Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => Audax => Topic started by: Greenbank on 20 January, 2016, 09:09:47 am

Title: [HAMR] 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Greenbank on 20 January, 2016, 09:09:47 am
Nothing from the tracker yet, would have been a late night last night (past 2.30am at least if he got back to MK). Lie in today or usual 9.30am-ish start?
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: danridesbikes on 20 January, 2016, 09:34:07 am
last tracker point was 3:11am, thats so late its early, 18 hours after he set off
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Shreds on 20 January, 2016, 11:06:21 am
So it's nigh on 11:04 and nothing on the tracker.

It was a hellishly late night (or early morning) for Steve. Where did he end up, as I turned in when appeared to be turning west to MK.

Were there any problems as normally it wouldn't take him that long to get back home? Did he go further or has he been transported to another corner of the kingdom?

Maybe he just wanted to have a lie in and avoid the fog? (Can't blame him for wanting that).
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Justin(e) on 20 January, 2016, 11:23:53 am
last tracker point was 3:11am, thats so late its early, 18 hours after he set off

Bloody impressive - even by Toothgrinder standards.

Can't help but think that miles in daylight are more productive than miles in the dark.

Not going to second guess him though.  Return quickly to the saddle Steve.

Allez.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: rafletcher on 20 January, 2016, 12:45:24 pm
Hmm, 12.45 and still nothing on the tracker....
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Wobbly on 20 January, 2016, 12:46:56 pm
It was -7 here first thing this morning. Last time I rode from Northamptonshire to Worcestershire in temperatures that low it took me a damn long time to warm up before I could sleep.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Jack_P on 20 January, 2016, 12:52:49 pm
Strangely little frost here in East Northants this morning, I did 4 hours from 6am without going blue
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: DaveE128 on 20 January, 2016, 01:38:29 pm
I'm starting to get a little concerned now... but then I tend to be a bit pessimistic... :-\
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Shreds on 20 January, 2016, 01:57:23 pm
Can anyone confirm that Steve is safe and well?
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: DaveE128 on 20 January, 2016, 02:56:23 pm
I'm hoping it's just a tracker issue...

Nothing on Facebook.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 20 January, 2016, 03:00:33 pm
I was keeping an eye on the tracker late last night and he was slow to cover ground in the later stages. I wonder if he got caught up on icy roads, or if there was a mechanical. There was mention on Strava of a loose crank a day or two ago.

Either way, fingers crossed for him.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: bryn on 20 January, 2016, 04:29:38 pm
The last few readings on TrackLeaders showed him mostly doing 12-13mph which seemed reasonable after such a long day, with, no doubt, some ice about. There was however one reading of 3mph which might have been walking, a comfort break, or a winding section of the route with TL cutting off all the corners for its calculation. 

No sign of yesterday's ride on Strava or the  OYTT site.

Hope all is well. Not sure what the significance of the nosebleeds he reported a few days ago in the Strava heading might be.

Good luck Steve.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: DaveE128 on 20 January, 2016, 04:33:43 pm
I got a reply via fb message from Idai; he says he saw him this morning and he's ok. No further details.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: red marley on 20 January, 2016, 04:43:37 pm
No sign of yesterday's ride on Strava or the  OYTT site.

For information: I update the oytt visualization page (http://gicentre.org/oytt) based on the data uploaded to Strava, so if it's not on the former it won't appear on the latter.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Oakhambike on 20 January, 2016, 05:44:46 pm
Still no movement on Tracker. Really hope he's ok - the last couple of weeks have been tough with weather and struggling to get enough miles to keep on new schedule and looks like today is the day Steve has decided not to go for a bike ride.
Still an expletive deleted amazing achievement.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Wowbagger on 20 January, 2016, 05:45:52 pm
Yep. Here's another hoping Steve is OK.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Basil on 20 January, 2016, 05:49:15 pm
What I'm seeing from here is the tracker fired up, but reading 0 feet.  This is the first time I've looked today, so I don't know how long it's been showing that.
My guess is a tracker issue.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: T42 on 20 January, 2016, 05:57:26 pm
Just looked at the ACH page: also nowt. Hope Idai's "he's OK" means that he's going and the tracker's duff.  I certainly wouldn't care to swap places.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Kim on 20 January, 2016, 05:58:02 pm
My guess is a tracker issue.

Seems by far the most likely, if he's 'fine'.  Unless 'fine' is relative.

If it were catastrophic bike problems, I'd have expected it to have been resolved by now, or a call for help to have gone out.

