Midlander - 02/12/18

[j_a_m_e_s_]

Talk to me.

Midlander on Sunday 2nd December

Is this a new route? Anybody have any ideas?

I'm toying with the idea of ECEing through the night for 3points. Return train fare back to Marylebone a snip at £5.50

[whosatthewheel]

I've mapped it here

https://www.strava.com/routes/16036582

Personally I would avoid the A46 and once in Hampton Lucy, fork south West, take a bit of A 439 and then converge at Snitterfield... probably 1 km longer, or maybe less, but on balance the A439 is less deadly than the A46

[Philip Whiteman]

I've mapped it here

https://www.strava.com/routes/16036582

Personally I would avoid the A46 and once in Hampton Lucy, fork south West, take a bit of A 439 and then converge at Snitterfield... probably 1 km longer, or maybe less, but on balance the A439 is less deadly than the A46

A46!    How the hell did that pass a risk assessment?  I know of at least three cyclists killed whilst riding events on that road.   

Whosatthewheel's alternative is far more appropriate.

[whosatthewheel]

Unfortunately, there is no safe way to go from Hampton Lucy to Snitterfield... the A439 is the least worst... the number of HGV is relatively small, especially on sundays.

The A46 is problematic, as it's slightly uphill and you have to turn right with traffic behind you doing 60+ mph... sticking your right arm out is not going to command much respect...

[j_a_m_e_s_]

I've mapped it here

https://www.strava.com/routes/16036582

Personally I would avoid the A46 and once in Hampton Lucy, fork south West, take a bit of A 439 and then converge at Snitterfield... probably 1 km longer, or maybe less, but on balance the A439 is less deadly than the A46

Cheers.

I think an extra 1km, or maybe more, would be okay. I do tend to value my life.

[whosatthewheel]

The second control is quite something... my favourite greasy spoon... the Touch Down Cafe' at Wellesbourne airfield... might be busy though, it always is

[eddum]

I've mapped it here

https://www.strava.com/routes/16036582

Personally I would avoid the A46 and once in Hampton Lucy, fork south West, take a bit of A 439 and then converge at Snitterfield... probably 1 km longer, or maybe less, but on balance the A439 is less deadly than the A46

Cheers.

I think an extra 1km, or maybe more, would be okay. I do tend to value my life.

400m on a wide open section of the a46 with a hatched right turn... or the same on a much tighter section of the a439 taking the lane to turn right on a Sunday with the usual tourist traffic getting into Stratford....

In my experience that section of the a439 is far more unpleasant than the alternative a46.

[whosatthewheel]

In my experience that section of the a439 is far more unpleasant than the alternative a46.

Neither is nice.

A 439 is downhill, you move at 25 mph, traffic moves at 40-50, relatively easy to pull out and turn right

A 46 is uphill, you move at 10-15 mph, traffic moves at 60-70, riskier to pull out and turn right

It could well be that I am used to the A 439 and no longer see it as a danger, whereas I have only used the A 46 once and felt a bit threatened by fast moving lorries

[JonBuoy]

Tinsel and Lanes used to follow NCN 41 out of Hampton Lucy to Sherbourne then under the A46 roundabout to pick up the B4463 until turning off for Norton Lindsey.  You could then rejoin the Midlander route in Pinley Green.  This adds about 1k but you miss out on the delights of Snitterfield (and the A46).

[Jethro]

Tried all three of those recommendations at some point and now prefer to avoid the A46 for the above reasons. I think JonBuoy's suggestion is perhaps the best option.

[whosatthewheel]

Tried all three of those recommendations at some point and now prefer to avoid the A46 for the above reasons. I think JonBuoy's suggestion is perhaps the best option.

Agree, although I am surprised it's only 1 km longer

[whosatthewheel]

Revised the route, thanks Jon Buoy...

https://www.strava.com/routes/16036582

[j_a_m_e_s_]

Revised the route, thanks Jon Buoy...

https://www.strava.com/routes/16036582

Well I'm all signed up, ECE booked, train booked.

[Lee Killestein]

Is it just me? When I load the official GPX file into RWGPS it comes up as 210km? Thought this was a BP 

[whosatthewheel]

Is it just me? When I load the official GPX file into RWGPS it comes up as 210km? Thought this was a BP 

Yes, it's two laps of the same 106 km route. I re-designed mine to contain only one lap, then I made a few changes to avoid the A roads... you can probably download the route from the link. The changes won't affect controls and the info

https://www.strava.com/routes/16036582

[Lee Killestein]

Is it just me? When I load the official GPX file into RWGPS it comes up as 210km? Thought this was a BP 

Yes, it's two laps of the same 106 km route. I re-designed mine to contain only one lap, then I made a few changes to avoid the A roads... you can probably download the route from the link. The changes won't affect controls and the info

https://www.strava.com/routes/16036582

Ok, thanks. I don’t mind the short stretch of A46 that I think you were trying to avoid, so I’ll just trim off the second lap. Most likely ECE from Coventry so it’ll be a 200 anyway! 

[eddum]

Ok, thanks. I don’t mind the short stretch of A46 that I think you were trying to avoid, so I’ll just trim off the second lap. Most likely ECE from Coventry so it’ll be a 200 anyway! 

Just working my logistics here with cocktails in Kenilworth planned Saturday night what could go wrong... also tempted to ride over/back from Cov or Ken ! 

[ianrobo]

nice to see a local one, so will be riding from Great Barr to Earlswood and look forward to riding with many and hope to see more around the area. From Brum we have so many areas to ride into and so few Audaxes ...

[vistaed]

I'm signed up and looking forward to meeting a riding with other locals. 

[whosatthewheel]

Lovely day out, breezy but bright... very flat and fast route, made faster by having both controls manned. A cunning no-tea strategy means I was first back... therefore according to the rules I won. right? 

Huge portion of beans on toast at the arrivee

[ianrobo]

Lovely day out, breezy but bright... very flat and fast route, made faster by having both controls manned. A cunning no-tea strategy means I was first back... therefore according to the rules I won. right? 

Huge portion of beans on toast at the arrivee

and you seemed to be enjoying them as I arrived second !!

[JohnL]

.....no-tea strategy....

Wh......Wh......Wh.......What?

Good grief. Surely you were disqualified? I see a stiff letter to the committee coming on.....

[whosatthewheel]

.....no-tea strategy....

Wh......Wh......Wh.......What?

Good grief. Surely you were disqualified? I see a stiff letter to the committee coming on.....

Had tea at the end though... so all is well... 

[whosatthewheel]

and you seemed to be enjoying them as I arrived second !!

Nothing better than plant based carbs, Ian...   

[ianrobo]

and you seemed to be enjoying them as I arrived second !!

Nothing better than plant based carbs, Ian...   

I just had a lovely large gammon steAk