Author Topic: Fenland Friends 600km 22nd/23rd June  (Read 18725 times)

Re: Fenland Friends 600km 22nd/23rd June
« Reply #25 on: 09 June, 2019, 04:19:33 pm »
Looking forward to taking the recumbent into the Fens.  It's a very different experience to being on my road bike.  The headwinds don't grind you down and you get to enjoy the big skies above.

Those who remember LEL 2013 and the terrible headwinds during the final southbound sections on the hottest day of the year will appreciate how irritating it must have been for Alan McDonogh (first finisher on an Elliptigo) to have me cheerfully chatting to him whilst trundling alongside on a recumbent.

To his credit he didn't dismount and kick me to death.

 ;D
You're only as successful as your last 1200...

Phil W

Re: Fenland Friends 600km 22nd/23rd June
« Reply #26 on: 11 June, 2019, 07:20:20 pm »
Ordered a portable micro speaker which hopefully I can affix on the recumbent seat (out of the wind) below the head rest.  Now to put together some iPod playlists for the night sections. 

Chris S

Re: Fenland Friends 600km 22nd/23rd June
« Reply #27 on: 11 June, 2019, 07:35:12 pm »
Glitter ball + Disco. You know it makes sense.

Phil W

Re: Fenland Friends 600km 22nd/23rd June
« Reply #28 on: 11 June, 2019, 07:44:28 pm »
Now we're talking. Some 80's leg warmers and head band to complete the disco look.

Re: Fenland Friends 600km 22nd/23rd June
« Reply #29 on: 11 June, 2019, 08:11:42 pm »
PBP 2003: I had a radio strapped to the handlebars of the recumbent. I had a portable mini-disc player (remember those?) connected to a little FM transmitter so I could play music from it via the radio.

Got through quite a lot of batteries...
You're only as successful as your last 1200...

Phil W

Re: Fenland Friends 600km 22nd/23rd June
« Reply #30 on: 11 June, 2019, 08:25:41 pm »
PBP 2003: I had a radio strapped to the handlebars of the recumbent. I had a portable mini-disc player (remember those?) connected to a little FM transmitter so I could play music from it via the radio.

Got through quite a lot of batteries...

When I spent a period travelling the world I did have a small shortwave / long wave  radio.  It was weird but comforting hearing the BBC world service in Antarctica amongst the places I went to. The claims for the speaker are 8h on a charge and 45 mins to charge. It plugs directly into a 3.5mm jack socket, so maybe that uses less battery? Should be good enough for a 600 on one charge anyway. It's just something to keep the dozies at bay during bewitching hour.

Re: Fenland Friends 600km 22nd/23rd June
« Reply #31 on: 11 June, 2019, 09:06:51 pm »
The benefits of Long Wave radio: listening to Test Match Special whilst riding through Normandy and Brittany :-)
You're only as successful as your last 1200...

Phil W

Re: Fenland Friends 600km 22nd/23rd June
« Reply #32 on: 11 June, 2019, 09:49:53 pm »
The benefits of Long Wave radio: listening to Test Match Special whilst riding through Normandy and Brittany :-)

Tesco are selling these old school radios for £10.99 at the moment. I was almost tempted when down the relevant aisle looking at the portable speakers. Tuning into radio Fenlands

Re: Fenland Friends 600km 22nd/23rd June
« Reply #33 on: 11 June, 2019, 10:00:12 pm »
 :thumbsup:
You're only as successful as your last 1200...

Phil W

Re: Fenland Friends 600km 22nd/23rd June
« Reply #34 on: 12 June, 2019, 04:20:36 pm »
Mini speaker turned up this morning. Surprising loud for its size.



Tried it this morning sitting in rack pack behind head and I can hear it perfectly well even at speeds above 30 mph on the recumbent.  Now just waiting on the super strong (adhesive backed) velcro and 3.5mm jack extension lead so I can fit the speaker a bit closer on the seat with ipod staying in rack pack.

Do not listen to AC / DC downhill in the wet though; you may end up doing a two wheel drift round the bend at the bottom. 

Phil W

Re: Fenland Friends 600km 22nd/23rd June
« Reply #35 on: 12 June, 2019, 09:04:52 pm »
New fictional series on ITV called Wild Bill about a US cop who takes a job in Boston, Lincs. Opening sequence includes wind turbines and crashing in a cabbage patch. Apparently Boston has the highest murder rate in the UK.  Fens summed up in 2 mins....

markldn

  • Next ride: TCRno10 '24
Re: Fenland Friends 600km 22nd/23rd June
« Reply #36 on: 12 June, 2019, 09:42:22 pm »
New fictional series on ITV called Wild Bill about a US cop who takes a job in Boston, Lincs. Opening sequence includes wind turbines and crashing in a cabbage patch. Apparently Boston has the highest murder rate in the UK.  Fens summed up in 2 mins....

Lol - I saw that ad on a newspaper this morning - amazing.

Re: Fenland Friends 600km 22nd/23rd June
« Reply #37 on: 13 June, 2019, 02:17:22 pm »
I'll be at the Fenland Friends 600, with j4, on the Pino. We just didn't get enough of the fens on the Capitals of East Anglia...

Phil W

Re: Fenland Friends 600km 22nd/23rd June
« Reply #38 on: 13 June, 2019, 04:23:58 pm »
Playlist now ready.  Goole or Kirton Lindsay onwards into the night.

Phil W

Re: Fenland Friends 600km 22nd/23rd June
« Reply #39 on: 13 June, 2019, 04:24:53 pm »
I'll be at the Fenland Friends 600, with j4, on the Pino. We just didn't get enough of the fens on the Capitals of East Anglia...

