Author Topic: The Dean (Read 101948 times)

Audax Club Hackney · « **Reply #200 on:** 27 February, 2018, 11:29:19 pm »

OK Folks
X4 ACH'ers 'ran the gauntlet' with the reliability check last Saturday/Sunday.
The route is as sturdy and stunning as ever; the test-pilots on the other hand, froze their bearings off.
Back at Castle ACH we heard horror stories of patchy ice and frozen kebabs.
Rest assured nothing has changed but please be reminded that if this Beast from the East lasts until the calendar ride then BLOODY WATCH OUT FOR THOSE RARE PATCHES OF BLACK ICE THAT LOOM PRETTY QUICK. As they discovered, knowing the route is NOT ENOUGH to get one through the unsuspected.

E.G. 119.4 soon R so Soundley (easily missed)

Could read: Winter Olympics

Honestly folks, this notoriously steep section seemed as normal until the the glassy black death ice bomb alley that ensued...

"That's it, let's role... Hey, let's be careful out there!"

j_a_m_e_s_ · « **Reply #201 on:** 28 February, 2018, 10:12:28 am »

Quote from: Manotea on 27 February, 2018, 11:25:33 am

I'm just thinking about booking a room at peartree Travelodge for Friday night. Money is tight as ever, is anyone up for sharing a room? Please drop me a pm.

@j_a_m_e_s if I stay over the night before then I'll ride home to West London, but whether I'll be at the services before midnight is a matter of conjecture at this point (and if I arrive much after I'll likely find a corner for a couple of hours Zzzs till dawn), so we shall have to see how it goes.

The way my legs feel this morning, I'll be lucky to make it by Midnight Sunday!

The weather may well slow me down considerably, and if I'm full value I might have to reconsider the ECE anyway.

Jonah · « **Reply #202 on:** 28 February, 2018, 05:09:59 pm »

After getting our bacon baps out we got off to a 07:00 start and proceeded to morph into solid blocks of ice for the remainder of the ride.

Our water bottles froze and I couldn't feel my feet all day. However, the ride remains as spectacular and winter sun in the Forest of Dean thawed my old bones as we sped-off to the Chepstow Spoons.

We crawled in shortly before 04:00; the cold impeding our progress somewhat.

Can't wait to do it all again on the 17th

halhorner · « **Reply #203 on:** 02 March, 2018, 02:22:08 pm »

Nails!

Von Broad · « **Reply #204 on:** 02 March, 2018, 04:26:58 pm »

Quote from: Jonah on 28 February, 2018, 05:09:59 pm

Our water bottles froze and I couldn't feel my feet all day.

That's Audax.
I will doff my hat to you sir.
Hard as!

As I look out of the window right now [snow] I'd say it was a bit of a Dean kind of day today!

Terrific ride The Dean. Hope to do it again before I'm through with all this stuff.

Steve Orchard · « **Reply #205 on:** 08 March, 2018, 08:20:37 am »

Any changes/updates to the route we need to know about?

halhorner · « **Reply #206 on:** 13 March, 2018, 01:58:56 pm »

Assume last years routesheet & .gpx are good to use again this year?

TigaSefi · « **Reply #207 on:** 13 March, 2018, 08:58:10 pm »

I think I am going to be a DNS. I am going for a 100km ride tomorrow and see how I get on before deciding whether I am fit enough to get round this great route. Weather isn't great for me using my usual sources unless someone tells me different.

Actually : -5 and possible snow means health comes first!

simonp · « **Reply #208 on:** 13 March, 2018, 10:27:06 pm »

Not having managed a 200k yet this season I've decided to DNS this and have entered the Cheltenham New Flyer instead. Also will be using gears as my wrist is still on the mend.

j_a_m_e_s_ · « **Reply #209 on:** 14 March, 2018, 07:33:24 am »

Got the day off work today, so gonna get myself squared away today then its all systems go for Saturday I think.

Gonna be chilly so I'm told......

JohnL · « **Reply #210 on:** 14 March, 2018, 08:27:36 am »

Quote from: TigaSefi on 13 March, 2018, 08:58:10 pm

Actually : -5 and possible snow means health comes first!

Where have you seen a -5 forecast? I’ve seen possibly 0 and light snow for the last few bits, but -5?

