Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Audax => Topic started by: αdαmsκι on 11 April, 2017, 04:41:06 pm
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I've decided my pre-LEL 600 will be The Three Coasts (http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/17-226/), which is pretty much the same route as the East & West Coast 600 (http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/17-319/), but with a bonus hill or two. With that in mind I've now sorted out train tickets to get me, and a bicycle, to and from Mytholmroyd. (For various reasons it was easier to call up Virgin Trains East Coast to deal with the bike reservation, although not when I've no idea how to pronounce Mytholmroyd, instead I just used the train station abbreviation MYT.) This'll be my first time riding this particular 600. Considering it'll be mid summer and the first day is less than 400 km I'm hoping it'll mostly be ridden in daylight.
Now I just need to start cycling again having only done a few rides since Pippa and I got back to the UK after our 2016 tour.
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Doing this as well, this will be my June entry for my RRtY :)
I think I have a bike reservation until Leeds, where I change and take a Northern train on which reservation is not necessary.
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Yip, I've got a bike reservation to Leeds, but nothing on the Northern Rail Service from Leeds to Mytholmroyd (which considering a lot of the Northern Rail trains are essentially a converted bus isn't surprise.)
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I'm doing this, heading over from Otley the night before. Really looking forward to it - it's my between BCM and Pendle ride in my first hyper season
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I might
Don't forget we are doing the National 400 a week later, Adam 😉
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it's my between BCM and Pendle ride
:o :o :o
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I'm in...
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I'm in again......The ride is only a few kilometers short of 400 on the first day looking at all my past rides and they all agree and every time I have just got to Castleford CP as it gets dark around 2100, earlier if its overcast and its about 3 hours riding in the dark to Mytholmoroyd.
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I've no idea how to pronounce Mytholmroyd
As a local, I can help with that. "Mithe um royd". Slight stress on first syllable.
Best wishes for the ride. Way beyond what I could manage at the moment.
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I've broken the Three Coasts gpx track from the aukweb events page into six tracks that can be viewed here:
- Three Coasts Part 1 - to Bridlington (http://bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?lnk=https://sites.google.com/site/youngadamski/gpx/three-coasts-600/Three%20Coasts%201%20%28To%20Bridlington%29.gpx)
- Three Coasts Part 2 - to Castleford (http://bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?lnk=https://sites.google.com/site/youngadamski/gpx/three-coasts-600/Three%20Coasts%202%20%28To%20Castleford%29.gpx)
- Three Coasts Part 3 - to Back to HQ (http://bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?lnk=https://sites.google.com/site/youngadamski/gpx/three-coasts-600/Three%20Coasts%203%20%28Back%20to%20HQ%29.gpx)
- Three Coasts Part 4 - to Preston (http://bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?lnk=https://sites.google.com/site/youngadamski/gpx/three-coasts-600/Three%20Coasts%204%20%28To%20Preston%29.gpx)
- Three Coasts Part 5 - to Hollingworth Lake (http://bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?lnk=https://sites.google.com/site/youngadamski/gpx/three-coasts-600/Three%20Coasts%205%20%28To%20Hollingworth%20Lake%29.gpx)
- Three Coasts Part 6 - to Arrivee (http://bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?lnk=https://sites.google.com/site/youngadamski/gpx/three-coasts-600/Three%20Coasts%206%20%28To%20Arrivee%29.gpx)
Feel free to use the files; don't complain if you get lost. The individual files can be found here: click (https://sites.google.com/site/youngadamski/gpx/three-coasts-600).
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Thanks Adam. Experimenting with OSMand and have just added the GPX as one file but these will come in handy if can't cope (or I need to revert to RidewithGPS).
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I didn't spot this was on. I have the blank perm card from 2013 somewhere, if still valid. I was thinking of inviting my dad down from Brid for dad's day, then thinking of driving up (I have to collect son from Nott uni sometime this weekend). Wondering if I can multitask and keep all the family happy, and get a 600 in!
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Looking forward to unleashing the Guv'nor on this.
And, dare I say it, the weather forecast's looking ok so far. Then again anything would be better than last year's...
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And, dare I say it, the weather forecast's looking ok so far.
