Well according to the met office its not going to be a shorts and t-shirt job. The ride out to Lynn looks like it could be hard work with average winds speeds of 15 mph with gusts of 30mph coming straight off the North Sea.
Thinking about packing a spinnaker for a peddle free ride from Spalding to Huntingdon. ;D
Has anyone seen news of problems (maintenance work (http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/en5ec574308a4b44af410bb476bf787d/details.html)) on the trains from King's Cross on Saturday?
Headwind wasn't strong ...Really? I thought it was a gale ;D
my Garmin city navigator doesn't recognize cycle paths.If you use a track (as provided by the organiser) or a route with "follow roads" off, it doesn't matter so much. I was using a track on this occasion and barely referred to the route sheet. I took a couple of wrong turns and spotted them immediately, because the arrow representing my location moved off the track.
J
Thanks for the photos Camrider; they certainly show the big skies well, hope you enjoyed that little diversion; the most Dutch bit of the whole ride IMO
As next year's event is the week after Easter I suspect the daff fields will once again be denuded.
no idea how one field can be completely dead and another still half out.Simples - different varieties of daff. have different flowering times
Provisional results online now; 43 finishes out of 63 entries with 3 DNF
LWaB; were Springfields OK about taking bikes in? Mrs Zoom and I were asked to move them out by the car park but they said they'd keep an eye on them by CCTV
Which stop was Springfields? We just had a pint at the finish. At lunch we ate in the sandwich bar with the bikes locked against the opposite wall. Nobody seemed concerned then.
What wimps :demon:, a couple of us had £1 coffees from the burger van and sat outside with our bikes (it was quite sunny by that point though). No receipt so used the ATM.
Oh that. We just walked into the maelstrom looking for coffee and a toilet. Costa and a long line, so only a pass mark, at a push. That is a weird place, lots of folk wandering about amongst stores selling stuff few people were buying. Silly way to occupy the day, to my mind. Still, takes all sorts.
I never found Springfield's - didn't look too hard - but the cafe in the market square was pleasant and welcoming.
Checking the route out on google maps just now came across this - just off route but rather inaccessible.
http://goo.gl/maps/5NXY2
Looks attractive for conspiracy specialists - especially being so close to the inland lighthouses.
Are we using the King of the Belgians pub at the end or a different place?
current plan is The George in Huntingdon (last but one instruction on the route sheet) assuming my trusty helper turns up
Drat. I didn't notice any bikes as I cycled past the pub, and I could have done with a beer (had one at home, but not the same). Enjoyed the ride, but not the head/ cross winds!
I too missed the pub at the end, one of our 3 struggled after Kings Lynn but we worked together & all got round, I'll definitely be back another year.Were you the ones waiting for a tow, who dropped me in the crosswind in the outbound 10 strong group (I didn't mind)?
Yep, that was us. Howard went with a "stop every 10 mile" strategy after Spalding and that was one of those stops. It got him home which at one point he didn't think would happen.I thought I saw one of you knocking back a gel. I'd so, you could have had the out of date one I carry for emergencies. If you spotted the half snickers bar on the road, I still have the wrapper it fell out of >:(
I too missed the pub at the end...
Tough day for me - pushed too hard on the section from March to Kings Lynn and I never really recovered from that.
On a warm and windfree day I think that would be a really nice easy route.
Yep, great ride, particularly as most was in the company of Fixillated otp.Thanks for your company, esp. in the flatlands. Although it could have been worse, fortunately
Hung around at the pub for an hour after finishing in the hope there would be someone to take the cards but no ones showed up
Thanks Richard P and unnamed Audax UK shirted guy for your company...
Favourite part of the route for me, a decent tail / side wind and a lovely run along the drainage canals (reverse of last year's LEL route) to Crowland
BTW, did anyone actually submit a Greggs Bakers (in March) receipt that had Newcastle-upon-Tyne as the address (I subsequently went into the Tesco Express to get Snickers+proper receipt, just in case)?
