Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Rides and Touring => Topic started by: teethgrinder on 19 December, 2009, 07:14:37 pm
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In the light of what Regulator says on this thread. (http://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=27680.msg501543;topicseen#msg501543)
Perhaps we should call to arms, but combine it with some very fine cycling in Leicestershire. Leicestershire has some very good cycling. It's been alledged to be comparable with 1950s Britain for traffic levels along the many country lanes. Good scenery to see, but can be hilly.
Camp site and all other logistics TBA.
But we'll get the ball rolling by getting an idea of numbers. Nn CTC members also welcome. It is, after all a fun weekend of cycling with camping (or hotelling or whatever you prefer) after all.
Soooo, who's coming?
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That's a fine idea. I'm up for that :)
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That's a fine idea. I'm up for that :)
Assuming that the red haired one would never miss an opertunity for some camping and cycling, then I'll assume that we are now a crowd. :thumbsup:
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Where is it in Leicestershire exactly? I'm currently not a member (Stoker is) but an overnight camping sounds the bizz.
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Can I be a definate maybe please?
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Assuming that the red haired one would never miss an opertunity for some camping and cycling, then I'll assume that we are now a crowd. :thumbsup:
Aye, I'm up for it. Gives me an excuse to turn up for the dinner inna LBD and my gert big army boots :)
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This could be good use of one of my long weekends.
Where in Leicestershire are we heading?
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I'm up for this, and my diary is clear that weekend :thumbsup:
Not been to the AGM before so looking forward to it
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Slack handful of possibles here...
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Gives me an excuse to turn up for the dinner inna LBD and my gert big army boots
I can't work out if you're Daria Morgendorffer or Jane Lane :)
(http://www.sitcomsonline.com/photopost/data/2253/dariacast.jpg)
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Where is it in Leicestershire exactly? I'm currently not a member (Stoker is) but an overnight camping sounds the bizz.
<<quickly grabs CTC mag and looks it up>>
The AGM is in Loughbourough, so I'd suggest camping east of Loughborough. The Vale of Belvoir has some nice lanes to cycle on. So does the area around Oakham. Very nice cafe at the windmill at Wymondham.
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The actual CTC dinner costs £30. I like the idea of a YACF massiv' attending then riding off into the night afterwards. Not sure if everyone wants to spend £30 on dinner though. I certainly wouldn't mind.
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The actual CTC dinner costs £30. I like the idea of a YACF massiv' attending then riding off into the night afterwards. Not sure if everyone wants to spend £30 on dinner though. I certainly wouldn't mind.
Pay twice and you can have two!
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The actual CTC dinner costs £30. I like the idea of a YACF massiv' attending then riding off into the night afterwards. Not sure if everyone wants to spend £30 on dinner though. I certainly wouldn't mind.
Pay twice and you can have two!
My usual trick is to sit with those who only manage to eat half of their dinner. That way I pay once and have at least two.
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I might well be up for this - it would be a good opportunity to meet a few YACFers in person. I know the area well as I grew up there, and I can pronounce the Vale of Belvoir correctly without sniggering. I could combine it with a trip to my parents in Oakham.
I'm not sure I'd be super keen to attend the AGM and dinner, though - but provided it's acceptable just to camp, cycle and drink a few beers, you can put me down as a definite maybe.
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- but provided it's acceptable just to camp, cycle and drink a few beers, you can put me down as a definite maybe.
I'll put you down as a definite maybe then.
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The AGM is in Loughbourough, so I'd suggest camping east of Loughborough. The Vale of Belvoir has some nice lanes to cycle on. So does the area around Oakham. Very nice cafe at the windmill at Wymondham.
Loughborough, that's in cycling distance. :thumbsup:
I'm up for that...
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The same weekend as the BC, can't make it :(
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I will go, presumably at CTC expense.
If teethgrinder cares to sit near me, he can finish my dinner as I don't eat like I did in my randonneuse days.
Afraid I can't camp but may try the LBD...
PS I went to primary school in Leicester so can pronounce 'Belvoir'...
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Good scenery to see ...
