Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => Audax => Topic started by: madcow on 09 April, 2019, 11:48:44 am

Title: Skeggy 300
Post by: madcow on 09 April, 2019, 11:48:44 am
Anyone else off to the seaside?
As always with Lincolnshire, wind direction and speed makes all the difference.
Moderate east/northeasterly forecast so headwind out and tailwind back.
Title: Re: Skeggy 300
Post by: Wobbly on 09 April, 2019, 11:56:02 am
Would like to have done it but, as always in PBP years, entries closed waaay too early for me  :(

Have memories of some *very* weather-influenced editions in the past. One year we were all blown to Skegness - no pedalling required! - but the return journey was just bloody horrible.

In fact I think I might have writted an Article in Arrivée about one year's Skeggy ride. Or have I imagined that...?
Title: Re: Skeggy 300
Post by: madcow on 09 April, 2019, 12:47:47 pm
Fred Pontin-"Book early"  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F9TW8Z7lyw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F9TW8Z7lyw)

I got caught out by M+W 400 closing early but it solved the dilemma of whether to ride that or Deano's "Beyond the Dales we know" 300 which is
exceptionally scenic. (1000 metres more ascent in 100 km. shorter distance)
Title: Re: Skeggy 300
Post by: SR Steve on 09 April, 2019, 01:22:13 pm
I checked my cheque stubs and found I’d entered last September so I’ll be riding again. It’s a fairly local one for me and I’m in Lincolnshire the following weekend too for the DFYDC 300 from Newark. Then I’m stepping up to 400km with the Moors and Wolds.
Title: Re: Skeggy 300
Post by: oggy on 09 April, 2019, 01:31:02 pm
I am in
Title: Re: Skeggy 300
Post by: JBB on 09 April, 2019, 06:08:50 pm
Would like to have done it but, as always in PBP years, entries closed waaay too early for me  :(

Have memories of some *very* weather-influenced editions in the past. One year we were all blown to Skegness - no pedalling required! - but the return journey was just bloody horrible.

In fact I think I might have writted an Article in Arrivée about one year's Skeggy ride. Or have I imagined that...?

I'd love to read it; especially as I'm giving it a bash this year!
Title: Re: Skeggy 300
Post by: Wobbly on 09 April, 2019, 06:26:48 pm
I'd love to read it; especially as I'm giving it a bash this year!

Lord knows where my old copies of Arrivée are: probably in a box in the loft I think.

Are there digital copies on-line? I think you could search for it using "home mad sun hat" or something.
Title: Re: Skeggy 300
Post by: JBB on 09 April, 2019, 06:47:38 pm
I'd love to read it; especially as I'm giving it a bash this year!

Lord knows where my old copies of Arrivée are: probably in a box in the loft I think.

Are there digital copies on-line? I think you could search for it using "home mad sun hat" or something.

Can you narrow it down to a year(ish) at all?
Title: Re: Skeggy 300
Post by: Wobbly on 09 April, 2019, 06:58:22 pm
Good grief. Early 2000s I think.

It was when the ride still went all the way into Skegness which - I know some will be sceptical of this - was a highlight.
Title: Re: Skeggy 300
Post by: Martyn Wheeler on 09 April, 2019, 07:00:28 pm
Looks like we're going to be blown home on Saturday... :-)

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Title: Re: Skeggy 300
Post by: Nick Firth on 09 April, 2019, 07:48:43 pm
This will be my 11th Skeggy.
Title: Re: Skeggy 300
Post by: Wobbly on 09 April, 2019, 08:13:14 pm
Grounds for Sectioning, surely  ;D
Title: Re: Skeggy 300
Post by: Nick Firth on 09 April, 2019, 08:35:16 pm
….and this coming from a man who rides a Pashley, lol.
Title: Re: Skeggy 300
Post by: Wobbly on 09 April, 2019, 08:40:29 pm
 ;D
Title: Re: Skeggy 300
Post by: DCLane on 10 April, 2019, 12:39:45 am
I've entered this - but won't be flying round as I've the GHS 100 in 8 the next day with my 14yo (100 miles in 8 hours).

You'll find me on a Wilier Montegrappa (probably) with Ravensthorpe CC kit (again probably).
Title: Re: Skeggy 300
Post by: SR Steve on 10 April, 2019, 10:01:36 am
This will be my 11th Skeggy.
I’ve already done 12 despite trying to avoid it  :facepalm:
Grounds for Sectioning, surely  ;D
Oh dear, I’d better watch out for yellow vans on Saturday  ::-)
Title: Re: Skeggy 300
Post by: Nick Firth on 10 April, 2019, 05:14:02 pm
Not once in all these Skeggy's have I actual seen Skegness or the sea, I must treat myself sometime.
Title: Re: Skeggy 300
Post by: Martyn Wheeler on 10 April, 2019, 05:48:33 pm
You are not missing much

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Title: Re: Skeggy 300
Post by: Wobbly on 10 April, 2019, 06:38:55 pm
Not once in all these Skeggy's have I actual seen Skegness or the sea, I must treat myself sometime.

