Author Topic: Grimpeurs du Sud (Read 256348 times)

Hillbilly · « **Reply #225 on:** 09 April, 2012, 01:12:16 pm »

I had forgotten what a tough little ride the AAA Milne is, particularly in its revised incarnation.

Starting in Edenbridge, the first 20km and last 20km is relatively quick for an AAA event. The middle 60km not so much. Particularly the suggested route from Forest Row to Mayfield - now via Five Ashes rather than Crowborough - a beautiful stretch of riding, but hard work given the constant ups and downs and twists and turns. Still at least Kidds Hill is out of the way early on.

Compared to the similar length Down to Downs, I'm finding the AAAM means dropping 25% off the average speed.

Will be interesting to see how The Reliable compares. Less AAA but cuts across the terrain of the tough bit of the AAAM.

Martin · « **Reply #226 on:** 16 April, 2012, 09:45:09 am »

Online entry for the Reliable available here

http://www.ukcyclist.org.uk/reliable-perm

will get a new gpx track on Saturday and add to the AUK page

Martin · « **Reply #227 on:** 21 April, 2012, 05:50:26 pm »

new gpx for The Reliable here (avoiding the A22)

http://www.aukweb.net/gps/mm01g.zip

sooo tempted to run this as a summer calendar event

Ashaman42 · « **Reply #228 on:** 21 April, 2012, 09:08:37 pm »

Quote from: Martin on 21 April, 2012, 05:50:26 pm

new gpx for The Reliable here (avoiding the A22)

http://www.aukweb.net/gps/mm01g.zip

sooo tempted to run this as a summer calendar event

Depending when you run it I will help and man a control or something. I could even bake a cake or two.

Martin · « **Reply #229 on:** 21 April, 2012, 09:17:58 pm »

was thinking next summer 2013 (and providing as much refreshments en route as the original RT it was based on ie zip unless you find laminated paper tasty)

Ashaman42 · « **Reply #230 on:** 21 April, 2012, 09:31:36 pm »

Fair enough. Well still happy to man a control and will eat the cake myself

Polepole · « **Reply #231 on:** 22 April, 2012, 10:12:49 pm »

I rode this with Martin yesterday. It's the easiest GdS ride I've done so far and a really lovely route. No particularly nasty climbs at all ( and I don't do hills and am currently unfit due to a while off the bike). Most of the lumps are at the start. There is a nice flat bit in the middle and the final drag up to the finish isn't very much with only one very short but sharp lump at the end.

We mostly stayed dry, apart from one heavy downpour and saw lots of lambs and even a stag. 2 deer crossed the road in front of us. A great day out and a ride I will definately be repeating.

Hillbilly · « **Reply #232 on:** 23 April, 2012, 07:24:41 pm »

I am likely to give the Reliable a try out this coming Saturday, weather permitting (by which I mean if the forecast suggests prolonged rain, I will skip it). If anyone is tempted by the event and would like to ride in the company of a somewhat out of shape but still functioning audax adonis*, then PM me (and get your entry off to Martin, if you haven't got a card in the drawer). I may ask you to pose for select photographs that will be included in a specialist magazine not available over the counter, read by men (and some women) who gather in car parks at ungodly hours to mutually enjoy unnatural acts of physical exertion**

*opinions differ on this point
**Arrivee, as I intend to write an article about the permanent, given Martin took time to write about the AAA Milne.

Jonah · « **Reply #233 on:** 25 April, 2012, 03:43:41 pm »

Quote from: Hillbilly on 02 April, 2012, 12:40:16 pm

Quote from: Jonah on 02 April, 2012, 09:54:31 am
One more for the highly coveted 'Grimpeurs du Sud' badge.

The Down to Downs route, available as a permanent, is wonderful at this time of year. I rode it yesterday and the views of the North Downs and over Ashdown Forest were magnificent. There is enough greenery to make the scenery feel alive, but not so much foilage on the trees as to obscure the views.

Despite the 1.75AAA it's rather a benign 110km: long, well graded climbs rather than the "short sharp" gradients on some of the other rides you mentioned. Once you get Toys Hill and Vicarage Lane out of the way in the first 15km, the rest of the climbs are mostly harmless.

Other than a few stretches (the main exclusion being the road to Bough Beech after descending from Ide Hill) the Kent and Sussex road departments have been out and about laying down some lovely tarmac or patching up potholes. The Ashdown forest roads and the descent to Groombridge, to name two in particular, are much improved in the past 12 months.

The only thing I think could be improved on the route is the short stretch of A21 on top of the North Downs, although this can be avoided by using the cycle path on the south side of the road (or, I suspect, but have not yet checked, by taking a detour on the back roads of Green St Green).

There's a steady flow of entrants to the ride, such that out of every month there is usually a couple of riders who do it, if you prefer to ride in company.

I plan to do the Down to Downs next Wednesday - how does one gain entry? Do I request the route from Martin??

Hillbilly · « **Reply #234 on:** 25 April, 2012, 05:31:05 pm »

Quote from: Jonah on 25 April, 2012, 03:43:41 pm

I plan to do the Down to Downs next Wednesday - how does one gain entry? Do I request the route from Martin??

http://www.aukweb.net/perms/detail/WW07/

Postal entry (with SAE and cheque) as per link on AUK website. The organiser is now aware that you are thinking of entering and so will keep an eye out for the envelope, returning the blank brevet etc as soon as.