I've not been brave enough to look.
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And, dare I say it, the weather forecast's looking ok so far.
I've not been brave enough to look.
... don't be wet...... 😁
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I'm in again......The ride is only a few kilometers short of 400 on the first day looking at all my past rides and they all agree and every time I have just got to Castleford CP as it gets dark around 2100, earlier if its overcast and its about 3 hours riding in the dark to Mytholmoroyd.
That sounds like you'll have time for a proper kip at HQ before part 2, what time do you aim to start out on Sunday morning? I've got my spreadsheet out and trying to work out how much sleep I can squeeze in (not enough)!
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There are some pretty long descents on this ride. I plan on doing most of my sleeping then.
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There are some pretty long descents on this ride.
I don't want to hear that
*spin*
*spin*
*spin*
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As I've said many times before, those riding fixed should be sectioned under the Mental Health Act for their own protection.
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As I've said many times before, those riding fixed should be sectioned under the Mental Health Act for their own protection.
This is like TeethGrinder listening to your plans and saying:
"That might be a bit too far to cycle."
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"Wondering if I can multitask and keep all the family happy, and get a 600 in!"
FWIW: according to the AUK website calendar page entries are being accepted up to 1-hour after the start time. I won't be joining you this year for the eight time but I'll probably do it again at some point in the future. I might go for the "Good Companions" on Sunday.
Andy Corless
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Anyone riding this - enjoy. I'm down in Portsmouth with my 12yo for the British Schools hillclimb and track events so am missing it this year. :'(
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Doing this to get a 600 in before LEL, seduced by England's longest downhill road, better not be a headwind...
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I am planning on riding through (need to be back home at reasonable hour on Sunday), so am concerned not to find I'm struggling to get food and drink. I've got the backup control after Glasson Dock marked, but I wonder what controls I'm likely to struggle with? Ignoring the infos, I see...
49 Buzy Lizzies
106 Pocklington BP Service station
158 Bridlington Boathouse Cafe
203 Malton Morrisons
245 Thirsk (NOT A CONTROL) Tesco SS
323 Castleford Shell Service station
375 Mytholmroyd HQ
446 Texaco Fulwood Service station (24h)
507 Glasson Dock / 516 M6 Services
551 Whalley
588 Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centre (10am)
Looks to me that it's just Whalley, where a ATM receipt will suffice and the visitor centre. Will a photo and GPX track suffice for the visitor centre if by some feat of luck I am there before 10am? Looks like worst case scenario I've got to get the 100km from the M6 services back to the HQ with whatever I can carry.
Am I missing anything?
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Ian, I think I've used a parking ticket from the lake visitor centre before on one of Chris's perms.
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Ian, I think I've used a parking ticket from the lake visitor centre before on one of Chris's perms.
Cheers Peter
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Riding through effort hamstrung by clear skies and low temperatures. Tried to get Travelodge at 415km but was full. Backtracked to 24hr garage with a Costa machine and seating for a closed Subway. Have been dozing on comfy chairs since 2am. Unfortunately a bunch of local scrotes high on whipped cream propellant keep popping back and appear very interested in my bike. Just waiting for a bit more sun to appear before setting off again.(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170618/3f2172cbe58308216d0f566ad151b058.jpg)
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... seduced by England's longest downhill road ...
which is fine, until you realise you have got to get to the top of that longest descent with 570 (or so) km in your legs
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:'( A DNF after 100 km. Shortly after the first control I noticed the tell-tale squiggle of an approaching migraine, stopped at a shop for paracetamol and to let my vision clear, and then continued to Pocklington. Sitting around at the petrol station there I was aware that I couldn't see properly to my right hand side and decided I didn't want to risk it continuing later into the day and night. Appologies to any of you that I was rude to or weird at, I either couldn't see you properly or was having a brain fog.
Bloody annoying as it's been such great weather, and I didn't feel too bad apart from the visual stuff. After a while in Pocklington's Costa I rode to York, and got the train back to Mytholmroyd to meet Chris and team at HQ to retrieve my luggage. I helped unload the car and could see you were going to have a splendid feed later.
