY Perm by GPS 222km
02/01 DIY Perm by GPS 207km

[tonyh]

December 2013: nothing. In spite of all the easy-weather days early in the month. No good reason for not using them. Anyway, stepped off the treadmill.

And the longer it was since the last long ride, the more difficult it feels (to me, anyway) to take the decision to go. Lots of inspiring news on this thread, though!

[SWamps]

Picked up the baton again for RRTY month 4 on 30 Dec, which turned out to be the wettest day of the month, couldn't do the 31st hence there were no more days, so we had to go for it. A 200K+ DIY circular route around Fife. Anyway, my fellow RRTY'er caught the train home after 130k and had obviously been struggling up to that point so I headed off on my own readying myself to make the turn into the headwind. After a good feed and a change of gloves spirits were high and strength was maintained over the heights of Lomond outside Falkland in the dark and arriving home after almost 12.5 hours. Almost certainly the hardest 200K I've completed due to weather conditions but certainly the one which has given me the most satisfaction for completing. Funny this RRTY thing - bring on the next one!

[Henry]

December 2013: nothing. In spite of all the easy-weather days early in the month. No good reason for not using them. Anyway, stepped off the treadmill.

And the longer it was since the last long ride, the more difficult it feels (to me, anyway) to take the decision to go. Lots of inspiring news on this thread, though!

Fair play to you Tony, I don't think anybody round here would accuse you of being lazy on a bike! I think rides of less than 200km have plenty of merit at this time of year anyway 

I am 4 months into RRTY number 3, but pretty sure I will be off the treadmill soon with a hernia operation.