Exmouth Exodus 14/15 June 2008

[Paul D]

Well, I'm out. SWMBO made it pretty clear 2 weekends riding both days would not be tolerated. Even taking her to see the morris dancers at the Wimborne Folk Festival didn't work.    Have fun.

[rogerzilla]

We need ride reports, dammit!

[Baggy]

Well, I had a brilliant night and I didn't even ride! Me n Chuffy thoroughly enjoyed manning the red lobster tea van and putting some faces to names. 

The weather was kind - it waited until everyone was back in Exmouth before it clouded over started raining...

We can also confirm that everyone rode brilliantly - and your tea drinking skills are second to none 

Based on the cups used at the first tea stop there were at least 124 riders.

Big congratulations to all riders, and thanks for coming along and for all your kind donations.

Hope everyone enjoyed it!

Hopefully someone will be along to give an actual ride report soon...

I'm off to bed now for a few hours... 

[andygates]

Um.  DNF.

We set out slow but strong, though with a bad wheel bearing... got out of town fine and I was happily extolling the virtues of night-riding to my ride partner, then hit Burrington.

And the bottom fell out of my legs.  I had nothing.  And in that bonky special way, I was furious that I had nothing, and tried to get back on a couple of times, and couldn't, and got into that mental badplace we've all been before.  Gah!

Made it to Cheddar, crept into the Lobster Cafe, and slept the rest of the ride. 

Lesson learned: 1) After 60 trailer miles, that was ambitious.  2) After very little sleep, that was dumb. 

[TimO]

That's a shame Andy.

After doing 72.5 miles from Croydon to South Ken to Hyde Park Corner to Etherley Farm and back to Croydon with a trailer (admittedly with a nights sleep in the middle), I was ready for a rest for the remainder of the weekend.

If I'd tried to the Exmouth Exodus I would have died!  I'm impressed you got as far as you did.

[unipaul]

God I'm tired...

It was a great ride - fantastic conditions (clear & moonlit with next to no wind). It was great to put some faces to names when everyone started milling around at the start (hi andy, baggy, chuffy et al). I was wondering if I'd have to join up with someone I didn't know for the ride, until a number of my work-colleagues turned up. I ended up tagging along with Colin & Camilla for the whole ride - they had ridden up to Bristol from Exmouth earlier in the day and so were slow enough for me to follow 

Saw remarkably little wildlife given the conditions (bat, owl, stoat, something very dead and very smelly in the middle of the road) but lots and lots of red lights somewhere up ahead. It got very cold at about 5am and I could really have done with wearing another layer.

The squeaky lobster caff was fantastic - frazzles at Chedder and cheezy puffs on Luppitt. The pasta was good too - thanks to all who gave up their night to help out.

There seemed to be quite a good press of people at Exmouth when the caff opened at 7 (we turned up at 5 past) and it took ages to get served - but the food was very welcome at that stage - I found Woodbury much harder than I know it to be due mainly to a rumbling stomach and grumbling knee. 

Overall twas a good night out and thanks once again to all involved organisation-wise. I really need to get some proper sleep soon. I managed 2 hours earlier before being woken up by my 2 year old!

[Martin109]

Well, that was hard!  My first Exmouth Exodus, and harder, I would say, than the Dun Run on fixed.  It’s quite a hilly ride, with a sting in the tail at the end.

I turned up in Bristol by train with a geared bike shortly before 7pm.  Bristol’s a place I commute to every week, so it was refreshing not to be arriving in a hurry, so I walked the bike up to Channings, the start point, as I knew I’d be doing enough riding before long.

Met up with Andy Gates and others, whose names I’m afraid I’ve not retained.  There was quite a throng of riders building up, spilling out onto the pavement outside.

Setting off over the Suspension Bridge, I tried to stick with riders who knew the route.  Over the course of the ride, this meant my riding a little faster than I might have done, were I doing the ride on my own in daylight.

More luxurious than the Dun Run is the provision of tea stops by Baggy and Chuffy.  It’s truly an amazing achievement of dedication and logistics to turn up at around 25 miles and 75 miles into the 100-mile ride and feed what turned out to be over 100 riders.

At the halfway point there’s a meal stop at a village hall in North Curry, similar to the Dun Run food stop, but much smaller.  It was getting much colder than the forecast at that point, so I switched my jacket for a warmer one with a wind-stopper front, and was glad I have brought it along.

I managed to stick with a group until the end, but it was occasionally a struggle, which necessitated the occasional walk up some of the hills.  The group was kind enough to wait for me and the other guy who was struggling.  Most were Exeter guys returning home, which gave them a bit of a psychological advantage, together with knowing the terrain, when dealing with some of the numerous ups in the last ridge which needed conquering.

