Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => Audax => Topic started by: Tomsk on 11 September, 2018, 07:49:33 am

Title: Richard Ellis Memorial 200 & 100km 6th October 2018
Post by: Tomsk on 11 September, 2018, 07:49:33 am
It's the start of a new Audax UK year soon!

Once again, Audax Club Mid-Essex will be running the 'Richard Ellis Memorial' 200 and 100km events. Same routes as last year:

200km 08:30 start, controls at the Orchard Tea Gardens, Grantchester; Maglia Rosso, Hawstead and Manningtree.

100km 09:30 start, out and back to the Maglia Rosso via an info control for variety.

Wilkyboy will be stamping cards at Grantchester and I'm hoping the Ellis family will be at the Maglia Rosso again, as well as at the arrivee. The plan is for Manningtree to replace the slightly unsatisfactory Mistley Place Park cafe: instead there will be tea and cake courtesy of OrangeAndy. Breakfast at the start, pizza, cake and other goodies at the finish, all included in the £10 entry fee.

I'll organise a helpers' ride soon, probably for the weekend before.

Title: Re: Richard Ellis Memorial 200 & 100km 6th October 2018
Post by: Bikeabilityman on 11 September, 2018, 08:24:55 am
That’s the weekend when another section (can’t recall which) of the A507 is due to be closed. Blagged my way through one around 2am Saturday, but had to carry my bike over a station footbridge. About time I devised another route (just how did you get to Towcester on the ACME Grand?).
Title: Re: Richard Ellis Memorial 200 & 100km 6th October 2018
Post by: drossall on 11 September, 2018, 11:08:50 pm
Sounds good. The 100km is in my diary :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Richard Ellis Memorial 200 & 100km 6th October 2018
Post by: Tomsk on 12 September, 2018, 08:16:18 am
That’s the weekend when another section (can’t recall which) of the A507 is due to be closed. Blagged my way through one around 2am Saturday, but had to carry my bike over a station footbridge. About time I devised another route (just how did you get to Towcester on the ACME Grand?).

I routed the Grand from St Neots, so picked up the Hereward route at Sharnbrook and through Salcey Forest to Towcester. No good for you though, too far north ... There's a laney route south of the A507 that I've used to get to/from Stevenage, via Puckeridge. A120 eastwards early in the morning is ok, lanes via Much Hadham when busier later.
Title: Re: Richard Ellis Memorial 200 & 100km 6th October 2018
Post by: Bikeabilityman on 12 September, 2018, 08:57:08 am
Thanks Tom. I go through Sharnbrook on my DIY to Ely. Not stopped at the bakery café there, but CTC mates have. Used Puckeridge and the A120 before, but not the lanes west of there. Shoulda tried them out in the summer, as main roads are better in winter. I'll probably enter the 200, family stuff allowing!
Title: Re: Richard Ellis Memorial 200 & 100km 6th October 2018
Post by: drossall on 13 September, 2018, 12:17:19 am
I've always loved those lanes. I first did them when I was dropped off to start work in the area forty years ago. I was navigating, and did it like a cyclist - in a straight line on minor roads. Some of them weren't quite so good in what was quite a large car. Should have gone round the A120 and A507. Father was not impressed...

But I had a bike with me and was soon riding them properly.
Title: Re: Richard Ellis Memorial 200 & 100km 6th October 2018
Post by: Tomsk on 13 September, 2018, 09:26:01 am
Helpers' Ride anyone?

I'm away a fortnight before, but ok to ride and check the route in my absence on 22/23 September. We get back early on 29th, so if I ride then it'll only be the 100km, as we're out in the evening too. 30th is booked up as well ...

Cafes and controllers are all updated and ready, it's just a question of looking for changes to signage, any planned road closures etc. Maglia Rosso has another cycling event to cater for on the 6th, but they're ok about feeding our 70+ riders [as per the last two years].
Title: Re: Richard Ellis Memorial 200 & 100km 6th October 2018
Post by: Tomsk on 16 September, 2018, 02:54:06 pm
Helpers' Ride anyone?

See above ...

