Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Audax => Topic started by: L CC on 25 April, 2010, 07:50:57 pm
-
I have a gap in my diary. No Other ThingsTM, no plans as yet.
It's still less than a year since I did my first audax, so, wise members of the forum, recommend me something for that weekend, bearing in mind I live in East Anglia.
-
I'm undecided between the very flat Spurn Head 400 and the very hilly The Old 240 400. Both from Mytholmroyd. I would love to do the latter but don't know if I will be fit enough so will probably do the former and looking for company.
-
Ahh, but are they nice rides? Are there pretty villages, cakes and sun? Just enough hills to be interesting, but not so many you lose the will to
live climb and walk the slightest slope after 350km?
(and, I'm probably slower than even a convalescent Nesbitt)
-
Ahh, but are they nice rides? Are there pretty villages, cakes and sun? Just enough hills to be interesting, but not so many you lose the will to live climb and walk the slightest slope after 350km?
(and, I'm probably slower than even a convalescent Nesbitt)
OK Spurn Head
it goes round Hull to Spurn Head, sea on both sides. Erm, this is East Yorkshire, it's gritty. Erm after 350km it gets hilly when you get back to West Yorkshire. Sun ? Mmm, in 2007 it was very very wet for the first 10 hours. 2005 was Lawrence of Arabia rides Paris Roubaix. Very windy on Spurn Head, sand blowing across the very bumpy road. It goes very close to my house after about 30km.
The Old 240
Not done it. Very hill, superb Dales scenary. Super cafe at Alston, the Cumbrian Pantry, AKA Paulines, she's a gem, makes cyclists feel very welcome. If it's sunny it'll be awesome. If it's wet which it can be, Yad Moss is horrible.
Nesbitt isn't very fast on flat roads. Put it this way, first time I did this was 2005, my first 400, took 25 hours. Second time took 26 hours but I put that down to having to wait for someone who had 3 punctures and no pump. Both times we got lost near Hull too.
Not doing well to sell either of these am I ? The organiser is well known for good events though.
-
Everything is a bit far away from you that weekend, by the looks of it.
I'm down for the Midhurst 600. Nice ride with one of the best organisers in the calendar. That said, it covers familiar ground for you (part of shares similar roads to the Severn Across in Tewkesbury to Newent area) and is maybe a bit far to travel unless you really fancy doing a(nother?) 600.
-
I'll be dragging my Cambridgeshire-"trained" legs over to Cheltenham that week end, to ride 3peaker's new Gospel Pass 200 event on the Sunday. Not sure the legs will appreciate it, but the route looks promising on the scenery'n'cakes front.
-
That Gospel Pass ride does, indeed, sound fantastic.
If I decide not to start the Midhurst (I am toying with an easier weekend, as my schedule for May/June is quite punishing) then I might pop over for it myself.
-
Hmmm. I am, indeed, increasingly tempted to ditch the Midhurst in favour of the Gospel Pass. Not only does it have AAA and take in the Gospel Pass (which, despite many rides in Wales, I've never done) but one can sleep in the hall the night before, giving the opportunity of a sneaky permanent (e.g. the Cotswold Corker) in the area the day before.
-
I'm thinking about The Lincoln 400 now instead. Need to use my charm
-
I think it's going to be the Midhurst 600 for me that weekend.
No AAA but not devoid of hills either (or so I have heard).
The Mytholmroyd does look a cracking ride though too far away for me.
H
-
Already in for the Lincoln 400, but no routesheet yet.I think the A1 roadworks are causing a few minor problems.
-
Already in for the Lincoln 400, but no routesheet yet.I think the A1 roadworks are causing a few minor problems.
Nigel was route checking yesterday.
-
I'm thinking about The Lincoln 400 now instead. Need to use my charm
Use your charm? Do you mean that entries are closed or the event is full? I was planning to enter this, should I get the form in the post tomorrow morning?
-
Rather him than me.I have been avoiding the A1 crossings by going over at Rainton or going right up to Catterick.I even try to avoid driving it at the moment as it looks a complete mess.All the useful quiet crossings are gone . A least the bridge near Kirby Fleetham is open again.
-
I'm thinking about The Lincoln 400 now instead. Need to use my charm
Use your charm? Do you mean that entries are closed or the event is full? I was planning to enter this, should I get the form in the post tomorrow morning?
No I don't mean that at all. No idea if it's full, I think I'll be OK for a place though. It's always best to enter sooner rather than later though. No, I need to sort logistics out.
-
I'm thinking about The Lincoln 400 now instead. Need to use my charm
You're welcome to kip here. No need to use your "charm".
