Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => Audax => Topic started by: Auntie Helen on 08 March, 2015, 05:12:26 am

Title: [HAMR] March 8th
Post by: Auntie Helen on 08 March, 2015, 05:12:26 am
Looks like he's underway.
Title: Re: March 8th
Post by: Wowbagger on 08 March, 2015, 05:20:57 am
Indeed! You are up early m'dear! (Bladder o'clock for me.)

As a matter of curiosity, Steve has another 62583 miles to go and the "run rate" is now 209.308 miles per day.
Title: Re: March 8th
Post by: Auntie Helen on 08 March, 2015, 05:26:22 am
I seem to be waking up at 6am German time since this wretched flu... And my first thought is whether Steve is already underway. He always is!!
Title: Re: March 8th
Post by: Wowbagger on 08 March, 2015, 05:33:40 am
Oh dear! GWS...

I've been on these annoying water tablets for 3 weeks (it's an attempt, I think partially successful, to reduce the swelling in my left calf) and I was quite dehydrated after yesterday's ride. I needed no fewer than 3 hedge stops before I got to Battlesbridge! I had a pint of lemon squash at bed time.

Anyway, back to sleep.

Good luck Steve!
Title: Re: March 8th
Post by: clarion on 08 March, 2015, 07:22:18 am
Go Steve!
Title: Re: March 8th
Post by: T42 on 08 March, 2015, 08:11:05 am
Yes, go to it, lad!
Title: Re: March 8th
Post by: Arry-R on 08 March, 2015, 08:13:02 am
Wowbagger  you are absolutely right that 62583 have still to be covered meaning at least 210 mls per day are needed.  let us hope he will soo be doing OVER 200 per day and not under with dry and much longer hours of dayligh.  as posted recently he will up that by choosing faster roads
 :thumbsup:-
Title: Re: March 8th
Post by: rafletcher on 08 March, 2015, 09:40:02 am
50-50 chance of seeing Steve pass the end of our lane this morning - but he went straight on to Aylesbury and not right. Looks like a Tesco breakfast on the Bicester road at the moment.
Title: Re: March 8th
Post by: Wowbagger on 08 March, 2015, 09:59:23 am
Steve is still increasing his lead over Tommy at the same stage. I'd like to see Steve put in a series of days ahead of the asking rate. Tommy had an absolutely explosive burst from May onwards and I certainly wouldn't want the year's struggle to be based on having to emulate that day-to-day.

The weather is very good at the moment. Make hay when the sun shines!
Title: Re: March 8th
Post by: Mr Larrington on 08 March, 2015, 10:46:57 am
Indeed! You are up early m'dear! (Bladder o'clock for me.)

As a matter of curiosity, Steve has another 62583 miles to go and the "run rate" is now 209.308 miles per day.

If something terrible happens will the UMCA have to use the Duckworth-Lewis Method to determine the winner?
Title: Re: March 8th
Post by: Hummers on 08 March, 2015, 11:33:42 am
I dip in and out of these threads when I get chance to and am always delighted (no, really) to see forum members posting encouraging comments long after the forum frenzy of January has died down. Long may that continue  :thumbsup:

For those of us who are preparing for a lesser goal this year in the form of PBP, 200km all of a sudden seems like a fun day out whereas on pretty much every weekend in the previous 8 1/2 weeks it would have been/has been bloody hard work. In that time, Steve was pushing out 180-230 miles every day.  How do you think he can do this?

Is it his riding style, his bike, the method he uses, the support of his family, the saddle he sits on, his diet or gearing? Is it his background, his lifestyle choices, his job, his background?

Or is it just because he is 'Steve'?

The man has been dreaming of undertaking this challenge for years. As far as we are aware, his plan, mileage, routes, mindset and method have been faultless to date and I have no doubt that he will complete this challenge by some margin.

GO STEVE

H
Title: Re: March 8th
Post by: Ruthie on 08 March, 2015, 11:51:08 am
Hear, hear, Hummers.

As the year grinds on Steve grinds on in a titanic feat of endurance most of us can't even imagine.

GO STEVE!
Title: Re: March 8th
Post by: red marley on 08 March, 2015, 11:59:30 am
The weather is very good at the moment. Make hay when the sun shines!

That's what I thought as I rode out from London to Dunmow this morning...until I had to turn round back into the wind.

March windiness is nothing exceptional, but I think it can slow riding speed down more significantly than say moderate cold or dark. I'm glad Steve is not using motorised transfers, but I can see why one might be tempted.
Title: Re: March 8th
Post by: Von Broad on 08 March, 2015, 12:11:32 pm
How do you think he can do this?
That is one question.
Another question is, "How do you think he can keep doing this?"

Both of which I am at a complete and utter loss to even attempt an answer.

Is it his riding style, his bike, the method he uses, the support of his family, the saddle he sits on, his diet or gearing? Is it his background, his lifestyle choices, his job, his background?
Maybe all of those.
Or is it just because he is 'Steve'?
That must be it!
Title: Re: March 8th
Post by: rabbit on 08 March, 2015, 12:34:56 pm
Good luck for today Steve, hope you get some friendly tail winds to push you along when you need them :)  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: March 8th
Post by: Ham on 08 March, 2015, 12:45:45 pm
When looking at Jo's visualisation, it just struck me that 3 miles a day difference at this stage makes 1,000 over the year. That another mind blowing perspective.
Title: Re: March 8th
Post by: Gareth Rees on 08 March, 2015, 04:34:14 pm
I see that he's just turned into the wind at Alconbury. It's a long way back to Milton Keynes into that south-westerly. Today I was fed up with the block headwind after just four hours; I can't imagine how Steve has the patience to grind away into it day after day.
Title: Re: March 8th
Post by: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 08 March, 2015, 04:38:19 pm
I think Steve is used to headwinds by now.  He's probably done more headwind riding so far than most of us do in a couple of years.  Following the tracker on a daily basis, it feels like he's about 10 - 15 miles per day quicker now than he was back in January - the 190s and 200s are coming easier. 

The real difference will start to come as the days warm up properly - March isn't a particularly warm month, and as other correspondents have observed, is often a windy one.  So I think the 250+ days will come later, but am confident that Steve has got it worked out.

GO STEVE
Title: Re: March 8th
Post by: duncan on 08 March, 2015, 08:55:50 pm
Now up on Strava: 200.3 miles
Title: Re: March 8th
Post by: Wowbagger on 08 March, 2015, 09:03:35 pm
Very impressive - again.
Title: Re: March 8th
Post by: Hummers on 08 March, 2015, 09:17:39 pm
Now up on Strava: 200.3 miles

Spot on  :thumbsup:

H
Title: Re: March 8th
Post by: Ruthie on 08 March, 2015, 09:18:22 pm
Cripes  :o
Title: Re: March 8th
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 08 March, 2015, 09:19:59 pm
Good. Now to keep banging in those 200+ days.
Title: Re: March 8th
Post by: rabbit on 08 March, 2015, 09:24:28 pm
Brilliant, well done Steve  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: March 8th
Post by: PAC on 08 March, 2015, 09:28:40 pm
Good to see more than 200 miles....great stuff :thumbsup:
Title: Re: March 8th
Post by: contango on 08 March, 2015, 09:50:26 pm
Is it his riding style, his bike, the method he uses, the support of his family, the saddle he sits on, his diet or gearing? Is it his background, his lifestyle choices, his job, his background?

Or is it just because he is 'Steve'?

Buttocks made of granite and cyborg legs. That's my theory. I struggle to think how any mortal could do what Steve is doing. I check in periodically from over the water in amazement that rain or shine he's still banging out the miles.