Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => Audax => Topic started by: Delph Cyclist on 07 December, 2014, 09:11:19 am

Title: Winter Solstice
Post by: Delph Cyclist on 07 December, 2014, 09:11:19 am
If anyone wants to ride the Winter Solstice and hasn't entered yet then they've missed their chance for 2014.  I've closed entries, having received an unprecedented amount of interest in this year's event.  Something like a third of entries are from non-members, which seems to indicate that there is plenty of interest in Long Distance Cycling, at least to 200km.   Or perhaps they don't know what they've let themselves in for!  As Memsec you can be sure that I'll try and put on a good show and sign them all up, it is not unknown for non-members to start this ride but finish it as fully paid up (and keen!) Audax members.

I am running the May-as-Well Solstice on early May Bank Holiday Monday ovr the same route but in (I would imagine) better weather, so perhaps I've these people a favour.
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: mcshroom on 07 December, 2014, 10:03:35 am
Good to hear, and I hope they all enjoy it. :)
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: Deano on 07 December, 2014, 12:22:54 pm
Ta for the heads-up, Mike.

*goes off to enter all PBP qualifiers*
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: jhob on 08 December, 2014, 10:28:46 pm
Glad I got my entry in time!

One of the non-members is a friend of mine who I ride with and have convinced to come along, I think he's looking forward to it!
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: jhob on 14 December, 2014, 09:29:23 pm
looking like we should be ice free for it  :thumbsup:

Going to be pretty windy though  :(
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: alwyn on 15 December, 2014, 07:45:41 am
First time I rode this it was mostly foggy all morning, which was really cool.
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: DrMekon on 15 December, 2014, 01:16:59 pm
Really looking forward to this.
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: Redlight on 15 December, 2014, 07:58:35 pm
A capacity field the weekend before Christmas is worthy of celebration in itself.  I'll be on the Santa Special, which I'm sure will be equally good.
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: Salvatore on 16 December, 2014, 05:47:55 pm
If you're missing out on Mike's event, there's still the similarly-named ride organised by  Randonneurs FI (i.e. Finland)

(translation by google)
Quote
Winter Solstice cycling 2014

Winter Solstice cycling brings together again cycling enthusiasts around the Finnish. For the second time in executable event riders are mobilized On Saturday 20.12. sunset from want and pursue a goal, Tampere Hotel Ilves or Teboil Oulu Kaakkuri Hovi, before sunrise on Sunday, 21.12.

Has already announced a total of about three to ten riders. Participants will drive a minimum distance of 150 km, and the last two hours before sunrise have to drive at least 15 km. At the same time conducted a playful competition of who drive the longest distance in the longest night.

In other words, start at sunset and finish by sunrise on the longest night of the year. In Oulu* sunrise on Sunday is 10:29, so plenty of time. There's a promotional video, for which I hesitate to provide a link, but here goes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1r-zUPg2kk

Shame I can't make it. They are a friendly and hospitable bunch.

*Oulu has 600km of bike paths and they are kept open all year, even though average winter temperature is about -15ยบ C


Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: Andrew Br on 16 December, 2014, 06:42:12 pm
My sadness at missing this year's (UK) ride is tempered by my hooning off to Cologne and Dusseldorf for a long weekend.
I've done this event twice and I love the atmosphere, especially as the tail (that includes me) winds its weary way home.
Up to now, I've been lucky with the weather which I suppose colours my viewpoint  ;).
Looking back, I'm almost tempted to say that it's an audax that I've almost enjoyed ...........

I shan't re-read the moan fests that I've undoubtedly put on this board.

Have fun everyone and may you have following winds, rain during the cafe stops and lots of cake.

It's on my list for next year.
Unless I win the lottery, in which case, I'm off to Tampere (the Manchester of Finland).



Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: Delph Cyclist on 17 December, 2014, 04:49:17 am
Well, I rode this event yesterday with Darryl Nolan and we finished within time but it could have been a DNF, at least for me.

We started off badly, as I picked Darryl up at 7am to drive to the Bredbury start.  In hindsight, 6:30 would have made more sense as the traffic on the M60 was much worse than I had anticipated.  Not to worry, getting to the event start on a Sunday morning should be a doddle.

All went well in daylight, we had a fine lunch at Morrisons in Market Drayton and we enjoyed riding in the sunshine with a light wind, seemingly always in our faces (isn't it always the case).  We found the second cafe stop at Gatesheath was shut, an early closure brought on no doubt because of a quiet day.  Still, we are in the diary for Sunday, so we're expected then, and I'll ring them beforehand to warn them of likely numbers.  We continued to Tarporley Spar and petrol station for coffees and snacks.

That's where things started to go wrong in a big way.  Darryl found that his front light didn't work even though it had been fully charged up the night before.  After playing with if for some time we gave up on it and we cable-tied my spare Exposure Joystick to his duff light and continued our way.

I can only think that a moment's inattention then caused me to hit a pothole at the side of the road after Lach Dennis, sending me sprawling.  After some fine road-side maintenance from Darryl (for which many thanks!) we had taken off the bent derailleur, reduced the chain length to cope with just a single sprocket front and rear and fixed the front wheel puncture (that was my bit), all in the dark, we were able to continue after a considerable delay.

We didn't need my backup plan, which was to abandon.  I knew we were only a short distance (less than 4km as it turned out) from Plumley station which has an hourly service to Stockport (5km from where I'd left the car).

On the plus side, Darryl noted that his front light was now working, but only in flashing mode, and he found he'd brought a head torch as a back up after all (but he only found it after we'd done all the road-side maintenance).

That last 30km was quite slow going, with my bent but OK handle bars, my single gear, and a really sore shoulder.  It didn't help that by this time the rain had started, which had us cold and wet by the finish.