Jonah · « **Reply #235 on:** 25 April, 2012, 07:07:03 pm »

Thanks Hillbilly,
I'll post it on Friday

Martin · « **Reply #236 on:** 25 April, 2012, 08:19:55 pm »

I'm pleased to report that The Reliable is now worth 1.75AAA;

(and you can see the sea!)

Hillbilly · « **Reply #237 on:** 06 May, 2012, 08:32:46 pm »

Not GdS unless you do it back-to-back, but a heads up that the Box Hill climb on the Surrey Hills permanent route is now super awesome, as the entire length has been laid with some of the best fresh tarmac I've cycled on for some time. A pleasure up and down. All hail our Olympic overlords, for they reach areas that our humble votes do not.

Manotea · « **Reply #238 on:** 06 May, 2012, 08:35:57 pm »

They took all the 'traffic calming' a.k.a. death traps, cyclists, for the use of, out of Richmond Park a year back. I hope they get round to doing the hairpin at the top of Combe Lane as well.

It's amazing how one's appreciation of a road surface varies depending on whether you are going up or down the hill...

Hillbilly · « **Reply #239 on:** 08 May, 2012, 02:06:52 pm »

Route sheet doesn't suggest going up that lane, as it's a wee bit off route. I recall that road as being a bit of a hidden gem: of the 7 or so alternative on-road ascents of Leith Hill, that's one of the tougher ones.

I've taken to varying the Surrey Hills route I do. Currently includes diverting via Holmwood St Marys and Peaslake (rather than bashing along the B road to/from Cranleigh) and avoids climbing the 21% to Winterfold by using the alternative climb through Farleigh Green. Adds a few Km, but the time limit is generous enough to allow a little meandering, depending on mood.

Martin · « **Reply #240 on:** 16 May, 2012, 12:16:32 pm »

Chapeau to Grimpeuse # 3 Jillian Holford

(and Simon H too)

a new sub-award GdSRTY is now available; same as RRTY any 12 qualifying rides in consecutive months; the usual suspects likely to be first

http://sites.google.com/site/grimpeursdusud/

Mad Jack · « **Reply #241 on:** 16 May, 2012, 05:36:45 pm »

Great photos, well done to all.

Not sure who that bloke is standing around in blue and orange..

Great photo of MJ's with John and Dave Marshall controlling.

MJ

Martin · « **Reply #242 on:** 26 May, 2012, 09:54:09 pm »

and well done to Polepole for her 2nd GdS today on another superb Reliable; likely to be a calendar event in summer 2013

Hillbilly · « **Reply #243 on:** 04 June, 2012, 07:06:17 pm »

Just did my first test ride at audax pace of the Kidds Toys route. No bones about it, this is a ride at the tougher end of the GdS spectrum - whilst it's possible I've not fully recovered from riding the Tour du Corse last month and an accompanying post holiday cold, the KT has left me a wee bit sore and not a little drained. That said, it has a fair chunk of lovely cycling, similar to the Down to Downs in feel but with more hulking gradients.

I am now intruiged what the Weald Explorer 200 will be like at audax pace, given it is essentially the Kidds Toys with an extra 100km of lumpy stuff. I'll find out in a couple of weeks

Martin · « **Reply #244 on:** 04 June, 2012, 07:34:41 pm »

any sign of the Round Weald 200 becoming a perm soon?

I've added Surrey Secrets (Weybridge 1.75AAA or Betchworth AAAtba start) as a GPS DIY only qualifier; please email for details

Hillbilly · « **Reply #245 on:** 04 June, 2012, 08:52:56 pm »

The current plan is to have a GdS eligible 200 (likely to be the Weald Explorer, as it's difficult to construct an AAA rated event in the SE of that distance with no info controls, which is a current requirement for new BR perms) in place as a permanent in time for the new AUK season. Possibly before then, depending on work commitments. The main thing for me to do is ensure that controls in Swanley and Hayes work sensibly, despite them being relatively main towns.

Martin · « **Reply #246 on:** 26 June, 2012, 10:13:29 pm »

Chapeau to latest GdS Jonah (and possibly the first fixer; although the award will only be ratified by a successful ascent of Cob Lane)

and we have a new category; Grimpeur du Vectis, currently being pursued by Islander David W

Phixie · « **Reply #247 on:** 27 June, 2012, 04:57:42 pm »

He, too, (David W) has recently invested in a FWC card, though it won't be clear from his entries to you which machine was used, unless he mentions it.

Chapeau to both guys.

Jonah · « **Reply #248 on:** 30 June, 2012, 11:04:20 am »

akin described the GRIMPEURS DU SUD badge as being analogous to the 'faberge egg'; which it certainly is.

It's on the Carradice.

Martin · « **Reply #249 on:** 30 June, 2012, 03:30:33 pm »

Quote from: Jonah on 30 June, 2012, 11:04:20 am

akin described the GRIMPEURS DU SUD badge as being analogous to the 'faberge egg'; which it certainly is.

especially as there are not that many left as some people have taken to collecting one for each year. Or even every 5 rides!

and even less of the Gold variety (another one is likely to be given away; yes that's right, given away next weekend)