'The Flatlands' 600km 13/14th September 2014

[Lars]

.... nice southerly forecast for Saturday.

And a not so nice southerly for Sunday!

So....spend Saturday chosing your mobile windbreak for Sunday  - Lars, are you prepared to tow Team Essex Maidens?

Not sure I can be much of a locomotive as I plan to ECE this one! So a 75km warmup Cmb-Halstead-Dunmow. And then hopefully back. And then hopefully another 260 on Monday heading up to that fine Norfolk N coast. *gulp*.  Not sure this a good idea but oh well, ECE entry paid... Really should stop this post-LEL insanity...  

[Tomsk]

Really should stop this post-LEL insanity...  

That's what Audax is all about I guess - you think you're going out for a nice little bike ride, then....you just keep going....and going 

[rob]

Definitely out.   Body not capable of a 600k at the moment.

Hope you all enjoy yourselves.


Rob

[bikey-mikey]

Really should stop this post-LEL insanity...  

That's what Audax is all about I guess - you think you're going out for a nice little bike ride, then....you just keep going....and going 

Indeed, and I can honestly say that this is exactly what happened to me about three years ago, and I'm still going  !!!!   

[i cycle]

I am starting to look doubtful now, back and side still sore from Sunday's encounter with the idiot on the mountain bike.
Will make a decision tomorrow.
Could I do it next week on the helpers ride if I am feeling better?

[Tomsk]

I am starting to look doubtful now, back and side still sore from Sunday's encounter with the idiot on the mountain bike.
Will make a decision tomorrow.
Could I do it next week on the helpers ride if I am feeling better?

That should be ok - Oaky & Christophe will be leaving from Witham at first light, starting later from Dunmow - better check with them.

[Christophe]

I am starting to look doubtful now, back and side still sore from Sunday's encounter with the idiot on the mountain bike.
Will make a decision tomorrow.
Could I do it next week on the helpers ride if I am feeling better?

That should be ok - Oaky & Christophe will be leaving from Witham at first light, starting later from Dunmow - better check with them.

We're planning on leaving Witham at 6.00am for an estimated departure from Dunmow at 7.00. Pace will be steady as we're both riding fixed or single speed but will probably bounce a couple of controls on the way round to keep stoppages and faffing to a minimum. Accommodation will be 5 star audax at around 400km. I'm taking a bivvi and a lightweight sleeping bag and think Oaky is on about bringing something similar. Oh and as it's mid Essex crew expect a couple of beer stops along the way.

[RideHard]

I may be out.   I have not recovered at all well from Sunday's effort.   I'll give it another 24hrs.


Rob

Damn Rob, I was hoping to crash your handy sleep stop at 400k, lol

Best wishes for your recover;)
 

[rob]

I may be out.   I have not recovered at all well from Sunday's effort.   I'll give it another 24hrs.


Rob

Damn Rob, I was hoping to crash your handy sleep stop at 400k, lol

Best wishes for your recover;)

disappointing - particularly since I left a bag of clean kit up there.....

[Climberruss]

Weather forecast not looking too bad now - most of the rain seems to be farther north.
All being well, I'm planning to ride straight through. Only sleep will be enforced if falling asleep on the bike.
Would dearly like to do my first ever sub 30 hour ride (Previous best 30:44 done in 1986!).

[Christophe]

Good luck to all you Flatliners for the weekend. I'm on the helpers ride next week so looking forward to your stories. Any tips or findings would be greatly appreciated.

[Tomsk]

Been googling around for facilities in/near Sleaford, - for the benefit of faster riders, mainly [we'll probably be heading to the 'Packhorse' for breakfast...] Not much information around that I can find, but it seems the services on the A15/A17 roundabout are open 24 hours. Means going into town, then round the 1-way, back out on Northgate [heading Lincoln-wards] - unless you fancy your chances on the A17!

Of course, as noted on the info sheet, it's Wetherspoons every 25 miles from there to Chatteris 

[Slimline Saxon]

I am now out, the tendonitis which has wiped out half of my season has returned with a vengeance, sods law says it clears up by Sunday.

