Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Audax => Topic started by: bludger on 15 August, 2018, 10:43:22 am
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http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/18-507/
29 December, Bristol - Cambridge - Bristol.
This is the first brevet I've ever seen come with a health warning on its event page.
This is an X-rated event for experienced randonneurs and endurance cyclists only. The organiser accepts no responsibility for winter weather or road conditions and you undertake this event entirely at your own risk.
I saw this one come up on Facebook and it's been weighing on my mind for the past few days.
How do you even begin to prepare for something like this? The clothes I think I've got sussed out (lots of super roubaix fabric and merino wool) but what really gives me the heebie jeebies is the prospect of riding on what could be frozen roads, howling headwinds, in days that only have 8 hours of the sun up, if you're lucky. If you don't have a dynamo hub (I don't) this would require a serious amount of spare lights. Thankfully it is a pretty flat course. Just one objective...
(https://i.imgflip.com/mpd13.jpg)
Any hot tips or perspectives on these sorts of brevets? It looks like a serious enterprise of type 2/3 fun. I've already started looking at seeing if my bike could handle 35mm studded winter tyres...
(http://www.aukweb.net/perms/507b.jpg)
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You know who the nutters in AUK are by looking at the event results... look forward to it (to looking at the results, I mean) ;D
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5am start, so that's at least 2hours in the dark to start you off :thumbsup:
500k is my favourite distance. in summer, anyway ...
This looks a brilliantly mad adventure. But I wouldn't do it in adverse weather ... so commiting to trains/accom will be a problem. If any Bonkers Bristolians can offer me a couch to surf, then I'm potentially in :)
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You know who the nutters in AUK are by looking at the event results... look forward to it (to looking at the results, I mean) ;D
Ahem, I've already entered. Hopefully, my name will be amongst those listed in the results!
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I am kinda tempted...
The trike would be a sensible machine if it’s icey. I think I’ll wait till it’s back from getting pimped and have a few more test runs before I make a decision.
John
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5am start, so that's at least 2hours in the dark to start you off :thumbsup:
500k is my favourite distance. in summer, anyway ...
This looks a brilliantly mad adventure. But I wouldn't do it in adverse weather ... so commiting to trains/accom will be a problem. If any Bonkers Bristolians can offer me a couch to surf, then I'm potentially in :)
I think I'm in the same boat. Challenging conditions are expected but I'm not doing it in a winter storm. The sticking problem is that so many people will be on hols or have relatives over that time there will be less sofas going.
Maybe the organiser will offer some tips
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looks like a decent ride! fwiw, i've done a similar shaped loop from london to wales and back last december as a festive500 ride, 504k in under 24hr. there was headwind and intermittent rain, but luckily the temperatures stayed reasonable averaging 9'c. wouldn't want to do it on studded tyres - it's a long way riding that in winter.
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looks like a decent ride! fwiw, i've done a similar shaped loop from london to wales and back last december as a festive500 ride, 504k in under 24hr. there was headwind and intermittent rain, but luckily the temperatures stayed reasonable averaging 9'c. wouldn't want to do it on studded tyres - it's a long way riding that in winter.
How did you manage in terms of grip on the road? Other hot tips I've had so far are panaracer gravel kings or just regular schwalbe marathons, but I don't trust the marketing men.
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How did you manage in terms of grip on the road? Other hot tips I've had so far are panaracer gravel kings or just regular schwalbe marathons, but I don't trust the marketing men.
Expecting a tyre to have more grip in winter is a bit pointless... ride conservatively and don't ride at all if there is a risk of ice.
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I have a similar dilemma, of a 600km cycle "holiday" over 24/25/26th of December, crossing most of Germany. There is a good chance of snow and ice. I have 42mm studded tyres for my bike, but the prospect of a 230km day on them does not appeal
I've done 90km on them, and that was hard. I am a lot fitter now, but it's still not something I'm looking forward to.
If you can avoid doing it on studded tyres, do so.
J
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I don't rate marathons too well in the ice. I had a couple of spills this winter on ice and snow (one of them uphill!)
I think riding bare rims would be a more suitable alternative.
(YMMV - it could just be my sub standard bike handling skills)
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looks like a decent ride! fwiw, i've done a similar shaped loop from london to wales and back last december as a festive500 ride, 504k in under 24hr. there was headwind and intermittent rain, but luckily the temperatures stayed reasonable averaging 9'c. wouldn't want to do it on studded tyres - it's a long way riding that in winter.