I'm ordering brevets now. To judge by past years we've had about 50 200s and 25 100s. The usual suspects for a Helpers' Ride should contact me this week, otherwise text, but either way I'll have brevets and be around on the morning of 29th September.
Title: Re: Richard Ellis Memorial 200 & 100km 6th October 2018
Post by: Phil W on 16 September, 2018, 03:14:29 pm
I can possibly do a check of the 200 Fri 28th / Sat 29th. I am planning a DIY 400 for then but could potentially incorporate it into a bigger loop. Does Wilkyboy have a GPX for it and I can see what the options are for sticking 150km in front of it and 50km after. I can print your routesheet (is that on aukweb) to check whilst riding round.

If you get other volunteers then great as my current 400 loop goes down to Kent but does return via Essex.
Title: Re: Richard Ellis Memorial 200 & 100km 6th October 2018
Post by: Tomsk on 16 September, 2018, 08:04:42 pm
GPX is on camaudax, as is my route sheet. Thanks  :thumbsup:

Most of ACME are still across the North Sea - I'll hope to catch them later this week.
Title: Re: Richard Ellis Memorial 200 & 100km 6th October 2018
Post by: Tomsk on 19 September, 2018, 07:57:27 pm
Wilkyboy has sorted me my own URL: sub-site on camaudax. Cheers, brill and thank you!  :thumbsup: I owe you a pint or several.

https://www.tomsk.co.uk/

Just got it on AUKweb for the REM 100/200, will change the web links on the others soon, I expect.
Title: Re: Richard Ellis Memorial 200 & 100km 6th October 2018
Post by: Tomsk on 20 September, 2018, 05:39:19 pm
^ Glitch with my link on AUKweb for the 200, but it's currently out of action anyway. I'll fix it tonight if AUKweb resumes normal service, otherwise it'll have to wait ...
Title: Re: Richard Ellis Memorial 200 & 100km 6th October 2018
Post by: wilkyboy on 22 September, 2018, 11:42:25 pm
REM200 route check done — weather was damp but the wind was (mostly) benign.  Promised high-teens temps never materialised — 12°C I think was the highest. 

Got around in about 15h30 — including 101km ECE.  Compared to the first 300km on Fenland Friends, which we did in 12 hours (with a tailwind assist, obv.), it was a slow ride, but pacy for me in my current unfit state.

A few minor updates to the routesheet and one possible road closure.  Tomsk will update us once he's had a chance to go through my notes.

I will see you all at the first control where I will be stamping cards again  :thumbsup:

(Strava + write-up here (https://www.strava.com/activities/1859989257) — click (https://www.camaudax.uk/img/strava-more-small.png) after "idiot" for the full story.)
Title: Re: Richard Ellis Memorial 200 & 100km 6th October 2018
Post by: Tomsk on 01 October, 2018, 08:36:45 pm
100km check done, mailing gone out to riders of both distance. Let me know if anything went astray.
Title: Re: Richard Ellis Memorial 200 & 100km 6th October 2018
Post by: Tomsk on 04 October, 2018, 08:07:42 pm
72 on the 200km, 38 on the 100km, late entries keeping up with the DNS notifications.

Forecast is looking proper autumnal: mudguards at dawn. I'll have towels and blankets for the arrivee; we may need to have 'shoes off' at the door ...
Title: Re: Richard Ellis Memorial 200 & 100km 6th October 2018
Post by: wilkyboy on 04 October, 2018, 08:53:15 pm
Forecast is looking proper autumnal: mudguards at dawn. I'll have towels and blankets for the arrivee; we may need to have 'shoes off' at the door ...

I'm taking spare socks — several pairs  ::-)
Title: Re: Richard Ellis Memorial 200 & 100km 6th October 2018
Post by: Alex B on 06 October, 2018, 01:21:04 pm
I trundled down the road to the first control (Grantchester @ 48km) this morning. A firm northerly and persistent rain had evidently provided a testing start to the ride.

I put some photos on Flickr (https://www.flickr.com/search/?sort=date-taken-desc&safe_search=1&tags=rem2002018&user_id=45086087%40N00&view_all=1). Feel free to share/reuse etc.
Title: Re: Richard Ellis Memorial 200 & 100km 6th October 2018
Post by: whosatthewheel on 06 October, 2018, 02:04:33 pm
I trundled down the road to the first control (Grantchester @ 48km) this morning. A firm northerly and persistent rain had evidently provided a testing start to the ride.

