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

[Bugloss]

HK and I are riding.

Do they do Crème brûlée in this part of the continent, or will it be Chelsea Bun ?

[LittleWheelsandBig]

Not that you're feeling hard done by...

[wilkyboy]

I just checked the new route from Chatteris to arrivée via Cambridge and it goes past the end of our street    Unfortunately it's at 520km, so not really a viable sleep stop, but I should be able to twist Mrs WB's arm into coffee and caik for those I'm riding with 

[PloddinPedro]

That could very well be as far as I get!

[redfalo]

With a mixture of excitement and anxiety, I've signed on for what will be my first 600k ride. I'll be rather slow, but hopefully steady. Would really fancy some company during the ride, but I reckon the peloton will be quite stretched out, won't it?

I hope to get a couple of hours of kip at Goole's Premier Inn, where I've booked a room for Saturday night.

I'm currently working on generating GPX files from the route sheet (the links to the 2013 GPX files further up in this post don't work anymore) and will post here them once finished.

Cheers
Olaf

[Cycling Daddy]

My heart says yes but head says no...I only just got away with the National 400.  But if my heart wins out I will be as slow or slower than everyone and happy to ride with you if you could restrain speedy urges Olaf.  Really I would want to do a 300 first.
Les

[Oscar's dad]

I'm trying for my second SR this year.  Just got the 200 and 600 to go so booked on The Flatlands.  The 300 and 400 confirmed to me the value of the slow but steady approach and I shall be adopting the same for the Flatlands.  I also like keeping stops short and sweet.

It means you must resist the temptation to keep up with groups or jump on the back of fast moving chains. So consequently you can spend large sections on your own as you ride your own ride which doesn't bother me.

[Old Git]

I'm trying for my second SR this year.  Just got the 200 and 600 to go so booked on The Flatlands.  The 300 and 400 confirmed to me the value of the slow but steady approach and I shall be adopting the same for the Flatlands.  I also like keeping stops short and sweet.

It means you must resist the temptation to keep up with groups or jump on the back of fast moving chains. So consequently you can spend large sections on your own as you ride your own ride which doesn't bother me.

Thats because you are billý no mates 

[Oscar's dad]

I'm trying for my second SR this year.  Just got the 200 and 600 to go so booked on The Flatlands.  The 300 and 400 confirmed to me the value of the slow but steady approach and I shall be adopting the same for the Flatlands.  I also like keeping stops short and sweet.

It means you must resist the temptation to keep up with groups or jump on the back of fast moving chains. So consequently you can spend large sections on your own as you ride your own ride which doesn't bother me.

Thats because you are billý no mates 

Oi    Some of my mates disappear for months on end and I never hear from them.  Are you well old bean?

[Old Git]

I'm trying for my second SR this year.  Just got the 200 and 600 to go so booked on The Flatlands.  The 300 and 400 confirmed to me the value of the slow but steady approach and I shall be adopting the same for the Flatlands.  I also like keeping stops short and sweet.

It means you must resist the temptation to keep up with groups or jump on the back of fast moving chains. So consequently you can spend large sections on your own as you ride your own ride which doesn't bother me.

Thats because you are billý no mates 

Oi    Some of my mates disappear for months on end and I never hear from them.  Are you well old bean?

Very good thanks..you?.. still on for PBP 2015?

[Oscar's dad]

I'm ticketty boo thank you.  Yes, still on for the PBP in 2015    You?

[Old Git]

I'm ticketty boo thank you.  Yes, still on for the PBP in 2015    You?

Rather than hijack Tomsk's thread I will PM you  ::-)8

[LittleWheelsandBig]

Anybody know of suitable accommodation around 350km?

[tonyh]

Last year I used a churchyard and a couple of fields.

Just noticed you said "accommodation" and "suitable".
(There's Tomsk's useful guide to Flatlands Bus Shelters, on the route sheet, but booking might be necessary.)