How did you manage in terms of grip on the road? Other hot tips I've had so far are panaracer gravel kings or just regular schwalbe marathons, but I don't trust the marketing men.
i just used the fast and grippy gp4000s with latex inner tubes and count myself lucky not to get a puncture throughout the whole festive1000, which included many scoggy lanes. only one day was a bit icy - i rode carefully and stayed upright.
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Very tempting. even though it does mean I'd pretty much be riding to Bristol,back home, back to Bristol, then back home again...
It'd work well with a prevailing SW wind. The wind is usually stronger from 10am to 7pm so the headwind will more likely be lighter than the tailwind.
Route looks sensible too. Road that will mostly be gritted, not fiddly lanes but not big 'orrible roads.
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I think I'm in the same boat. Challenging conditions are expected but I'm not doing it in a winter storm. The sticking problem is that so many people will be on hols or have relatives over that time there will be less sofas going.
Maybe the organiser will offer some tips
Think he's away at the moment and offline for a couple more weeks but I'm sure he'll be surprised pleased at all the interest in the ride ... not for me though :hand:
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I'm showing it to people who don't even cycle which is provoking mixed reactions!
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The only way I can see this making sense is if you get a couple of days of steady westerly, dull grey skies, pushing the temperature around 10 degrees day and night. You struggle in headwinds, but at least it's safe.
Any other scenario involves freezing rain and hypothermia, icy nights and the risk of A & E, snow or a mix of them
Incidentally that kind of westerly seems to be quite common over the Christmas period, when everybody wants snow and get mild wind and spotty rain
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There are nutters who are disappointed you’re not running this at 00:00 on the 24th! That would really sort the wheat from the chaff!
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I'm tempted by this, not exactly sure why ;D
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Tempting. But I'm too far north.
Why doesn't anyone do one of these in West Yorkshire?
Ah, that's right, it's cold oop north ::-)
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Very tempting. even though it does mean I'd pretty much be riding to Bristol,back home, back to Bristol, then back home again...
It'd work well with a prevailing SW wind. The wind is usually stronger from 10am to 7pm so the headwind will more likely be lighter than the tailwind.
Route looks sensible too. Road that will mostly be gritted, not fiddly lanes but not big 'orrible roads.
We could ask to start it in Winslow!
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It's not usually icy in December, it's usually Feb and march when it's icy these days. December tends to be largely wet and windy in my experience, and foggy. Last few years anyway.
Probably going to be a bit of a slog but could be good...
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Strangely tempting in a masochistic sort of way. It would have to be done as a full value ride with a hotel stop after about 300k - I wouldn't use an audax hotel in December - but certainly possible assuming the weather isn't ridiculously bad. Two drawbacks for me: first is the start time of 5.00am, which means I would have to ride down to Bristol beforehand; second is that it goes rather too close to my house at 450k, which is the point at which a warm bed becomes more tempting than finishing. I might enter just for the hell of it and only ride if the weather looks promising.
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[mode:Killjoy]
I think it's irresponsible to put on an event like this. Audax is a hobby, and even with the disclaimers, entrants would be expecting the NHS to pick up the pieces if it all goes tits up. 500km in December is just stupid.
[mode:off]
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[mode:Killjoy]
I think it's irresponsible to put on an event like this. Audax is a hobby, and even with the disclaimers, entrants would be expecting the NHS to pick up the pieces if it all goes tits up. 500km in December is just stupid.
[mode:off]
No, its a fecking serious business.
To be fair, its more likely to be 10* and wet isn't it. And of it is icy, don't start. Or if it starts to get icy, pack.
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It is definitely a very serious enterprise - and I wouldn't hesitate to bail if upon inspecting the forecast, I anticipated hazardous conditions.
And I know audax is unsupported but I'd try to get one of the parents or my bro to be ready with the late 90s E class wagon and a hot curry thermos if the worst happened and things turned sour.
But the prospect of nailing this one is really inspiring, I get the feeling if I did any ride after it, and things turn bad, I could always look back on this one and feel better about my situation.
Contrary to my usual audax tactics I'd aim to mob up with a group from the off and stick with for the duration. Made a bit difficult by my not knowing anyone macho to give it a whirl. But I'd find a way somehow.
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Very tempting. even though it does mean I'd pretty much be riding to Bristol,back home, back to Bristol, then back home again...
It'd work well with a prevailing SW wind. The wind is usually stronger from 10am to 7pm so the headwind will more likely be lighter than the tailwind.