Fortunately I completed RRTY last week, Randonneur 5000 last month, SR and Brevets 2000 and 3000, if I complete Chris Negus in two weeks Brevet 4000, in addition to every distance medal this season. So on reflection, not a bad outcome for my rookie season at the longer distances, given that my DNF and DNS points lost are about the same that I gained.

Essex SR and LEL are unfinished business for another time.

Good luck to everyone, especially Raymond going for his first SR, sorry I will not be riding with you but I am sure you will do well.

[Old Git]

In true keeping with the rest of '13 that is me out. Same problem that saw me pack in the Tour of the Hills in the first 5 mile has reoccurred. Hopefully 2014 will be more fruitful

Good luck all Nd have a safe one ( or 600)

Old Git

[jefmcg]

No excuse, just not ready to cycle 600km and not emotionally ready for a DNF.  Plus bbq as mentioned above.

Good luck everyone!

[wilkyboy]

Been googling around for facilities in/near Sleaford, - for the benefit of faster riders, mainly [we'll probably be heading to the 'Packhorse' for breakfast...] Not much information around that I can find, but it seems the services on the A15/A17 roundabout are open 24 hours. Means going into town, then round the 1-way, back out on Northgate [heading Lincoln-wards] - unless you fancy your chances on the A17!

Or R $ LEASINGHAM 1km before the A17 and then L @ T [A15] then 500m to roundabout – adds on about 2.3km.  Little Chef at the same 24 hour garage opens at 7am.  TBH, as we are forecast a strong tailwind to Goole and a weak headwind home again, I would've thought even us slower riders may be back through Sleaford sooner than one would've thought ... or am I being optimistic?

I am now out, the tendonitis which has wiped out half of my season has returned with a vengeance, sods law says it clears up by Sunday.

Bugger!  Sorry to hear that my friend, GWS!    for your achievements this season regardless.

[i cycle]

I am now out, woke up this morning side still sore I cannot take the risk riding that distance with it.

Enjoy it everyone and good luck Raymond on your first 600k.

[Climberruss]

Whoopdee-doo! Yet another DNF. Pretty much the story of my year on longer rides. At least this time it was for a different reason. Usually it has been due to severe back pain (the after effects of a car crash), but this time started off as sore hamstrings which just hadn't recovered properly form last weekends 100ml Tt and 200km audax. By 50 miles my legs were really sore so stopped at the first open pub (for quiet contemplation). It was only when I swung my leg to get off the bike that I realised there was another problem. Pain/discomfort in my upper thigh.
Anyway, jacked the ride at 62 miles and rode back to base a different way. My thigh got more and more painful. Got back to car with 114 miles on the clock.
After driving home (2 hours plus) I could hardly get out of the car as my left leg had pretty much siezed up!
This morning its very sore - which just reinforces that I made the correct decision. If its no better tomorrow it will be a trip to the docs for some anti-inflams.
Its a shame because after such poor forecast, the weather was actually pretty good.

[bikey-mikey]

TG and I finished at 2:30 and are in the Angel & Harp. It was a very good ride, with an interesting finish!!

The pub is very busy with all tables reserved, but it'll get better as the day goes on....

Edit - ten minutes later and the pub clearing out now and room for all(ish)

Well done Tom !!!

[PAC]

I'm at the Cricketers...arrived at 15:15hrs

[billyam998]

good effort, pretty gutted I didn't make it seeing how the weather turned out in the end.

Bloody work, gets in the way of life far too often

[Christophe]

Any news on the Essex crews?

[Oscar's dad]

I had a message from Huggy at 1803 saying he had 44k to go and predicted finishing by 2000.

[Christophe]

That's a cracking effort. I hope I'm finished by 8 next week!
I think Bloomers and co were going for full value so guess they won't be finished till late.

[Oaky]

I had a message from Huggy at 1803 saying he had 44k to go and predicted finishing by 2000.

That is indeed good going!