Still, I gave myself a boost through being able to just about hang on to the group of mostly much younger riders than my 53 years.  I’m certainly feeling it now, particularly in my knee, which started to play up (why one, and not the other, I’ll never know!).

The last fast descent brought the Harbour View Café into welcome view.

Give this ride a go if you’ve never done it.  Many thanks to all the organisers.

[Edit: Edited for typos]

[ParrettPedaller]

Yeah, this was a super ride, combining excellent organisation and food stops, fantastic route and first class weather conditions.  Many thanks Dave, Chuffy et al

Riding in a loosely affiliated  group of 6-9 throughout the night made the 100 miles much easier than my normal solo riding - a breeze in fact  We arrived in Exmouth at 6.20, having taking the second half of the ride at a much slower pace than the first half.  Descending Cheddar in the dark is much different from the same in daylight.  Knowing the twists and turns quite well helps considerably - I'd hate to be a novice on this descent .  Quite a blast though.

I managed to pop home at the mid point and get a change of clothes - it was going to be much colder than the forecast, and so it turned out.  A wise decision, as by 04.30 to 5.30 it was as cold as a winter's morning ride, and my fingers were frozen despite full finger gloves. However with the sun up, it soon warmed.  I particularly enjoyed the ride up Woodbury Common.  30 years in the SW and I've never been up those roads - quite delightful, and deserving of a revisit, if not on EE2009.

Saw remarkably little wildlife given the conditions

  a badger came across our wheels unexpectedly.  Not sure who was the more startled, but thankfully everybody stayed up on two wheels.

Still, I gave myself a boost through being able to just about hang on to the group of mostly much younger riders than my 53 years

  Ditto    Age is only in the mind 

[vorsprung]

I went to Bristol by train.  In my carriage was Alan Vance and a bloke from Newton Abbott.  Alan said he hadn't been going too well and the bloke from Newton Abbott had never done a 100 miles in the dark before.

When we got to Temple Meads I navigated us towards the pub.  Alan nipped off to get some sandwiches and I didn't see him again.  I lost bloke from Newton Abbott (Brian) at the start.

We got to the pub at 9:30 and no sooner had I looked at all the people than someone decided it was time to go.  So i went off with a couple of others.  There were plenty ahead of me.  I could see this after the Suspension Bridge where we joined a straight bit of road.  There were a lot of lights ahead, like PBP except blinking.  The use of blinking lights was a continual annoyance thoughout the ride.

I got talking to a couple of people but as it got dimpsy it was noted that my lights weren't working.  I put on the spare back light and hoped that the front one would start working again- it does that sometimes.  But it didn't.  I stopped a couple of times and then put on the spare battery front light.  The battery warning light immediately came on.  I guess the batteries are getting old as they were freshly charged.

I plodded on not seeing many people.  I did see a poor woman in a malfunctioning car though.  I guess due to my light problems I was out the back.  I stopped to help a CTCesque couple change a puncture.  His bike had some rediculous nonsense with a skewer being used to hold on the rack so this seemed to take forever.  Then the first proper climb came up, Burrington Combe.  It looked like a climb I'd seen before ( i realise now this was on the A38 ) so I said to my CTC pals who were puffing and dreading that it looked easy and I shot off upwards.

Ha!  Then my dynamo light kicked on!  Buoyed up with optimism I continued with a strong pace upwards even when the top just didn't appear.  It wasn't a steep hill just a bit long.  I over took a few people and then there was a gigantic flashing rear light ahead blinding me with every pulse.  I was cookin' so I wasn't going to drop back.  I had to over take the red blinding terrorist.  I shot over the top and then overshot the next left turn.  Fortunately mates of the red light miscreant were waiting for him on the turn and shouted.

Then I hooked up again with a bloke I'd talked to earlier.  He said his lights were crap (some tale of woe involving rechargers ) so I followed his wheel down Cheddar Gorge to the teastop.  At the teastop I didn't partake but I did eat a cheese sandwich.  Only right in Cheddar.

I left with a group but they weren't on my wavelength.  At every turn they all stopped and waited for someone with a "route card" to arrive.  This was often me.  Then they shot off at insane speeds downhill.  I let them go and ended up on my own on the levels doing a good pace on the tribars.

At the pasta stop I did eat all the pasta and a cup of tea and chocolate biscuits.  That was a  nice buzzing little stop.  I wasn't really in the mood for conversation but there was plenty of chatting and socialising.