John

zakalwe · « **Reply #211 on:** 14 March, 2018, 10:54:31 am »

The return leg is going to be a bugger with the wind... just like last year

j_a_m_e_s_ · « **Reply #212 on:** 14 March, 2018, 11:07:27 am »

Quote from: JohnL on 14 March, 2018, 08:27:36 am

Quote from: TigaSefi on 13 March, 2018, 08:58:10 pm
Actually : -5 and possible snow means health comes first!

Where have you seen a -5 forecast? I’ve seen possibly 0 and light snow for the last few bits, but -5?

John

Feels like.

BBC has got it down to -8 in Oxford around midnight.

TigaSefi · « **Reply #213 on:** 14 March, 2018, 04:04:40 pm »

Quote from: JohnL on 14 March, 2018, 08:27:36 am

Quote from: TigaSefi on 13 March, 2018, 08:58:10 pm
Actually : -5 and possible snow means health comes first!

Where have you seen a -5 forecast? I’ve seen possibly 0 and light snow for the last few bits, but -5?

John

Wind chill brings it down to those levels.

vistaed · « **Reply #214 on:** 15 March, 2018, 11:26:41 am »

I'm not at all impressed with how the weather is looking for Saturday. Yellow snow warning FFS! But with train and accommodation booked and already paid and a tight training schedule to be keep to, I'll be dammed if a bit of the white stuff and a stiff cold wind is going to stop me at least setting out to have a go.

Wycombewheeler · « **Reply #215 on:** 15 March, 2018, 05:04:38 pm »

Just looked at the weather warning, the Saturday warning is all East of Oxford.

Weather bagel shows dry forecast throughout with positive temperatures at least until 21:00

Does show very strong winds though, tailwind out and headwind back.

Any chance of entry on the line?

Tillapaw · « **Reply #216 on:** 15 March, 2018, 05:12:08 pm »

Entries don't close until tomorrow so you still have a chance to enjoy that headwind back like we had last year. Looks like it won't be patio weather at the Chepstow 'spoons this time though.

Manotea · « **Reply #217 on:** 15 March, 2018, 06:33:56 pm »

Never been patio time for me.... unless you count the garage forecourt!

Audax Club Hackney · « **Reply #218 on:** 15 March, 2018, 08:58:31 pm »

Hello Folks
As up-thread, no changes to the route or GPX

Weather's not looking too tidy aye?!?

ACH will be dealing brevet st the start but I can say now that we've had a fair few DNSs

ACZH

simonp · « **Reply #219 on:** 15 March, 2018, 09:42:11 pm »

Yeah sorry about that. Earlier 200k DNS meant not yet ready for 300k.

Back next year to qualify for PBP I hope.

Wycombewheeler · « **Reply #220 on:** 15 March, 2018, 10:49:20 pm »

Quote from: Tillapaw on 15 March, 2018, 05:12:08 pm

Entries don't close until tomorrow so you still have a chance to enjoy that headwind back like we had last year. Looks like it won't be patio weather at the Chepstow 'spoons this time though.

No, more like 2016, sitting in 'spoons watching others shiver on tesco forecourt

Manotea · « **Reply #221 on:** 15 March, 2018, 11:36:47 pm »

Not too bothered about the temps but that headwind home is going to be fun.

I think I can assume I'll not be ECEing home.

That's for 20kmph riders, Full value types will be seeing -3C by the time they - er, we - reach Oxford. Plus windchill, of course.

However you look at it, not a day for hanging around at controls.

Bianchi Boy · « **Reply #222 on:** 16 March, 2018, 06:22:00 am »

I'm not riding tomorrow. Real life got in the way, but the main problem might be snow from the afternoon. If this arrives they may be very few finishers.

Manotea · « **Reply #223 on:** 16 March, 2018, 12:23:48 pm »

At least I'll not be fretting about whether to wear 'longs or not

whosatthewheel · « **Reply #224 on:** 16 March, 2018, 12:32:16 pm »

Yeah, this could turn out to be a heroic ride... or a zero finishers one... look forward to hearing the reports from the "survivors".

Author Topic: The Dean (Read 101948 times)

simonp

simonp

whosatthewheel