Route looks sensible too. Road that will mostly be gritted, not fiddly lanes but not big 'orrible roads.
We could ask to start it in Winslow!
What as per https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=84467.msg ? Cambridge looks the more logical start. I'll offer up a pair of championship bar end plugs (what I won) for anyone that does it dressed as Isambard Kingdom Brunel...
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That was a lot of fun - thanks to ACB for the challenge. Always good to try something different - my first audax on fixed, my first group DIY and my first dressed as IKB (partially - we'll have to reschedule it for the middle of winter if I'm going to survive wearing that).
*thinks*
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Start date is my birthday. I think that sounds like a good enough reason to do this.
Not going to make a decision yet but am giving it serious consideration...
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[mode:Killjoy]
I think it's irresponsible to put on an event like this. Audax is a hobby, and even with the disclaimers, entrants would be expecting the NHS to pick up the pieces if it all goes tits up. 500km in December is just stupid.
[mode:off]
We've gone back to the 1996 Audax AGM then and that was one response to my riding 600s in winter and was an argument against having the Audax points awards.
It amuses me that years later we have the much coveted RRTY. So I guess all you are quibbling about is the distance of the event?
Yes, it's a hobby. I don;t see what point that tries to make. Is it that we shouldn't push our limits or be audacious?
I used to commute to work by bike and never got a day off because the weather is bad. I now ride my bike to earn my living (Deliveroo) and the grim weather days pay best. It's just riding a bike on the road, not base jumping. If the weather is beyond the limits of myself or my equipment (I don't have studded tyres for ice) I won't ride. I've booked hotels in advance for a December 1000 and not even turned up at the start because of the risk of ice and lost all my hotel booking money. The audax minimum speed solves a lot of problems of risk. If it's that hazardous, you'll be too slow for the time limit. That applies to sleepiness as well.
One reason I like the idea of this event is that I can d a good winter ride in company for a change. It'll be more fun and it means we can look out for each other, not like when I do solo winter permanents, which is what I'd do if I don;t ride this event.
I'd be more concerned about drunk drivers than weather and that is as much of a problem in summer holiday months.
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So I guess all you are quibbling about is the distance of the event?
I'm quibbling about the encouragement. There will undoubtably be night riding. It gets colder and the weather is more dangerous at night.
Yes, it's a hobby. I don;t see what point that tries to make. Is it that we shouldn't push our limits or be audacious?
We shouldn't expect other people to look after our foolishness. If you set out doing something reckless (Park Rash in the snow, just as an actual; this happened ferinstance) and something goes tits up, it's society as a whole, the NHS in particular who picks up the pieces. I think it's selfish.
If the weather is beyond the limits of myself or my equipment (I don't have studded tyres for ice) I won't ride. I've booked hotels in advance for a December 1000 and not even turned up at the start because of the risk of ice and lost all my hotel booking money. The audax minimum speed solves a lot of problems of risk. If it's that hazardous, you'll be too slow for the time limit. That applies to sleepiness as well.
Which is fine for one person to make that choice, but putting on an event and not cancelling because WEATHER (the Snowcovered Dean, for example) is an encouragement for people to take risks which are for their own enjoyment but cost society as a whole.
One reason I like the idea of this event is that I can d a good winter ride in company for a change. It'll be more fun and it means we can look out for each other, not like when I do solo winter permanents, which is what I'd do if I don;t ride this event.
all of which is fair enough. But what about others who don't have your experience and judgement and go out anyway?
I'd be more concerned about drunk drivers than weather and that is as much of a problem in summer holiday months.
I've never been hit by a drunk driver but I've assisted riders to ambulances thanks to ice. I've come off (on my way to work, on hobby rides) several times. You can see why I view one as more likely than the other. One is preventable by your own actions- stay off the roads if the weather is unsuitable- the other is not- who knows when the next DD will strike. Winter is a lot more predictable- it's always a possibility, even a probability in December.
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Thanks for the motivation now entered :thumbsup:
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There's risk involved in anything, so I guess what you're saying is that the risk is too great, so can you tell us all what the risk is compared to other hobbies, activities and so on and what exactly the acceptable limit is?
That's the rub, isn't it?
For me, a 500km in the last week of December is too great. 100km would be- if it was snowing in the morning. I don't think the Dean should be banned, but the snowy one should have been cancelled- how would the organisers NOT have been liable if something had happened to the few brave foolhardy souls who set out?
