Easter Arrow 2019

[Phil W]

Pretty much everyone rides extra k's to make it pretty.

The East Devon Pub Crawlers are riding one extra kilometre "to make it pretty" (6 intermediate controls).

LFGSS team 2 are 22km over-distance with 10 controls.

Thanks A1M.

It sounds like you have some consecutive controls close to the A1. You may want to try moving one further east and the other further west. That may bring your ridden route closer to your min distance.  Unless you are trying to ride 540km or some such you may also want to look at reducing the number of intermediate controls.  The Arrow is a bit like herding cats for a team captain.  The fewer stops you can manage without them being too far apart, the better.  You can then make your actual stops longer rather than rushing through each.  I find setting controls roughly 3 - 3.5 hours apart works well.

[teethgrinder]

Yes. 10 controls will gobble up at least 2 hours riding time just getting the card stamped/till receipt, even if you're pretty well disciplined and organised. That doesn't take into account time spent eating etc. Much better to have as few controls as possible. You can always stop between controls.

[inappropriate_bike]

The problem is that we've got a really lovely route that weaves it's way madly up the country to stay on nice roads through rolling hills. It would be a shame to change it just for rule compliance, especially as all the realistic options involve fast A roads.

We've got real controls every 80km or so, and we will photo control the rest, and hope that's accepted - not that there's anywhere to get a receipt anyway at most of them. Google walking between the real controls is >360km so I hope the ride will be validated even if the organiser does believe we've cheated by riding down the A1M

The real challenge will be perfecting the rolling selfie. Trying to get 5 riders and a sign in shot without stopping...

[Pingu]

...we will photo control the rest, and hope that's accepted...

Why not ask Megajoules Expenditure otp the organiser?

[LittleWheelsandBig]

She isn't the organiser this year.

[FifeingEejit]

The problem is that we've got a really lovely route that weaves it's way madly up the country to stay on nice roads through rolling hills. It would be a shame to change it just for rule compliance, especially as all the realistic options involve fast A roads.

We've got real controls every 80km or so, and we will photo control the rest, and hope that's accepted - not that there's anywhere to get a receipt anyway at most of them. Google walking between the real controls is >360km so I hope the ride will be validated even if the organiser does believe we've cheated by riding down the A1M

The real challenge will be perfecting the rolling selfie. Trying to get 5 riders and a sign in shot without stopping...

If google walking is routing you down the A1(M) then the google moderator that's stopping the special road status being entered needs dumped out the back of a van on it.

[Pingu]

She isn't the organiser this year.

OK, didn't realise.

[Ajax Bay]

we've got a really lovely route that weaves it's way madly up the country to stay on nice roads through rolling hills. It would be a shame to change it just for rule compliance, especially as all the realistic options involve fast A roads.

That sounds a lovely route for the day and early evening time. Will you be wanting nice roads through rolling hills at 3 in the morning, I wonder? The A roads may be fast, but in the wee hours, those "realistic options" will be empty and your merry band of brothers/sisters will be 'outstanding'.
Our route is split 4% A road (Trunk); 34% A road, 27% B road, 32% C road (ie wide minor road), <1% narrow minor road and 2% cycle tracks.

[inappropriate_bike]

route for the day and early evening time. Will you be wanting nice roads through rolling hills at 3 in the morning, I wonder? The A roads may be fast, but in the wee hours, those "realistic options" will be empty and your merry band of brothers/sisters will be 'outstanding'.
Our route is split 4% A road (Trunk); 34% A road, 27% B road, 32% C road (ie wide minor road), <1% narrow minor road and 2% cycle tracks.

Fair enough point (although personal preference) - but our over-distance problem occurs well before nightfall, in an early part of the route. I've test ridden the route enough times to have explored any obvious alternatives.

[Phil W]

Anybody got their Easter Arrow brevet cards?

[hippy]

LFGSS team 2 are 22km over-distance with 10 controls.

LFGSS team 1 doesn't exist any more. :S

Anyone looking for a rider? I'm thinking of using the Easter Arrow as a shakedown ride for new bike before RaTN.

[Phil W]

Now heard from Martin and should have cards early next week.

[Ajax Bay]

Cards for the East Devon Pub Crawlers team arrived in the post this morning.

[Phil W]

Brevet cards for the Falcons of the Night team have now arrived.

[Revolution9]

Cards for Equipe Stravaigin 4 have arrived

[oggy]

team four corner of acme have arrived

[inappropriate_bike]

How is everyone's last minute prep going?

[jiberjaber]

The real challenge will be perfecting the rolling selfie. Trying to get 5 riders and a sign in shot without stopping...

Make sure you've worked out how you are going to take the pictures of 5 riders in the dark - it is surprisingly hard to get 5 riders in a selfie in front of a village sign in the dark... use a flash is a good idea but then you can't see the riders / sign due to the reflection and exposure issues it introduces!    (we had all sorts of bike lights and other things pointed at various bits of teh scene to get a picture and even then it is still tricky! )

If your doing the photos in daylight - then nothing to worry about 

[Tomsk]

How is everyone's last minute prep going?

Bike fettling issues with the re-built 'Poppy' the Parkes summer fixie - the BB worked very slightly loose after a 100km test ride and I haven't had time for a proper shakedown since re-tightening. I guess I'll be crossing fingers and giving it a go, or putting lighter tyres on the winter Genesis [Bernardette] - needs a new chain too; hmm, decision time looms.

Looks like the sandals will get their first 2019 outing though. 

[Phil W]

Hair clippers will be going on charge tomorrow.  Bit last minute for the forecast temps. Hair bit too long at the moment.

[Ajax Bay]

How is everyone's last minute prep going?

Searching for weather forecasts which offer assistance. Sacrifice to the wind gods once we arrive at our pre-Arrow briefing (aka the Wednesday pub of the week).
Going to be attractively warm from 10 till after sunset.
Clear skies for the full moon to light our way through the dark hours.

[tomj]

Where are the post Arrow activities taking place, will there be beer?

[jiberjaber]

Where are the post Arrow activities taking place, will there be beer?

The Postern Gate, 'spoons pub in York is the destination of choice...

https://goo.gl/maps/nAmXHg8fgBs

[Ajax Bay]

Where are the post Arrow activities taking place, will there be beer?

From the organiser's note "You are free to finish anywhere you like within York. The Postern Gate has proved a popular post-event meeting place in the past. I have warned them you are coming so behave yourselves . . ."
https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/all-pubs/england/north-yorkshire/the-postern-gate-york
Postern Gate https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Postern+Gate/@53.9546536,-1.0792373,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x487931add5b4b0b7:0x81a35c2b3769c9f5!8m2!3d53.9546536!4d-1.0770486

[Phil W]

Yeah Postern Gate on Picadilly. If you are coming in from the south and pick up the A19, when you hit the city walls take a slight left then cross straight over into Picadilly.  You'll need to walk the last bit else you can go right then go left through first gate in the wall then left again at the cost of an extra 300 metres or so and onto Picadilly.


Weather forecast looking like decent temps during day, sunshine and light winds.  Headwinds for our team but as long as the winds aren't too strong that's fine.