I half considered staying over and doing the Good Companions ride but my heart wasn't in it and I fancied my own bed. Good decision, I had another visual disturbance on the train home and again this morning. Still pissed off though, bloody bodies. ::-)
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I hope those GPX tracks were useful. I forgot to put them onto my Garmin. Instead I used an elastic band to hold the route sheet to the Garmin. Good job I had a puncture after 75km or so and found an elastic band in my tool tube
(http://pbs.twimg.com/media/DCls-G9XoAA0ASb?format=jpg)
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Glad I tried the 3 coasts this year after a strong recommendation from Nigel and the slightly hillier course did not disappoint. Struggled with the heat on Saturday but felt OK the following morning with no dozzie attack after only affording 45 min sleep time at HQ. The final climb up to Hollingworth Lake was worth the extra effort just for the last 10 km of freewheeling on the descent return to the finish.
Thanks to Chris and team for the great TLC.
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:( Also a DNF from me too - just after 400km.
"Forgive me lord for I have sinned ! " O:-)
Arrived back at Mytholmroyd HQ around 02.00am well & truly exhausted, being a northern softie I'm really not used to sweating in glorious sunshine all day & I'd struggled with re-hydration. Also mine was the exploding tyre in Cafe' garden in Bridlington so spent an hour faffing with this is baking heat. Had 3 hrs kip @ HQ thinking all would be great @ sunrise, but got as far as Burnley then turned back & threw towel in. Spent hours next morning with doom-mongering thoughts, like "how the hell am I going to get round LEL if I can't even succeed on this 600km" - even thought of taking up hiking & hanging up wheels ??? - but after 8 hours kip & glass of Duvel I recognise this minor failure just as the wake up call it is. I rode LEL last time quite comfortably with blocks of 400km's so I'll be reet ! Chapeau to all who finished this 600 - T'wasn't easy in that heat - respect to you all.
Confession over....
Terry from Bury..
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Spent hours next morning with doom-mongering thoughts, like "how the hell am I going to get round LEL if I can't even succeed on this 600km" - even thought of taking up hiking & hanging up wheels ??? - but after 8 hours kip & glass of Duvel I recognise this minor failure just as the wake up call it is.
I wish I had a £ for every time I've done that too. You'll be fine.
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Spent hours next morning with doom-mongering thoughts, like "how the hell am I going to get round LEL if I can't even succeed on this 600km" - even thought of taking up hiking & hanging up wheels ??? - but after 8 hours kip & glass of Duvel I recognise this minor failure just as the wake up call it is.
I wish I had a £ for every time I've done that too. You'll be fine.
I wanted to pack so many times on this event - a few stand out. First, when the chap I was riding with packed and I knew I'd have a long section on my own in to the wind - whereas he was heading home to comfort and cold drinks - was saved by stimulating company - thanks Adamski / French chap / Martin T. Second, when I set off in to the night and found I didn't have enough clothes - I rode to Burnley Travelodge with the aim of packing, but there were no rooms - mwas saved by the 24hr Texaco on Rossendale Road (they let me kip on some seats, and sold me some Immodium on the way back - more on that...). Thirdly, when my guts decided to turn inside out and where only letting me do about 30m on the bike before urgent calls of nature. I was set to pack at Todmorden and skip the lake and climb. Fortunately, The Old Cafe in Tod gave me a cracking flat white and suggested I drink a very large bottle of water, which was enough to get me back (in combo with the Immodium).
Not an easy day on the bike.
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Commiserations to those who packed, you were not alone. According to CC, there were around 70 entrants for the two events and 20% of those packed either on day 1 or when they got back to HQ.
It's not surprising really, given the heat and wind.
The leg from Brid. to Malton was brutal ,just like being in a fan oven, and then a few short sharp hills before Thirsk were not easy either. En masse,the pace dropped by 2 or 3 mph on Saturday afternoon.
Sunday was different, with no clouds but a slightly cooler breeze, still niggly and very dehydrating but not a killer,IMO.
A few niggles- slow service at the cafe in Brid( just stamp the card please.I don't need your autograph.
Some riders interpreted it as no order=no stamp.)
- the closed road just before Blackpool (Singleton) that put us onto the busy road through Poulton,
- no instruction on the paper route sheet that a POP was needed on the return leg through Mirfield.