We all (surely) tut at teenagers in trainers heading up mountains in changeable weather forcing the mountain rescue bods to go out after them. People drowning in frozen lakes having gone out after their dogs. Firemen dying because kids lit a campfire which got out hand.
It's all fun and games and macho bravery until someone breaks a pelvis. There's a hefty tally of cyclists who took a chance and broke collarbones and hips, and will we still be OK with this ride on the calendar when someone dies?
Of course that's hyperbole and really really (really) unlikely, but for me, this ride crosses the fine line between audacity and stupidity. A group of mates doing a perm and making a decision on the morning of the ride is not the same as a calendar event under the umbrella of Audax UK.
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I wonder if there will be a medal?
If there is it will be by definition rare because:
Very few folk ride 200s in proper winter weather overseas and only a handful ride further. Otherwise, carry on the debate.
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I would prefer that this thread is broadly on the topic of the brevet but we're all grown ups here and I'm not your boss. Just don't want interest in the brevet and particularly agreements to chaingang to be distracted by a relevant but ultimately tangential topic if it turns out the weather is fine after all.
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That's the rub, isn't it?
For me, a 500km in the last week of December is too great. 100km would be- if it was snowing in the morning. I don't think the Dean should be banned, but the snowy one should have been cancelled- how would the organisers NOT have been liable if something had happened to the few brave foolhardy souls who set out?
We all (surely) tut at teenagers in trainers heading up mountains in changeable weather forcing the mountain rescue bods to go out after them. People drowning in frozen lakes having gone out after their dogs. Firemen dying because kids lit a campfire which got out hand.
It's all fun and games and macho bravery until someone breaks a pelvis. There's a hefty tally of cyclists who took a chance and broke collarbones and hips, and will we still be OK with this ride on the calendar when someone dies?
Of course that's hyperbole and really really (really) unlikely, but for me, this ride crosses the fine line between audacity and stupidity. A group of mates doing a perm and making a decision on the morning of the ride is not the same as a calendar event under the umbrella of Audax UK.
Risk isn't the same for each individual. I've walked my bike down the Gospel Pass over ice on the Gospel Pass 100 as a few others confidently and safely just rode over the ice. I'm sure I'd have ended up in A&E if I tried.
Some drown in frozen lakes trying too rescue their pets, meanwhile others go diving into icy lakes just for fun without any problems, just as some go swimming in lakes where if I tried that, I'd not expect to come out if alive, unless I built myself up to be able to do it.
IIRC the Dean had a get out clause, that if anyone ride the following week, brevets were accepted. I think that almost everyone deciding not to ride negates the need for the event being cancelled. Those who did start (and finish) knew what they were up against. The main reason I didn't ride was because if it did get unrideable, it would have been expensive staying in a hotel and been a hassle getting back home. I had to be at work on the Monday and that might have been challenging or very expensive if it got really bad. Otherwise I'd have had a crack just for the fun and would have pulled myself out if it got nasty.
I'd ride an event where a rider has died on a previous event. PBP for starters. I don't do macho bravery. I think that the kind f person who does will come unstuck one way or another anyway.
I think you demonstrate my other point well. It's just too daunting to take on lightly. It doesn't look so bad now, when the weather isn't oppressive and you have some fitness (if you're lucky! I've got to build some up again) but once you lose some fitness, you get a bit slower and start going outside and think, "Bugger me! It's freezing! Sod doing 500k for a game of soldiers!" it starts dawning upon you that deciding whether to do a 500 or not needs consideration. this often makes you an avid weather watcher, just as it does with any significant ride, so you can plan kit etc. (or even whether to ride or not)
I suggest the danger is more imagined than real.
This reminds me of when I stayed in Ambleside YH one Christmas to do some mountain biking. I booked in advance but it snowed so I abandoned my ambitious plan to ride the High Street and just bimbled around a bit on my mountain bike. Still did some off road but ended up walking a lot (and got passed by mountain bikers who were confidently riding over the icy path I was walking along precariously)
A rock climber was also staying and we got chatting. He thought I was very brave mountain biking and didn't think that he was especially brave rock climbing.
It wasn't me who downed a bottle of wine the following night after a scary experience....