Actually, I prefer the concept of "scenery as an abstract entity" - to be admired and ratiocinated over whilst perusing the map, delving into its hollows and being awed by its rugged contour lines - but to actually look at it - sod that!
Leics is my part of the world so might be interested in the camping - but not in the £30 meal! :o
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The same weekend as the BC, can't make it :(
That's a bit of a bummer :(
Good scenery to see ...
Actually, I prefer the concept of "scenery as an abstract entity" - to be admired and ratiocinated over whilst perusing the map, delving into its hollows and being awed by its rugged contour lines - but to actually look at it - sod that!
But unless you look at the scenery, how do you know what you are admiring? Or do you just imagine it? I'd rather go out and look at it and experience it. I can imagine what I like.
Leics is my part of the world so might be interested in the camping - but not in the £30 meal! :o
£30 is a bit steep. I'm happy to go with the flow and if I spend less than a tenner on a good campfire feed instead of £30 on what will probably be a mediocre nosh up, then I'll chose the £10 option every time. But I'll go with the flow because I'm coming for the company too.
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I'd be more than happy not to spend £30. I'd vote for an 'Uts-style takeaway in which we just get a lot of curry in, eat our fill and then enjoy the spectacle of TG emptying all the unfinished foil trays.
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Unfortunately, some of us will have to attend the dinner. I only hope that they cut the speeches back.
You can tell that the Chair is a former local councillor... boy, does he speechify. It got rather embarassing how long he went on this year. :facepalm:
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Unfortunately, some of us will have to attend the dinner. I only hope that they cut the speeches back.
You can tell that the Chair is a former local councillor... boy, does he speechify. It got rather embarassing how long he went on this year. :facepalm:
Just give him a very large, very sticky and very chewy toffee. That should keep him quiet. ;D
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Lufbra was my Uni......
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Lufbra was my Uni......
Were you there with that Coe runner?
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Lufbra was my Uni......
Were you there with that Coe runner?
No, Tony used to leave him behind.
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The same weekend as the BC, can't make it :(
Arse!! I was hoping to do the BC again this year.... but then camping would be more fun... *dilemma*
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Is it? Oh, double arse :(
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Is it? Oh, double arse :(
That's what I thought on last year's Dun Run when I sucked Josephine's wheel for most of the last 20 miles to Dunwich. O:-)
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The same weekend as the BC, can't make it :(
hmm it's about 300km to Loughborough from Vorsprung towers
I could do it as an alternative to the BCM
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The same weekend as the BC, can't make it :(
Arse!! I was hoping to do the BC again this year.... but then camping would be more fun... *dilemma*
Do the BC, skip the youth hostel and sleep in bus shelters instead? It's kind like camping...
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This sounds like a cunning plan, although as others have said, £30 for what is probably an average meal at best is probably better expended on takeaways and booze. :demon: (http://jakal.sp.ph.ic.ac.uk/~timo/smilies/nomnomnom3.gif)
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Is it? Oh, double arse :(
There are other 600s, but only one AGM.
I'll go camping instead. I've done the BC several times.
Or the BC could be ridden as a permanent.
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Lufbra was my Uni......
Were you there with that Coe runner?
No, Tony used to leave him behind.
I was there then. He was a knob, and none too bright. And he HATED losing at badminton.....allegedly. Shall I talk about his height complex? The one he didn't have? Your honour?
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hmm it's about 300km to Loughborough from Vorsprung towers
It's about 3km to Loughborough from JonBuoy Towers.
I am not sure whether I will be around that weekend but if there is any local knowledge or reconnoitring required let me know and I will see if I can help.
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Sounded good (I'd like to cycle to a "YACF" campsite) until I found it clashed with BC600.
I have unfinished business in Wales you see.
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I'm not planning on camping (no tent innit). But I am thinking about getting the train to Loughborough on Saturday morning with bikey, attending the meeting and then cycling back to London if anyone else fancies that
It would mean getting home at a very odd hour.
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I'm not planning on camping (no tent innit).
