Flattest Possible DIY 600 (19th/20th July - clashes with Dun Run)

[Martin]

Greenbank - at this risk of asking a silly question again.... I've sent off my entry for the FP300 and printed of my entry for the full 600 - do I send this to anybody? You? Do I bring it on the day, or send it afterwards... DIY newbie questions!

you send the DIY 600 entry to your regional perms secretary, probably Andy Uttley; along with a cheque for £2 (or £10 if you want 6 cards); you must submit it in advance; even by e-mail will do.

[scottlington]

Greenbank - at this risk of asking a silly question again.... I've sent off my entry for the FP300 and printed of my entry for the full 600 - do I send this to anybody? You? Do I bring it on the day, or send it afterwards... DIY newbie questions!

you send the DIY 600 entry to your regional perms secretary, probably Andy Uttley; along with a cheque for £2 (or £10 if you want 6 cards); you must submit it in advance; even by e-mail will do.

Ah! Many thanks Martin!

[Greenbank]

Ah yes, that's a rather important step I've missed out. I'll edit my instructions in a sec.

If you've got already got a DIY card then you don't need to send any money.
If you don't have one then I'll sell you one of mine on the day.
If you want your own batch then send him a letter with the entry form asking for a load (6 for £10). If you do get 6 or more make sure the SAE you send him has a "Large" stamp on it rather than just a bog standard 1st class stamp.

But yes, Andy U needs to have a signed/completed entry form before you start the ride. His address can be found on the AUK Calendar (like this entry: http://www.aukweb.net/cal/perms/calsolo.php?Ride=AU03)

[scottlington]

So is it just me and thee so far Alex?

[Martin]

Greenbank - at this risk of asking a silly question again.... I've sent off my entry for the FP300 and printed of my entry for the full 600 - do I send this to anybody? You? Do I bring it on the day, or send it afterwards... DIY newbie questions!

you send the DIY 600 entry to your regional perms secretary, probably Andy Uttley; along with a cheque for £2 (or £10 if you want 6 cards); you must submit it in advance; even by e-mail will do.

Ah! Many thanks Martin!

don't forget an SAE for the return of the card. I've got a spare if you are desperate (still trying to work out what's the right one for LEL / 5 tomorrow)

[Greenbank]

So is it just me and thee so far Alex?

Yep. The main deterrent is that it starts in Putney and finishes in Bethersden so anyone with a car finishes the ride with it being miles away.

Speaking of which, what are you arrangements for getting to Putney at 6am on Saturday. Are you local to London?

[scottlington]

I live in Leatherhead. My thinking was to get the missus to drop me of at Putney station for 05.30ish and then pick me up from Bethersden! 

[scottlington]

Ah yes, that's a rather important step I've missed out. I'll edit my instructions in a sec.

If you've got already got a DIY card then you don't need to send any money.
If you don't have one then I'll sell you one of mine on the day.
If you want your own batch then send him a letter with the entry form asking for a load (6 for £10). If you do get 6 or more make sure the SAE you send him has a "Large" stamp on it rather than just a bog standard 1st class stamp.

But yes, Andy U needs to have a signed/completed entry form before you start the ride. His address can be found on the AUK Calendar (like this entry: http://www.aukweb.net/cal/perms/calsolo.php?Ride=AU03)

Signed, sealed and sent!

[Greenbank]

Here's the current plan for the route to Bethersden:-

Bicycle Path - TO_BETH at Bikely.com

I'll be doing this as a DIY100 (although it'll be a bit longer as I'll end the ride in Ashford which is easier for a control and for getting the train back to London).

[EDIT] Actually, I may opt for Saturday afternoon instead, leaving Putney 2pm-ish. That'll leave Sunday for some Surrey Hills action.

[scottlington]

Here's the current plan for the route to Bethersden:-

Bicycle Path - TO_BETH at Bikely.com

I'll be doing this as a DIY100 (although it'll be a bit longer as I'll end the ride in Ashford which is easier for a control and for getting the train back to London).

[EDIT] Actually, I may opt for Saturday afternoon instead, leaving Putney 2pm-ish. That'll leave Sunday for some Surrey Hills action.

Route looks good. I would join you, but I have my brother coming down to mine on Saturday. I've already blown him out for his birthday in favour of the DIY600k next weekend, so it would be spectacularly bad form to do it twice! I'll go spinning on Saturday morning as an at least cursory attempt at 'getting some miles in'!

[Greenbank]

OK, GPX file here: http://www.greenbank.org/misc/FP600_upload.gpx

It doesn't have a route back from Cambridge to Putney as I use pretty much the same route as the way out (the only difference is crossing the ridge via Elmdon on the way back rather than Chrishall).

FP300 route is split into 3 to make the GPS route following gubbins easier.

1st 100km loop waypoint prefix C.
2nd 170km to Hythe control has prefix D.
Final 30km has prefix E.

[Rob]

Am leaving Chislehurst 8pm Sat for 100k to Bethersden via Canterbury.   My first night ride since PBP.

Forecast is reasonable and the wind should be behind us on the flat bits on Sunday afternoon.

[Maladict]

Good luck! 

I hope you enjoy marvellous weather.

[Chris S]

Yes indeed! Have a good one chaps  .

[Thing2]

The Things will be doing the 200km ride. We were tempted to go for the 300, but 200 seemed eminently more sensible in the circumstances. Maybe next year we'll actually do a 300 (we've only been meaning to do one for a couple of years now ).

Emma

[Martin]

good luck one and all; looks like the Farnborough air show for me

[Greenbank]

More tomorrow when I've had some sleep.

[Maladict]

More tomorrow when I've had some sleep.

  Well done!

Guess your preparations were rather less unconventional than for your previous attempt at 600K. 

[Sergeant Pluck]

Well done indeed 

[Rob]

I heard before I set off from home that they had just checked in at Hythe at 19:00, giving them 3 hrs to cover the 32k home.

Rob

[scottlington]

Wahoo!   

RR to come later this evening after work.

[Chris S]

Working after a 600? 

You'll be about as useful as a chocolate fireguard. You're not an air traffic controller are you? 

[scottlington]

Working after a 600? 

You'll be about as useful as a chocolate fireguard. You're not an air traffic controller are you? 

  Haha! No! I just get to sit in an office all day, hopefully a nice easy day! Funnily enough, I used to know an Air Traffic Controller when I worked in London - he was a raving alcoholic.... makes you wonder doesn't it! 

[Greenbank]

I'm at work too and feel surprisingly good.

Can't vouch for the quality of the work I do today, no difference there then.

[leeg]

Congratulations.  I spoke briefly to scottlington in the hut before the start and they'd made slower progress than planned, arriving at Bethersden at 1am (rather than 9pm), so lack of sleep was probably an issue later in the day.