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I really don't see what the big issue is here. I've entered this event and will make my own decision nearer the time when I actually know what sort of weather I'm in for. The roads used seem to be chosen for the time of year. I don't consider myself selfish, If there's ice, I'll walk. If I have to walk too much I'll be out of time and I'll have to abandon. I rode the Dean this year and the weather turned so bad after Malmesbury that I ended up overnighting at the Days Inn at Membury services and still had to walk the next day because the conditions were so bad. When I first started riding audax (it wasn't very long ago) somebody said to me: 'we don't do these rides because they're easy!'. It annoyed me a little at the time but I've come to understand what he meant. So, as long as the conditions aren't dangerous on the day, I'll have a crack at the Full Fat Festive 500. It won't be easy!
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Thank you admin.
As for myself it looks like the family are trying to collar me into a winter break somewhere far from Bristol - but if I can get away with it you'll see me at the start line 8)
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The plan is, if I can manage a 600 in October then I will enter
(and try and do another longish ride in November just to keep my knees supple)
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GP4seasons have a modicum of grip if you are riding on wet roads with the odd patch of icy stuff. They will even grip ok on new snow. Useless once it gets icy and rutted. They are the best all-round tyres I know of for these conditions that are also reasonably quick.
I believe there are other continentals with a similar compound.
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GP4seasons have a modicum of grip if you are riding on wet roads with the odd patch of icy stuff. They will even grip ok on new snow.
Nonsense
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GP4seasons have a modicum of grip if you are riding on wet roads with the odd patch of icy stuff. They will even grip ok on new snow.
Nonsense
Yep, completely agree.
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I see ACB are also running a 300km on 23rd November 2018, from Bristol down to Poole Harbour and back with a 10.00pm start.
As a relative newcomer to Audaxing (started 2014) I'd always assumed that the reason there were never any calendar rides over 200km through the winter was that there was little or no demand for them.
These audaxes, from the little I know about ACB, seem to fit in with the sort of winter DIY's they tend to ride. In that respect, hats-off to ACB for pushing back the boundaries and giving like-minded souls the opportunity to take part.
It'll be interesting to see how many riders there are.
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GP4seasons have a modicum of grip if you are riding on wet roads with the odd patch of icy stuff. They will even grip ok on new snow.
Nonsense
That is my experience.
Gained from commuting 25miles over snowy, icy roads. You may not find that the grip is great, however I found them far better than other tyres.
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GP4seasons have a modicum of grip if you are riding on wet roads with the odd patch of icy stuff. They will even grip ok on new snow.
Nonsense
That is my experience.
Gained from commuting 25miles over snowy, icy roads. You may not find that the grip is great, however I found them far better than other tyres.
They are grippy tyres (on normal roads) but the only tyres that grip effectively on ice are ones with studs
Also, GP4 are slick and tyres with tread work better on fresh snow
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GP4seasons have a modicum of grip if you are riding on wet roads with the odd patch of icy stuff. They will even grip ok on new snow.
Nonsense
That is my experience.
Gained from commuting 25miles over snowy, icy roads. You may not find that the grip is great, however I found them far better than other tyres.
You see, I have to challenge your statement for the simple reason that it is damaging.
A guy in December will use Google to search "tyres for snow and ice" and will come across a thread on YACF where you claim that Conti GP 4 Seasons work well on ice patches as well as fresh snow. He will then buy them, sure in the knowledge that the internet is always right. He will inevitably end up in A&E...
At least if I suggest that it is "nonsense", he will think twice and maybe get something more appropriate
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It's a form of natural selection. People who make important decisions based on the opinions of AnonymousUser666 on an open internet forum are fully deserving of their Darwin awards.
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It's a form of natural selection. People who make important decisions based on the opinions of AnonymousUser666 on an open internet forum are fully deserving of their Darwin awards.
So you've never followed advice you read on the web, I take?
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As a relative newcomer to Audaxing (started 2014) I'd always assumed that the reason there were never any calendar rides over 200km through the winter was that there was little or no demand for them.
Not sure why you say there aren't any 200km rides through the winter. There are always 200km rides over winter.
http://www.aukweb.net/events/?From=01%2F12%2F2018&To=2&Dist_min=200 (http://www.aukweb.net/events/?From=01%2F12%2F2018&To=2&Dist_min=200)
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As a relative newcomer to Audaxing (started 2014) I'd always assumed that the reason there were never any calendar rides over 200km through the winter was that there was little or no demand for them.
Not sure why you say there aren't any 200km rides through the winter. There are always 200km rides over winter.
http://www.aukweb.net/events/?From=01%2F12%2F2018&To=2&Dist_min=200 (http://www.aukweb.net/events/?From=01%2F12%2F2018&To=2&Dist_min=200)
... in fairness he said OVER 200...
