Author Topic: Mere 200 2016 (Read 10755 times)

JohnR · « **Reply #25 on:** 19 January, 2016, 07:12:30 pm »

Yep, gpx file looks OK to me.
You should be fine, just don't get sucked into going faster than you can manage by the fast boys.

Weather is looking like it might play ball so far, but waterproof's at the ready.

The Bonk · « **Reply #26 on:** 19 January, 2016, 07:27:00 pm »

Was hoping to ride this but the AUK site went down before I could pay. Have emailed the organiser. Awaiting reply.

jhob · « **Reply #27 on:** 19 January, 2016, 07:40:32 pm »

I went through the GPX last night and created my own GPX route (for auto-routing on etrex legend) and it seemed to match up exactly with the routesheet, although I didn't go through it with a fine-toothed comb.

Weather is looking pretty good at the moment, lets hope it stays that way.

Wine Mechanic · « **Reply #28 on:** 19 January, 2016, 08:37:10 pm »

Looking forward to doing this ride again, as I remember it is a pretty good route for winter time. Plenty of cafes along the way but I must try and save myself for the Raven at Prees Heath, always good value for money. As the AUK website is down ,is it the same GPX as last year. Just wondered if somebody had compared route sheets to save me the bother

jhob · « **Reply #29 on:** 19 January, 2016, 08:38:26 pm »

Quote from: Wine Mechanic on 19 January, 2016, 08:37:10 pm

Looking forward to doing this ride again, as I remember it is a pretty good route for winter time. Plenty of cafes along the way but I must try and save myself for the Raven at Prees Heath, always good value for money. As the AUK website is down ,is it the same GPX as last year. Just wondered if somebody had compared route sheets to save me the bother

See my post just above yours for your answer!

Wine Mechanic · « **Reply #30 on:** 19 January, 2016, 09:15:18 pm »

Thanks

jhob · « **Reply #31 on:** 21 January, 2016, 11:20:25 am »

Looking like it's going to be very warm, possibility of rain and with moderate headwind for the out 100 and a glorious tail wind for the return 100.

http://www.weatherbagel.com/f/7f4f0c64-bd07-4a25-9612-09f2e0a9471d

Delph Cyclist · « **Reply #32 on:** 21 January, 2016, 02:57:22 pm »

Quote from: jhob on 21 January, 2016, 11:20:25 am

with moderate headwind for the out 100

It's always a headwind out, especially the A495 into Ellesmere. That bit of road always does my head in.

jhob · « **Reply #33 on:** 21 January, 2016, 03:06:44 pm »

Quote from: Delph Cyclist on 21 January, 2016, 02:57:22 pm

Quote from: jhob on 21 January, 2016, 11:20:25 am
with moderate headwind for the out 100

It's always a headwind out, especially the A495 into Ellesmere. That bit of road always does my head in.

Aero bars fitted to bike in prep!

atk · « **Reply #34 on:** 21 January, 2016, 04:06:21 pm »

Quote from: jhob on 21 January, 2016, 11:20:25 am

Looking like it's going to be very warm, possibility of rain and with moderate headwind for the out 100 and a glorious tail wind for the return 100.

http://www.weatherbagel.com/f/7f4f0c64-bd07-4a25-9612-09f2e0a9471d

Interesting idea combining weather and route, shame it doesn't refresh the forecast automatically

jhob · « **Reply #35 on:** 21 January, 2016, 07:14:48 pm »

Quote from: andytk on 21 January, 2016, 04:06:21 pm

Quote from: jhob on 21 January, 2016, 11:20:25 am
Looking like it's going to be very warm, possibility of rain and with moderate headwind for the out 100 and a glorious tail wind for the return 100.

http://www.weatherbagel.com/f/7f4f0c64-bd07-4a25-9612-09f2e0a9471d

Interesting idea combining weather and route, shame it doesn't refresh the forecast automatically

Yes, it is a bit annoying that isn't it. Could just do with a 'refresh' button.

Here's an updated one: http://www.weatherbagel.com/f/11e137f1-cd49-4236-9c95-aa38667ddf4f

Worth noting that those wind speeds are in kph, not mph.

That's another mild annoyance, if you put the average speed in kph then wind speed is also kph and temp celcius. If you put mph then wind speed is mph and temp is farenheit.

bikey-mikey · « **Reply #36 on:** 22 January, 2016, 08:18:33 pm »

I'm looking forward to this one..

My plan is to gradually get around all the rides that I haven't done before....

Revellinho · « **Reply #37 on:** 22 January, 2016, 09:48:59 pm »

Quote from: bikey-mikey on 22 January, 2016, 08:18:33 pm

I'm looking forward to this one..

My plan is to gradually get around all the rides that I haven't done before....

and it looks like it will be a warmish day!

nick_higginson · « **Reply #38 on:** 23 January, 2016, 09:42:40 am »

Looking forward to this now. A bit apprehensive about following the route sheets. But at least that gives the brain as well as the body a workout

Revellinho · « **Reply #39 on:** 23 January, 2016, 01:33:00 pm »

Is anyone, with local knowledge, able to post whether or not there are flooded sections that will need a diversion?