I doubt that he's holed up in a Travelodge with a logic analyser and some XML libraries.  Maybe on a flight to the south of France?

I'm sure we'll find out eventually.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Jurek on 20 January, 2016, 05:58:58 pm
My guess is a tracker issue.

Seems likely, if he's 'fine'.

If it were catastrophic bike problems, I'd have expected it to have been resolved by now, or a call for help to have gone out.

I doubt that he's holed up in a Travelodge with a logic analyser and some XML libraries.  Maybe on a flight to the south of France?

 :thumbsup:
ETA Cote d'Azur is showing only 2°C at the mo  :(
Malaga would be a better hit with daily highs of 16° / 17° C
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Greenbank on 20 January, 2016, 06:30:16 pm
Or he may, for the first time, just have forgotten to turn the tracker on, and possibly even left it at home, etc.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: zigzag on 20 January, 2016, 06:34:02 pm
Or he may, for the first time, just have forgotten to turn the tracker on, and possibly even left it at home, etc.

doing it "the Bruce way" from now on
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Basil on 20 January, 2016, 06:36:18 pm
Or he may, for the first time, just have forgotten to turn the tracker on, and possibly even left it at home, etc.

No it was definitely turned on. (Baby).  Otherwise it wouldn't be showing 0 ft.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: orraloon on 20 January, 2016, 06:37:12 pm
Word above that Idai saw him this morning implies he was/is in MK?

Didn't get home/stopped from yesterday's ride until gone 3am.

Is this a zero miles day?
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Wowbagger on 20 January, 2016, 06:40:59 pm
Or he may, for the first time, just have forgotten to turn the tracker on, and possibly even left it at home, etc.

No it was definitely turned on. (Baby).  Otherwise it wouldn't be showing 0 ft.

Indeed, and if he had forgotten it he would notice pretty soon and go back and get it.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: JohnR on 20 January, 2016, 06:41:55 pm
Or he's doing the night shift?

Hope he's OK all the same.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: bryn on 20 January, 2016, 06:54:25 pm
Indeed, and if he had forgotten it he would notice pretty soon and go back and get it.

...and/or tweeted as he did when awaiting a bike change.  Very strange.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Bus Shelter Bertie on 20 January, 2016, 07:13:04 pm
0.0 ft was showing on the tracker between 9 and 10 this morning, indicating that he intended to set off at the usual time. Maybe he did?
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Greenbank on 20 January, 2016, 08:42:43 pm
0.0 ft was showing on the tracker between 9 and 10 this morning, indicating that he intended to set off at the usual time. Maybe he did?

It's not showing now.

"Last Update Rec'd   03:11:39 AM (GMT) 01/20/16"
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: DaveE128 on 20 January, 2016, 09:00:15 pm
Am I getting confused or has he now posted today's ride on Strava, but it comes up as yesterday because it started just before midnight  ???
 
Edit: hold on, no, that's two days ago...
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Freya on 20 January, 2016, 09:04:46 pm
That 186 mile ride is Monday's I believe.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Greenbank on 20 January, 2016, 09:10:18 pm
It's Monday, but because the track includes 00:00:00 on Tuesday it gets listed under Tuesday's date (Strava lists it under the day of the latest date in the track).

If you click on the link (https://www.strava.com/activities/473588286) you see the start time listed above the ride name. In this case it's "00:00 on Monday, 18 January 2016".

It starts short of MK and includes the last 21.7km home early on Monday morning (so the end of Sunday's ride). Steve then sets off at 9:10am and heads North with the track stopping at midnight near Snaith some 20 miles short of where he ended up in York early on Tuesday morning.

It's been up there for at least a day, nothing new has been posted today as far as I can see.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Bus Shelter Bertie on 20 January, 2016, 09:42:51 pm
0.0 ft was showing on the tracker between 9 and 10 this morning, indicating that he intended to set off at the usual time. Maybe he did?

It's not showing now.

"Last Update Rec'd   03:11:39 AM (GMT) 01/20/16"

Yes, on the Android app thingy. It generally shows the full distance until SPOT switched on at which time it resets to 0.0 ft. Steve generally departs a few minutes later. So still the question,  does he have a dodgy tracker,  or did he go back to bed -  or something else??
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Southend65 on 20 January, 2016, 09:46:21 pm
Ride for Tuesday now on Strava, so don't know who or where this was posted from...

Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Wobbly on 20 January, 2016, 09:53:58 pm
I, too, am worried about Steve.

I got a reply via fb message from Idai; he says he saw him this morning and he's ok. No further details.

