Tour of Wessex

vermooten
vermooten Posts: 2,697
edited June 2008 in Sportives/audaxes/training rides
PutneyJoe and I are doing the 3-day even for the 3rd year in a row. Always a ridiculously tough way to spend the bank holiday but mmmm the countryside. Anyone else gonna be there?
You just have to ride like you never have to breathe again.

Manchester Wheelers
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Comments

  • GeorgeShaw
    GeorgeShaw Posts: 764
    Yup, I'm there, but only the first day. Nice to see they've added in the Tower and another hill at the start ... not. :twisted:
  • JWSurrey
    JWSurrey Posts: 1,173
    Yup - but only doing the 50 route i.e. Day 1.
    Taking the training iron (I'm using this as a benchmark for this year's fitness vs. last year's).
  • fizz
    fizz Posts: 483
    yep doing 95 miler on Day 1 only though.
  • JWSurrey
    JWSurrey Posts: 1,173
    So what will everyone look like?
    I'll be on the red Condor Fratello with black mudguards, carrier, rims and black Carradice rack pack.
    Say hello as you zoom past!
  • portuguese mike
    portuguese mike Posts: 695
    Yep, doing stage one only though. meant to be treating it as prep for the dragon ride and the etape so not planning on giving it everything but i know what i'm like, a soon as there's a timing chip on my bike :twisted:

    JW i'll be on my blue waterford as usual
    pm
  • vermooten
    vermooten Posts: 2,697
    Manchester Wheelers kit, red 'n' black cervelo with a Powertap rear hub...
    You just have to ride like you never have to breathe again.

    Manchester Wheelers
  • reaper2
    reaper2 Posts: 55
    I'll be there as its my local sportive. The new start means a fast downhill to start with with 2 sharp right turns so beware. Also means finishing with a steep uphill so save a bit for the final sprint :P The new hill out of bruton to evercreech is a tough short one but you get a very fast descent as a reward but dont over do it at the bottom where there is a bridge and the camber is a bit iffy. Yes I've come off there before. The routes all look great again and i'm hopping for a nice day on sunday so I can see the coast this time. I'll be in tor2000.co.uk kit White and blue with Goats head on front and back. Say hello if you pass me.
  • hobbescp
    hobbescp Posts: 197
    Yep, am doing all three days as training for the etape.

    I'm gutted they've extended the route on the final day...130 miles and 10,000ft of climbing!? Maybe they felt that the event wasn't hard enough to start with...

    Say hi when you pass me, I'll be the one wearing black and white Gore kit on a black Cannondale (and if things are going badly, flinging said bike 'helicopter style' into the hedge a la David Millar....)
    http://hobbes-etape-2008.blogspot.com/
  • portuguese mike
    portuguese mike Posts: 695
    What sort of prep is everyone doing this week - just a few easy spins with some hard efforts then one two rest days before saturday? Or is everyone just training as normal?
    pm
  • fizz
    fizz Posts: 483
    I've backed mine right off. I did a 45 ish mile ride on Sunday. Then I've just been cycling to a fro from work which is 2 miles each way at an easy pace.

    I'm taking thursday and friday as full rest days where I am not planning on doing anything at all. I dont know if this is right or wrong though.
  • notanotherusername
    notanotherusername Posts: 398
    I am dipping my toe into this one so just doing Day Two. It takes me into territory I used to know as a kid so it will be a bit of a trip down memory lane. I'll be riding the Red Barron (it's a steel framed machine that I bought second-hand last year and did extensive work to - since then it has done the Tour of Britain and Tour of Flanders sportives - this will be it's third major adventure).

    Stephen
  • vermooten
    vermooten Posts: 2,697
    fizz wrote:
    I'm taking thursday and friday as full rest days where I am not planning on doing anything at all. I dont know if this is right or wrong though.
    I suspect it's right - I hope it is cos I'm doing the same.
    You just have to ride like you never have to breathe again.

    Manchester Wheelers
  • Haynes
    Haynes Posts: 670
    Huh, what happened? I thought TTofW was cancelled due o lack of police support so i wrote if off. So its all on again?
    <hr><font>The trick is not MINDING that it hurts.</font>
  • JWSurrey
    JWSurrey Posts: 1,173
    Only the race has been cancelled - The sportive is still going ahead.[/list]
  • GeorgeShaw
    GeorgeShaw Posts: 764
    reaper2 wrote:
    I'll be there as its my local sportive. The new start means a fast downhill to start with with 2 sharp right turns so beware. Also means finishing with a steep uphill so save a bit for the final sprint :P The new hill out of bruton to evercreech is a tough short one but you get a very fast descent as a reward but dont over do it at the bottom where there is a bridge and the camber is a bit iffy. Yes I've come off there before. The routes all look great again and i'm hopping for a nice day on sunday so I can see the coast this time. I'll be in tor2000.co.uk kit White and blue with Goats head on front and back. Say hello if you pass me.

