Well, if you really want to know beforehand:(click to show/hide)
Well, if you really want to know beforehand:(click to show/hide)
Still recovering from the route check ride yesterday, but should finalise the gpx & routesheet today.
Still recovering from the route check ride yesterday, but should finalise the gpx & routesheet today.
If the weather is nice I shall be in summer plumage which is less fluro :thumbsup:
Hogtrough looks a bit like Titsey Hill from its profile?
How do these compare to Whitedown hill?
can we do Toys Hill and Ide Hill in reverse order pretty please? It's the way Meridian (and also my D2DR) do it, much more like it :)
can we do Toys Hill and Ide Hill in reverse order pretty please? It's the way Meridian (and also my D2DR) do it, much more like it :)
That's the way we do it in GMC as well, but trying for a bit of variety here, and the routing seemed to work out slightly better this way round. The view from the Ide Hill descent is almost worth it IMHO. I will consider it for next year though based on rider feedback.
I've signed up. Looking forward to it. :thumbsup:can we do Toys Hill and Ide Hill in reverse order pretty please? It's the way Meridian (and also my D2DR) do it, much more like it :)
That's the way we do it in GMC as well, but trying for a bit of variety here, and the routing seemed to work out slightly better this way round. The view from the Ide Hill descent is almost worth it IMHO. I will consider it for next year though based on rider feedback.
Now I think about it, I don't think I've ever gone down Ide Hill, only up it. I imagine it's a much less terrifying descent than Yorks.
I'm not familiar with Hogtrough Hill. Looks interesting.
I always go down Ide Hill on the Invicta Grimpeur as Yorks is horrid skoggy and usually a fairy fest at the bottom;
Also, I've been riding the route on fixed, so my comments on walking above were related to that, if you have more than one gear you should be fine :-)
Looking forward to this event, even though I won't be riding - you can be sure that the route is a cracker but do keep a watch out for sharks
Feel free to come to the Old Brewery at the arrivée if you fancy a beer though.
weather bagel forecast (http://www.weatherbagel.com/f/893cf621-1456-43f8-b5cb-7625aa1ef753) looking ok for this, I can feel myself being drawn in...
weather bagel forecast (http://www.weatherbagel.com/f/893cf621-1456-43f8-b5cb-7625aa1ef753) looking ok for this, I can feel myself being drawn in...
weather bagel forecast (http://www.weatherbagel.com/f/893cf621-1456-43f8-b5cb-7625aa1ef753) looking ok for this, I can feel myself being drawn in...
Apart from the 20+ mph headwinds :-o
If you do let me know and I might be up for riding up with you (or i might just jump on the train)
If you do let me know and I might be up for riding up with you (or i might just jump on the train)
I've entered and will be leaving Raynes Park at 05:30 so I can enjoy the light refreshments before the start. Am especially looking forward to arrivee at the Old Brewery Pub. Also the wind/hills/rain in between these highlights. Meet at RP station?
So, just going over the pdf / route sheet for this race and I noticed a small discrepancy. The "free control" in Mayfield appears to be a little more specific on the route sheet as to where the control needs to be but not specific enough as to be unambiguous. Ivan, can you clarify where this control needs to be please?
You can choose between a cafe and a mini market.
the route sheet states, "CONTROL on R 137.9" so to be absolutely certain it must be (say, hypothetically, if a new shop pops up between now and the race) a retailer on the right hand side of the high street, as you're heading East, between West Street and Tunbridge Wells Road? I could if I wanted to go into the butchers and buy some raw sausages according to the instructions.In Mayfield there is Peckish cafe on the south side of the street, and the pub, then the mini-market. There are other places to get a receipt but the bank has closed and there is no ATM. You are talking about 50 yards between them all. Unless you go another 20 yards to the garage and buy a used car. There is a posh deli that charges two quid for a loaf. All human life is there.
You can choose between a cafe and a mini market.