Thanks for posting Dave  :thumbsup:

Idai couldn't have been less informative if he'd tried.  :(
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Bus Shelter Bertie on 20 January, 2016, 09:59:01 pm
Looks worrying - certainly very odd that yesterday's ride posted so late if,  as we suspect,  he's been in Milton Keynes - perhaps we can deduce that Idai has sort of confirmed this. The usual pattern would be for him to set off soon after. It's very cold out there..  We don't know what to think.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Shreds on 20 January, 2016, 10:02:27 pm
Its about time someone from the 'team' made a statement rather than leaving everyone hanging. What does 'ok' mean?

There is a comment elsewhere from 18th about giving Steve a lift to Pompey to be able to ride North?

Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Greenbank on 20 January, 2016, 10:18:43 pm
0.0 ft was showing on the tracker between 9 and 10 this morning, indicating that he intended to set off at the usual time. Maybe he did?

It's not showing now.

"Last Update Rec'd   03:11:39 AM (GMT) 01/20/16"

Yes, on the Android app thingy. It generally shows the full distance until SPOT switched on at which time it resets to 0.0 ft. Steve generally departs a few minutes later. So still the question,  does he have a dodgy tracker,  or did he go back to bed -  or something else??

No, from the trackleaders site (http://trackleaders.com/oneyeartimetrial15i.php?name=Steve_Abraham) which shows the last time there was any contact from Steve's SPOT tracker. If the SPOT tracker had been switched on after that point then the time of last update should have been updated.

The last trackpoint (3:11:39am on 01/20/16) is when he eventually got home from yesterday's (Tuesday's) ride.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Bus Shelter Bertie on 20 January, 2016, 10:31:04 pm
0.0 ft was showing on the tracker between 9 and 10 this morning, indicating that he intended to set off at the usual time. Maybe he did?

It's not showing now.

"Last Update Rec'd   03:11:39 AM (GMT) 01/20/16"

Yes, on the Android app thingy. It generally shows the full distance until SPOT switched on at which time it resets to 0.0 ft. Steve generally departs a few minutes later. So still the question,  does he have a dodgy tracker,  or did he go back to bed -  or something else??

No, from the trackleaders site (http://trackleaders.com/oneyeartimetrial15i.php?name=Steve_Abraham) which shows the last time there was any contact from Steve's SPOT tracker. If the SPOT tracker had been switched on after that point then the time of last update should have been updated.

The last trackpoint (3:11:39am on 01/20/16) is when he eventually got home from yesterday's (Tuesday's) ride.

All sounds plausible - Either I'm wrong then or the tracker's broken - expect we'll find out sometime. None of this answers the mysterious Strava upload though, or the enigmatic Idai 'OK'.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Greenbank on 20 January, 2016, 10:33:40 pm
AIUI the Android app just scrapes the trackleaders site, so it may show something else due to misinterpretation or miscoding.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Greenbank on 20 January, 2016, 10:37:01 pm
Oof, the rules seem harsh if either the tracker or Garmin fail:-

Quote
11. If both/either tracker and GPS data fails, the distance credited will be the shortest distance via cycleable road between locations documented in the witness book.
12. In the case of communication failure where either/both of the live tracker or trip recorder data is unavailable, the rider shall send an explanation (email or text message preferred) as soon as possible to the Records Chairman. The mileage involved shall be considered to be provisional until the Records Chairman can decide on the validity of the explanation.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Oakhambike on 20 January, 2016, 11:19:50 pm
So, the daily checking on Steve's progress from 1st January through to the day on the ride back from South Wes  when he was hit by the moped, the tracker stopped; through the  one legged heroics and the re-start the problems with diet and then weather - and have forgotten following through PBP too... well it looks to me that today is the day when the Steve stalking or cheering on appears to have come to an end.

I hope I'm wrong. And am aware that this has felt to be increasingly inevitable over the last few weeks.

And if,alas, I'm right - rest well Steve; you've given your best shot and in my eyes and many others you're a hero

Still rather be wrong though and it's a tracker etc problem and you're out there now...
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Deano on 20 January, 2016, 11:23:34 pm
If it's a tracker problem, TG has more than a year's good faith to fall back on in all the rides he's ridden (assuming he doesn't claim to have ridden to Thurso and back, for example). I'd hope the overseers would take that into account as a one-off.

Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Wobbly on 20 January, 2016, 11:25:14 pm
We don't know.

Because there is no communication from Steve's team.

Not even a simple FB post, YACF message, Strava update or a tweet.