We could lend you one ;) ;D
We have lots. :thumbsup:
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That's awfuly generous Butterfly....what can I say ;)
Perhaps what I meant was I don't really do camping.... :-[
However, I have today booked train tickets to Loughborough with bike rez, arriving at midday. Plan is still to go to meeting, vote, and then cycle back to London. Hopefully I will be able to see some of you up there. Maybe for some food before or after the meeting?
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You'd love the camping bit. Good company and all that :)
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Camping good. :)
Cycling 100+ miles back from Loughborough bad. :(
(I had enough of that a couple of weekends back with our Nottingham to London jaunt, and a headwind).
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Sadly, I shall have to add proxy cycling and proxy camping to my proxy voting. I shall be with you in spirit.
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I might be up for this, Loughborough is at least 6 miles from my house and Belvoir hmm probably 6 miles.
Yup!
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Does anyone local to the AGM venue have any idea of what the cycle parking is like at Imago - Burleigh Court, Loughborough Uni?
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I was within 200 metres of the place an hour ago. I will try to remember to pop round there sometime over the weekend and let you know.
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It is quite tempting...
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Which campsite is it?
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I'm not planning on camping (no tent innit). But I am thinking about getting the train to Loughborough on Saturday morning with bikey, attending the meeting and then cycling back to London if anyone else fancies that
It would mean getting home at a very odd hour.
You could always do posh camping ala Travelodge. I wouldn't mind sharing room with one or two others to get a cheap sleep in a bed. I'm not fussed either way, I like camping with a good crowd too.
I'll be riding back too but not as far as London. If you do cycle back to London straight after the AGM and munchies, then you probably won't get home until the Sunday morning anyway, if you can stay awake.
Which campsite is it?
No real plans made yet. Any suggestions welcome. I think someone mentioned something earlier in the thread.
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Does anyone local to the AGM venue have any idea of what the cycle parking is like at Imago - Burleigh Court, Loughborough Uni?
I have just been round to have a look. Security isn't great - maybe I just look honest but no-one stopped me nosing around !
I started by asking at Reception about bike parking facilities. They were very pleasant but seemed surprised that anyone would want to arrive by bike.
Further investigation uncovered about 30 Sheffield stands near to the main Reception area. These are open to the elements. Tucked away at the other end of the building is a small covered cycle shed but it looks like it is intended for staff use. There is also a collection of wheel-mangling devices.
There are another 50+ Sheffield stands within five minutes walk of Burleigh Court. They are pretty empty at the moment but may be busier in term time.
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Thanks for that, JB.
Useful to have that info.
J
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Which campsite is it?
If you are a member of the Camping and Caravanning Club the nearest would be Lower Grange Farm - Coalville. However, I know nothing about it but the location would not be too far.
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I am not sure about the Camping and Caravanning Club bit but Whatoff Farm, Quorn (http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/details.asp?revid=4415) is closer and easier to commute from as there are no hills involved. If you really want a hill on the commute it isn't much further to go via Woodhouse Eaves.
I don't know the site but the village has six pubs, a Chinese restaurant, a Thai restaurant (last time I looked), two Indian restaurants, two Italian restaurants etc, etc. It has almost reached the restaurant event horizon.
The campsite is adjacent to Quorn Steam Trust station and the owner of the site is an ex-master of the Quorn Hunt. Something for everyone... :demon:
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I am not sure about the Camping and Caravanning Club bit but Whatoff Farm, Quorn (http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/details.asp?revid=4415) is closer and easier to commute from as there are no hills involved. If you really want a hill on the commute it isn't much further to go via Woodhouse Eaves.
I don't know the site but the village has six pubs, a Chinese restaurant, a Thai restaurant (last time I looked), two Indian restaurants, two Italian restaurants etc, etc. It has almost reached the restaurant event horizon.
The campsite is adjacent to Quorn Steam Trust station and the owner of the site is an ex-master of the Quorn Hunt. Something for everyone... :demon:
Jobs a goodun!
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Well, chaps, it looks like I am being sent for work purposes to East Midlands Airport the week before the event in question. That will be followed by a long weekend off work.....which is the weekend of the event in question.