But that's not strictly true is it. It sounds like you're stating that Peckish (the cafe) and Mace (the mini market) are the only options. The pdf instructions say, "so just get a receipt from the shops/pubs" might suggest a post office too or indeed a pub in Mayfield, regardless of whether it's on the left or right side of the high street, but the route sheet states, "CONTROL on R 137.9" so to be absolutely certain it must be (say, hypothetically, if a new shop pops up between now and the race) a retailer on the right hand side of the high street, as you're heading East, between West Street and Tunbridge Wells Road? I could if I wanted to go into the butchers and buy some raw sausages according to the instructions.
Ok so we can avoid the unnecessary right hand turn at T and instead turn left at Mayfield thus avoiding the need to double back on ourselves. Great! :D
How clever! You'll be able to save a whole couple of hundred metres. Hurrah!
When you’re riding fixed there is no element of free will: you pedal or die, much like sharks.
A good day out, thanks to the ACH for the ride and the food and drink at the control.
It was nice to ride for a bit with wilkyboy yesterday - not least because that was when the rain stopped :thumbsup:
The checkout girl at the shop in Mayfield was very confused why so many cyclists were passing through.
According to Strava, I spent a good bit of time riding with Wilkyboy too without realising it...
Wilkyboy - I'm guessing that was you dressed in red who I briefly chatted to outside the supermarket in Mayfield. And then you rolled into the finish a few minutes after me.
Strava makes for interesting reading. There's quite a variation in the amount of climbing recorded by different riders - some as little as 2,700m, which doesn't sound nearly enough, and some with over 3,500m, which is possibly a slight exaggeration but sounds closer to the truth - and certainly closer to what it felt like.
Thanks for all the feedback. Just worked my way through the finish list: had 106 starters, 89 made it to the first control and 83 brevets received at the Arrivée. Very happy with the way it went as my first event as an organiser, though it was a bit overwhelming at times how popular it was - as I couldn't accept any more entries, there then appeared to be 5-10 people 'just riding round', which isn't ideal. Think it'll be back next year with few changes, just increase the brevets to say 150 and try and keep the list open until Friday night - really don't fancy doing EOLs, but have to consider this as well.
Thanks for all the feedback. Just worked my way through the finish list: had 106 starters, 89 made it to the first control and 83 brevets received at the Arrivée. Very happy with the way it went as my first event as an organiser, though it was a bit overwhelming at times how popular it was - as I couldn't accept any more entries, there then appeared to be 5-10 people 'just riding round', which isn't ideal. Think it'll be back next year with few changes, just increase the brevets to say 150 and try and keep the list open until Friday night - really don't fancy doing EOLs, but have to consider this as well.
Shame there were 14 DNS's. I planned to enter on Thursday afternoon (being a lightweight and wanting to be sure there wouldn't be any biblical weather) but it had just closed! I had thought about riding along without a brevet (not using the controls of course) but decided that would be "bad form", so I got up early and did the ride today instead. Very good route!
I'll definitely be in for next year, especially if you are able to keep the list open a bit longer!
Sorry I missed it - will the route be registered as a permanent? I might fancy this next weekend. Otherwise I will submit a diy
Yes, that was me — looking and sounding like I was having a tough time of it, which I was :facepalm:
It was good to chat, albeit briefly, and apologies once again that I got the last banana milkshake from the shop ;)
For the ride yesterday, the 800 reported 204.3km (by GPS) and 2260m ascent, whereas the 1000 reported 208.1km and 3,401m of ascent (which Strava smooths down to about 3200m).
Interesting. My 510 gave me 2,857m. I've never taken its elevation data seriously though.
Another thing that might cause under-recording for me is the fact that a couple of times on the climbs I was going slow enough for the autopause to kick in.
Banana milkshake? You're welcome to it! :sick:
(You might be confusing me with someone else. ;) )
Interesting. My 510 gave me 2,857m. I've never taken its elevation data seriously though.
My 520 also gave a low number which suggests it isn't a new-vs-old thing.Another thing that might cause under-recording for me is the fact that a couple of times on the climbs I was going slow enough for the autopause to kick in.
I've turned my auto-pause down to 2km/h instead of 5km/h - but it still sometimes trips on those climbs because the tree cover messes with the GPS reception. I may need to invest in an ANT+ sensor rather than just relying on the GPS.