Delph Cyclist · « **Reply #40 on:** 23 January, 2016, 01:45:19 pm »

Quote from: Revellinho on 23 January, 2016, 01:33:00 pm

Is anyone, with local knowledge, able to post whether or not there are flooded sections that will need a diversion?

No, but there will be a lot of us in a better position to comment by tomorrow evening. I don't suppose that's terribly helpful.

From experience of riding these lanes I wouldn't expect the rain we've had recently to have created much of a problem, but don't listen to me - I'm on the century ride.

Delph Cyclist · « **Reply #41 on:** 23 January, 2016, 04:07:17 pm »

It looks like we haven't got a controller for The Raven at Prees Heath tomorrow. Anyone fancy committing themselves to signing cards from 12:30-15:00?

oggy · « **Reply #42 on:** 24 January, 2016, 10:06:33 pm »

Great ride, from great organisation

Thanks all for putting on a good ride enjoyed the day

Oggy

paulworthington53 · « **Reply #43 on:** 24 January, 2016, 10:40:45 pm »

Quote from: oggy on 24 January, 2016, 10:06:33 pm

Great ride, from great organisation

Thanks all for putting on a good ride enjoyed the day

Oggy

+1 to that. Great 200 go start the year.

atk · « **Reply #44 on:** 25 January, 2016, 11:05:34 am »

Great ride, thanks to all involved organising and helping out on the day!

Out of curiosity, how many riders were there in the end? It was pretty busy at the start!

jhob · « **Reply #45 on:** 25 January, 2016, 11:13:46 am »

Yes, thanks all - I really enjoyed it!

The conditions were so favourable it was definitely one of the less taxing 200s I've done. Great for this time of year to get some miles in the legs.

I had a nice balance between riding on my own and with a variety of others - good chat and company was in abundance!

I found the 20km leg before Ellesmere quite tough. I'd run out of water, hadn't properly stopped yet, was getting low on energy and this section also had the greatest headwind. After some crisps and nuts at the petrol station in Ellesmere I felt much better and the return 100 ticked down nicely with a bonus tandem tow at the end!

Bairdy · « **Reply #46 on:** 25 January, 2016, 11:23:49 am »

Had a great weekend. Visited my folks on Saturday then rode A Mere 200 on the Sunday with Bikey Mikey who'd ridden the Cardiff 200 the day before.
I drove back to Bristol after the ride and was home just after 9:30pm.
A well organised event and a few new roads for me. I've had the perm card for a while but not got round to riding it.
I felt nostalgic riding by the Hare and Hounds at Crowton, my Aunty ran that pub for many years when I was lad.
I'd cycle up from Warrington to visit her which seemed a long way when I was fourteen. It's about 10 miles each way.

Also nice to see The Red Lion in Ellesmere. I stopped overnight there on my Lejog about 9 years ago.
It was the booziest night of the trip with the landlord buying us a few on the house, from what I remember, Port isn't very isotonic, I was properly hanging the next day.

Nice to see Peter at the arrivee, not seem him since LEL 2013.

+1 regarding the 20km to Ellesmere

bikey-mikey · « **Reply #47 on:** 25 January, 2016, 12:24:18 pm »

Yep as BAIRDY said, we had a good ride together !

I enjoyed seeing folks who don't often get down to Bristol, Cardiff or Tewkesbury... (Or Exeter or London or Portsmouth or Oxford or similar such places...)

It was fun 'racing' against the Seamons C C peloton, who tended to be very fast, but maybe stopped a bit too often!! My apologies for riding away from them some time in the middle, but I wanted to test my legs after the previous day's fast 200, and having them on my wheels gave me motivation to "let the genie out of the bottle". Me and the 'lad' did get back before them, though the puncture fairies had obviously got a bet on us !

There seemed to be three identical mixed teams from Liverpool Phoenix (never could remember the whole name). All 'three' of them passed us during the ride, at great speed (or maybe they kept stopping too? which is the problem when you burn up your glycogen that quickly...) I'm not sure how much of the lovely scenery some of them saw from the middle of the bunch mind you...

The endless pretty and mainly flat countryside was a revelation and fairly new experience for me, and it's quite different from just about anywhere else... I have done some rides in that area, (see heat map below) but maybe not noticed the subtle character of the terrain and land use before...

My overriding comment is how friendly everyone was, and that's just such a great draw for me to come up again and again !!

Thanks to all the controllers (none of whom were fat!), and to the support team at the HQ, and to Mr Wigley (whose name was echoed by some of the meandering muddy lanes) and of course to our intrepid organiser for putting it all together.

beeblemaster · « **Reply #48 on:** 25 January, 2016, 02:52:52 pm »

Thanks to David and the team for a great day out (on the 150).

Disappointing that I was suffering with recurring cramp in the second half of the ride though.... but the soup at the end made it all worthwhile - which was lovely!

jhob · « **Reply #49 on:** 25 January, 2016, 03:16:41 pm »

Quote from: beeblemaster on 25 January, 2016, 02:52:52 pm

Disappointing that I was suffering with recurring cramp in the second half of the ride though....

Having bananas for snacks and jacket spud (both potassium rich) for meals seems to have resolved my own cramp issues. If you've not tried it might be one avenue to explore.

I had 3 bananas and one jacket spud on the ride and had zero cramp issues which is first time I've had no cramp on a ride in a long time.