Embryo plan for me.....take bike to East Mids Parkway.
Ride to hotel.
Do training.
Ride to Lufbra or other place of tentery
Harangue delegates
Drink BEER
Get train back home
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Well, chaps, it looks like I am being sent for work purposes to East Midlands Airport the week before the event in question. That will be followed by a long weekend off work.....which is the weekend of the event in question.
Embryo plan for me.....take bike to East Mids Parkway.
Ride to hotel.
Do training.
Ride to Lufbra or other place of tentery
Harangue delegates
Drink BEER
Get train back home
***Dons flak jacket and digs out UN blue helmet in preparation*** :-\
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... Whatoff Farm, Quorn (http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/details.asp?revid=4415)
I reckon that's entirely doable in a day for me fully laden...
... the owner of the site is an ex-master of the Quorn Hunt. Something for everyone... :demon:
Hmmm, maybe not. :sick:
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I am not sure about the Camping and Caravanning Club bit but Whatoff Farm, Quorn (http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/details.asp?revid=4415) is closer and easier to commute from as there are no hills involved. If you really want a hill on the commute it isn't much further to go via Woodhouse Eaves.
I don't know the site but the village has six pubs, a Chinese restaurant, a Thai restaurant (last time I looked), two Indian restaurants, two Italian restaurants etc, etc. It has almost reached the restaurant event horizon.
The campsite is adjacent to Quorn Steam Trust station and the owner of the site is an ex-master of the Quorn Hunt. Something for everyone... :demon:
"Save the Mycoprotein - Ban the Hunt".
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I am not sure about the Camping and Caravanning Club bit but Whatoff Farm, Quorn (http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/details.asp?revid=4415) is closer and easier to commute from as there are no hills involved. If you really want a hill on the commute it isn't much further to go via Woodhouse Eaves.
I don't know the site but the village has six pubs, a Chinese restaurant, a Thai restaurant (last time I looked), two Indian restaurants, two Italian restaurants etc, etc. It has almost reached the restaurant event horizon.
The campsite is adjacent to Quorn Steam Trust station and the owner of the site is an ex-master of the Quorn Hunt. Something for everyone... :demon:
There is another campsite just around the corner, on Chaveney road, that I've used on occasion and have always been happy with. It's basic, but quiet.
Recomended.
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Well, chaps, it looks like I am being sent for work purposes to East Midlands Airport the week before the event in question. That will be followed by a long weekend off work.....which is the weekend of the event in question.
Embryo plan for me.....take bike to East Mids Parkway.
Ride to hotel.
Do training.
Ride to Lufbra or other place of tentery
Harangue delegates
Drink BEER
Get train back home
Why not cycle back - a few of us are. :thumbsup:
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I am not sure about the Camping and Caravanning Club bit but Whatoff Farm, Quorn (http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/details.asp?revid=4415) is closer and easier to commute from as there are no hills involved. If you really want a hill on the commute it isn't much further to go via Woodhouse Eaves.
I don't know the site but the village has six pubs, a Chinese restaurant, a Thai restaurant (last time I looked), two Indian restaurants, two Italian restaurants etc, etc. It has almost reached the restaurant event horizon.
The campsite is adjacent to Quorn Steam Trust station and the owner of the site is an ex-master of the Quorn Hunt. Something for everyone... :demon:
There is another campsite just around the corner, on Chaveney road, that I've used on occasion and have always been happy with. It's basic, but quiet.
Recomended.
Excellent - a personal recommendation as opposed to me just trolling around the internet.
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I am not sure about the Camping and Caravanning Club bit but Whatoff Farm, Quorn (http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/details.asp?revid=4415) is closer and easier to commute from as there are no hills involved. If you really want a hill on the commute it isn't much further to go via Woodhouse Eaves.
I don't know the site but the village has six pubs, a Chinese restaurant, a Thai restaurant (last time I looked), two Indian restaurants, two Italian restaurants etc, etc. It has almost reached the restaurant event horizon.