But are you sure? You might regret not riding the Old 240 later on. I'd probably be riding the Old 240, if it wasn't easier to get to the Lincoln...
-
Deano, while you're offering... O:-)
-
I'm thinking about The Lincoln 400 now instead. Need to use my charm
You're welcome to kip here. No need to use your "charm".
But are you sure? You might regret not riding the Old 240 later on. I'd probably be riding the Old 240, if it wasn't easier to get to the Lincoln...
I have a cunning plan to do the perm version in June
-
But are you sure? You might regret not riding the Old 240 later on. I'd probably be riding the Old 240, if it wasn't easier to get to the Lincoln...
I have a cunning plan to do the perm version in June
Perm schmerm. There'll be more people on the calendar event, so you'll likely be better off. The Lincoln is definitely the softie's option...
Deano, while you're offering... O:-)
Aye, nae bother. We'll sort out details 'ron.
-
But are you sure? You might regret not riding the Old 240 later on. I'd probably be riding the Old 240, if it wasn't easier to get to the Lincoln...
I have a cunning plan to do the perm version in June
Perm schmerm. There'll be more people on the calendar event, so you'll likely be better off. The Lincoln is definitely the softie's option...
I have asked the organiser, so far he's not responded. In my current state of unpreparedness the soft option is the sensible one. Actually Spurn Head is the obvious soft option, easier to get to than The Lincoln and it passes my house after 30km and 370km though not as close on the way back. I know most of the roads having done it twice before and it's on my patch. If someone would chirp up and say, "I fancy a sociable Spurn Head or Old 240" then I'd choose one of those but right now I don't fancy my chances of being able to keep up with anyone who is 'racing me'. Plus I'd prefer to support club events
-
If someone would chirp up and say, "I fancy a sociable Spurn Head or Old 240" then I'd choose one of those but right now I don't fancy my chances of being able to keep up with anyone who is 'racing me'.
May is already busy for me, but I'd be up for the Old 240 perm in June, preferable the first or last weekend of June.
-
Spurn Head and The Old 240 are also on the calendar in August I believe.
-
If someone would chirp up and say, "I fancy a sociable Spurn Head or Old 240" then I'd choose one of those but right now I don't fancy my chances of being able to keep up with anyone who is 'racing me'.
May is already busy for me, but I'd be up for the Old 240 perm in June, preferable the first or last weekend of June.
If it was the last weekend in June, I might be able to join you for the northern bits of the route...
-
I won't be riding that weekend. Got 400 / rest / 600 / rest / 600 over the next 5 weekends.
-
The Lincoln:210 miles drive to ride 400k
Spurn Head: 182 miles drive to ride 400k
Gospel Pass: 176 miles drive to ride 200k
Midhurst: 156 miles drive to ride 600k
Teifi Traveller: 283 miles drive to ride 300k
4 Rivers: 175 miles to ride 200k
Trains from BSE are a(n expensive) joke.
Does Deano's offer of accomodation extend to The World? I think it's probably still too far to go...
I'm not sure I'm ready for 600 yet, even if it is the closest.
-
I'm not sure I'm ready for 600 yet, even if it is the closest.
I found after my first 400k that I took about a week to get back to normal. My first attempt at a 600k, two weeks after the 400k IIRC, was a failure. The main issues were to do with not having had enough sleep in the week leading up to it. I rode 400k of the event, inside BR time, despite having given up at 320k. What I noticed was that I recovered much faster the second time.
You have 4 weeks before the 22nd if you don't feel ready yet, which gives you more time to train (whatever that means to you). In the end I completed my first 600k 4 weeks after my first 400k. I the day after I declared myself not ready for a 1200, and the day after that, I entered PBP. ::-)
-
I'm not sure I'm ready for 600 yet, even if it is the closest.
You've just done Severn Across, you'll manage a 600.
I'm still undecided about Spurn Head and The Lincoln. The latter will be sociable with some club mates and if I am unemployed I'll have time to ride there on the Friday, if I have a job I'll be able to afford a train. I'll ride home after, maybe ECE it to 500km. However Spurn Head start is 20 miles away and on my patch, goes within 2km from home) it'll be even easier to get to and from. (Most of The Lincoln is on my patch too)
-
I've entered the Midhurst. Driving down horribly early, rather than sleeping [probably badly] locally.
boab, doing an SR in the logical order never made any difference to me; once beyond 200kms all distances seem equally hard! When I'm into short troosers I think about riding a bit faster when I'm out during the week - this probably helps with the longer rides once the basic stamina is there.