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Ah, fair enough. I didn't read it properly ;D :-[
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This ride is a great addition to the calender, but beware the health warning. I would only ride in mild conditions as have come off on ice in dips when I thought it was ice free. Be careful very careful.
Sent from my E6653 using Tapatalk
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It's a form of natural selection. People who make important decisions based on the opinions of AnonymousUser666 on an open internet forum are fully deserving of their Darwin awards.
So you've never followed advice you read on the web, I take?
He's too busy handing it out !
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I went on an overnight ride at the end of november once (a before dinner dart, the year it snowed at the end of november)
I made various bail out plans, one of which I followed, on the basis that it was 2:00am, I was pushing the tiime limits and it would get colder and icier. That was only a 200. I was never cold, it just stopped seeming like a sensible idea.
I'd also point out LEL 2009 and hypothermia.
I suggest anyone doing the ride looks at the weather and makes suitable ail out plans.
It could of course be as mild as October was about 15 years ago. At which epoch there were rather fewer BR over the winter.
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I went on an overnight ride at the end of november once (a before dinner dart, the year it snowed at the end of november)
I made various bail out plans, one of which I followed, on the basis that it was 2:00am, I was pushing the tiime limits and it would get colder and icier. That was only a 200. I was never cold, it just stopped seeming like a sensible idea.
I'd also point out LEL 2009 and hypothermia.
I suggest anyone doing the ride looks at the weather and makes suitable ail out plans.
It could of course be as mild as October was about 15 years ago. At which epoch there were rather fewer BR over the winter.
yep this is all true
I've done commuting in the winter and ridden longer rides (not in winter for example PBP 2007) in bad conditions and won't start this unless I have a good feel for actually finishing
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I've been trying to remember a particular ride which was cancelled due to atrocious (snow and ice) weather conditions. It would have been 2000, 2001 or 2002 and, as I lived in Leeds at the time, it would have been somewhere Yorkshire-ish.
This was before most people had heard of e-mail or mobile phones so it was only when the hardy few turned up at the start that the organiser informed us that the ride had to be cancelled. However, he said, if anyone really wants to they can take a brevet card, complete the ride and he would validate it.
Did I say the conditions were bad? I fell off my bike riding across the car park. It was ludicrous!
And, naturally, most people who'd turned up decided to do the ride anyway. Me included.
Quite mad but memorable and extremely satisfying. :thumbsup:
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GP4seasons have a modicum of grip if you are riding on wet roads with the odd patch of icy stuff. They will even grip ok on new snow.
Nonsense
That is my experience.
Gained from commuting 25miles over snowy, icy roads. You may not find that the grip is great, however I found them far better than other tyres.
You see, I have to challenge your statement for the simple reason that it is damaging.
A guy in December will use Google to search "tyres for snow and ice" and will come across a thread on YACF where you claim that Conti GP 4 Seasons work well on ice patches as well as fresh snow. He will then buy them, sure in the knowledge that the internet is always right. He will inevitably end up in A&E...
At least if I suggest that it is "nonsense", he will think twice and maybe get something more appropriate
Where did I say they 'grip well on ice and snow'?
I said they "have a modicum of grip if you are riding on wet roads with the odd patch of icy stuff."
The emphasis there is wet roads with the odd patch of icy stuff. You turned it into a recommendation for tyres for ice and snow. Stop twisting words.
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Tempting.
Is there any scope for a reverse route, Cambridge-Bristol-Cambridge or starting the route in a location other than Bristol?
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Organiser here. Back from LEJOG with my son; he is amazing, finished off his Brevet 500 in the process, added a lego brick to the largest model in the world at Chester Cathedral and climbed Ben Nevis amoung other things!
Didn't expect to cause such a stir with this one.
Simply put I'm not forcing anyone to do anything. The statement is clear on the calendar page. As I have mentioned and someone has pointed out I have run this twice as a club DIY and now open it up to like minded people. I've experienced weather over both times from frozen water bottles 30km in with frost covered fields, glorious sunshine, warm night, freezing night, walls of wind and rain, no rain, no wind, tailwind.
From the freezing one the roads were clear bar one place early on the 2nd morning which I will identify prior to the event; otherwise frosty, we just took our time. The route is advisory so any entrant can choose an alternative if they wish based on the weather. Or should they decide DNS/DNF. Risk? Life is riddled with risk and we are all potentially a strain on any service/person in all walks of life at any moment. Access the risk, be prepared and act accordingly. ie buy some winter tyres in advance just in case!