We finished in a personal worst time of XXXXXX (I'm not allowed to display finish times of course) but we still had 50 minutes in hand, so at least the ride will be validated.

I'm just suffering now from a painful but otherwise still intact (I hope!) shoulder.  The bike will need some attention but it will live.  I should be able to drive to the event start on Sunday to launch the event then cover the Gatesheath control.  It could have been worse.
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: tonyh on 17 December, 2014, 09:26:11 am
Very glad it wasn't worse! Best wishes.
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: Mr Larrington on 17 December, 2014, 10:13:13 am
First time I rode this it was mostly foggy all morning, which was really cool.

I suspect I was on that one.  I had to buy new batteries for my rear lights.  In the morning.
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: Jeff in Wales on 17 December, 2014, 02:48:42 pm
Hi,

Sorry to read about your fall. Glad you're more or less OK. Best wishes.
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: jhob on 17 December, 2014, 11:17:33 pm
Glad to hear that you're okish!

I already have a spare front light and shall be extra mindful to watch out for potholes in the dark!

See you Sunday
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: Delph Cyclist on 18 December, 2014, 02:33:31 pm
I've just sent out a route update to all 88 of my entries.  If you don't get it you're not in.  I just hope the loos can cope.
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: hellymedic on 18 December, 2014, 02:41:52 pm
I've just sent out a route update to all 88 of my entries.  If you don't get it you're not in.  I just hope the loos can cope.

Are baked beans on the menu?  ;) ;) ;D
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: jhob on 21 December, 2014, 09:56:23 am
Had my first DNS today for this event. Was up in the night with a temperature, decided cycling 200k probably not the most sensible thing to do. Got as far as getting all my kit on and out the door when I chose to call it off.

Really disappointed as I was so looking forward to it and had put a lot of time into the prep.  :'(
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: hellymedic on 21 December, 2014, 02:10:28 pm
Wise move.
Get Well Soon, jhob!
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: Mike Tatt on 21 December, 2014, 08:42:55 pm
Great ride today but that headwind made it pretty tough on the way out. Some very kippered looking souls at the end. I think it would have destroyed anyone not in shape or running a temperature. Live to fight another day! :)
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: alwyn on 21 December, 2014, 08:51:12 pm
Yeah, outbound was a race against the stiffening winds. What was barely noticeable at 5km rapidly became pesky by 60km and really exhausting by Market Drayton.

However we got our dues back and then some, as we sailed the 100km home with a stonking, 20kph+ tailwind all the way. That, and a bizarre absence of Cheshire types in their overpowered, gleaming-white sh*theap vehicles made this one of the best Peak Audax winter specials I've ridden.

Cheers Mike, and get well soon. You seemed very chipper today despite your injuries.

(PS, was the full as funny as when you misjudged a kerb on the Wednesday Marple rides in 2009 and went AOT (but sustained no injury)?)
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: jhob on 22 December, 2014, 07:35:02 am
Ended up spending most of the day in bed, definitely made the right decision!

Still disappointing to have missed it but these things happen.

Glad the rest of you had a good run
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: slohill on 22 December, 2014, 07:53:23 am

 a bizarre absence of Cheshire types in their overpowered, gleaming-white sh*theap vehicles made this one of the best Peak Audax winter specials I've ridden.

Cheers Mike, and get well soon. You seemed very chipper today despite your injuries.


As a local Cheshire resident (though I drive a 14 yr old Golf) I would point out that most of these monstrous sh*heap vehicles are either black or sh*t silver grey.  These vehicles specialise in driving in misty, dusky and/or gloomy conditions without lights on to enhance their unwanted and dangerous presence on narrow twisty lanes.---as they say---2X2= thick plank; 4X4=2 thick planks.
 The lanes were very quiet in the Church Minshull area yesterday.  According to my wife, all these vehicles and occupants were at Sainsburys yesterday stocking up for a gluttonous Christmas before emerging on Boxing Day to the detriment of any one travelling the local lanes.

Trust you get to feel better soon Mike and have a great Christmas.
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: DrMekon on 22 December, 2014, 12:50:27 pm
Lovely day out, notwithstanding coming a cropper at 80km. Thought I'd end up DNFing as my hip and elbow were really scuffed, and the front wheel wouldn't spin, even with the brake released. Fortunately, my mate is very handy with a spoke key, and managed to get it true enough to continue. 50mg of prednisolone, several coffees, and a wetherspoons breakfast, and I was good to go. Thank goodness for the tailwind after the turn, or I'm not sure I'd have made it.

The rim had about 15,000km on it, so was getting close to needing replacement. Beer and ibuprofen will see me through today. Aching too much to ride in to work today.
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: 321up on 02 January, 2015, 05:52:31 pm
We nearly had our first DNF, but thankfully our disintegrating rear hub lasted long enough to finish the ride and get home.  In doing so we have completed our first RRTY.  I stripped down the hub today and as expected it was the freehub body that failed...

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-EhiDfpkcLbc/VKbS3KV2wsI/AAAAAAAAPcY/eWO4b3yMy24/s800/20150102155952%2520-%2520DSC06406.JPG)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rruw3QhQOMU/VKbS6IP0gVI/AAAAAAAAPcg/bl4Evowlueg/s800/20150102162210%2520-%2520DSC06422.JPG)

... the worn section on the axle is because it was taking the load directly.
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: Peter on 02 January, 2015, 08:14:52 pm
Glad you got back to Macc!
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: notlobgp14 on 03 January, 2015, 11:01:59 am
What make hub is that!
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: jsabine on 03 January, 2015, 10:58:15 pm
What make hub is that!

From another thread, Shimano.





(Of course, that's a very incomplete answer - Shimano HF-08 tandem rear gives a more accurate picture of how likely it is to happen to you.)