Of the possibles on your list, I've only done the Teifi Traveller [400km version, a couple of years ago]: wonderful scenery, lovely quiet roads, that fantastic cafe half-way up the Black Mountain etc. I think Welsh rides are the ones to justify long journeys to get to. [Possible bias here, Dad's family came from Radnorshire.]
-
Does Deano's offer of accomodation extend to The World? I think it's probably still too far to go...
Not quite THE WORLD - only the bits of it cheeky enough to ask ;)
...But, I think two sweaty randonneurs would pretty much fill this place. I can offer a tent, and some advice on handy fields in which to pitch it...
More seriously, if the Lincoln wasn't on, I'd either be riding the Old 240 or Spurn Head, which both look like interesting rides. And I'm sure I recall Chris C saying that there was accommodation available in the hall at Mytholmroyd on the Friday night. I dunno how you feel about sharing a community centre with a dozen or so snoring blokes, but it's an option.
-
More seriously, if the Lincoln wasn't on, I'd either be riding the Old 240 or Spurn Head, which both look like interesting rides. And I'm sure I recall Chris C saying that there was accommodation available in the hall at Mytholmroyd on the Friday night. I dunno how you feel about sharing a community centre with a dozen or so snoring blokes, but it's an option.
Yes i think the calendar page says A(2). The community centre is quite large, if they use the lounge then there is carpet too. If I do SH or TO240 I'll stay over on the Friday evening, stayed there before.
-
I haven't joined this thread until now as I'm not sure what I'm doing that weekend.
But I have a rather fine DIY 300 that needs an airing.
100km Flat -> 100km HILLY! -> 100km Flat
Starts - here. I'm looking to ride it in May - could possibly be persuaded to ride it that weekend - but I may also make an ECE 600 out of the Raid Essex 200 a week later, so might be taking it easy.
I'll keep you posted....
-
Talking of DIYs, I still want to ride Cambridge - Builth Wells - Cambridge as a DIY 600k. But not on the 22nd/23rd.
-
I'm not sure I'm ready for 600 yet, even if it is the closest.
I found after my first 400k that I took about a week to get back to normal. My first attempt at a 600k, two weeks after the 400k IIRC, was a failure. The main issues were to do with not having had enough sleep in the week leading up to it. I rode 400k of the event, inside BR time, despite having given up at 320k. What I noticed was that I recovered much faster the second time.
You have 4 weeks before the 22nd if you don't feel ready yet, which gives you more time to train (whatever that means to you). In the end I completed my first 600k 4 weeks after my first 400k. I the day after I declared myself not ready for a 1200, and the day after that, I entered PBP. ::-)
I rode my first 600 a week after my first 400, which was 2 or three weeks after my first 300. We're all different.
I was well shepherded around the 400 and 600, mind. And the 600 was the Border Raid, which was a blast. Highly recommended ride.
-
Full Circle. My first 400 was Spurn Head, my first 600 was 5 weeks later, The Three Coasts, five weeks after that I did LEL. I did 2 300s in April/May that year too.
-
The Lincoln:210 miles drive to ride 400k
Spurn Head: 182 miles drive to ride 400k
Gospel Pass: 176 miles drive to ride 200k
Midhurst: 156 miles drive to ride 600k
Teifi Traveller: 283 miles drive to ride 300k
4 Rivers: 175 miles to ride 200k
Trains from BSE are a(n expensive) joke.
Does Deano's offer of accomodation extend to The World? I think it's probably still too far to go...
I'm not sure I'm ready for 600 yet, even if it is the closest.
Interesting distances. Personally, I try and limit the distance I drive to shorter events ( no more than 50 miles to a 100km, no more than 100 miles to a 200km), but beyond that, I chooose which events I want to do and take the driving on the chin. For me, part of the enjoyment of Audax is getting to ride in parts of the country that otherwise you would never ride in.
-
Interesting distances. Personally, I try and limit the distance I drive to shorter events ( no more than 50 miles to a 100km, no more than 100 miles to a 200km), but beyond that, I chooose which events I want to do and take the driving on the chin. For me, part of the enjoyment of Audax is getting to ride in parts of the country that otherwise you would never ride in.
There is definitely that.
I could go the whole rest of the year never seeing Finchingfield or Thaxted again, having overdosed on them in March/April, and I'm very dubious about doing a DIY solo from home as I think I'd be bored.
I dunno how you feel about sharing a community centre with a dozen or so snoring blokes, but it's an option.