I hope Steve is ok.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: hellymedic on 20 January, 2016, 11:39:40 pm
I hope Steve is ok.

So do I and probably many others here.

We're thinking of you and just want to know you're OK.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: TimC on 20 January, 2016, 11:54:36 pm
It's not good that there's no word. I hope everything's ok.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Kim on 20 January, 2016, 11:55:32 pm
We already know that no word doesn't mean anything.  I also hope everything's okay.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Jurek on 21 January, 2016, 05:51:09 am
Still nothing ???

Hoping all is well.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Shreds on 21 January, 2016, 06:22:22 am
203.8 Strava miles then it all appears to stop at Potton on Strava.

Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: SoreTween on 21 January, 2016, 06:29:26 am
Just to be clear are you saying there is a Strava upload for yesterday, Jan 20? I can tell check myself from here.

Ta.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: aoxomoxoa on 21 January, 2016, 06:34:47 am
The 203.8mls on Strava was uploaded yesterday but relates to cycling done on Tuesday.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Shreds on 21 January, 2016, 06:55:42 am
Yes, then it ends right in the centre of Potton but without the usual Steve comment early on the morning of the 20th. Nothing since the 3am finish
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Wobbly on 21 January, 2016, 07:32:30 am
Any chance we could have a word from Mr Hennessey? He seems to be the only one of Steve's team who cares enough to update followers on YACF.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Shreds on 21 January, 2016, 07:41:31 am
Any chance we could have a word from Mr Hennessey? He seems to be the only one of Steve's team who cares enough to update followers on YACF.

+1
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: JohnR on 21 January, 2016, 07:49:25 am
Sincerely hope it's not something simple like the battery needs replacing in the tracker and Steve is mashing out the miles oblivious to the fact.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Greenbank on 21 January, 2016, 08:04:38 am
203.8 Strava miles then it all appears to stop at Potton on Strava.

The UMCA require uploads to be midnight to midnight for each day. Potton is just where he was at the end of Tuesday.

The rest of that ride (back to MK) will be part of the upload of Wednesday's ride whenever that is uploaded.

If you look at the start of that upload you'll see it starts at 00:00:00 on Tuesday and has the last section of the previous day's ride to York as the track log starts just north of Snaith.

The dates are confusing because Strava uses the latest date in the upload as the date of the ride. So if the upload includes all of Tuesday and then one second of Wednesday (I.e. 00:00:00) then Strava displays it as Wednesday.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Greenbank on 21 January, 2016, 08:07:28 am
There is also a 58.7km upload for Potton to MK for yesterday that has appeared on Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/474984835

Looking more and more that he didn't go out again yesterday for some reason.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Shreds on 21 January, 2016, 08:38:29 am
That Potton To MK section has appeared on Strava in the last two hours so it remains feasible that any further upload for any riding during the day of the 20th remains to be uploaded and that it is a tracker issue?
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Oakhambike on 21 January, 2016, 08:42:34 am
Steve's web page is 'as of end of 20th January' so he clearly didn't go out yesterday and the tracker isn't fired up today either. Is this it? I hope he's OK.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Greenbank on 21 January, 2016, 10:21:27 am
That Potton To MK section has appeared on Strava in the last two hours so it remains feasible that any further upload for any riding during the day of the 20th remains to be uploaded and that it is a tracker issue?

Apart from early on (when I think he was getting used to it) Steve's pretty much always does one upload to Strava per day, regardless of whether the previous night's ride had spilled over into the current day, and/or whether he didn't finish riding before midnight.

The live tracking is completely separate from the Garmin he uses to record things.

Yes, it's feasible that he did go out riding yesterday, but it's looking increasingly unlikely.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: The Seldom Killer on 21 January, 2016, 10:35:14 am
And with no news and no tracker points yet, today isn't looking great either.

My work computer doesn't want to load the trackleaders page properly. Did Steve actually make it all the way home?
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Freya on 21 January, 2016, 10:36:57 am
Yes. That is the 36 mile ride shown on Strava
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: The Seldom Killer on 21 January, 2016, 10:42:17 am
Yeah, I was just wondering if it actually came to a stop outside Chez TG.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: hillbilly on 21 January, 2016, 10:46:50 am
Fingers crossed for (good) news.
I don't really care whether he is riding or not.  I would just like to know that he is ok.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Charlie Boy on 21 January, 2016, 10:48:17 am
I got a reply via fb message from Idai; he says he saw him this morning and he's ok. No further details.

Yesterday I read this as 'mind your own business'.