I put some photos on Flickr (https://www.flickr.com/search/?sort=date-taken-desc&safe_search=1&tags=rem2002018&user_id=45086087%40N00&view_all=1). Feel free to share/reuse etc.

Everybody look fairly dry...  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Richard Ellis Memorial 200 & 100km 6th October 2018
Post by: psyclist on 06 October, 2018, 09:16:13 pm
I trundled down the road to the first control (Grantchester @ 48km) this morning. A firm northerly and persistent rain had evidently provided a testing start to the ride.

I put some photos on Flickr (https://www.flickr.com/search/?sort=date-taken-desc&safe_search=1&tags=rem2002018&user_id=45086087%40N00&view_all=1). Feel free to share/reuse etc.

Everybody look fairly dry...  :thumbsup:

Not for much longer after those photos were taken! Rather damp and cold for the next 8 hours, but enjoyable all the same. Great company, superb hospitality at the controls, and welcome hot pizza at the finish, despite the smoke alarm indicating the pizza might have been overdone!
Title: Re: Richard Ellis Memorial 200 & 100km 6th October 2018
Post by: Lee Velo on 07 October, 2018, 09:31:18 am
It was a great event and the two cups of tea in Manningtree chez Andy Terry were most welcome!

Waterproofs were tested to the limit!
Title: Re: Richard Ellis Memorial 200 & 100km 6th October 2018
Post by: Bikeabilityman on 07 October, 2018, 10:30:40 am
It was a great event and the two cups of tea in Manningtree chez Andy Terry were most welcome!

Waterproofs were tested to the limit!
TWO CUPS? I was thinking about asking for another (I enjoyed drinking tea more than coffee on the event), but after eating the BoT and deciding I shouldn't attempt to dive into the wonderful array of cakes, I thought I should vacate my seat.

The scenery looked like it would have been fantastic (in sunny weather). Even though I've done a lot of Essex events now, a lot of places looked new to me. The catering was excellent I could only manage pizza at the end, but that choccy cake looked delicious). It was good to ride with/chat to new people aswell.

If only I'd enjoyed (and been just as quick on) the ride home, as I had the ride in.

Well done to Tomsk and family, the Ellis family, and Orange Andy and family!

Oh, and to Wilkyboy for standing out in the rain (but not for poaching a Team MK member and his points).
Title: Re: Richard Ellis Memorial 200 & 100km 6th October 2018
Post by: Tomsk on 07 October, 2018, 10:37:41 am
Well done indeed to all riders.  :thumbsup:

Unsurprisingly about 30% DNS on the 200km and 50% on the 100km, but surprisingly few DNFs. Verdict: tough day out, hope everyone has dried out now and well done also to those noble fools ece-ing to 300km ...

Massive thanks to Orange Andy and Co at Manningtree: riders reported back in glowing terms - sounds like a masterclass in how to run a control.  :thumbsup: Mary Ellis was Star Baker again, supplying Manningtree and the arrivee. Also thanks to her and to Lisa and Nikke for controlling at the Maglia Rosso. Another lovely touch was the photomontage of Richard and chums brought for our control desk. And we much appreciated Richard's grandson Ryan keeping us all amused at the finish.
Title: Re: Richard Ellis Memorial 200 & 100km 6th October 2018
Post by: tedshred on 07 October, 2018, 11:30:48 am
Those of us not brave enough for the full 200 experience still managed to find plenty of weather.

I left Dunmow tucked in behind Jiber who, despite not having the souplesse and grace of the Lynx, makes a very effective windbreak.  Sadly, my windbreak was much quicker up the little bump out of Finchingfield so it was the ACME C Peloton for me as usual.

By the time I reached Hartest the wind was starting to blow and the first spots of rain were appearing.  I didn't eat at the Maglia Rosso (I had spotted a proper old school bus shelter a couple of miles earlier), but it all looked very civilised and the Ellis clan were a welcoming bunch of controllers - we must be able to find Ryan(?) an ACME jersey instead of his Southend Wheelers jersey when he is on duty  :thumbsup:

As I polished off my gourmet lunch in the bus shelter (not just a normal bag but a big bag of Hula Hoops), the rain had started in earnest and the tree branches were beginning to bend a little more.  Fortunately it was a cross-tailwind all the way back to Arrivee so it was wet and cold but reasonably quick. 