(You might be confusing me with someone else. ;) )were you in orange/black DHB bloq?
(You might be confusing me with someone else. ;) )were you in orange/black DHB bloq?
Citoyen has a small Castelli problem IIRC, though I can't remember if he'd resisted yesterday.
Citoyen has a small Castelli problem IIRC, though I can't remember if he'd resisted yesterday. He also has a beard, and looks as much like his avatar as MattC does.
I was clad all in black except for a dayglo green plastic hat and no-longer-white shoes.
Castelli-free zone yesterday, for a change, but I did wish a few times that I'd worn my lovely warm Espresso jacket.
My DIY rides of the route all came in around the 3000m mark (though without a barometric GPS), but it felt harder than that compared to other AAA rides, so I contour counted it in the traditional fashion and arrived at the 3200m figure (strictly 3210m @ 1:50,000, 3230m @ 1:25,000).
Ah, yes., there was a lot of squit about yesterday — a lot of 'guard-free riders, too, I found myself choosing wheels to follow carefully.
an Espresso would've been nice, but I would never get permission to buy one
My DIY rides of the route all came in around the 3000m mark (though without a barometric GPS), but it felt harder than that compared to other AAA rides, so I contour counted it in the traditional fashion and arrived at the 3200m figure (strictly 3210m @ 1:50,000, 3230m @ 1:25,000).
Thanks for the info Ivan — in that case my Garmin 1000 had it bang on. I wonder how consistent it was for other Garmin 1000 users ...
Many thanks to Ivan and the ACH crew for such a great event that I will look back on with a great sense of achievement.
For those who don't know who I am, I was the 140kg rider on the touring bike that you may have spotted heading south between Muddles Green and Seaford.
It was a day of firsts for me, the first time I had ridden a pushbike in London, the first 200k AAA ride and the first time that I went down a hill so steep (Brastead), I then found out that disc brakes can start to fade half way down.
I do try and get some photos on my rides, but this time I just had to keep peddling, so was limited to one at the start and one at the control.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/coldsnail/A7QVjxdInkzcY58HYPC4a7_I5DCdUIWpESIhCb2NrkE.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/coldsnail/pS31IvkY03CKo0st5MhBaAOKRQxUhNUs5M2ppjjMM9I.jpg)
For reference, my Garmin Touring clocked up 2791m, it sure felt like more.
I'm in...not sure about the looking forward to it yet though ;D
I'm in...not sure about the looking forward to it yet though ;D
Fixed?
I'm in...not sure about the looking forward to it yet though ;D
Fixed?
Laughing my head off here!
Having said that young Andrew (do you remember him from prize giving at compasses?) did ride this fixed. But his geared bike is a Pashley, so... He did walk up the last climb or two though (fair enough!).
Anyway, I am booked and Jonathan is coming down from Swaffam for it, a bit of BCM practice.
I really recommend a late lunch at the bikers cafe in Wesson (Wessop?) though you will have to endure the disparaging looks of big hairy bikers. The ones on motorbikes I mean.
And remember to keep 5% in the tank for the last 2 hills....
A
Fixed? Was thinking more about Carbon! Just kidding. LEL bike shake downs begin, I have a rather high mileage April planned although it might not work out like that if Jan, Feb and march are anything to go by :facepalm:
Fixed? Was thinking more about Carbon! Just kidding. LEL bike shake downs begin, I have a rather high mileage April planned although it might not work out like that if Jan, Feb and march are anything to go by :facepalm:
Indeed! We need to be right on it from now in... Which means getting those plush bikes sorted :-)
I heard some bloke from Cambridge rode LEL on fixed last time....there is always a nutter about!
I rode the Croix last night and very much enjoyed using gears. It made for a very gentle ride yet a reasonable pace (for after work with panier and all that). 34/32 will have to be good enough for this weekend and I am pretty sure it will be, alternatively I'll drop in a few steps on foot and enjoy the whole experience regardless. I can't consider fixed for The Shark, more so because I would be done in by the down hills. I have the Arrow on Fixed to look forward to and then the fixed will be off Audax duty for a couple of months I expect.