My biggest mistakes were navigational despite having a paper routesheet and following a Garmin line.
On the return ,I nearly ended up in Dewsbury Moorside,(erstwhile home of Shannon Matthews et. al.) having misinterpreted the direction that said "RT to Heckmondwike." My apologies to the chap from Norfolk who was with me.
I missed the turn off the cycle path on the Garstang road and was worried about finding Broughton crossroads ever again.
Same near Whalley, where in ended up in Billington ,just along the road. I resisted the obvious question and asked a pedestrian which direction could I find Whalley.
Despite the heat and all that,I was quite happy to visit just the two coasts and happy with my overall time. I gather that Blackstone Edge had some of the hard men looking for a skyhook, so a special"well done "to the 3 Coast finishers. It's also nice to see more than a few visitors from further afield.
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A few niggles- slow service at the cafe in Brid( just stamp the card please.I don't need your autograph.
Some riders interpreted it as no order=no stamp.)
It was sauna-hot in the café at Bridlington and there was a long queue. I simply wanted a stamp and then to leave. The woman behind the counter flat refused to stamp my card unless I queued; something I would not do. I even offered to pay her for stamping my card; she still refused. So I left and went to Tesco.
Every time I've been to that café it's been slow service - I think it's time that the Org made it clear that other proofs of passage are acceptable.
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That's where I saw you. My brain was fried and faces just became a blur. I guess you suffer a lot in the sun?
Did your mudguards warp in the heat or did their tropical heritage win the day?
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I guess you suffer a lot in the sun?
er... not especially. Why? (intrigued)
Did your mudguards warp in the heat or did their tropical heritage win the day?
The mudguards performed flawlessly, as did the Pashley Guv'nor.
It's the tropical heritage:
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/staticarchive/0c8130c7d766bf3fd6d5f01964421184946f3d63.jpg)
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I guess you suffer a lot in the sun?
er... not especially. Why? (intrigued)
Your primarily cider-based rehydration technique perhaps? ;)
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I guess you suffer a lot in the sun?
er... not especially. Why? (intrigued)
Your primarily cider-based rehydration technique perhaps? ;)
Don't knock it 'til you've tried it :)
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I hope those GPX tracks were useful. I forgot to put them onto my Garmin.
I'm not going mad. The gpx tracks were on my Garmin, only not in the correct folder. I'm muppet :facepalm:
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W, Weren't you wearing three quarters and a long sleeved top?
If that wasn't you then I am obviously mistaken.
As a ginger ninja, I am prone to sunburn myself and relied on industrial strength sunscreen all weekend.
There was at least one self confessed "tight Yorkshireman" who was grateful for some of it after the heat got to him.
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I'd decided to do The Three Coasts for a variety of reasons, but mainly because it'd worked as a ride I could do with my dad as he continues his preparation for LEL. The fact it'd be a new ride for me was an added bonus.
After an easy train trip up from London (leaving Kings Cross at 4.30pm meant the train wasn't rammo) I arrived at Mytholmroyd, sorted out my kit & drank some of Wobbly's cider. Before long it was bedtime and as always happens it was far too quickly time to wake up.
I was ready for the go just before 6am and discovered there were no tracks on my Garmin :facepalm:. I could have sworn I'd transferred the files. Nevermind, I grabbed a routesheet from the HQ and set off with everyone else. The first section down to Castleford in a big group was easy and the traffic was light. We bounced through Castleford and before long where at a petrol station in Pocklington for more fluids and a ATM slip. The riding was lovely and the tailwind helped no end. Another quick stop and we were on our way, although a puncture somewhere outside of Pockington slowed us down. I did discover an elastic band in my tool tube and used that to strap the routesheet to my Garmin
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DCls-G9XoAA0ASb.jpg)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DCh1oHLXYAEy9gT.jpg)
Everyone seemed to have decided to arrive in Bridlington by car and it was chaos. We'd planned to bounce Bridlington and stop at Malton for food, but like others were unable to get a stamp without spending money, so waiting for tea to cool down slowed things down.