The smell of pizza as I opened the door to the Church Hall at St Marys was most welcome.  By the time it was ready, my hands were just about functioning well enough again to grasp a delicious slice.  Hot pizza is the new king of Arrivee fare  :thumbsup:

It was my first time riding this route and I really enjoyed the out and back thing - for one thing it meant remarkably few controls for a 100.  Thank you to Tomsk, Chef Soupy and helpers at Dunmow and thank you to the Ellis clan for travelling all the way to the depths of Suffolk to stamp our cards.

Title: Re: Richard Ellis Memorial 200 & 100km 6th October 2018
Post by: wilkyboy on 07 October, 2018, 11:32:16 am
A fun day out for me.  As previous years, I was stamping cards at Grantchester's Orchard Tea Garden, since the service can be a bit slow with riders still close together, and so I worked it into a 200km DIY, also visiting Maglia Rosso to catch up with Richard's family — Mary, Lisa, Nikke and Tasha (absent this year, since moving to Cyprus) — and on to arrivée at Great Dunmow to see Tomsk, hear how the riders got on, and to submit my own receipts from the route-check two weeks prior.

I left home in Cambridge in waterproofs and they stayed on until Thaxted on the return, by which time it had finally stopped raining, and I was generating enough heat to ride home in shirt sleeves — 12 hours in boil-in-the-bag!  The wind was kind in places and brutal in others, mostly brutal on the last leg home.  That's four out of the last five rides for me have been undoubtedly wet.  Really wet.  Garmin-killing wet (but that's a different story).

I spent a bit of time bagging Veloviewer squares between Maglia Rosso and Gt Dunmow — that's another 15 bagged.  Always fun to keep disappearing off-route and then randomly reappearing and re-passing tireder riders  ;D

And then the 50km back home to Cambridge.  I always cut this one a bit close — I stopped for nearly two hours at Grantchester, and then another hour or more at Maglia Rosso, which meant by the time I got to Gt Dunmow I was a bit short on time — 4h30 stopped on a 222km square-bagging DIY, but only 14 hours allowed!  I left with 2h30 remaining for 51km, but facing that stiff headwind all the way home then it would be close — Tom was sceptical, but some determined pedalling got me back in 2h18, quarter of an hour in hand — phew!

A memorable day out, great to see all the riders, lovely to catch up with Richard's family.  A nice surprise to see Alex B at Grantchester to take some photos.  Same again next year, but with better weather, please  :thumbsup:

And for those wondering: yes, I did get to wear all three pairs of my dry socks, which made all the difference (for about five minutes)  ::-)
Title: Re: Richard Ellis Memorial 200 & 100km 6th October 2018
Post by: jiberjaber on 07 October, 2018, 02:47:10 pm
Interesting day at the office yesterday - I nearly didn't start due to the weather but I had squares to bag and a RRtY to keep going and weekends though the month filling up so decided to use it as a baseline on wet riding.  An inverted contrast to last year which as a strong tailwind out and headwind back but at least dry. 

After 4 hours sleep I set off in to a dark and foggy morning to get the first part of my ECE out of the way, winter gear being the choice for the second weekend running.  Foggy and damp all the way to Dunmow and the wind starting to build but no rain.

At the start I scoffed a nice second breakfast and met up with Ted to form the ACME B Peloton, the climbs out towards Bran End were slow for me, takes a time for the legs to come back on song and Ted stomped off up the hill on his fixed... we reformed on the little climb into Bran End where I catapulted off the slipstream to take the lead out position into Bardfield.  My plan for the day was to get to the Cafe before the predicted rain started in full, which meant a 2 hour 50km in to a building headwind, I could see a group of 4 or so in front of us, but even pushing on the gap remained constant. Coming out of Bardfield the B Peloton split in two and I carried on with James from Devon at some speed - we soon made contact with a few more riders and a group of 4 through to Belchamps St Paul where I dived off for my first square of the day.  A lumpy ride to the cafe and beans on toast and a coffee... 

 
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181007/bf8160ea996261e6f5a33fb09e634363.jpg)

From here it has a retrace of the route for me up the hills I had ridden down and down the ones I had climbed but with the assistance of a tailwind.  A lot of the riders from the 200 came past, BFC, Allen, Lee Velo,  Bikeability etc most looking a bit miserable.  My first bit of byway on the quest for squares was at the top of a climb out of Boxted... just before which I heard my rear puncture  a short wait for it to seal and I was off on the bike again.