Eh? The Skegness control used to be on Skegness Pier. Surely it can't be more than 11 years since the route was changed from that to the current, somewhat less stirring café stop.
Title: Re: Skeggy 300
Post by: Nick Firth on 10 April, 2019, 08:15:07 pm
I rode Skeggy 1st time in 2010 then did it 2 weeks later as a perm, then every year since as the calendar event, I've always used Poppy's Café as the control.
Title: Re: Skeggy 300
Post by: Wobbly on 10 April, 2019, 08:20:52 pm
Fair enough.

My dodgy memory tells me I first rode it maybe the very early noughties or maybe even late 90's. And back then the Skegness conrtol was on the pier.

Come on fellow aged AUKs, help me out here...!
Title: Re: Skeggy 300
Post by: rob on 10 April, 2019, 08:35:17 pm
Are you thinking about Donny Cleethorpes where we controlled in the Hawaiian Eye opposite the Pier ?
Title: Re: Skeggy 300
Post by: Chris S on 10 April, 2019, 08:38:48 pm
I rode it in 2007, and definitely had Fish & Chips in a cafe, in full sight of the sea.
Title: Re: Skeggy 300
Post by: Paul H on 10 April, 2019, 08:43:35 pm
Yep, first time I did it I think it was a free control but the route certainly went along the sea front.  Going into Skeggy is a bit of a detour now, easier to see the sea in Sutton.
I didn't enter this year, didn't want to sully the memory of last year's tailwind in both directions.
Title: Re: Skeggy 300
Post by: markcjagar on 10 April, 2019, 09:24:47 pm
last year's tailwind in both directions.

that was brilliant
Title: Re: Skeggy 300
Post by: Paul D on 11 April, 2019, 08:52:15 am
I rode it in 2007, and definitely had Fish & Chips in a cafe, in full sight of the sea.

Ditto. My first ever 300. I've always said never again but 12 years later I reckon I could handle another skeggy...maybe... :hand:
Title: Re: Skeggy 300
Post by: JBB on 15 April, 2019, 10:49:08 pm
Well that was cold! I enjoyed it though. A bit manic from the start but I teamed up with Jim Hopper and Mark Gray at Woodhall Spa and benefitted from their work into the headwind and we stuck together for the rest of the ride. It would have been difficult to find better riding companions.
I haven't been to that part of the world for more than fourty years. Sherwood Forest was freezing and the wind was unrelenting on the way out but very helpful on the way home. Roads were worse than Wessex! Man eating potholes abounded and we did have one casualty, apparently fine now. The wolds around Horncastle were very attractive although this could have been because it was also the warmest part of the ride - so much so I undid some zips!
Finished feeling pretty good so all set for the Heart of England which promises a complete change of weather atm.
Title: Re: Skeggy 300
Post by: SR Steve on 16 April, 2019, 11:16:38 am
It certainly was cold and I wasn’t quite as lucky in the Lincolnshire Wolds as I got caught in snow/sleet/hail showers in both directions! I still enjoyed the ride and especially the tailwind on the way back. I followed the water railway cycle path from Bardney to Fledborough to dodge the A57 traffic, except for controlling in Lincoln, and rejoined the official route in Tuxford. Sunshine, light traffic and the tailwind even made Mansfield Woodhouse and Sutton in Ashfield seem quite pleasant.
Title: Re: Skeggy 300
Post by: JBB on 16 April, 2019, 11:54:20 am
We had 2 brief hail showers but could see others around which we fortunately missed. ;D
Title: Re: Skeggy 300
Post by: oggy on 16 April, 2019, 01:18:19 pm
It certainly was cold and I wasn’t quite as lucky in the Lincolnshire Wolds as I got caught in snow/sleet/hail showers in both directions! I still enjoyed the ride and especially the tailwind on the way back. I followed the water railway cycle path from Bardney to Fledborough to dodge the A57 traffic, except for controlling in Lincoln, and rejoined the official route in Tuxford. Sunshine, light traffic and the tailwind even made Mansfield Woodhouse and Sutton in Ashfield seem quite pleasant.

The Straggler and I followed that path too much better than the A57
Title: Re: Skeggy 300
Post by: madcow on 17 April, 2019, 09:56:07 pm
I used it two years ago but stuck to the route this time.

It was one of the coldest rides of this year, and I didn’t help things by not eating enough on the outward leg. By the time I got to Woodhall Spa, I was bonked and spent the next two legs just catching up on food.
After tea and cake at Sutton on Sea , I started to feel better and made good use of the tailwind,clocking up to 20 mph on the way to Bardney. Solo back to Edwinstowe and then started to catch one or two others.
Easy run round the edge of Mansfield,straight down the A38 and back in the same time as 2 years ago.
Thanks to all the helpers serving tea and cake at the finish. Much appreciated.