The section from Bridlington featured a gradual climb into a headwind and 1,000s of sportive riders heading the opposite direction. We stopped at New Brew with Cake-a-licious (https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g776616-d7020386-Reviews-New_Brew_with_Cake_a_licious-Malton_North_Yorkshire_England.html) which was on the approach Morrisons car park, the bikes were visible and they did quick service. I'd use them again.
From there I don't remember much of the ride to Thirsk, but after that the ride back to Castleford was really pleasant riding through the flatlands. From Castleford a peleton formed, as Dr. Mekon has already mentioned. The stiff climb out of Halifax took some huffing to get up.
We were back to HQ around 11.30pm & still wearing just shorts & a jersey.
The TLC back at HQ was great, so much food and showers. Whoop. After some sleep we were back on the road around 6am and enjoyed the challenge of the hidden information control.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DClsRtLXYAA5R_Y.jpg)
We picked up Clement outside Blackpool and the three of us tried to approach Blackpool by the official route but RailTrack turned us around due to the closed bridge, giving us a bonus 3km.
After Glasson Dock I left my dad and pushed on alone to make sure I'd be back for my prebooked train. The ride over to Whalley was excellent, although I was jealous of all the people enjoying The Aspinall Arms by the River Ribble.
On the descent into Cornholme it all almost went wrong. One of the bolts that holds my Goldtech front wheel in place (I don't have quick release wheels) had escaped at some point but I was unaware of this until the front wheel went mental. I initally thought the tyre had unseated itself but once I'd managed to stop and recompose myself, amazed I was still upright, I discovered the issue. I looked on the road for the bolt, couldn't find one, tried calling the Family Team Car that was waiting to collect my dad, but with no success and gingerly set off again
From Todmodern I had to decide if to bail or not. I opted to risk the dodgy front wheel held in place with one bolt and lawyer lip, although I wasn't convinced leaving Todmorden I was heading in the right direction because it just didn't feel right. I had communication with the Family Team Car and we tried to rendezvous at the top of Blackstone Edge, but with neither of us knowing the area meant that didn't happen, so I had to refit the front wheel and slowly ride down to the Arrivee, a shower and a train back to London.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DCnVWgjXgAEI9oW.jpg)
Dad finished about 1¼ hours later having ridden in with Martin T. So all in all a successful weekend.
Tracklog here: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/15429267
Thanks to Chris and all the helpers. It's amazing how much we, as riders, get for such a modest entry fee. It's really appreciated.
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W, Weren't you wearing three quarters and a long sleeved top?
Longs for both arms and legs. I've been horribly sunburned once too often (i.e. PBP 1999) to make that mistake again.
As a ginger ninja, I am prone to sunburn myself and relied on industrial strength sunscreen all weekend.
Being a "ginger" implies you have hair. Sadly I have none, hence the cycling cap...
But anyway, don't get stuck in a time-wasting queue. You are on a schedule, time is important. All you need do is provide proof of passage; you don't *have* to buy beans on toast at the suggested café stop.
Here's my Bridlington proof of passage :)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DChmqP3XYAAoVkv.jpg)
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Don't think you'll get away with that R. - photo clearly taken pre-war.
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;D
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DNF here - must have had too much sun, as someone else said, us northerners aren't used to it!
My rear mudguard popped off it's fitting on one of the potholes during the first km. Quick stop, soon had it fixed. However it happened again after another 30km or so and this time the fitting clip proved to be ruined. Strapped it to my saddlebag for a while and, as a tight Yorkshireman, it nearly broke my heart to have to chuck it in a bin at the garage in Castleford.
Bizzy Lizzies, great service but be warned if you need to use the loo, just think of the toilet scene in Trainspotting....I'll say no more.
I was in the cafe garden at Brid when Terry's tyre exploded, it was as loud as a gunshot. It was a right little suntrap in the garden, my Garmin showed 109 degrees farenheit as we left!!
I didn't think the service there was too bad tbh, however we may have been lucky and hit it during a slight lull.
Terribly hard trying to hold Jack's wheel to Malton, hilly to Thirsk.
I was in a nice group most of the day with Jack and (variously) Nicki, Kim & Steve and probably others that I can't remember your names, sorry.