A lumpy byway gave way to a nice concrete 'footpath' as I rolled up and down through farmers fields.  Still cold and wet but totally traffic free...

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181007/d69c3a436d559185e15765a241cf84cf.jpg)

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181007/baa3fda9ef1566b42fc95d069ce6f5d8.jpg)


I dropped in to Cavendish and back in to traffic through to Clair and along an increasingly busy A road till I turned off on another 'footpath' - which was where I managed to end up on my ass in a ploughed field as my wheels slipped beneath me and I failed to unclip in time.  Covered in mud and with my Garmin screaming at me (incident detection works great) I pulled myself together, shut up the alarm and wiped off the mud on my gloves.  I reflected on how good an idea the Garmin incident detection is in such situations - I was unhurt but it could have been worse and I was in the middle of nowhere.

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181007/6122e3ff5d53e85f2ecfd18044e6d221.jpg)

I proceeded on bagged more remote squares and enjoyed an idling steam engine outside a pub.

The sealed tyre gave out on another trail, and I waited for it to seal again, adding more air I set off again but it blew out.  After inserting a tyre worm and pumping up I was back on the road, though my HP mini pump only just managed to put enough pressure in to make it rideable (circa 25psi in 35c)  o I think I will need to remember my HV mini-pump next time.

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181007/3e68eab54d6996750490b48735d80370.jpg)

I dripped in to the Arrivee Tom providing a towel and carrier bag... most of the mud had washed off!


(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181007/69cbd3ae96fe2f037449c2658094a78d.jpg)

 Tea and chat and I was then off to do the last 36km of my ECE, I opted to skip our spiritual home (The Compasses, LG) but needed a pint by the time I got back to Chelmsford and was over te moon to realise I had routed past The Orange Tree for the last couple of km.  Forward planning at it's best!


(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181007/fc16f64879eed3e5939ca671504d1a79.jpg)

Tough day in the saddle - speaking of which I suspect the rain has knackered that as well!
Title: Re: Richard Ellis Memorial 200 & 100km 6th October 2018
Post by: Slimline Saxon on 07 October, 2018, 09:41:36 pm
I was determined to ride this year and meet the Ellis family, a cold and sore hamstring meant that I had to drop down to the 100. After starting last I caught up with Tony the cabbie, unusual for Big Saxon to catch anyone, and decided to stay with him the whole ride, reduces the chances of going off course. Slow going in the wind and rain, but being dressed for the elements and my ACME cap keeping the rain off my head made it a fairly comfortable ride.

Met Bikeabilityman at Maglia Rosso, for a brief exchange before retracing and passing many regular faces, including Raymond with whom I hope to ride again shortly, maybe Silly Suffolk next week. No real dramas, left Tony in the last 2k as his legs went so Lanterne Rouge but one, with plenty of time to spare and able to have a relaxing chat with all at base, sampling the various cakes and pizza before putting on my new ACME summer jersey to drive home in, it was the only dry clothing left. No ill effects on the cold or hamstring front, although just lifted my son's mobility scooter into my car tonight after it broke down, 200 lbs of dead metal, the hamstring did not like that.

Anyway, good to be back in the ACME fold, ready for the Winter Series and the numerous PBP qualifiers next year, I will see how it goes, at least I overcame my mental block about riding in the cold, wet and windy weather so perhaps I have got my mojo back.   
Title: Re: Richard Ellis Memorial 200 & 100km 6th October 2018
Post by: Tomsk on 08 October, 2018, 05:56:01 pm
... the Ellis clan were a welcoming bunch of controllers - we must be able to find Ryan(?) an ACME jersey instead of his Southend Wheelers jersey when he is on duty  :thumbsup:

I have an extra small winter jersey I will send - it is very much junior size, so should be ok for Ryan.
Title: Re: Richard Ellis Memorial 200 & 100km 6th October 2018
Post by: Tomsk on 14 October, 2018, 08:07:27 pm
Cake bakers and tea providers turned down their expenses from last week, so a donation in memory of Richard was made to Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance of the funds I'd set aside. I got a nice
thank-you letter, from their Chief Executive on Friday, so now I pass those thanks on to those who really deserve it and gave their time and tea, cake etc so generously.