The campsite is adjacent to Quorn Steam Trust station and the owner of the site is an ex-master of the Quorn Hunt. Something for everyone... :demon:
There is another campsite just around the corner, on Chaveney road, that I've used on occasion and have always been happy with. It's basic, but quiet.
Recomended.
According to Google Maps it can be found between 36 and 40 Chaveney road, on the south side. It is, according to the Camping and Caravanning Club website called Mill Farm (http://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/siteseeker/aspx/details.aspx?id=129190¤tPage=1&enhancement=bronze&priority=5), has only five pitches and own sanitation is essential.
Do bears shit in the woods...
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To hell with the mycoprotein - I want a shower! :o
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To hell with the mycoprotein - I want a shower! :o
I want a pub!
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I am now booked into Whatoff farm camp site from Thursday evening to Monday morning. Nice spin down from the back roads to Hathern and through Lufbra.
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Anyone else?
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Not booked yet but seriously considering it.
Can anybody vouch for the local ale? ;)
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Some very good brews about, including Everard's Old Original.....
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If we come we're likely to ride over on the Saturday, stay the night and ride back on the Sunday. I'm also considering loading MH up for the trip but don't tell stoker...
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This is now on the office wall planner:always a good sign :)
I shall not be doing the £30 dinner,John Henry's social plan is more appealing.
I shall probably adopt ther same ride plan as Polar Bear
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Just re-read the Whatoff Farm page and noticed:
As the owner of Whatoff Lodge Farm I would like to correct some mistakes in Blackelle's review. He was surprised that we said we were full with only 5 tents/caravans there - we only have planning permission for 5 unless it is an organised rally.
Which sounds like it might be a problem if most of the people who've expressed interest here are still coming... Unless we can somehow become a (dis)organised rally?
For reference I am planning to come, but haven't booked yet.
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Just re-read the Whatoff Farm page and noticed:
As the owner of Whatoff Lodge Farm I would like to correct some mistakes in Blackelle's review. He was surprised that we said we were full with only 5 tents/caravans there - we only have planning permission for 5 unless it is an organised rally.
Which sounds like it might be a problem if most of the people who've expressed interest here are still coming... Unless we can somehow become a (dis)organised rally?
For reference I am planning to come, but haven't booked yet.
That usually only applies to vans. It's generally 5 vans and as many tents as will fit.
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I emailed them earlier, and have just had a reply saying that they're almost full (I asked about the nights of the 14th and 15th) but they can probably squeeze me in. £8.50/night for a 1-person tent and bike.
Doesn't bode well...
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It's looking likely that I will not be coming along now. Stoker has expressed the wish to do an audax event at Meriden on the Saturday. I'm no great fan of audax so she is probably doing it alone.
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*bump*
So who's actually coming?
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I'm not camping, but I'll be at the AGM to
heckle vote.
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My plan is to come to the
bunfight AGM. I'm trying to work it so I can ride down and camp, but thats looking a little unlikely at the moment. If worst comes to worst I'll be driving down on the day
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*bump*
So who's actually coming?
As I started this thread, I suppose I should turn up. ;)
I haven't booked a campsite or anything though, I'm not too sure what's going on there. I'll definitely be up for a meal though. I can always ride home afterwards so accommodation isn't a big deal for me.
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As said, I will ride down to Quorn on Thursday, have a day ride out on Friday and attend the meeting on Saturday. Can we assume then that the general plan will be to meet there, heckle, vote and then decamp to a pub for a meal and rehydration?
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As said, I will ride down to Quorn on Thursday, have a day ride out on Friday and attend the meeting on Saturday. Can we assume then that the general plan will be to meet there, heckle, vote and then decamp to a pub for a meal and rehydration?
Seconded. :thumbsup:
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I'm looking at the logistics of this.
I can ride to Quorn over 2 days, spending Thurs night with sister in St. Ives, Huntingdon. I would probably buy a cheap ticket to London on the Sunday but would be prepared to ride art of the way.
Although quite a few peeps have expressed an interest, this thread seems to be very light on firm commitments. Who's going then?
