Green and Yellow Fields 300km - 6th May 2017

[tippers_kiwi]

After having to pull out of the Heartbeat due to a pending house move (and crapping myself about lack of preparation for all those hills if I am perfectly honest) I have signed up for the Green and Yellow fields again this year and the curry, of course!

Looking forward to a good overnight ride up to the coast and good breakfast followed by the enjoyable ride home, I do hope it warms up this week though!

After the Arrow I had thoughts of putting the fixed away for the rest of the season but I think it might be back out for this one with the 74" gear on it.

[Krad]

Looking for a train with bike space not sure if the train from London will be to fused at that time of night?

[jiberjaber]

I'm in [on gears] with some crazy (LEL training inspired) fixed ride the following day on Ride4Helen..... should be fun!   

[tippers_kiwi]

Looking for a train with bike space not sure if the tr:ain from London will be to fused at that time of night?

Anything that leaves Liverpool street after  is fine to take a bike on. If it is an intercity train their might be space issues if loads of others are using that train but I am pretty sure that non intercity trains stop at Manningtree as well

[rob]

The 10:30 train was pretty busy last time I rode in 2015, but there wasn't any problem getting all the bikes on.

I used a 79" gear.   There's nothing to worry about on that route.

[tippers_kiwi]

The 10:30 train was pretty busy last time I rode in 2015, but there wasn't any problem getting all the bikes on.

I used a 79" gear.   There's nothing to worry about on that route.

79".....I know it's flat but I'm still learning the ropes and the 78" i currently have on is a bit of a struggle 

[Phil W]

Did you use 78" on the Arrow?

[tippers_kiwi]

Hell no Phil....we were all on the same gear within an inch, I was running around 69.5

[rob]

Off at a tangent I know, but I found that my ability to spin is not great and even worse when tired.   I upped the gear a couple of times over the years and settled on 79" as I seem to be able to ride most events on it.   I did all of Tomsk's rides in 2015 on that bike/gear.

[tippers_kiwi]

Off at a tangent I know, but I found that my ability to spin is not great and even worse when tired.   I upped the gear a couple of times over the years and settled on 79" as I seem to be able to ride most events on it.   I did all of Tomsk's rides in 2015 on that bike/gear.

That's interesting, I've actually got better at spinning since riding the fixed but I do find when I am back on gears I revert to my old ways of a lowish cadence anyway. Maybe I will leave the 78ish that I have on now on there and see how it goes. I guess the worst that can happen is I feel a little tired and have to walk a hill (but unlikely on the G&Y Fields) Thinking about it I did a sportive back in march on 78 and actually really enjoyed it....I'll have a go

[rob]

Off at a tangent I know, but I found that my ability to spin is not great and even worse when tired.   I upped the gear a couple of times over the years and settled on 79" as I seem to be able to ride most events on it.   I did all of Tomsk's rides in 2015 on that bike/gear.

That's interesting, I've actually got better at spinning since riding the fixed but I do find when I am back on gears I revert to my old ways of a lowish cadence anyway. Maybe I will leave the 78ish that I have on now on there and see how it goes. I guess the worst that can happen is I feel a little tired and have to walk a hill (but unlikely on the G&Y Fields) Thinking about it I did a sportive back in march on 78 and actually really enjoyed it....I'll have a go

Did PBP on 70" in 2011 and descending hurt a lot by day 3.   Moved up to 79" last time and was way more comfortable although there were a couple of tricky climbs where I questioned the idea.   On average the bigger gear was better (for me anyway).

[Phil W]

Here is the route as my tracking site shows it, if anyone wants to take a look around where the controls are and distances along it etc.

https://social-track.uk/event/6263702453363933184

[tippers_kiwi]

Did PBP on 70" in 2011 and descending hurt a lot by day 3.   Moved up to 79" last time and was way more comfortable although there were a couple of tricky climbs where I questioned the idea.   On average the bigger gear was better (for me anyway).

I have to say I have noticed that the descending feels much more in control and comfortable with the bigger gear which ties back I guess to what you say above and at the end of the arrow it was the descending that was killing me. I've found that the legs always have something in them to go up when it is needed....or mostly anyway!

[Bairn Again]

Im delighted to say that, as in 2015, my semi regular work jaunts from Edinburgh to London happily allow my participation this year. 

I will be heading out for the pre match curry, leaving Liverpool St around 1900 or so.

Not overly fussed about how quickly I get round. 

Having availed of the Swafham McDs deviation last time, I might do the same again and bounce the half way control with a view to breakfast at the petrol station at Fakenham.

I am hoping it warms up a bit too. 

 

[Alex B]

> I am hoping it warms up a bit too.

No matter what the forecast says, expect it to be freezing at night.

[tippers_kiwi]

It's now possible to spend a bit longer at the new 24 hour McDonalds in Barton Mills and then you can enjoy more daylight on the ride up to the coast and not have to make the diversion at Swaffham (although it's not exactly a game changing diversion).

We left the Barton Mills McDonalds not long before the first signs of daylight last year and still made it to the coast in pretty good time. And as Alex points out, it got surprisingly cold. We had points where it was below Zero and my rear brakes actually got frozen (well the cables did anyway)

[Phil W]

It rained overnight and mid morning on the helpers ride last Saturday. Think it was forecast 5c overnight last weekend. Ok when on the move but glad Barton Mills McDs had the heating on.

[Nelson Longflap]

Thanks for the McD tip. Last time I did it 42x17 fixed was very comfortable. I am currently flip-flopping between 42x17 fixed again, or 42x17 free. Which do you think will be easiest / most comfy? (I don't care about hard-coredness or image!)

[tippers_kiwi]

I'm pretty new to the whole Fixed Gear thing and I admit have never tried it single speed but I always think that if you are going with one gear fixed gives something back for the momentum generated but I'm hardly in a position to give advice  do it fixed

I did just over 100km on the 78" (47 x 16) last week and the knees were just complaining a very little bit on Saturday so I've gone back to 74" (47 x 17) and will use that for the ride this weekend.

I have even cleaned the bike, including the chain and I now am hesitant to ride the bike it looks so nice....hope the sun comes out 

[rob]

I miss this ride, to be honest.   Not done it since 2015.

Got a time trial Sunday am, though, so riding would not be a great idea for me.

[jiberjaber]

I'm tempted to put the aerobars back on if only for the first leg up to the seaside...

[Tomsk]

> I am hoping it warms up a bit too.

No matter what the forecast says, expect it to be freezing at night.

Always coldest in the Brecks, after sun-up the temp still keeps dropping...and there will be a headwind.

Look at the Deepdale Cafe website: https://www.deepdale-cafe.co.uk/menus/ for inspirational breakfast options to spur you on 

[Carlosfandango]

I'm tempted to put the aerobars back on if only for the first leg up to the seaside...

Good Idea, to the front of the Peloton Jiber, the ACME powerhouse.

[Carlosfandango]

> I am hoping it warms up a bit too.

No matter what the forecast says, expect it to be freezing at night.

Always coldest in the Brecks, after sun-up the temp still keeps dropping...and there will be a headwind.

Should I bring gloves this time?

[Tomsk]

Should I bring gloves this time?

Nah, get some diesel-pump gloves at Barton Mills, windproof but sweaty, it's a good look too 

If you do bring sufficient clothing for the night, without a magic bag you'll have nowhere to put it during the day...though at least the temperature range looks to be fairly moderate, unlike 2014? - Minus 5C overnight, as high as 18 the following day...