Today I read it as 'there's a crisis and we're keeping it to ourselves'. I hope Steve is OK.

The old argument about lack of information being due to not wanting to help Kurt is no longer valid.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: SoreTween on 21 January, 2016, 10:49:58 am
I don't really care whether he is riding or not.  I would just like to know that he is ok.
+1 to that.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Greenbank on 21 January, 2016, 11:03:29 am
Yeah, I was just wondering if it actually came to a stop outside Chez TG.

It stops about 300m away from his house. Pretty sure that's a privacy zone issue (or just how he trims the rides) as I checked a bunch of other rides and all of them start/finish a similar distance away from his house.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: The Seldom Killer on 21 January, 2016, 11:07:45 am
OK, well that at least eliminates a lot of worries.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: andyoxon on 21 January, 2016, 11:22:00 am
Still can't see any tracker for Steve - map not loading.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: mmmmartin on 21 January, 2016, 11:22:56 am
A few decades working in the media tells me this is the most appalling Public Relations failure that could have been avoided with a one-sentence Facebook post saying Steve has been told by the doctor to rest for a few days and that this is no big loss in mileage terms as any loss can easily be made back in the warmer weather.
But this has not happened.
One can assume only that The Team no longer need to keep the enthusiasm going among the likes of us because they don't need any more donations because Steve's attempt on the record has finished.
Let us hope this is an incorrect reading of events. But even if he's given up, I've still immense respect for Steve. Attempting this in UK weather makes it, IMHO, way harder than doing it in Florida with sunshine and a campervan using flat roads.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: The Seldom Killer on 21 January, 2016, 11:30:55 am
If I may veer off topic for a moment, I do wish people would stop labouring the environmental differences between Steve's and Kurt's attempts. It's like comparing the difference between scaling Everest and K2 and suggesting the latter is but a mere pimple. Kurt's year of riding was hardly a jolly wheeze.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Pale Rider on 21 January, 2016, 11:31:54 am
A few decades working in the media tells me this is the most appalling Public Relations failure that could have been avoided with a one-sentence Facebook post saying Steve has been told by the doctor to rest for a few days and that this is no big loss in mileage terms as any loss can easily be made back in the warmer weather.
But this has not happened.
One can assume only that The Team no longer need to keep the enthusiasm going among the likes of us because they don't need any more donations because Steve's attempt on the record has finished.
Let us hope this is an incorrect reading of events. But even if he's given up, I've still immense respect for Steve. Attempting this in UK weather makes it, IMHO, way harder than doing it in Florida with sunshine and a campervan using flat roads.

Spot on.

At the risk of trying to read too much into the Ivanoscope, Steve's last few rides look to me like those of a man who is desperately tired towards the end, if not the start, of each day.

It looks likely to me he has quit this attempt.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Aunt Maud on 21 January, 2016, 11:32:15 am
Attempting this in UK weather makes it, IMHO, way harder than doing it in Florida with sunshine and a campervan using flat roads.

Mind you don't go and upset someone, posting stuff like that on YACF.  ;)
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Shreds on 21 January, 2016, 11:32:34 am
A few decades working in the media tells me this is the most appalling Public Relations failure that could have been avoided with a one-sentence Facebook post saying Steve has been told by the doctor to rest for a few days and that this is no big loss in mileage terms as any loss can easily be made back in the warmer weather.
But this has not happened.
One can assume only that The Team no longer need to keep the enthusiasm going among the likes of us because they don't need any more donations because Steve's attempt on the record has finished.
Let us hope this is an incorrect reading of events. But even if he's given up, I've still immense respect for Steve. Attempting this in UK weather makes it, IMHO, way harder than doing it in Florida with sunshine and a campervan using flat roads.

I am afraid I read it in much the same way.

Enjoy the rest Steve.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Fidgetbuzz on 21 January, 2016, 11:36:26 am
Major team failure to keep keen supporters informed  --

BUT note crew chief is able to find time to self publicise on FB with this twaddle


Thank you so much. I love my new cup holders that arrived in the post moments ago - what a lovely surprise from a fantastic race. Anybody not done 24hrs in the Canyon needs to get there this year! You will not regret it! 😀
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: danridesbikes on 21 January, 2016, 11:38:55 am
i nearly posted the same quote Fidgetbuzz  :thumbsup: :facepalm:
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: hellymedic on 21 January, 2016, 11:42:03 am
Fingers crossed for (good) news.
I don't really care whether he is riding or not.  I would just like to know that he is ok.