All good to Tadcaster and then Castleford (lights on) but then started to feel decidedly poorly. Lost power, felt nauseous, was getting dropped, running on empty. More or less dragged back to HQ by Jack got in at 00.50. Continued to feel v. ill & eventualy threw up. Felt a bit better then.
Already knew after Cas that I was in bad shape and had decided not to ride on the Sunday. Had a forced lie in then kicked around trying to help out at the control and welcome back the riders who'd completed the 600. Kudos to the lot of you. Good luck to all you doing the Trans Continental, especially all the Sheffield lasses.
Many lessons learned. Great to meet so many folks and a special thanks to Chris, his Mrs, and his wonderful team of helpers.
(Leeds Mercury bloke) first time posting
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That's a shame, Footpad - if you got to Mytholmroyd for midnight, you had plenty of time. I'm sure you did the right thing, though.
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I packed at HQ after day one. Domestic issues prompted my return but it still would have been touch and go whether I completed. I got about an hours sleep on the Friday night thank to captain snore and the leg from Brid to Malton was a tiring solo slog. Felt okay when I woke up at 5am on day 2 after about 4 hours sleep but I was getting serious dozzies driving home so I think another day in the sun would have done for me, let alone trying to drive home straight afterwards (note self, don't schedule 9 am meetings the day after a 600). It's the first Audax I've ever packed so it sticks in the throat a bit but I think a sensible decision in the circumstances. Well done to all those who finished and thanks for the superb organisation and hospitality, saw plently of places I'd never ridden before and I see there's Blackpool - Glasgow - Blackpool on the 22nd Sept, so maybe I'll sort my unfinished business with Blackpool then...
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The three coasts was my second 600km and almost ended in disaster just beyond Castleford when my rear brake locked. (Ultegra Hydraulics). I started carrying the bike before just removing the calliper and carefully scooting down to Evans. They managed to loosen it off, but it was now strictly for slowing only and I was nearly two hours out of time leaving Castleford.
One of my fastest two hours on the bike would have got me in time at Pocklington if I hadn't punctured, but I was only 4 minutes late.
By Brid I was back in the game with an hour in hand although the Cafe had closed and they were clearing up. They thought the last rider had come through half an hour ago. They did however do me beans on toast and stamped my card.
The ride to Malton was miserable, hot, rolling and into the wind and sun. I didnt feel very visible as I could hardly see where I was going (or the GPS)!
Just outside Thirsk I spotted a rider ahead... with a Carradice! An AUK! I was no longer alone. Met a few more at Thirsk refuelling but I was in the groove now so powered on solo.
By Tadcaster I was thinking I may have pushed a bit hard so cruised back to HQ with a friendly bunch from VC167, arriving at about 0315.
After not a lot of sleep I rolled out at 0645 for day two, wishing I'd chosen the East and West Coast! Lovely ride, but it was HOT !!
Made it round in the end, finishing with a whole hour and 15 to spare. 632km for me with my detour. Lots of thoughts of packing. Lots of digging deep....
Weirdly after I drove home yesterday, my rear brake now works. It was 'on' in the car. Anyone any ideas what might have happened?
John
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Being a "ginger" implies you have hair. Sadly I have none, hence the cycling cap...
I wish! I was wearing a cotton cycling cap all weekend. I have had sunstroke whilst cycling and it ain't funny.
I saw the signs of impending sunstroke in one or two riders on Saturday.
I managed to avoid the worst by drinking the contents of two water bottles between each control.
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Being a "ginger" implies you have hair. Sadly I have none, hence the cycling cap...
I wish! I was wearing a cotton cycling cap all weekend. I have had sunstroke whilst cycling and it ain't funny.
I saw the signs of impending sunstroke in one or two riders on Saturday.
I managed to avoid the worst by drinking the contents of two water bottles between each control.
I did the Lunesdale 160K on Sunday and I now think I was suffering from heat stroke most of the way round, I've no hair just my helmet, no suncream applied.
Just before Borbon village I started with cramps in my legs, I normally get these and had put a tablet in my first bottle of water which was drunk before Slaidburn before and my last bottle of water was about half full. (should have looked to fill up at the church we had to stop at for our info control). Plodded on and found myself walking up some steep hills with no water, 2 of the gang on the audax came up behind me and each donated about half a bottle of water to me which was magnificent as we only had about 10K to lunch at Dent.