Very ambivalent. I'm not sure I would've packed Heart of England if I'd had a decent night's sleep the night before, however ****ing irritating the skipping gears were, it was magnified 100 fold by a night among the snoring randonneurs.
But I have a rather fine DIY 300 that needs an airing.
100km Flat -> 100km HILLY! -> 100km Flat
Starts - here. I'm looking to ride it in May - could possibly be persuaded to ride it that weekend - but I may also make an ECE 600 out of the Raid Essex 200 a week later, so might be taking it easy.
I'll keep you posted....
I take it that means goes West??
Keep me posted :thumbsup:
-
The Lincoln:210 miles drive to ride 400k
Spurn Head: 182 miles drive to ride 400k
Gospel Pass: 176 miles drive to ride 200k
Midhurst: 156 miles drive to ride 600k
Teifi Traveller: 283 miles drive to ride 300k
4 Rivers: 175 miles to ride 200k
Trains from BSE are a(n expensive) joke.
Does Deano's offer of accomodation extend to The World? I think it's probably still too far to go...
I'm not sure I'm ready for 600 yet, even if it is the closest.
Interesting distances. Personally, I try and limit the distance I drive to shorter events ( no more than 50 miles to a 100km, no more than 100 miles to a 200km), but beyond that, I chooose which events I want to do and take the driving on the chin. For me, part of the enjoyment of Audax is getting to ride in parts of the country that otherwise you would never ride in.
I'm lucky that I can plan in advance (or at least could plan in advance until baby GB arrived) and stay away extra nights in cheap accommodation (Travelodge/B&B). Booking train tickets 90-odd days in advance can mean picking up some very cheap advance fares. I tend to only pick rides where this is possible.
I did 6 calendar events last year along with LEL, the other rides were all DIY rides.
Willy Warmer I was going to cycle to the start (and home again) but a friend entered and he drove so I got a lift with him.
3 day DIY 300+200+200 up to Edinburgh to survey LEL route. Train home on 4th day, £47.50 (but it was 1st class).
The Dean was a Friday night train after work (£4 advance ticket from London to Oxford). Travelodge. Ride. Travelodge. Train home (£4 advance ticket). Back home Sunday 1pm-ish.
Elenith was a Friday night train after work (£5.50 advance ticket from London to Kidderminster). Travelodge. Ride. Travelodge. Train home (£5.50 advance ticket again). Back home Sunday 2pm-ish.
Bryan Chapman was a Friday night train after work (£10 advance ticket London to Bristol Parkway). Travelodge Fri. Ride. Travelodge Sunday. Train Monday morning straight to work (£10 advance ticket). At work by midday.
Midlander Super Grimpeur was a Friday night train after work (£7 advance ticket London to Birmingham). Travelodge Fri. Ride. Travelodge Sat. Train home Sunday morning (£7 advance ticket). Back home 1pm-ish.
Travelodge rooms were all under £30 a night, some as cheap as £19 and some shared to split the costs.
For the upcoming Snowdon And Coast 400 I've booked the relative luxury of a Travelodge room on the Friday night (the cheaper option is to kip in the hall the night before the ride but I'm willing to pay for a proper night's sleep away from the snore-a-thon). Trains on the 'slow' direct route are £10 advance fares each way. I'll be finished by 10am on Sunday, easily enough time to catch the 11.30am train home. Back home by 4pm.
-
Spurn Head and The Old 240 are also on the calendar in August I believe.
Oo, aye so they are - 21st Aug. The Old 240 (http://www.aukweb.net/cal/calsolo.php?Ride=10-979) and Spurn Head 400 (http://www.aukweb.net/cal/calsolo.php?Ride=10-978).
-
Ho hum. Definitely in for the Gospel Pass on 23/5 with the Cotswold Corker as a perm on the 22/5. Entry winging it's way to squadron leader's base.
That rides totalling 4.75 AAA counts as an "easy weekend" in my current mindset/schedule is probably telling.
Will need to let elS know that my 600 raffle ticket won't be handed in...
-
I'm going to go for The Lincoln.
I've booked a cosy B&B near A St J and the nice lady didn't bat an eyelid when I explained I'd be returning tired and sweaty early Sunday morning looking for a huge breakfast, a quick shower and Zds.
I'll visit me old mates in The North after.
And I'll be driving, as the cheapest train is £93 !!
-
Excellent! See you there :thumbsup:
Nigel usually puts on a good spread, so you mightn't need to much grub back at the B&B - there was some gorgeous homemade tomato soup and cherry pie after last year's Border Raid.
-
mmMMmm Pie