+1
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: TimC on 21 January, 2016, 11:46:31 am
Given the freezing fog, and the fact that Steve had ridden 239 miles when he got home at 3 am yesterday morning, I wouldn't be at all surprised to find he's suffering more than a little as a result. Whether or not it means this is the end of the attempt, it was a day that would stretch anyone - even Steve. I sincerely hope he's well and that someone will confirm that sooner rather than later.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Shreds on 21 January, 2016, 11:58:12 am
Recalling a GE1000 that I ended up DNF some years ago, bear in mind that it is often not an instant decision to pack or carry on. I had two sleeps before finally calling it a day.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: offcumden on 21 January, 2016, 12:02:53 pm
Like anyone else reading this, my first concern is that Steve is OK.  If, indeed, he is calling a halt for the time being, I would be very happy to make a contribution towards a future attempt.  However, unless some very convincing explanation emerges for the lack of communication from the back-up team, this contribution will be dependent on a change of crew chief.

A heroic ride which continues to attract huge following and interest, shamefully let down by an incomprehensible lack of communication by the support team.  We don’t need carefully honed essays;  just a few words of reassurance, please.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Pale Rider on 21 January, 2016, 12:13:06 pm
I would be very happy to make a contribution towards a future attempt.  However, unless some very convincing explanation emerges for the lack of communication from the back-up team, this contribution will be dependent on a change of crew chief.


Same here, I will not contribute again to any enterprise in which Hoppo is involved.

I would also want reassurance of a better flow of information to donors.

Having to rely on third parties such as Jo and Ivan for progress reports is not acceptable.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: LEE on 21 January, 2016, 12:16:43 pm
203.8 Strava miles then it all appears to stop at Potton on Strava.

Potton on Strava?  Sounds very middle-class.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: red marley on 21 January, 2016, 12:18:13 pm
Message posted on FB a few minutes ago from Steve's team:

"Just a quick message to let everyone know Steve's okay, although the tracker isn't showing.".

So that should reassure people of his wellbeing, although nothing confirmed as to whether or not he is to continue with the challenge.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Datameister on 21 January, 2016, 12:19:47 pm
From FaceAche at 12:11. "Just a quick message to let everyone know Steve's OK, although the tracker isn't showing"

Rehash? Repost? New message?

Shucks. Jo beat me to it
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: toontra on 21 January, 2016, 12:24:04 pm
Message posted on FB a few minutes ago from Steve's team:

"Just a quick message to let everyone know Steve's okay, although the tracker isn't showing.".

So that should reassure people of his wellbeing, although nothing confirmed as to whether or not he is to continue with the challenge.

That raises more questions than it answers, although good to hear Steve is "OK" (whatever that means).
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: hellymedic on 21 January, 2016, 12:28:15 pm
I suppose we should be grateful that 'OK' probably means he is neither in a ditch nor in hospital.
And breathe.

I can't say I'm not a little anxious, nonetheless.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: rafletcher on 21 January, 2016, 12:28:35 pm
The implication is that he's ok and continuing, surely. Glad he's ok, and await confirmation of the rest.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Pale Rider on 21 January, 2016, 12:29:02 pm
The post indicates to me Steve is riding.

But whoever wrote it couldn't do a better job of inviting guesswork and speculation.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: DaveE128 on 21 January, 2016, 12:36:28 pm
The FB post seems deliberately ambiguous about whether he's riding to me...  ??? Always good to know he's ok though.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: The Seldom Killer on 21 January, 2016, 12:36:55 pm
The worrying gap is the uncommon absence of a Strava record. Obviously not the be all and end all but that would seem the easiest way to confirm he is still making progress.

Sometimes it appears that the support crew really do just want to do this all behind closed doors with no support from anyone.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Pale Rider on 21 January, 2016, 12:41:35 pm
The worrying gap is the uncommon absence of a Strava record. Obviously not the be all and end all but that would seem the easiest way to confirm he is still making progress.

Sometimes it appears that the support crew really do just want to do this all behind closed doors with no support from anyone.

Given the team's record of secrecy, I wonder if this isn't some barmy notion to continue the attempt away from public gaze.

Goodness knows where that leaves validation, although Tommy managed OK without trackers.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: The Seldom Killer on 21 January, 2016, 12:47:19 pm
On the contrary, he did have them. It just happened that they were paper/postcard based and the best technology available at the time.

Looking at the UMCA correspondence in the Bruce thread, I think they expect tracking to be public at all times. I doubt that's changed. A blip for a couple of days pretty much has to be acceptable to them though given the leeway they afforded Bruce before the warning and DQ.

