2009 AGM - Dinner Darts

[border-rider]

Anybody for a Bristol, Birmingham or Reading start?

I might be interested in that.  Or possibly S Wales ?

[Weirdy Biker]

Anybody for a Bristol, Birmingham or Reading start?

Reading a possibility (presumably would be 300k).  Birmingaham OK if started from east of there.  Bristol would be a major diversion (likewise South Wales) but things could be arranged so that our paths cross at some point.

[Manotea]

I'm planning to ride up from West London to arrive Friday night. I'll have to train home though as I'm due home Sunday pm.

I have this fantasy of routing via Dalkeith. I'm sure it will wear off, in which case a Reading start or meetup en-route is possible.

[mattc]

I'm not clear what the timetable is here. Isn't the AGM early afternoon, so a 200 before or after is gonna be tough with short daylight?

So I'm assuming folks are riding on the Friday and Saturday ...

[I rode about 100k to the last one, and it felt like an early start!]
p.s. Reading-ish still possible, knee under review.

[Panoramix]

I could do South Wales indeed. What about a Chepstow(ish) start to follow the Wye river at the start?

Somewhere close to Birmingham but not Birmingham sounds like a good meetup point, but my knowledge of good cycling routes is too limited to offer a solution!

The Heart of England route may be a good base.

[DanialW]

If you want any help or advice on navigating or indeed avoiding Birmingham, drop me a line.

Unless you're riding through v. early morning, I would recommend cycling round our fair second city if you don't know the roads.

[Weirdy Biker]

I'm not clear what the timetable is here. Isn't the AGM early afternoon, so a 200 before or after is gonna be tough with short daylight?

So I'm assuming folks are riding on the Friday and Saturday ...

[I rode about 100k to the last one, and it felt like an early start!]
p.s. Reading-ish still possible, knee under review.

The dart is usually on the Friday, as there is a pre-AGM drinking sesh gathering.  Last year, people tended to stumble through the door any time after 6pm, some later (e.g. I got there circa 9pm from memory).

[border-rider]

Anybody for a Bristol, Birmingham or Reading start?

I might be interested in that.  Or possibly S Wales ?

I'm being dumb.  Forgot to check diary.  Sorry

[Manotea]

...340km from West London. Vaguely early start for a Friday night finish viable. I suspect the bar will be closed by the time I arrive though!

[vorsprung]

As a southern softie based in Devon where it rains a lot but rarely snows, what is the likelyhood of ice on the road in York or Chesterfield in late November?

[teethgrinder]

I'm sure I read somewhere that on a Dart one can't use the same road more than once, or is that same control place ?

That's for the Easter Arrow to York. Possibly also for the Summer Arrow too. The Easter Arrow comes under the Fleche rides in France and are qualifiers for Brevet 25,000s. The Summer Arrows are run along the same lines, but not exactly the same and don't qualify for Brevet 25,000s.
It's probably different for Hostel arrows and Dinner Darts. I'd submit a route to Sheila and see if she OKs it.

[teethgrinder]

Looking at riding up from MK. Probably going overnight though like last year.

I'll be riding up from Milton Keynes overnight, starting Friday night/evening.
I can get to York in about 160 miles if I go direct from my flat.
Milton Keynes, Melton Mowbray, Ollerton, Thorne, Selby then York.
I'm just riding and not bothering with a Brevet.
I might come home a slightly longer route to avoid busy roads in the daytime.

If anyone wants to ride with me up to York, then that's good.

If you want to ride back with me, I won't want to hang around very much. I'll want some sleep before I go to work on Monday, so will be aiming to get home before midnight and don't expect to leave York before 0900. I'm not missing breakfast!
It might be hard going if it's cold/wet/headwind.

[JohnHamilton]

I'll be riding up on the Friday. Telford - York is conveniently spot on 200k.

Most likely heading via Stone, Uttoxeter, Ashbourne, Hathersage. Company always welcome & could quite easily rendezvous on the way up.

Or for anyone from further S/W wanting to start from darkest Shropshire floor space/spare bed is always available.

[mikek]

Looking at riding up from MK. Probably going overnight though like last year.

I'll be riding up from Milton Keynes overnight, starting Friday night/evening.
I can get to York in about 160 miles if I go direct from my flat.
Milton Keynes, Melton Mowbray, Ollerton, Thorne, Selby then York.
I'm just riding and not bothering with a Brevet.
I might come home a slightly longer route to avoid busy roads in the daytime.

If anyone wants to ride with me up to York, then that's good.

I too will be riding up on Friday afternoon/night and would be glad to join you two if I could? I'd like to ride up on a 300 dart; those towns you mentioned suit me for controls just fine. I could join you somewhere around Towcester/Olney/Market Harborough or whatever suits.

If you want to ride back with me, I won't want to hang around very much. I'll want some sleep before I go to work on Monday, so will be aiming to get home before midnight and don't expect to leave York before 0900. I'm not missing breakfast!
It might be hard going if it's cold/wet/headwind.

Unfortunately I will definitely miss breakfast as I'll be cycling back to Birmingham for work and must be there for 1630. It had better not be too much of a headwind.

