Norwich 50/100 2009

markos1963

Who's doing it this year? I did the 50 last year(my first long ride), going to do the 100 this time.

hammerite

Group of us thinking of doing it, just got to make sure it doesn't clash with anything else.

BMX Bear

A few of us are doing it, some of the guy's are talking about doing it single speed. It'll be a good test as we're off to the Dragon the following week

markos1963

BMX Bear wrote:

A few of us are doing it, some of the guy's are talking about doing it single speed. It'll be a good test as we're off to the Dragon the following week

Single speed?!! :shock: good luck on telegraph hill then.

BMX Bear

Aye, that'll be a tough one!!
The hardest climb last year was West Runton up to Roman Camp, not that pleasent :shock:

markos1963

BMX Bear wrote:

Aye, that'll be a tough one!!
The hardest climb last year was West Runton up to Roman Camp, not that pleasent :shock:

Rode up that one on friday on a training run, don't fancy 60 more miles after doing it though!

BMX Bear

markos1963 wrote:

BMX Bear wrote:

Aye, that'll be a tough one!!
The hardest climb last year was West Runton up to Roman Camp, not that pleasent :shock:

Rode up that one on friday on a training run, don't fancy 60 more miles after doing it though!

Strange but the way it was run last year, the second half after the stop at Felbrigg seemed easier, it was fairly easy along the coast after Bacton, through Sea Palling and up past Horsey.

By then you're about 70 miles in and nearing the end!!

markos1963

BMX Bear wrote:

markos1963 wrote:

BMX Bear wrote:

Aye, that'll be a tough one!!
The hardest climb last year was West Runton up to Roman Camp, not that pleasent :shock:

Rode up that one on friday on a training run, don't fancy 60 more miles after doing it though!

Strange but the way it was run last year, the second half after the stop at Felbrigg seemed easier, it was fairly easy along the coast after Bacton, through Sea Palling and up past Horsey.

By then you're about 70 miles in and nearing the end!!

Yes, very much my training area so it will be familiar to me. Thankfully the prevailing wind is in our favour from there to the finish.

carl_p

Yes I'm doing the 100 and it will be my first 100 as well.

Did the 50 last year on a mountain bike with a group from work and that started my love affair with cycling. The same group are doing the 100 this time. They have hybrids or slicked MTBs and I'm the only one with a proper road bike! Really looking forward to it.

Need to get some good miles in beforehand though.

Markos are you still riding with VCN? Are they a good club for a realtive newbie?

markos1963

Carl_P wrote:

Yes I'm doing the 100 and it will be my first 100 as well.

Did the 50 last year on a mountain bike with a group from work and that started my love affair with cycling. The same group are doing the 100 this time. They have hybrids or slicked MTBs and I'm the only one with a proper road bike! Really looking forward to it.

Need to get some good miles in beforehand though.

Markos are you still riding with VCN? Are they a good club for a realtive newbie?

Yes I am still riding with them, it has certainly helped my riding. Like you I started riding seriously last year and did the 50 as my first serious distance ride. I then joined VCN and have been improving since then. We run two sunday rides usually going to the same place, the slower group(mine) will ride at about 16 mph which in a group of 15 is quite easy pace and the faster group will go a longer loop to meet up with us at the cake stop, the go at between 18 and 20 mph. Inevitably the last few miles to the cake stop or home tend to degenerate into a race but in general its friendly and nobody gets dropped in the slow group. Distance varies between 40-60 miles. Come along if you like you will be most welcome, if you can ride 20-30 miles solo at about 16mph you will be fine on a slow run.

markos1963

BMX Bear wrote:

Aye, that'll be a tough one!!
The hardest climb last year was West Runton up to Roman Camp, not that pleasent :shock:

Rode this twice this morning and I still can't see how you can do it on a single! I will be keeping a good distance from any single riders on the day, thats if I can keep up!

The big day is getting closer now,not such a worry after doing the Suffolk Sunrise 100. Comforting to know that I can ride a century and not die. The only worry is getting a swap shift at work as I'm on a night shift on saturday!

BMX Bear

I'm sure the guys on the single speeds will manage, they've been training hard on Gas Hill (on single speeds!) and just back from the Fred :shock:

I'm looking forward to the Norwich, lets hope the wind dies off a bit and the sun stays out

Should be a good turn out as always.

markos1963

I,m having problems getting time off to do the ride(night shift saturday night) and I won't know if I have got the day off until quite near the day. Does anybody know how late I can leave it to enter?

BMX Bear

I think you are able to enter on the day!
I know people who have done in previous years.