Of course if it all goes private, about two thirds of the named support crew suddenly become surplus. The scrutiny about the odds of success can't have been comfortable for them but going into digital hermitage isn't going to alleviate that.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 21 January, 2016, 12:51:01 pm
The worrying gap is the uncommon absence of a Strava record. Obviously not the be all and end all but that would seem the easiest way to confirm he is still making progress.

Sometimes it appears that the support crew really do just want to do this all behind closed doors with no support from anyone.

It's not new - we had the same mixture of unwillingness and inability to communicate during December, when Steve was showing dropping mileage as the end of the "original" year approached leading to concern among supporters.

I'm not quite certain whether this most recent FB post is being deliberately uncommunicative, or if it was written by someone who lacks the ability to understand how a post appears to the reader.

Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: L CC on 21 January, 2016, 12:56:31 pm
Sometimes it appears that the support crew really do just want to do this all behind closed doors with no support from anyone.
Maybe we're underestimating the pressure that constant scrutiny is putting Steve under, and that rather than 'the Team' preferring not to discuss, it's Steve who doesn't want to.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Frank9755 on 21 January, 2016, 12:59:17 pm
The end of the attempt, when it came, was always going to be a difficult time.

Silence could mean all sorts of things but a possible explanation is that Steve needs a bit of time, when he's not exhausted and / or on a bike, to decide what he wants to do. 
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: The Seldom Killer on 21 January, 2016, 01:04:36 pm
@Sergeant Pluck

Honestly, I suspect a combination of the two. I suspect that yesterday didn't go according to plan but they're a) trying to avoid questions (they've failed before starting on that) and b) don't understand the perspective from outside the crew.

The simple message, if its to fall on any receptive ears is that it's long due time to engage the audience in the ongoing narrative of the attempt.

Maybe we're underestimating the pressure that constant scrutiny is putting Steve under, and that rather than 'the Team' preferring not to discuss, it's Steve who doesn't want to.

Maybe, but anything other than saying so will just invite more scrutiny. "The Team are the main conduit of pressure to Steve and the crew chief should be managing the pressure.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Jack_P on 21 January, 2016, 01:09:38 pm
Sadly it does seem the end, two days not riding is just not within the current scope of mileage required.
Steve sticks to the rules adamantly as has been seen before when his heart rate monitor failed, which would indicate no rides for 2 days.

I can understand the silence, I would be in bits and maybe we should wait and respect that.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Wobbly on 21 January, 2016, 01:16:36 pm
Have to confess I read the "update" as meaning "He's ok, for varying values of 'ok'."

It's disappointing we're left to speculate so much. But I think conjecture that Steve's decided to continue the attempt somehow "in secret" is a bit wild.

I'd be happier for a bit more information about how OK Steve is. We're all clearly worried about his welfare.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Wowbagger on 21 January, 2016, 01:28:47 pm
Notwithstanding all the dissatisfaction with Steve's team and the lack of info, if this is indeed the end of the attempt, something on which Steve had set his heart quite a long time ago, he's going to need a bit of time to recover from the overwhelming disappointment. I'd like to give him some breathing space and wish him all the best for whatever comes next. He's a great cyclist and has earned a place in cycling's Pantheon. Not only that, he's an absolutely lovely bloke.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 21 January, 2016, 01:29:09 pm
Maybe we're underestimating the pressure that constant scrutiny is putting Steve under, and that rather than 'the Team' preferring not to discuss, it's Steve who doesn't want to

Quite possibly.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: TimC on 21 January, 2016, 01:36:23 pm
I think it's too early to speculate on a voluntary end of the attempt. More worrying is the possibility that Steve is unable to ride just now, without necessarily being at death's door! I'm sure we've all said we're 'OK' when we're not at all, and similarly said so about family or friends when trying to deflect further questioning. It's frustrating that there's not more info, but if there is any kind of medical reason why Steve can't ride, it may take some time before the medics pronounce on his health and thus before the team can relay anything to us.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Charlie Boy on 21 January, 2016, 01:42:07 pm
Notwithstanding all the dissatisfaction with Steve's team and the lack of info, if this is indeed the end of the attempt, something on which Steve had set his heart quite a long time ago, he's going to need a bit of time to recover from the overwhelming disappointment. I'd like to give him some breathing space and wish him all the best for whatever comes next. He's a great cyclist and has earned a place in cycling's Pantheon. Not only that, he's an absolutely lovely bloke.