An opportunity to get the fullest value out of the fens.

Alex B

  • Headwind specialist
    • Where is there an end of it?
Re: Fenland Friends 600km 22nd/23rd June
« Reply #40 on: 13 June, 2019, 05:06:26 pm »
It's a long way out still, but the forecast for FF is currently looking fairly benign. Having ridden it last year into a LEL-esque headwind on the return, I wouldn't want to wish that on anybody!

If I can be arsed I might drag myself out of bed and schlep into central Cambridge to take some photos of the lucky folk riding this brevet, as they pass through ...


Phil W

Re: Fenland Friends 600km 22nd/23rd June
« Reply #41 on: 13 June, 2019, 05:44:22 pm »
It's a long way out still, but the forecast for FF is currently looking fairly benign. Having ridden it last year into a LEL-esque headwind on the return, I wouldn't want to wish that ...

Last time someone made that kind of comment was just before the Capitals of East Anglia...

wilkyboy

  • "nick" by any other name
    • 16-inch wheels
Re: Fenland Friends 600km 22nd/23rd June
« Reply #42 on: 13 June, 2019, 09:08:46 pm »
It's a long way out still, but the forecast for FF is currently looking fairly benign. Having ridden it last year into a LEL-esque headwind on the return, I wouldn't want to wish that ...

Last time someone made that kind of comment was just before the Capitals of East Anglia...

And Cambridge Pork Pie 2018  :facepalm:
Lockdown lethargy. RRTY: wot's that? Can't remember if I'm on #8 or #9 ...

Phil W

Re: Fenland Friends 600km 22nd/23rd June
« Reply #43 on: 14 June, 2019, 04:43:19 pm »
Just as well it is not this weekend with the flooding going on in Lincolnshire.


Re: Fenland Friends 600km 22nd/23rd June
« Reply #44 on: 14 June, 2019, 06:00:54 pm »
Just as well it is not this weekend with the flooding going on in Lincolnshire.

The maps gives areas with potential of flooding. Currently the reality is that unless you're in the Wainfleet area towards the east coast you're only going to encounter isolated flooding on low lying roads such as the one near me where the road dips to pass under a railway bridge.

Of interest to you Phil is that the Water Railway route is currently flooded between Washingborough and Lincoln. This has become more likely to happen because of the works in the area on the eastern bypass have meant that the path has been diverted off the old railway line down to the lower bank of the South Delph, I reckon a lowering of height of about 4-5 feet. Hopefully over the weekend the water level will drop as it's my preferred commuting route.

Phil W

Re: Fenland Friends 600km 22nd/23rd June
« Reply #45 on: 14 June, 2019, 07:06:14 pm »
You are right that I plan to jump on the water railway at that point.  Is the lowered path gravel or tarmac?. I'm happy to ride either if the gravel is firm but if recently flooded or loose then would stick on the road into Lincoln.

Re: Fenland Friends 600km 22nd/23rd June
« Reply #46 on: 14 June, 2019, 07:56:13 pm »
The diversion that drops onto and along the lower bank for 50m is the smoothest bit of tarmac on the whole Water Railway route.

(Photo of flooding 12/6 - I'm guessing at least 2 foot deep)



I'm hoping to be back commuting on it next week so will let you know if there are any issues but looking at the current forecast I think it should be fine.

It's the normal route I take to and from Lincoln but I didn't suggest it as an alternative to the closed route mainly because it deviates further from Tomsk's original route and on the return leg I felt riders might find it a bit harder to navigate to.

stefan

  • aka martin
Re: Fenland Friends 600km 22nd/23rd June
« Reply #47 on: 15 June, 2019, 11:58:25 am »
I've been looking at the Water Railway. What would it be like as an alternative route (assuming it isn't flooded) all the way between Lincoln and Boston?
Member no. 152 of La Société Adrian Hands

Phil W

Re: Fenland Friends 600km 22nd/23rd June
« Reply #48 on: 15 June, 2019, 02:30:19 pm »
It's tarmac to Bardney, then gravel or take the short road alternative to Southrey.  Then Tarmac to Martin Dales. The water railway becomes gravel beyond into Boston. A few gates here and there but not too many. From there take the road the other side of the Martindales bridge to Dogdyke rejoining the official route.  I plan to take a lanes route from Kirton Lindsay to Bardney then Southrey as above.  It's a gently descending route down to Bardney and avoids the choppiness around Lincoln.  Means you miss food opportunities in Lincoln so you'd need to stock up at Glews garage, Goole.  Did most of that in reverse during our Easter Arrow, this year, when we controlled at Woodhall Spa.  The lanes are quiet and well away from those Eastern bypass works.  No extra distance over the official route.

PM if you'd like a copy of my alternate southbound GPX track for that leg, plotted with my recumbent in mind.  If you want to go via Lincoln then my only comments as above jump on road Bardney to Southrey rejoin water railway then road from Martindales.

Re: Fenland Friends 600km 22nd/23rd June
« Reply #49 on: 15 June, 2019, 04:38:31 pm »
I've been looking at the Water Railway. What would it be like as an alternative route (assuming it isn't flooded) all the way between Lincoln and Boston?

It's a good alternative if you fancy some traffic free cycling on a generally good surface - though I'd be happy to follow the official route as well.

If you decide on the Water Railway, take the 'winter' road alternative to Southery as Phil suggests and rejoin the traffic free section there - it's a while since I've been along the 'summer' route but in wet weather it used to get muddy as it's a bridleway/farm track for the first half.

Depending on the time you're passing through Bardney there are food options at the Old Station Cafe/Heritage Centre - (opposite where the first traffic free section ends at Bardney Bridge) and also a Co-Op store (in the village center).