Fixed = London & East Anglia :-) 34x32 will be fine (well it better be as it will be what I am using!). Last year I had a 28x27 bottom which is about the same - I certainly used it but didn't feel like I needed anything lower.
And then there is the lunatic who used to go everywhere on a Brompton. Until some kind hearted soul did him a favour and nicked it. I think it was of those random acts of kindness we're all told we should perform every now and then.
And then there is the lunatic who used to go everywhere on a Brompton. Until some kind hearted soul did him a favour and nicked it. I think it was of those random acts of kindness we're all told we should perform every now and then.
How is the new Brompton ?
And then there is the lunatic who used to go everywhere on a Brompton. Until some kind hearted soul did him a favour and nicked it. I think it was of those random acts of kindness we're all told we should perform every now and then.
How is the new Brompton ?
What new Brompton? Can't justify replacing it at the moment, as I don't commute any longer :(
How is the new Brompton ?
What new Brompton? Can't justify replacing it at the moment, as I don't commute any longer :(
I was hinting (in a far too subtle joke) that Oscar's Dad had a new Brompton that might just be your old one.
44x16 got me round everything bar Hogtrough on the routecheck so not too sure what you lot are worrying about ;DIt's more the 18 stone on top of the bike I worry about ;D Although admittedly I do approach every ride these day wondering what the worst is that could happen if I took the fixed, I think this time it will be wise to stick to the geared plan!
44x16 got me round everything bar Hogtrough on the routecheck so not too sure what you lot are worrying about ;DIt's more the 18 stone on top of the bike I worry about ;D Although admittedly I do approach every ride these day wondering what the worst is that could happen if I took the fixed, I think this time it will be wise to stick to the geared plan!
34x25 got me up everything last year. I'm about to fit a new chain + cassette, which happens to be x27, so should be a bit better on the big climbs.
34x25 got me up everything last year. I'm about to fit a new chain + cassette, which happens to be x27, so should be a bit better on the big climbs.
Discovered years ago (on a MTB) that us, ahem, sturdier folk need to sit and spin. 34x27 sounds about right for you, 34x32 sounds about right for me :-)
I think there were well over 100 starters and they certainly looked determined/apprehensive as they set off. Chapeau to the chap in the fared recumbent - I suspect he will be going very slowly up one or two of those climbs.Did someone tell him it's called the shark because it's entirely at sea level? :demon:
I'll be back down in Blackheath village around 4pm so will watch out for the weary returners :)
How does the shark compare to the hillier sections of LEL?
How does the shark compare to the hillier sections of LEL?
I'm sorry to have missed this ride this year, but I did get a little bit of time today and grab a few photos close to home (sorry to have missed the earlier riders, it was a bit of a spur of the moment thing.)
http://smg.photobucket.com/user/coldsnail/library/Shark%202017?sort=3&page=1 (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/coldsnail/library/Shark%202017?sort=3&page=1)
must say I prefer the alternative route from there via Withyham rather than Hartfield to Edenbridge but 6 of one;
must say I prefer the alternative route from there via Withyham rather than Hartfield to Edenbridge but 6 of one;
Yes, I rode both when planning the ride originally, it was pretty much an even choice, decided based on the crossing of the A267 being easier I think, but that might just reflect the days I'd been there - if that chipsealed road section from Hartfield to Edenbridge continues to deteriorate I might re-route next year...
The delicious Ivan-e-strone stew
It occurred to me afterwards that I never actually saw the shark, but we've met before so I'm not too concerned :)
Now in the calendar for 2019, on Sunday 7th April: http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/19-291/.
Now in the calendar for 2019, on Sunday 7th April
Trains into London on Sunday don't start early enough. Ok for London dwellers I guess.Makes a welcome change! One of the few that (the many) London audaxers have, although for many like me is still a 12 mile ride to the start.
Slower than previous rides but I put that down to the temperature (sleeting when re-entering London),
Slower than previous rides but I put that down to the temperature (sleeting when re-entering London),
If you were re-entering London when the sleet hit us, you can't have been that slow!
Note that the deviations around the A27 junction closure have added around 60m of climbing, bumping it from 3 to 3.25AAA so you can always blame any slowdown on that :-)