[LittleWheelsandBig]

We are more inclined towards Travelodges than bus shelters, given the option.

[Lars]

We are more inclined towards Travelodges than bus shelters, given the option.

Last year I couldn't find any suitable t-lodges on-route when planning the ride. Ended
up taking a 25k-ish diversion from the Goole control to the cheap Doncaster M18/M180 t-lodge,
and then returning to the route before the Gainsborough control.
 
Was able to get a five hour break, going full-value for the ride. Worked ok, but that t-lodge
was quite tricky to get to as the approach roads were M18 and M180 only. Found what on the map
looked like a doable lane to the lodge, but that turned out to be a barely walkable muddy grass trail.
This year plan to ride straight through and take it as it comes.

[teethgrinder]

Anybody know of suitable accommodation around 350km?

I can only think of Lincoln, which is more like 400km. Travelodges there and you pass a Premier Inn about a mile or two south of Lincoln.
I'm not sure about Gainsborough, but I sometimes like to stop for a coffee at Gainsborough at the 24hr garage before the last 20 miles or so to Lincoln.
The rest is just fenland and small villages

[redfalo]

Premier Inn at Goole is after 330 or so km. The Tavellodge at Lincoln is significantly (8k times 2) off course. I'm a novice to such kind of distances, but several experienced Audaxers independently from each other suggested 400plus km might be a bit too far for a kip stop. In between Goole and Lincoln seems to be a void. At least I could not find any 24hrs hotels at Gainsborough, and I reckon the route sheet would mention them if they exited.

[alotronic]

Premier Inn at Goole is after 330 or so km.

I have booked there too. 330 does seem a little early but I'd rather have it booked now. Over 400 would be risky I think.

Note for others that I got a family room - I suspect this means they are running out of rooms as I tried to book a single.

My first 600 too redfalo, see you out there!

A

[Manotea]

Does anybody have a current gpx for this they can share?

[redfalo]

Premier Inn at Goole is after 330 or so km.

I have booked there too. 330 does seem a little early but I'd rather have it booked now. Over 400 would be risky I think.

Note for others that I got a family room - I suspect this means they are running out of rooms as I tried to book a single.

My first 600 too redfalo, see you out there!

A

Great stuff!

[bhoot]

We can't do the calendar event this year, but in an attempt to get our shiny Essex SR badges we've entered the perm version. So in a couple of weeks we should be able to report back on the new flatter and shorter route...

Regarding accommodation, last year we booked the Premier Inn at Canwick and arrived there around 00.30 after the rather entertaining run through the revellers of Lincoln (with waiting police cars and ambulances!). This year we've booked the (I think new) Central Lincoln one which appears to be pretty much on route.

[rob]

We can't do the calendar event this year, but in an attempt to get our shiny Essex SR badges we've entered the perm version. So in a couple of weeks we should be able to report back on the new flatter and shorter route...

Regarding accommodation, last year we booked the Premier Inn at Canwick and arrived there around 00.30 after the rather entertaining run through the revellers of Lincoln (with waiting police cars and ambulances!). This year we've booked the (I think new) Central Lincoln one which appears to be pretty much on route.

That one only opened this year but is very central.   It does mean you'll have to climb Canwick Hill straight after breakfast.   I hope to do this one as my qualifier next year.

[redfalo]

Does anybody have a current gpx for this they can share?

I'm working on turning the routesheet into GPX and will upload in a few days.

[wilkyboy]

Does anybody have a current gpx for this they can share?

Last year's updated for this year's noted changes:

Northbound:  http://ridewithgps.com/routes/3137955
Southbound:  http://ridewithgps.com/routes/5444496

I use a Garmin Edge, so not limited to 500 points or whatever it is, hence 2x300s; if you're using an eTrex then you will have to slice'n'dice yourself, sorry.  You can export your preferred format from the Export tab at the upper-right (for those not familiar with RWGPS).