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Wows, my ticket from Lufbra to Gatwick came to twelve quid. And I am definitely going
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I've just phoned Whatoff Lodge Farm campsite & they're now fully booked.
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There's another campsite quite close by listed in the Big Sites Book, for those who are interested.
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I won't be there. In a nutshell, how do I vote against, or have I left it too late?
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I won't be there. In a nutshell, how do I vote against, or have I left it too late?
If you're very lucky you may be able to still vote by proxy if you download a form and get it into the post today, with a first class stamp.
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The funeral I'm attending
seems increasingly unlikely to be isn't this weekend, so I'm still on. Space booked at Whatoff Farm.
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If anyone's desparate, I can offer some floor space in my (single) hotel room... ;) ;D
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Setting off now...
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I hope to meet up with the happy campers this evening. I assume that the drinking establishments of Quorn are a likely location if the campsite is deserted.
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Leaving shortly!
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I called in on the campsite last night on the way to the regular Friday Night Bicycle Pub Crawl and found Kim tent-rigging next to TT's tent from which he eventually appeared. It seems that our paths may have crossed before - I now need to dig out some thirty year old rowing photo's to see if I recognise him in any of them.
Four hours later on the way back from the FNBPC the more miles/less pints splinter group tracked down Kim + TT + Julian + Charlotte in the Quorndon Fox.
In spite of the careful positioning of my 8 hour old N+1 outside the main pub entrance they almost escaped without seeing it. Thanks for the kind comments and the promised photo is now posted (http://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=17.msg621873#msg621873).
The happy campers were last seen heading tentwards.
It was good to meet a few more YACFers and I hope that the AGM goes well.
Don't look out of the windows - it is a gorgeous day for a bike ride.
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Lovely to meet you!
We had a pleasant night's sleep and are now on our third cuppa of the morning. The campsite's nice, but the owner has a great line in passive-aggressive notes in the toilets...
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Lovely to meet you!
We had a pleasant night's sleep and are now on our third cuppa of the morning. The campsite's nice, but the owner has a great line in passive-aggressive notes in the toilets...
Photos?
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Oh yes. Possibly a whole rant...
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The campsite's nice, but the owner has a great line in passive-aggressive notes in the toilets...
You mean that campsite that is full? Oh yes, that'd be the one with a cluster of tents in one corner and a few big frame tents in the other. ::-)
What I read on this forum didn't inspire me with cinfidence about this site, which probably went some way to me not bothering with camping.
Nice ride up to Loughborough yesterday morning. Up at 5am to get myself ready and drink coffee. Off at around 0630 into the sunshine and followed the old A50 (A5199) from Northampton all the way to Leicester. Headwind all the way and the Kona with panniers isn't a fast bike at the best of times, so it was a slow ride up. I arrived at the campsite at around midday to find that everyone had gone, so I rode over the hill into Loughborough, found the AGM spying Regulator, who wandered into the building as I rolled up to the door.
Good to see people cycling to the AGM as I sat on the grass to wait for the others.
AGM took place, Pippa, Adam and Jurek set off for a ride to London and the rest of us went for curry.
After a good curry I set off for home as the others went to a pub.
My tailwind dropped, so my ride home wasn'y too quick either. A nice nightride to Leicester, then I took the A6. If the traffic got bad, I could use some very quite back lanes from Market Harborough, but the roads were pretty quiet, so I main road bashed to almost Northampton, then by passed Northampton to dodge the drunks.
A roadside doze to fend off heavy eyelids just east of Northampton then the last few miles home. With about 5 miles to go the batteries died in my Tesco torch light. The batteries in my Polaris only just got me the last few miles home. Timed to perfection. :smug:
That Kona sure is hard work though.
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Just got home. Rode all the way in the end, as the weather decided to improve (apart from the wind) and it was a generally lovely day for a ride, even through the zombie-infested wastelands of south Birmingham. Turns out that Beacon Hill isn't as scary a climb as it looks on the map, though I did have to stop for an inhaler break halfway.
Was great to see everyone, and the AGM was - how should I put it - an experience.