Pedal Castro and Gareth Rees - I've been asked to do a write-up for the club newsletter. Do you mind if I pinch one or two of your pictures?
Pedal Castro and Gareth Rees - I've been asked to do a write-up for the club newsletter. Do you mind if I pinch one or two of your pictures? I've only got a couple of poor snapshots on the ferry.
you must have been very quick :o Canardly OTP very kindly manned The George until I arrived at the back of the field (had to attend a rider down who wobbled went over the bars and did a faceplant :( now recovering in Boston)
This morning I found this in my rear tyre, lucky it lasted the ride yesterday I guess.
(http://www.nrtoone.com/allowhotlinking/tyre.jpg)
Looking forward to the challenge of my first 300 next week...
Hung around at the pub for an hour after finishing in the hope there would be someone to take the cards but no ones showed up
you must have been very quick :o Canardly OTP very kindly manned The George until I arrived at the back of the field (had to attend a rider down who wobbled went over the bars and did a faceplant :( now recovering in Boston)
I think you all had the wind the right way round, it was mostly behind after Guys Head and seriously behind through purgatory (the looooong section from Crowland to Upwood)
I was able to donate £1 per rider to Help for Heroes at the ferry terminal as their son lost a leg in Afghanistan, they remarked on the civility and co-operation of the riders :)
sorry you were not treated to the usual Daffs, they were at their best a month ago, and not even out of the ground 2 years ago such are the vageuries of British spring weather. Next year I'm going to re-route the section before Kings Lynn to hopefully take you past some tulips!
I am looking forward to this with excitement mixed with anxiety.It's an easier ride than the Reservoirs - must be one of the flattest Audaxes around. Can be hard into the wind though.
I am looking forward to this with excitement mixed with anxiety.It's an easier ride than the Reservoirs - must be one of the flattest Audaxes around. Can be hard into the wind though.
I am looking forward to this with excitement mixed with anxiety.It's an easier ride than the Reservoirs - must be one of the flattest Audaxes around. Can be hard into the wind though.
the section South from Thorney is as dull as a very dull thing I admit, one suggestion to break the monotony was to take it via Holme Fen the lowest place in the UK at 4m below sea level but that would be at the expense of other bits of the ride like Guys Head and the bulbfields around Saracen's Head which I think are worth including 8)
Route check ride done yesterday. No missing signposts or problems with the route found.
A couple of short temporary one-way passages controlled by temp traffic lights. But nothing
problematic. The little King's Lynn ferry ran according to schedule and no signs of upcoming
disruption of service posted. So looks all fine for Easter Saturday.
Route check ride done yesterday. No missing signposts or problems with the route found.
A couple of short temporary one-way passages controlled by temp traffic lights. But nothing
problematic. The little King's Lynn ferry ran according to schedule and no signs of upcoming
disruption of service posted. So looks all fine for Easter Saturday.
Any significant differences from 2014? - Now that I've entered :thumbsup:
No preparation whatsoever apart from a couple of 100k.+1
Maybe too much preparation :-\No preparation whatsoever apart from a couple of 100k.+1
Great ride, my first 200 since July (sciatica).Hard slog up to Kings Lynn, but Bikerbilityman dragged me up. Nice ferry ride despite nearly falling down the steps. Then my bowels turned to liquid and had to stop at Spalding to find a loo.Dragged my white face self to Thorne and ate a bag of Walkers crisps and drank a milk shake.Then met a strong group of riders who helped me back to the finish. Never underestimate the kindness of the AUK riders! The pint and chat at the George was nice as well ;DYou disappeared in the George. I turned back round after chatting with someone, and you'd vanished. It was great to meet you, and remember: a 200 every month now!
The day before, I had marshalled a sponsored walk, mostly on cycle paths. A four or five year old got round seven or eight miles on a balance bike, and was still grinning at the end. I reckon we've a future Audax rider there ;DFab. :)
I'll probably break with tradition and ride the day before unless I find a finish controller
Me too, can I enter twice?