^This

It cannot be underestimated what effect the end, voluntary or involuntary, will have on someone who by all reports has fancied having a go at this record for many many years. And not only fancied having a go, but had a decent chance of achieving it. I do hope the support team will keep an eye on him as cooped up in his flat all alone it would be easy for him to dwell too much, whereas he has much to celebrate.

I sure we won't forget that despite breaking his leg he still got within 13% of Godwin's record and that is simply remarkable in this day and age.

However, we do not yet know whether that point has been reached.

Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: mmmmartin on 21 January, 2016, 01:53:42 pm
comparing the difference between scaling Everest and K2 and suggesting the latter is but a mere pimple. Kurt's year of riding was hardly a jolly wheeze.
For starters, K2 is way harder than Everest, by several magnitudes. And for seconds, I never said Kurt's year was easy. Just that Steve's year was way harder. Which, in fact, is exactly what Kurt himself said.

Steve can wake up every morning for the rest of his life and look at himself in the mirror and be proud of what he sees.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Legs on 21 January, 2016, 02:06:32 pm
Notwithstanding all the dissatisfaction with Steve's team and the lack of info, if this is indeed the end of the attempt, something on which Steve had set his heart quite a long time ago, he's going to need a bit of time to recover from the overwhelming disappointment. I'd like to give him some breathing space and wish him all the best for whatever comes next. He's a great cyclist and has earned a place in cycling's Pantheon. Not only that, he's an absolutely lovely bloke.
Absolutely.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: mmmmartin on 21 January, 2016, 02:56:40 pm
Public Relations failure that could have been avoided with a one-sentence Facebook post
and within 30 minutes we're given exactly such a one-sentence post. This shows us, perhaps, that The Team read this thread but do not post to it.
The FB post tells us steve is OK (which we were told before) and the tracker isn't showing (which we also knew). It doesn't reassure us that, for instance, there is a new tracker, or steve is resting under doctor's orders, or the bike is broken, or steve is eating his way through an entire cow. With chips. It tells us nothing. Which is precisely what The Team intended.

This is rather like Sherlock Holmes The Silver Dagger - what can we deduce from the fact that the dog did not bark in the night?

We are left, once again, to do our own guesswork. We can guess he's not riding and the loss of a couple of days means the end of the attempt as we think he can't recoup those lost miles. We can be pretty sure he's gutted. He's given up his life savings, his job, almost two years of his life, and lived through the evaporation of his dream.

Does this lessen the man in our eyes? Not one single jot. In a way, just to keep plugging away at it through the winter when success seemed to be moving further and further away seems to me entirely in the audax spirit. 
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: mattc on 21 January, 2016, 07:32:56 pm
<snip>
... I never said Kurt's year was easy. Just that Steve's year was way harder. Which, in fact, is exactly what Kurt himself said.

Steve can wake up every morning for the rest of his life and look at himself in the mirror and be proud of what he sees.
My bold: I think this deserves more attention. Kurt and Alicia have both recently made comments supporting this view. Chapeau to them both for this.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: red marley on 21 January, 2016, 07:43:09 pm
That's not quite what they said. They said that the style and conditions of Steve's attempt make it harder to break the record than it was for Kurt. Once could argue that the distances completed by both riders are a response to some approximately equivalent level of effort put in by both riders under different conditions.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Wobbly on 21 January, 2016, 07:52:43 pm
I think it's indisputable that Steve's riding the harder miles. How many times did Kurt ride in freezing conditions?
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: red marley on 21 January, 2016, 07:59:17 pm
I agree with you (and Kurt and Alicia) that the in general Steve has been riding 'harder miles'. But I am less confident in assuming that Kurt's Steve's 63565 miles were harder than Steve's Kurt's 76076 miles.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Exit Stage Left on 21 January, 2016, 08:00:55 pm
Maybe there's a British record that Steve can go for.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: Wobbly on 21 January, 2016, 08:01:50 pm
-puzzled-

Who said that Jo?

[I'm hoping I haven't posted anything which suggested that]
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: red marley on 21 January, 2016, 08:06:14 pm
Oops. I misspoke. Now edited.
Title: Re: 20th Jan - Steve day 166
Post by: TimC on 21 January, 2016, 10:51:24 pm
I think what Kurt said was that Steve, by choosing to ride through the UK winter, had taken a harder route than he had, and that, had he (Kurt) done his riding in the UK winter, he wouldn't have broken the record. But we'll never know the truth of that unless he was to give it a go! But it was a gallant and kind thing to say, whatever the final result for Steve.