Then I left.  Again I was with a group but this time the lot of them went ahead and missed the first right turn up Oxen Lane, I did shout but there was no response.

I was again on my own for quite a while.  A couple of people caught me as I got on the A378 and made the turn to the lanes leading to Blagdon.  There were a lot of lost people there.  I took a wrong turn too.  In the end I got my map out and using local knowledge ( this was on the edge of where I ride normally ) I rejoined the route by climbing a different side of the Blackdowns to Blagdon hill.

It started to get light, which is always a lift.

As I went across the plateau where the airfields are I was with a group for a while but the same sort of thing happened as before.  They kept stopping.  I went off on my tribars ahead.  Then I had to stop and scratch my head as the route sheet could have been clearer and they all caught me again.
There was another teastop and again I didn't partake.  This was a mistake as I started to feel TEA-hydrated later on.

The route then went down some dangerous descents.  I was with a group of these crazy kids.  I was thinking "They are going to go down in front of me on that hill".  We were now into the area I know well near where I live so I knew the route well.   But the bunch then misread the route and took entirely the wrong road.  I shouted they turned and I put on a bit of speed to stay ahead before the dangerous descent.  In Broadhembury I couldn't see the sign for Payhembury but I guessed that all roads lead to the A373 so this didn't bother me.

The sun was now visible on the tops of hedge but the temperature had really dropped.  I had to stop and put on extra clothes.  As I did this about half a dozen people went past.

Then onto the final bit.  Suddenly just before Tipton St John I felt sleepy.  Sleepy in the sense of loosing consciousness for a moment on the bike.  Stopped and took two proplus as I didn't fancy falling in the ditch.

It must have got a little warmer as the sun moved up in the sky so before the final big climb I took off my coat and put on the gilet again.
I was surprised to be caught on the climb.  I glad to say that the person looked younger, smaller, lighter and fitter than me.  I met up with a few people and followed one of them as he said he knew Exmouth.  Seem to go around in circles a bit but I guess that was mostly due to the insane one way system.  And at last the cafe.

I must say that the breakfast is excellent VFM.   Talked to Parret Peddaller and then had an hours attempted kip in my sleeping bag liner, outside, on the grass, in the sun.  Another tea and then rode home.  It's a monster climb out of Exmouth.

If I did this ride again I would do it with a group.  People didn't seem to team up like on night audax sections.  And the groups I did come across seemed a bit clueless.  No offense ( I got lost too after all ) but at 3am I'd rather not be discussing which way to go.

[rogerzilla]

On the Dun Run for the last couple of years we've agreed to turn the LEDs to "constant" when it gets properly dark.  It gives me a headache, following a gaggle of riders all with blinkies.

[TimO]

... I got talking to a couple of people but as it got dimpsy it was noted that my lights weren't working. ...

When I saw that, I knew you had to be local(ish) to Exmouth, since it's the only word on "Call My Bluff" which I actually knew what it meant!

On the Dun Run for the last couple of years we've agreed to turn the LEDs to "constant" when it gets properly dark.  It gives me a headache, following a gaggle of riders all with blinkies.

I always try and remember to turn mine onto non-blinking in a group (and for that matter normally when I'm commuting anyway).  On the FNRttC, at times the mass of red blinking lights can be really quite hard on the eyes.

[STMS]

It was my first allnighter, i'm the bloke from Newton Abbott (Paignton really) you must have been the chicken farmer Vorprung. yup, lost you at the start, i didn't know anybody so i added my lights and left. I was feeling heavy legged at the bridge and wondered what i had let myself in for. I missed the first turn, but luckily others behind knew where they were going. It was at this point i realised my eyes, the routesheet and the dark were not compatable. I managed to chase some tailights for much of the journey, three in particular knew the route well it seemed and were just a tad quicker than me so made it a chase for many many miles. Thanks! to them and a few others i kept coming across, i survived to North Curry. After a quick reload and regrease, beginning of the pain section. Fantastic view of what i presumed to be Taunton from near the top of Blagdon Hill, took a photo (totally Black when i uploaded it) . Still after a short detour we safely arrived at T2. Still grinning apparently, dunno why? ached liked hell and couldn't feel my fingertips and feet, saddle area obviously painful. Had a cuppa took a couple of pics and off to Exmouth. Left most of my brake blocks on the front rim on one descent and heard it all the way to the finish, nice to get there but the usual anti climax.

My first overnight and a great ride, not too tough verging on pleasant with excellent scenery (after sunrise). For a turn up and go what more could anyone ask for, extremely well run.