If you are asking for advice about clothing, tyres, what to do if you get a mechanical in the middle of the night with no one around and cold fingers etc I suggest you try something else, probably shorter on the edge of your comfort zone before attempting this.
I've set up another post where those that have entered can communicate their accommodation, travel arrangements, campervan sharing (no problem with staying in a (camper)van parked on the road near the start) etc: https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=109457.0 (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=109457.0)
Spaces are limited as my house will be HQ, and therefore no option of starting from else where especially if I join in; plus the controls are identified for their opening time availability, I'll also list other establishments and their opening times. Otherwise ECE is always an option ;D
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I'm in. It's a bold idea and it's worth a punt at nine quid...... and if you want an early December toe-in-the-water you could try this http://www.aukweb.net/perms/detail/JPE07/ . I'm retiring from organising calendar after next weeks Venetian Nights but I'll be running this as a just-turn-up group perm ( I have 17 cards to get rid of) on whichever of 8th or 15th December has mildest weather.
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I have decided to enter the event but plan on stopping at cambridge unless the weather and conditions are being unseasonably miraculous. As I'll be hoping to stop at a friend's for tea anyway. I will be back from a (very mild) operation on the 20th so this will be a fun way to jump back on the bike and push myself a bit. I've never done a poor weather Brevet before so this can be a warm up for bolder endeavours in early 2019.
But you never know...
Hope that is ok with you, organiser 🙌
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:thumbsup:
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Excellent briefing email today. This is an X++ ride! I will be booking my breakfast at the Blundsden Premier Inn. Will, I'm interested in how many entries you have.
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Just helping people be properly prepared for the X-rated stuff. The ++ bit is because hopefully I'll be riding out with you guys to do a 300 and I want somewhere to have breakfast ;)
I have more than I expected with a few waiting in the wings. Lets see what the turn out is like on the day.
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Is your "Buckland" stop at the garden centre?
https://www.bamptongardenplants.co.uk/cafe
Cos if so I shall try to pop over.
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No nothing as illustrious as that. Buckland Services on A46.
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Hello all. Has anyone got a GPX route for this ride? I plan to ride the route from Leighton Buzzard on Friday and so aim to arrive at the Official start in Bristol to start with the main pack although you will all quickly leave me behind. I couldn't bring myself to drive all the way to Bristol to then cycle past my house at 200K in. Apart from the extra time for the driving to the start I can also imagine that attraction of a warm bed at home would have been too much temptation as
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Just to be clear I wasn't being cheap and trying to the avoid the far too reasonable cost of this ride. I just didn't think starting and finishing in a different place would meet the Audax ride rules. So just treating it as a DIY. Happy to pay organiser the fiver to get through GPX track. Thanks in advance.
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It's not looking at all bad squad
http://www.weatherbagel.com/f/fe582426-60b3-49a7-a62c-0d304af3142b
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Hello all. Has anyone got a GPX route for this ride? I plan to ride the route from Leighton Buzzard on Friday and so aim to arrive at the Official start in Bristol to start with the main pack although you will all quickly leave me behind. I couldn't bring myself to drive all the way to Bristol to then cycle past my house at 200K in. Apart from the extra time for the driving to the start I can also imagine that attraction of a warm bed at home would have been too much temptation as
Just to be clear I wasn't being cheap and trying to the avoid the far too reasonable cost of this ride. I just didn't think starting and finishing in a different place would meet the Audax ride rules. So just treating it as a DIY. Happy to pay organiser the fiver to get through GPX track. Thanks in advance.
I beg your pardon?
Not in the rules? Well your statement of intent is not in the spirit!
My email address is on the calendar page. You have had almost 6 months to contact me direct with your interest rather than using open avenues to try and acquire the GPX on Christmas day.
I would have been a lot more amenable had you contacted me direct and in advance. I would never just assume an organiser was cool with me just rocking up at their event HQ (my home) whilst copying their route but doing it as a DIY.
GPX are only available to those that have entered the ride. If you want to do it as a DIY - Do It Yourself
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^ Send a PM instead?
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Apologies I absolutely meant nothing by this. I guess I completely misread the situation. I won't say anything more than that. Sorry.
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Weather forecast looking rather unwintery for this.
High of 13 tomorrow lunchtime, and the strongest of the westerly on the outbound leg.
What was all the fuss about!?
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Cor I went and bought those super gravel tubeless thingies all for nothing.
The bike industry wins again!
On my way out to Bristol now 😬🤩
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Keeping my eye on this from the office. Not jealous at all.