Here a nice lady cyclist of our group donated a nuun tablet for me to add to my re-fill which I drank almost straight away. any how this wasn't to be the last, on I went when I had to do about 40Km both legs cramping and my shoulder and feet also joining in from time to time, I hadn't realised that I'd actually stopped sweating by this time. I stopped at a small church in the middle of nowhere for water, but it must have been the only one without a standpipe. On I went every small hill was the same, legs cramping just about turning the pedals over thinking at least it's quicker than walking. These last few k's seemed like a lifetime with the sun persistently in my face. I finished but was literaly knackered and feeling sick all the way home, just had a cool bath and went to bed with a sick bucket and a glass of water.
I often thought how you guys were making out and reading these accounts, much the same I guess.
Well done to all who finished!
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It's not very often a week in Mallorca turns out to be good acclimatisation for conditions on a northern 600, but it certainly helped this weekend. I entered this one to get used to some hills at the back end of an event in preparation for LEL, and it definitely did that, with the heat as an additional test, so very pleased to get through to the finish OK.
As has been said before it was a nice tailwind spin to Brid. I decided I'd head out of the cafe on my own towards Malton which was soon regretted as the wind and lack of shelter soon took their toll. Clement and another rider caught me and I happily rode with them for a couple of miles before a big club group came past. We all jumped on their wheels, but the increase in pace was a bit too much for me so it was back to a solo ride to Malton and Thirsk. The roads are familiar down to Tadcaster and I was soon at Castleford where there was a good bunch of riders enjoying the traditional audax delights of the garage forecourt so chatted with Dr Mekon before setting off with a few others together into the night. Punctures and the Dewsbury Alps split us up so it was just before 11.30 I arrived back solo at HQ for some excellent hospitality - thanks to everyone helping out, they did a great job.
Sunday morning was a lovely ride to start off but the temperatures soon rose. For some reason I'd still got long sleeve shirt, leg warmers etc in my saddle bag which were completely unnecessary. I should have ditched those and taken the stepladder and hedge clippers for the first info ;).
I took a lovely picture at Blackpool pier of bikes, sun and sea which turned out when I got home to be solely of the pavement. Glasson dock was the culinary highpoint of the weekend with a massive lasagne setting me up for the hills. These were the nicest roads of the event but slow going in the heat and a Lemon Drizzle loaf was needed at Whalley before the grind through Burnley. The final climb up Blackstone Edge was slow but steady, then a final wrist jarring descent to HQ (the roads must have been the roughest I've ridden, there didn't seem to be a smooth patch over the whole 600K). Again lots of TLC at the finish, a great effort by Chris and his team.
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Lovely ride, thanks Chris and the team for making this happens.
It was my second 600 after the BCM in May and it did feel harder! Possibly something to do with that relentless heat. I'm glad I was able to ride in good company for the better part of it.
After a very nice but uneventful run up to Bridlington, I rode from there to Castleford with Ian (nice yellow Roberts). We were doing good work of the head winds, but as the club run mentioned before passed by, it was too good an occasion to skip - even though the riders at the back were behaving quite erratically. Short stop in Malton, just for water and a ice cream consumed too quickly (felt a bit heavy for the next kms :facepalm:). As many others we were planning to stop for proper food at Thirsk, instead we stopped at Sowerby at the Land & Sea (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Land+%26+Sea+Fisheries/@54.2264441,-1.3421407,3a,75y,72h,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s-GJ7C5dLU_3m5BIAfiLmJQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D-GJ7C5dLU_3m5BIAfiLmJQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dsearch.TACTILE.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D234%26h%3D106%26yaw%3D72.92383%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xbe9831959535a5ec!8m2!3d54.2264594!4d-1.3419514?hl=en-US) fish'n chips. Massive and excellent portions of chips, with lots of salt please, and a slush drink, all consumed on a bench in a quiet park. Perfect, thoroughly recommend.