*goes to remove mixture of sweat, meths, road grime, biscuit crumbs and chamois cream from body before barakta gets home*
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It was great to see the YACF posse at the AGM.
I wish I'd been at the campsite rather than the AGM dinner*
*Although the speeches didn't go on quite as long as last year. I think the Chair and Chief Exec may have got the hints that a number of people dropped. ;D
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We left the campsite early this morning for a quick blast down the M1 to return the car we borrowed. We're now back home and settling into an afternoon of tea, laundry and the usual weekend chores.
This was a weekend of two extremes. The AGM was quite, quite horrible - but getting to camp with some good friends and have a couple of evenings out in the pub (as well as a surprisingly agreeable curry) was lovely.
Here are a couple of random pictures I took:
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b187/vicechair/f16af1f8.jpg)
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b187/vicechair/e3ec6bd9.jpg)
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b187/vicechair/f3a843e6.jpg)
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b187/vicechair/767b6e36.jpg)
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b187/vicechair/ef952acd.jpg)
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Called in at the campsite again this morning. There were only 4.5 survivors.
Hopefully Clarion & Butterfly found someone to sell them some bacon butty fuel and had a good ride along the Wreake valley to Melton Mowbray to catch a train back down South into the rain.
I discovered that I had missed out on the curry gathering and am kicking myself for not finding out what peoples' plans were for Saturday evening. I understand that I was actually spotted cycling past the curryhouse and TT 'sprinted after me' but to no avail. Thanks for trying but maybe a call on the mobile would have been a better option. ;)
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That picture of Clarion and Butterfly made me :) big time. You two, what are you like? Love's young things, that's what.
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Turns out that Beacon Hill isn't as scary a climb as it looks on the map, though I did have to stop for an inhaler break halfway.
me too,but I was fresh full-tum from a blunge up in the farm cafe during an audax:from Tamworth IIRC.
I tend to cope with such hills better if I know they are coming.The ignorance-is-bliss theory doesn't do it for me.
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That's a cracking piccie of Mr. & Mrs. Butterfly. :thumbsup:
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Turns out that Beacon Hill isn't as scary a climb as it looks on the map, though I did have to stop for an inhaler break halfway.
I tend to cope with such hills better if I know they are coming.The ignorance-is-bliss theory doesn't do it for me.
Hmmm Ive been wondering about an other Arncliffe bash.
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Turns out that Beacon Hill isn't as scary a climb as it looks on the map, though I did have to stop for an inhaler break halfway.
I tend to cope with such hills better if I know they are coming.The ignorance-is-bliss theory doesn't do it for me.
Hmmm Ive been wondering about an other Arncliffe bash.
you know I hate hills but if you can be as patient as last time waiting for me at the top I might be tempted to see if I can get up there before you have time to grow a beard.
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Great weekend camping.
Highlights:
1. Camping at an eccentric farm
2. Watching the kids from the big tents, obviously well used to camping, playing happily in the field
3. Meeting so many lovely folks, and friends from YACF, CTC sections etc
4. Surprisingly usable farcilities in Lufbra
5. Comedy show pretending to be an AGM. The guy playing the Chair was hilarious - pretending not to have the first clue about how to run a meeting. ;D
6. Decent curry in good company
7. Getting a chance to meet JonBuoy at last, and play with his lovely n+1. Top bike :thumbsup: Top bloke, too (thanks for the route advice)
8. Lovely lovely lovely 30km along the Wreake to pork pie land. Luscious rolling scenery dotted with pretty villages.
9. Great timing by the railway companies so we got home by 8pm.
10. TGL being proud at his (solo) PB distance of 22 miles on Friday, then being tiggerly impressed at beating that again today.
Can't wait for our next camping trip. :)
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Called in at the campsite again this morning. There were only 4.5 survivors.
Glad you did call in. The 0.5 survivor came back to life later.
Hopefully Clarion & Butterfly found someone to sell them some bacon butty fuel and had a good ride along the Wreake valley to Melton Mowbray to catch a train back down South into the rain.