Email or ring them to check.

m0scs

I did the 50 mile route last year and like others it was my first "distance" ride.

Im planning on doing it again this year, but only the 50 again, as I have been unable to get the miles in due to a number of reasons to prepare myself for the 100.

I've only got an MTB, so thats other excuse!

dav1

I have taken the plunge and gone for the 8 hr 100. Will be my first proper road event being an MTBer mostly.

Got out and put in 68 miles yesterday and survived on the road bike so not as worried about it as I was last week.

Am still worried about the whole etiquette thing and what to expect though, just trying to work out how many energy bars and what drink to buy at the moment :?

m0scs

Last year I took a camelbak which I soon regretted and about 3 or 4 energy bars/gels which was enough for me on the 50 mile route.

dav1

Ill be taking the camelback full of torq, seemed to do me very well on my training ride this weekend and was thinking about 4 energy bars, may go for 5 or six now you said that though.

Anyway really looking froward to it, just hoping that the clouds disappear from the 5 day forecast...

MegaCycle

I am doing the 50 with a couple of mates.

Does anyone know where I can download a Garmin course file or a GPX?

Thanks

BMX Bear

Last year I got through 8 bottles (6 litres of energy drink) Used a carbo drikk SIS up until half way then went on to bottles of water with a NUUN tablet in to help stop cramp.
I usually eat an energy bar (Torq) per hour plus a spare or 2 incase you drop one!
I also take a packet of Jelly babies and a couple of caffine/energy gels for a last 30 miles kick.

Seems like a lot but if you wait till your hungry to eat or thirsty to drink it's all to late :?

Better too much than not enough.

markos1963

On suffolk sunrise 100 I got through, 1 ltr psp energy, 1 ltr psp electrolyte, 6 fig rolls, 1 cup tomato soup, 2 x ham sarnies, 2x bananas and a packet of skittles. I had enough food but not enough fluids so will try to drink more on sunday( especially if its hot)

nitesight

I'll be in next year, not up for a fifty yet but getting there.

Perfect jersey for it though!!!

http://www.foska.com/road-jerseys/mens/colmans.html

markos1963

nitesight wrote:

I'll be in next year, not up for a fifty yet but getting there.

Perfect jersey for it though!!!

http://www.foska.com/road-jerseys/mens/colmans.html

There is no way you're going to sneak up on anybody with that shirt!

nitesight

What can I say, I'm a patriot!

dav1

I will me taking 2 ltrs of energy drink, 3 energy bars (was going for one per 25 plus a spare) and 2 energy gels for the last 25 miles. other then that i plan to load up on liquid and food at the half way point

markos1963

Good luck everybody for tomorrow, I would say give me a wave but apart from riding my black Orbea Onix I can't say what I will be wearing given the forecast for tomorrow. I hope its not as bad as they predict.

carl_p

Completed the Norwich 100, my first century after a year of cycling! Quite awful conditions at times and not helped by a rear wheel puncture.

My Garmin decided to play silly buggers, probably not helped by my Rider no. being over top of it but my total cycling time was 6:40 ish. Not bad for given the conditions. Strangely the last 25 miles were the easiest.

Also our group has raised well over a £1000 for the British Heart Foundation so I'm feeling well pleased with myself. Should sleep well tonight!

dav1

well done Carl P, that is a great time and an amazing amount of money raised!

As I said earlier was my first road event (have been MTBing for about 3 years). Even though the weather was horrible i really enjoyed myself. I will defiantly do something like this again in the not too distant future.

Mothyman

well done all...did you complete Marcos?
anyone see my mate Clive on a blue trek 1.9? He texted me saying he was soaked to the skin but chuffed he'd completed it in tough conditions. he said last 30 was easiest as well..strange

BMX Bear

The conditions were poor today, strong headwind along the coast, some heavy showers as well to contend with, the last 30 we had the wind on our backs that's why it was easier

markos1963

Good going lads, I did 6hrs 11 mins. Would have cracked the 6 hour barrier if the weather had been better. The section from Cromer to Horsey was horrendous, more for the wind than the rain. As said the last 25 was pretty good but then again we had the wind behind us.

I was very disappointed by some of the riding, I hadn't realised n there were so many to&&ers on the course. My riding partner was almost knocked off twice before we got to Reepham. It isn't as if they were any good they swooped past us on a downhill catching my partners elbow only for us to pass them on the very next hill. All because she had the temerity to pass them on the flat and drop them. Testosterone is not needed on these sorts of rides.

Couldn't beleive after all the training for it that they dropped the West Runton/Roman Camp climb. Although in hindsight it ment one less hill to slow us up.