Then off we go again and soon enough we turn South, which greatly alleviate the head winds, at last! The ride to Castleford is nice and quiet, and easier, almost too much in a way as km don't go by as fast as I'd like them to do. Eventually, we reach the service station for another break. I opt for milk and crisp in a bewildering array of flavours. And of course one of the many ice creams consumed over that weekend. It's important to keep a varied diet!
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We teamed up with DrMekon for the last leg back to HQ. He was having a good rhythm for someone thinking about packing! Then, puncture on the rear 33 km from HQ. Turns out the non-traversing scratch on the sidewall of the tyre (that had been there for the last 1000 km) made the casing unravel slightly on the inside, which in turn punctured the tube. Ah well. Tyre boot, new tube and off we go. A bigger group forms as we catch Adam, his dad and a few other. Then 18 km from HQ, second puncture on the rear. Arrgh! And this time as I was lagging at the back of the group, I find myself on my own (the last rider turned back to see what was happening, but as he was running tubeless he was unable to provide assistance). So I walk a bit to someone's drive and say a few various french expletives as I start taking the wheel apart for a closer inspection. As it turns out, the ParkTool tyre boot, who's only a tad smaller than a credit card (so, huge), has a thin layer of transparent plastic stuck on top of the boot proper. As the boot was too big, it curved along with the tyre, and this thin layer formed a few "ripples", which then damaged the tube. :facepalm:
Of course I only had on spare tube so it's now time to faff around with patches and glue. Always fun, even more so at 11pm on the side of a busy road. At least the temperature is mild. I also take off the offending layer off the boot and tear the boot in half. After half an hour or so of tinkering, I'm back on the road... gingerly as the rear is somewhat floaty! After 1km I realize that I left the patch kit on the road side... U-turn and here we go again. I count down the km until HQ, where I finally arrive around 00:20, where DrMekon is about to set off again into the night. Thanks Chris and the team for the amazing support there :) A bit of food and lots of water as I consider my options. The patch on the 2nd tube seemed to be holding alright. So I decided to repair the original one, borrow another spare from Chris and set off relatively early for the 2nd leg in order to give myself some headroom for more trouble.
As expected the second bout of sleep went much better than the first one! I wake up around 4:45 and I'm out of the door by 5:30. Nice start of the day, with sun and fresh temperatures. Nice riding with Jack until the service control in Fulwood (or was it Preston). I then let him and Robert go away as I was starting to tire a bit. I found company again shortly before the closed road before Blackpool and I rode with Adam and his dad until Glasson Dock. There we meet up with Jack, Adam go on his mission, and I let his dad and Jack go as I lay down in the fantastic grass next to the café for twenty minutes. After that it's only a 100 or so km to get back to HQ, but the heat and the hills made it hard work! Anyway, liberal application of water and low gears saw me through it and I was finally back at 18:30 for more TLC, some beers and sleep. Phew!
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(thanks Jack for the photo at the secret information control :))
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Was good to ride with you cgg and I also enjoyed the fish and chips on the park bench. I knew you had punctured but didn't realise that you had further difficulties.
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I hope those GPX tracks were useful. I forgot to put them onto my Garmin. Instead I used an elastic band to hold the route sheet to the Garmin. Good job I had a puncture after 75km or so and found an elastic band in my tool tube
They were brilliant and having them in bit size chunks meant that even my Garmin 820 could cope. There were a few gitches close to the HQ where tarmac roads were not a prime concern for cycling but it was easy to spot the road route.
Having the controls marked was also valuable.
Took a chance with that closed road, and it worked, had to lift the bike over barriers. There was workman like person watching from a car inside the barriers and also a van with yellow flashing lights but that drove off as I approached and no one said anything, and I was careful to leave the barriers as I found them.
Decending down the 17%er against the flow of the struggling end of the sportif on Saturday was a bit nerve wracking.
Highlight at north peer in Blackpool. Woman 1, Excuse me, do you have an allan key? Yes I have, depending what size you need. Woman 2 see I told you he would have one, he's a proper cyclist. To give them credit they had a hire bike with a rediculously low saddle that needed raising, so I guess that makes them proper cyclists as well.
Final climb for the decent was fun. The temperature range was a challenge. The minimum recorded was 6.5 degrees on Sunday morning and the maximum was about 30 on Sunday afternoon.