Looking forward to reading some stories from the road.
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I apologise to Will for such a pessimistic title. It's a really cracking ride. Special thanks to the boss for cutting a deal with the wind Gods!
:thumbsup:
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Surely people must be back by now... ::-)
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I understand if any editorial changes are made to "Special thanks to the boss for cutting a deal with the wind God's!" ::-)
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Surely people must be back by now... ::-)
Third of the field, mainly those that decided to go straight through without booking somewhere to sleep.
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All got back who were going to get back. Last with minutes to spare after a multiple visits from the puncture fairy on the way out; their Full Fat Festive 500 definitely wasn't skimmed!
Great ride all.
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All got back who were going to get back. Last with minutes to spare after a multiple visits from the puncture fairy on the way out; their Full Fat Festive 500 definitely wasn't skimmed!
Great ride all.
Well that was tough, a visit or three held me up by over an hour at Acton Turville which put me on the back foot for the first 150km as I didn't see anyone, I came across our intrepid lantern rouge not far from Woburn and we sort of teamed up all the way to Cambridge save for me stopping for a filling station coffee and then finding him fixing yet another visit on the bike path next to the rather lovely A road into Shefford. We went our separate ways outside the Regal in Cambridge and I 'enjoyed' the driest burger I have ever had the pleasure of in the Regal standing out like a sore thumb whist everyone else was on a loud Saturday night out. The guided bus lane thingy to St. Ives fascinated me which kept me entertained all the way to St. Ives although there was some odd blokes along there with some sort of strobe light, so I pressed on a bit for a while worrying what they were up to. Why the chap and his three wives were going to St. Ives for I have no idea as there wasn't an awful lot there, I bumped into Mr Rouge again there he continued whilst I bought some bits and bobs from Mace. The next stretch to Northampton I don't really remember a lot of, I think I was on autopilot by this point, once the glorious sight of the Golden arches came into view I could see someone leaving which made me think I am finally grasping onto the coat tails of the 'peloton' there was another rider tucking in when I arrived who then fell asleep and I left him there sparko. The next 50km stretch I found really hard, and I visited some really dark places both figuratively and literally, why was I doing this and I am going to DNF at Tewkesbury as that would be an easy place for International Rescue to find me. I then came across a Audax Hotel so decided to try for a little sleep, it was cold and the rungs on the seat dug into my ribs, I gave up 30 minutes later just as two riders who had been a lot more organised than I came by having had a couple of hours sleep in Northampton. I continued out into the darkness which then became very foggy darkness as I reached the M40 valley up, up a couple of little pitches and the next control came into view. I found several riders here and found out that they too had found the last the leg had been tough, which I found strangely comforting it wasn't just me and perhaps I could do this after all. I spent on hour in the filling station mostly staring into the distance I finally came to the conclusion that I should really make a move. It was still dark!!
I felt quite good for the first 20kms after the control and it then started to get light although the fog made a reappearance which then left as soon as it had come and then sun finally came out and now I started feeling a lot better. I got to Tewkesbury and had made my mind up by that point to continue so had some more sarnies from a filling station and then hit the A38 south, the wind wasn't to bad but a head wind at 400+ kms made it hard plus its a road I know well, especially as it goes past my house by a mile and to make matters worse I saw my other half in the car going shopping. She didn't recognise me doh! as Audaxes are miles away! ;D
I struggled down to Thornbury this stretch really finished me off and I simply pootled into Bristol, although someone came from behind and gave a cheery hello and it was non other then Steve Abraham, I sort of followed Steve to the finish and it was all over.
20 hours of riding in the dark really did mess with my head but this was an awesome event I am so glad I rode, however I am at work today and have to confess, the lights are on but no one is at home.
Will thanks dude :thumbsup: good for you for trying something new.
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We went our separate ways outside the Regal in Cambridge and I 'enjoyed' the driest burger I have ever had the pleasure of in the Regal standing out like a sore thumb whist everyone else was on a loud Saturday night out.
Blimey. The Cambridge Regal on a Saturday night :o That really is intrepid!
Huge congratulations to you and all those who completed this.
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...
a head wind at 400+ kms made it hard plus its a road I know well, especially as it goes past my house by a mile and to make matters worse I saw my other half in the car going shopping. She didn't recognise me doh! as Audaxes are miles away! ;D
...
;D
That is something I have never experienced (and I imagine few have!)
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I've seen on Strava TG has done 2 loops... :o