    You have to be careful on the descents at Harptree and Cheddar as well, both have very tight corners towards the bottom. Cheddar will be heaving with Bank Holiday tourists as well, so be prepared for random stray people/children/dogs/car doors.
  • reaper2
    reaper2 Posts: 55
    There is still the option of a 109 mile route on 3rd day I think. Check out the routes on the web site. But you know you'll do the long one . The whole point is to suffer and survive. A bit like glastonbury without the mud.
  • hobbescp
    hobbescp Posts: 197
    reaper2 wrote:
    There is still the option of a 109 mile route on 3rd day I think. Check out the routes on the web site. But you know you'll do the long one . The whole point is to suffer and survive. A bit like glastonbury without the mud.

    I checked the forecast and it ain't looking too great...I'm going to be suffering regardless, it only seems fitting if I get a good drenching too.

    I haven't used any chamois cream before but I figure it may be an idea getting some for this event? Any suggestions for what I should get?

    Also, does anyone have any top tips for recovery between each stage? I use a protein/carb recovery drink, hot bath and elevate legs combo...is there anything else?
    http://hobbes-etape-2008.blogspot.com/
  • fizz
    fizz Posts: 483
    I've just started using Assos Chamois Cream, it really does live up the hype it gets and the people who have posted comments on it before were spot on. I'm much more comfortable on the bike now than I was before.
  • portuguese mike
    portuguese mike Posts: 695
    Assos chamois cream is good but you need to use loads of it for long days in the sadlle because it gets absorbed into the skin quite quickly i find. Better is Brave Soldier it lasts way longer and i think works better too.
    pm
  • judojody
    judojody Posts: 17
    I live about 5 miles from the start, and doing day 1. The weather is pretty good at the moment, no wind, a bit muggy and hazy. I have checked the loacl forecast and saturday looks like it should be dry, but with 20mph+ winds!!

    See you all there.

    Jody
  • topcattim
    topcattim Posts: 766
    judojody wrote:
    .... and doing day 1. The weather is pretty good at the moment, no wind, a bit muggy and hazy. I have checked the loacl forecast and saturday looks like it should be dry, but with 20mph+ winds!!......

    Jody

    Seriously hope you are right, but metcheck doesn't think you are. I've been looking forward to these 3 days but the weather doesn't look too good to me... I'd been planning to camp but I think I might go for a daily commute instead...
  • JWSurrey
    JWSurrey Posts: 1,173
    Anyone know which way the route goes on day 1?
    Is it essentially all left-turns, starting with the longer end of the figure of eight?
    Trying to get my GPS plot worked out, as it was handy last year due to 1 well buried, and 1 missing sign.
  • topcattim
    topcattim Posts: 766
    JWSurrey wrote:
    Anyone know which way the route goes on day 1?
    Is it essentially all left-turns, starting with the longer end of the figure of eight?
    Trying to get my GPS plot worked out, as it was handy last year due to 1 well buried, and 1 missing sign.
    the route is in the information pack on their website
  • judojody
    judojody Posts: 17
    Weather update!! Today is good, warm, sunny and no wind.

    Keep your fingers crossed!
  • fizz
    fizz Posts: 483
    judojody wrote:
    Weather update!! Today is good, warm, sunny and no wind.!

    He's right, fingers crossed it stays that way.

    I'm going out a little later on today to register so I dont have to faff about in the morning doing it.

    I'll post my number up once I've got it if anybody see's me say hello 8)
  • judojody
    judojody Posts: 17
    I am also going to register tonight after work.

    Number to follow!!
  • rjsmith
    rjsmith Posts: 1,924
    I'm going off to register in a minute. Just doing the first day this year. Raced last night so a bit sore, will just have an easy ride tonight for an hour to try and work it off.
    Be on my Tarmac with Team Tor 2000 kit if you want to say hello.
    Just had a downpour here but a bit brighter now.
  • fizz
    fizz Posts: 483
    I'm registered, I'm no 408

    Will be on my Van Nicholas Vardar, Black shorts either 3/4 or normal depends on weather, with black specialised top.
  • jhop
    jhop Posts: 369
    It seems that errors are contained in the rider packs regarding Gold Silver and Bronze qualifying times.
    On stage 2 the table on page 8 of the rider pack states that Silver for me (50 -59) would be 5h 46m but for 40 - 49 year olds it is given as 6h 01m.

    There are other anomalies as well I hope these get ironed out and that more accurate times are actually used on the day.
  • fizz
    fizz Posts: 483
    That was hard. Unbelievable head wind.

    I got a bronze, my event time was 6hrs 55. But the time on my computer was 6hrs 10. My computer will have measured cycling time only though as it pauses when the bike stops, whereas I guess the transponders keep running when you are scoffing banana's in the feed zone.

    I thought it was really well organised, much better than last year.

    You guys who do 3 days of that have my utmost respect.

    rjsmith - I think I passed you on the climb of king alfreds tower. Sorry I didnt say hello, I was dieiing !!!

    I hope the guy that crashed in front of me gonig down cheddar gorge made it round OK and isnt to battered.

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