I will probably be on my trike so do I get 1.5 bunnies? Just looking for calories to fight the extra rolling resitanceI'll probably break with tradition and ride the day before unless I find a finish controller
This will almost certainly be the case as we have very sadly lost last year's helper :(
And this year none of your Lidl bunnies, only the best for each rider :P better go and get another 40 before they go up
(http://www.theaureview.com/sites/default/files/Lindt.jpg)
Entered.
There's a train that gets into Huntingdon @ 07:52. @Martin - Is that cutting it a bit fine or will you be hanging around for a few extra minutes after 8am ?
Entered.
There's a train that gets into Huntingdon @ 07:52. @Martin - Is that cutting it a bit fine or will you be hanging around for a few extra minutes after 8am ?
no problem, I'm riding the day before now so will be hanging around at the start until at least 0830 :)
My train tickets have arrived today. I seem to have bought 2 - curse my fat fingeredness.
If anyone is travelling from Kings Cross, please drop me a PM and you can have the spare return for 15 quid. Face value - £17.60.
Cheers
Rob
eek! where can I source vegan chocolate bunnies?
entries up to 81, entries close 2359 Good Friday unless I run out of cards beforehand
Martin - how many riders have indicated they are riding tomorrow? Given the forecast for Saturday I'd be up for switching to Friday but I love the social aspect of this ride and want to see if there are decent numbers. If there are only a few, I'll probably stay with Saturday (even though with 40mph headwinds predicted I'll likely not be able to pedal!).The answer to your question is in your inbox :thumbsup:
Note, trains from Spalding (if required) back to Huntingdon only run 1538 and 1657, the other services involve a busThere are engineering works (http://www.thameslinkrailway.com/your-journey/engineering/?date=26%2F03%2F2016) (scroll down more than half way) between Huntingdon and Peterborough. Looks as though trains are running during the day, but not after 7pm (nor early for those travelling from the north). Could affect late bail-outs including from Whittlesea - you'd get to Peterborough but then be faced with a replacement bus.
39 starters today (20 yesterday) hope they have sea sickness pills on th ferry! Just started raining near Duxford
We had biblical rain in Oxon earlier (with lightning). I've never seen such a distinct hard rain-band on the radar before. The worst of it hasnt quite reached your route yet, fingers crossed that most get home in time:
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CefrHWuWQAINumM.jpg:large)
Also passed four Arrows teams past Crowland and up to Ramsay St Marys, wished them all luck, the Tomsk group was first, took me a while to work out what they were doing there.
We had biblical rain in Oxon earlier (with lightning). I've never seen such a distinct hard rain-band on the radar before. The worst of it hasnt quite reached your route yet, fingers crossed that most get home in time:
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CefrHWuWQAINumM.jpg:large)
That band of rain just hit Cambridge (18:50) — it's bouncing on the office roof so hard I can't hear myself think.
Thanks for supporting (or braving!) the ferry mikey; £70 donated to HfH from the ride.
Next year's event Sat April 15th 2017 same time same channel!
Thanks everyone
At least the straight line from Pondersbridge to Upwood is less intimidating when it gets dark and you don't have to stare at infinity.
Can't make it this year but will be riding from home to Lincoln Easter Sat so will wave at riders (and Arrow teams) as I cross the fens.
A local estate agent lists an interesting property, the King's Lynn ferry service is for sale: http://geoffreycollings.co.uk/property?id=12260356 (http://geoffreycollings.co.uk/property?id=12260356)
I'm planning to ride up from London on the Friday for a loop around the fens, then stayover at Huntingdon for the DD on Saturday.
Company Welcome. :)
I'm planning to ride up from London on the Friday for a loop around the fens, then stayover at Huntingdon for the DD on Saturday.