[Chris N]

As a southern softie based in Devon where it rains a lot but rarely snows, what is the likelyhood of ice on the road in York or Chesterfield in late November?

In town you'll probably be fine.  If you're crossing the Peak District be prepared to stick to the main roads if it's grim.  They're usually less hilly too.

[Chris N]

Most likely heading via Stone, Uttoxeter, Ashbourne, Hathersage. Company always welcome & could quite easily rendezvous on the way up.

I'd be up for that - Stone would be a good spot to meet, I think.

[Panoramix]

I'm not clear what the timetable is here. Isn't the AGM early afternoon, so a 200 before or after is gonna be tough with short daylight?

So I'm assuming folks are riding on the Friday and Saturday ...

[I rode about 100k to the last one, and it felt like an early start!]
p.s. Reading-ish still possible, knee under review.

Oxford seems to be about 300 to York so may be more realistic than Reading:

 CloudMade Maps

Is this generating more interest?

Or may be Didcot as a place easy to reach on an early train for many.

[mattc]

With a tail-wind you can get from Didcot to Oxford in 45mins (and I'm not fast). Very flat.

Can't believe I'm contemplating a 300 to The North in November ...

[teethgrinder]

I too will be riding up on Friday afternoon/night and would be glad to join you two if I could? I'd like to ride up on a 300 dart; those towns you mentioned suit me for controls just fine. I could join you somewhere around Towcester/Olney/Market Harborough or whatever suits.


Unfortunately I will definitely miss breakfast as I'll be cycling back to Birmingham for work and must be there for 1630. It had better not be too much of a headwind.

Yes, you can definitely come.
Maybe you could meet us at Market Harborough?
There is a pub restaurant on the A6 where the B road crosses it to go to Melton Mowbray. York is 200km from there, give or take. The pub stops serving food at around 10pm, so it'd be a good place for you to get ready for the night section after 100km.
It should be a leisurely ride up.

I'm hoping that it's a mild night with one of those strong northerly wind that dies at night time, so no wind riding up and a tailwind back home.

PS, baggsy first dibbs at your unwanted breakfast.

I'm not clear what the timetable is here. Isn't the AGM early afternoon, so a 200 before or after is gonna be tough with short daylight?

So I'm assuming folks are riding on the Friday and Saturday ...

[I rode about 100k to the last one, and it felt like an early start!]
p.s. Reading-ish still possible, knee under review.

Oxford seems to be about 300 to York so may be more realistic than Reading:

 CloudMade Maps

Is this generating more interest?

Or may be Didcot as a place easy to reach on an early train for many.

Hows about you twos joining us lot?
Or do you want daylight. It's a nice ride at night without the traffic.

[MattH]

I could be interested in joining in the fun. It's very roughly 160km from home to Market Harborough (and not a huge amount different if I swing via Oxford, about an extra 20k without having actually plotted the route), so an ideal distance to be ready to have a good nosh up in a pub whilst waiting to meet up.

[mikek]

Yes, you can definitely come.
Maybe you could meet us at Market Harborough?
There is a pub restaurant on the A6 where the B road crosses it to go to Melton Mowbray. York is 200km from there, give or take. The pub stops serving food at around 10pm, so it'd be a good place for you to get ready for the night section after 100km.

OK, you're on.

PS, baggsy first dibbs at your unwanted breakfast.

Glad to be of service 

[Panoramix]

I'm not clear what the timetable is here. Isn't the AGM early afternoon, so a 200 before or after is gonna be tough with short daylight?

So I'm assuming folks are riding on the Friday and Saturday ...

[I rode about 100k to the last one, and it felt like an early start!]
p.s. Reading-ish still possible, knee under review.

Oxford seems to be about 300 to York so may be more realistic than Reading:

 CloudMade Maps

Is this generating more interest?

Or may be Didcot as a place easy to reach on an early train for many.

Hows about you twos joining us lot?
Or do you want daylight. It's a nice ride at night without the traffic.
[/quote]

I was thinking of a day trip but why not?

I would probably leave the Bristol mid morning, take the train to didcot, and ride to MK.

What do you think matt?

10hours to the 200km is within my comfort zone, is this fast enough?

[teethgrinder]

than Reading:

I would probably leave the Bristol mid morning, take the train to didcot, and ride to MK.

What do you think matt?

10hours to the 200km is within my comfort zone, is this fast enough?

From Milton Keynes, it'd be more like 250km, even a bit more. It's about 200 from Market Harborough.
I was thinking of aiming to leave Market Harborough at 2230-2300ish and taking a leisurely ride up to York. More like 12 hours with the odd stop on the way for coffee or whatever. No point in rushing.

[Panoramix]

Sorry for the confusion, I meant that my pace is up to 20km/h average on a 200.

If you start from MK, I would join you there!

[teethgrinder]

Sorry for the confusion,

That's OK. I have lots of confusion. I can handle a bit more.

I meant that my pace is up to 20km/h average on a 200.

If you start from MK, I would join you there!

You can pop into the teethgrinder mansion slum for a cuppa and some tucker if you like too