I forgot to mention that we went down to Mountsorrel and found a Farm Centre, where there was a great teashop with good food and friendly staff. I asked for another bread roll with my mountain of cheese ploughmans - and they brought one! :o TGL had a toasted bacon butty, which disappeared very quickly, and provided a lot of the fuel required for the rest of the day.
As I was getting the last of the tea out of our pot, the ladies on the next table offered what remained of theirs - more than half! Funnily enough, I had been telling Butterfly & TGL yesterday how I'd always found people in Leicestershire to be particularly friendly :)
There were some very tempting cake, too, but we didn't have space, and wanted to get moving.
At the Farm Centre, there were a great many old pictures, posters and ephemera, many of which were cycling related. We parked the bikes beneath an NCU sign, and there's a more contemporary (and current) CTC sign in the tearoom window. In addition, in the motor museum (which I wandered in the back of) there were a few nice old bikes. A couple of roadsters, including a Superbe, a shiny Claud Butler, and a rather nice five speed bike I couldn't identify up in the rafters, with chrome forks and bar end lever. Lovely.
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Big surprise.
I've only met Clarion and Butterfly briefly- at the Monument before last year's Dunwich Dynamo- and I wouldn't have recognised either of them from the 'photo.
IIRC, Butterfly's hair was a vastly different colour and Clarion was "carrying considerably more weight"* than he appears to be on the picture.
And you both look very young :thumbsup:
*Does this come across well ? ;)
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Big surprise.
I've only met Clarion and Butterfly briefly- at the Monument before last year's Dunwich Dynamo- and I wouldn't have recognised either of them from the 'photo.
IIRC, Butterfly's hair was a vastly different colour and Clarion was "carrying considerably more weight"* than he appears to be on the picture.
And you both look very young :thumbsup:
*Does this come across well ? ;)
Clarion says you're a lovely man - we like you :-* :)
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Just home. I rode down the shortsprint to the Hilton from EMP station, to finf the Roundabout From Hell at J24 of the M1. The hotel also had a nice line in repeat cocks-up, which took over two hours to sort out. Once ensconced, I took a ride out as previously described, found the local CAMRA pub of the year,and the rest you know. On Thursday I rode a truly crap piece of dual (as well as TRFH) to the airport for the last bit of training.
I wasn't really looking forward to more of the same, but as soon as I turned off for Diseworth and Long Whatton it changed to proper rolling back roads, with skylarks, and whitethroats dancing in song flight. I was a happy pedaller up until I hit the A6 at Hathern,when WVM made an appearance. I found my way by 31-year-old memory to my Alma Mater and thence to the new road to Quorn, which has rather amazingly acceptable (i.e. wide) shared use paths to the edge of the village.
A little drag to the campsite,and I started negotiating.There was plenty of space,and I made a couple of quick calls to Butterfly and Julian to confirm that. An exorbitantly-priced local meal, and a couple of pints, and bed....Friday was time for asimple spin out through Barrow, and Catsick Hill ("because it is there") and back through Lufbra. Kim and John arrived as I was resting, and then J and C, so we squeezed into the Vehicle and looked for food in a posh town filled with what seemed to be Leicestershires entire collection of scrotes and slappers. the heels were high, the hair was big, the pavements were full. The others arrived as J and C ate (Kim and I had cooked) and we met up on site.
I led the way to T**co's for a breakfast and thence by memory through the scene of my earliest bouts of liver abuse and after the...meeting....we went straight to curry. Unlicensed, we called in for some ales at the local supermarket, and then a couple of pints round the corner. We had been joined by Mel of LEL, who, just as the will to live was draining through the soles of our shoes at the AGM had said "This is a woman's handbag, so there will be chocolate in it!"
There was. She shared. We cheered up a bit.
The "climb" was a lot worse after a curry.....I saw all folk off on Sunday,then went out for a spin by way of the Beacon,and the aply-named Breakback Road, which took a little effort to get up, but provided a most excellent freewheeling descent at silly speeds to Nanpantan. Yay!
A short ride this morning after some college souvenir shopping, then a remarkably straightforward train ride back to Gatwick. Hot water awaits. Bath......