Company Welcome. :)
See you on the start line Mr T. Be great to catch up, been a long time! :thumbsup:
There is another branch in March 44k which I always use; it's pan flat (ish) before then so no calories required!After March, of course, it gets flatter...
At least the straight line from Pondersbridge to Upwood is less intimidating when it gets dark and you don't have to stare at infinity.
It feels like infinity, but in fact you can only see as far as the horizon, and given that you are probably bent as low as possible over the handlebars in order to make progress into the wind, this is only about 2 km!
In many ways, that whole stretch back from Spalding is my favourite bit. It's the section I know best, having ridden it for other reasons too. It's King's Lynn - Spalding that I find a challenge; it just keeps on and on.
I don't really know why. It just seems unending.
I'd like to ride this as well as Easter Arrow. Does this event always run over the Easter break?
" And then that was it the finish of my first 200k."
Technically Easter Saturday is the Saturday following Easter SundayI'd like to ride this as well as Easter Arrow. Does this event always run over the Easter break?
Yes
Windy in sections, in particular just before Spalding, but I think it's the weather makes this ride interesting.I guess that's the truth of it.
A few miles later and it was time for the next Info Control and a fellow rider was fixing a puncture at the side of the road. After making sure he was Ok it was off towards King’s Lynn.
It was at this point I got chatting to a chap on a Blue Ribble (is there any other colour?!) who had travelled down from Derbyshire for his first 200k as well. Unfortunately for him after just a mile or so he had to pull up as he had got his second puncture of the day after having none for two years. I didn’t see him again so I hope he got back round Ok without any further mechanical issues.
A few miles later and it was time for the next Info Control and a fellow rider was fixing a puncture at the side of the road. After making sure he was Ok it was off towards King’s Lynn.
It was at this point I got chatting to a chap on a Blue Ribble (is there any other colour?!) who had travelled down from Derbyshire for his first 200k as well. Unfortunately for him after just a mile or so he had to pull up as he had got his second puncture of the day after having none for two years. I didn’t see him again so I hope he got back round Ok without any further mechanical issues.
Pretty sure this was me, at the Nordelph info control - many thanks for the offer of help. And Bill on the blue Ribble did make it although I believe he ended up with 3 punctures on the day, but we joined up just before Spalding and completed the rest of the route together
I'd like to ride this as well as Easter Arrow. Does this event always run over the Easter break?
Yes
I'd like to ride this as well as Easter Arrow. Does this event always run over the Easter break?
Yes
6am train from York to Huntingdon on the Saturday...
It was me! Sorry I couldn't eat with you at KL stevie63 I was looking forward to sheltering behind you on the route to Spalding ;D. I didn't get to eat as by the time I faffed about looking for somewhere to buy an inner tube I was almost too late to get a receipt. Your ride sounded much more fun than mine and it makes me look back a bit more fondly on it now. Maybe I will do it again next year, although I swore not again in the day!
Adrian invited me to eat with him at MD's after working hard together to get to spalding and although I didn't want to eat it was just what I needed. Thanks Adrian for keeping me motivated and it was a pleasure riding with such a gent. Definitely feel good about finishing it. I was looking for you after validation to offer you a drink but you scarpered I think as your bike was gone. Maybe next time.
Also thanks to the other guys in KL who gave me a co2 canister and let me use a foot pump. The puncture demons were targeting me big time on sat.
A few miles later and it was time for the next Info Control and a fellow rider was fixing a puncture at the side of the road. After making sure he was Ok it was off towards King’s Lynn.
It was at this point I got chatting to a chap on a Blue Ribble (is there any other colour?!) who had travelled down from Derbyshire for his first 200k as well. Unfortunately for him after just a mile or so he had to pull up as he had got his second puncture of the day after having none for two years. I didn’t see him again so I hope he got back round Ok without any further mechanical issues.
Pretty sure this was me, at the Nordelph info control - many thanks for the offer of help. And Bill on the blue Ribble did make it although I believe he ended up with 3 punctures on the day, but we joined up just before Spalding and completed the rest of the route together
I'm glad to hear that you both got round Ok and that Bill (I'm pretty sure that is the same guy I spoke to) managed to complete his first 200k even with 3 punctures.
It was me! Sorry I couldn't eat with you at KL stevie63 I was looking forward to sheltering behind you on the route to Spalding ;D. I didn't get to eat as by the time I faffed about looking for somewhere to buy an inner tube I was almost too late to get a receipt. Your ride sounded much more fun than mine and it makes me look back a bit more fondly on it now. Maybe I will do it again next year, although I swore not again in the day!
Adrian invited me to eat with him at MD's after working hard together to get to spalding and although I didn't want to eat it was just what I needed. Thanks Adrian for keeping me motivated and it was a pleasure riding with such a gent. Definitely feel good about finishing it. I was looking for you after validation to offer you a drink but you scarpered I think as your bike was gone. Maybe next time.
Also thanks to the other guys in KL who gave me a co2 canister and let me use a foot pump. The puncture demons were targeting me big time on sat.
A few miles later and it was time for the next Info Control and a fellow rider was fixing a puncture at the side of the road. After making sure he was Ok it was off towards King’s Lynn.
It was at this point I got chatting to a chap on a Blue Ribble (is there any other colour?!) who had travelled down from Derbyshire for his first 200k as well. Unfortunately for him after just a mile or so he had to pull up as he had got his second puncture of the day after having none for two years. I didn’t see him again so I hope he got back round Ok without any further mechanical issues.
Pretty sure this was me, at the Nordelph info control - many thanks for the offer of help. And Bill on the blue Ribble did make it although I believe he ended up with 3 punctures on the day, but we joined up just before Spalding and completed the rest of the route together
I'm glad to hear that you both got round Ok and that Bill (I'm pretty sure that is the same guy I spoke to) managed to complete his first 200k even with 3 punctures.
Also thanks to the other guys in KL who gave me a co2 canister and let me use a foot pump. The puncture demons were targeting me big time on sat.
Hi Martin, will it run again Easter (April?) next year?
Regards
A
Alas, I forgot about this ride when agreeing to join an arrow team again. Next year!
The Wee McTaggart and I will be tandeming round. Plenty of room on the back wheel...
Weather looking good.
Excellent; that'll save my legs for the jog around London I'll be doing eight days later :thumbsup:
Let us know your bib number and we'll track you and give you a cheer - spectating for a work colleague!Cheers. I'll be #1515
Weather's looking good. This will be my first 200km since the big 7zero, so I will definitely be saying Hi to Fidgetbuzz.
Cracking ride in amazing conditions. Thanks Martin.
I also think the general advise for the ride is missing the recommendation to bring a jigsaw puzzle for the Crowland to Ramsey Heights stretch...As I've said before, including to Martin at the finish, the run home from Spalding, including that stretch, is in many ways my favourite bit. Partly because it's the bit I know best, and partly because you can see the finish approaching. In Saturday's clear weather, I got my first view of the Ramsey Heights on the descent from Whittlesey. The run to Crowland along the banks is always good. And the two short hops to Thorney and then Whittlesey leave you with the Heights getting ever nearer.
A quick hello to Caroline who I rode with from just after Holbeach St Matthew to Crowland. Could you please drop me a PM.Hello to you too... thanks for the company, it was a very enjoyable ride.
I really enjoyed my day out...Nice to have a very public transport friendly start location and time, there was a small posse of us on the 06.18 from Kings Cross.
Martin, would you be able to provide a GPX of the route including the fabled tulip field? I'm hoping to do a DIY of some sort that includes it.
I can't remember if I entered last year and therefore carried over or if I need to enter?
It's the lack of accommodation overnight that stops me entering: campsites unlikely to be open by then. A shame, as this has been on my list for years.
From what I can see you can’t actually enter yet. It says all events suspended, see news.Yes, indeed, this is what The Man himself says: