The Fred!

[Deleted User]

The user and all related content has been deleted.

disgruntledgoat

You were'nt in my group shouting like Bernard Hinault at his finest were you Phips?

nasahapley

phips wrote:

I tried to organise a couple of groups I was in - simple instructions (take the front for a short turn, move right, wave next man through, keep the pace the same) but it fell on deaf ears.

One guy, bless him, did his turn then slotted back in at pos 3 (in a group of 8 or so). He did quite a bit of work

I can understand your frustration, but you have to remember that not everyone who enters a sportive will want to ride in strictly regimented groups. On the Ullswater to Borrowdale section I was on the front for more than half the time in a group of 4 or 5, though that didn't really bother me as I was riding within myself and still getting the occasional rest. Going along the A66 at a reasonable pace some chap comes alongside and starts barking orders to get a bit of through-and-off going. Me and my mate gave it a go for a bit but even though we got something reasonable going and did our bit, this bloke still wasn't happy. B***er it, I thought, matey might be here to get the fastest time possible at the expense of taking in the scenery etc, but I didn't sign up to be bossed about by a stranger, so we dropped off the back and left the rest of them to it.

Feltup

Official photos are up

http://www.kennedyimages.co.uk/search.asp

Some nice white stuff in the back ground of the one taken on Wrynose of me!

[Deleted User]

The user and all related content has been deleted.

[Deleted User]

The user and all related content has been deleted.

disgruntledgoat

phips wrote:

nasahapley wrote:

Going along the A66 at a reasonable pace some chap comes alongside and starts barking orders...

Barking isn't on - it's supposed to be enjoyable. I prefer to suggest to folks it's a good idea, which of course it is, but mostly it just doesn't seem to work.

I slotted into a group just before the turn onto the A66. When Rich-Ti told me to look behind us, I realised we were in about 10th position of a group of 50+ :shock: There was one guy on the front, in a 'LUNE' top IIRC, and that guy was a machine. Chapeau to him, he towed most of that 50-strong group about 30km.

We had some Geordie fella in our group who was properly getting on peoples cases about riding through and off. NOw, through and off is great in a small group in a race for keeping a high pace. However, on the A66 with teh traffic and the way it narrows, not keen.

[Deleted User]

The user and all related content has been deleted.

Sjaak

What was he? The police? People like that really should mind their own business and pedal off in the distance. Little mussolini's they are, talking to people they have never met like that.

Edit: Rides like this are not professional races, they are supposed to be educational as well for people that normally might only cycle solo. The last thing they want is to be told off. A quiet word to someone with a dangerous riding style would be more appreciated. Lastly, do not forget that as cyclists on a busy road we also have our responsibilities and simply sticking to the highway code will stop drivers getting agitated every time they see another cyclist on the horizon. Doing so, as a cyclist, you are promoting cycling to those folks with four wheels too

disgruntledgoat wrote:

We had some Geordie fella in our group who was properly getting on peoples cases about riding through and off. NOw, through and off is great in a small group in a race for keeping a high pace. However, on the A66 with teh traffic and the way it narrows, not keen.

Feltup

phips wrote:

And WTF was with so many people dumping gel wrappers all over the place? Littering is just plain wrong. Especially when you've got at least three pockets to stick yer empties in. Tsk. :roll:

I didn't see many but even the odd one is too many. I guess the occasional one falls out of a pocket, I usually lose my map this way and then end up lost. I also saw an inner tube and bottle but most people seemed to be behaving themselves.

disgruntledgoat

Feltup wrote:

phips wrote:

And WTF was with so many people dumping gel wrappers all over the place? Littering is just plain wrong. Especially when you've got at least three pockets to stick yer empties in. Tsk. :roll:

I didn't see many but even the odd one is too many. I guess the occasional one falls out of a pocket, I usually lose my map this way and then end up lost. I also saw an inner tube and bottle but most people seemed to be behaving themselves.

Shedloads of gel packets on Newlands on wednesday night. Some of us live/ride here the other 364 days. Tsk indeed.

Feltup

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Feltup wrote:

phips wrote:

And WTF was with so many people dumping gel wrappers all over the place? Littering is just plain wrong. Especially when you've got at least three pockets to stick yer empties in. Tsk. :roll:

I didn't see many but even the odd one is too many. I guess the occasional one falls out of a pocket, I usually lose my map this way and then end up lost. I also saw an inner tube and bottle but most people seemed to be behaving themselves.

Shedloads of gel packets on Newlands on wednesday night. Some of us live/ride here the other 364 days. Tsk indeed.

That really is disappointing.

Pack it in, pack it out. Leave nothing but footprints/tyre tracks, take nothing but pictures.

Philip S

Feltup wrote:

That really is disappointing.

Pack it in, pack it out. Leave nothing but footprints/tyre tracks, take nothing but pictures.

Agreed. It really doesn't take that much effort to take your litter home. The only downside of sticking the empty gel wrappers back in your pocket is they can make everything sticky as hell, but I usually take a small plastic food bag and they go straight in there.

Throwing them onto the roadside is lazy and inconsiderate and ultimately discredits not just the litterer but, by association, all us fellow cyclists.

andy_wrx

I just folded my empty gel wrapper a couple of times and stuck it under the elastic of one leg of my shorts, then binned it at the next foodstop.

But I must have passed 15 or so of them on the road, plus 3 waterbottles, and even a couple of bananaskins just dropped on the road...

It's not just the Fred though, it's happened on every sportive I've done :x

storck

Hi can anyone give me the name of good accomodation for nx years Fred,this year we were bit out the way,looking for good B&B with safe storage for bikes,cheers.

John C.

storck wrote:

Hi can anyone give me the name of good accomodation for nx years Fred,this year we were bit out the way,looking for good B&B with safe storage for bikes,cheers.

The problem is anywhere decent fills up straight away and they all insist on a 2 night stay.

Fat Head

try the back of a van - a refreshing (freezing) guaranteed (two hours) sleep

andy_wrx

I could tell you, but they've only got two rooms and if I get an entry again next year, I wouldn't want you booking it before me... 8)

Brian B

Fat Head wrote:

try the back of a van - a refreshing (freezing) guaranteed (two hours) sleep

Fat Head I agree that our accomodation was better than your turtle shell van. Never saw you at the end but we had a great time. We had a few mishaps with Neil breaking his chain and us getting lost but it was a great day out. A bit miffed about our time as we were easily under 8hrs until our adventure at the end. Nice time that you got though.

Are you doing it again next year now that you have had time to recover? Our B&B this year was okay but out at Broughton Mills and still 8miles away with twisting roads.

Fastlad

hi guys. I was back up crew for our guys "rockhard racing" i was following in a merc vito van..the one that very nearly didn't make it over hardknott" First of all, i'd like to say, well done to everyone who completed the course, especially you disgruntled goat with your 39x25!!!!! :shock: I have to say that the litter wasn't that bad on the road compared with other sportives i've personally ridden i.e the bealach na ba in scotland...that big climb was littered with Oakleys :shock:. You were all very lucky this year re weather because i'd spent the 2 days prior to the event in the lakes and it was very windy and absolutely slashing it down!! Once again guys.....good effort! 8)

Fat Head

brian, i would like to do it again next year, yes.

RedGreenBaron

disgruntledgoat wrote:

We had some Geordie fella in our group who was properly getting on peoples cases about riding through and off. NOw, through and off is great in a small group in a race for keeping a high pace. However, on the A66 with teh traffic and the way it narrows, not keen.

I also experienced the Geordie, though only briefly, as he (and you) were a notch too quick for me.

This is my first chance to post since the event, and the 'hype' is over, and I hope nobody minds me putting the thread back onto page 1 for a couple of days.
First up, I have to say that the spectators are what made this different from other sportives. I really enjoyed the support.
Ok, a couple of the hills and the snow/sleet/hail also made it different.
Sorry to DGG that I wasn't much help (lost my chain on the first climb and never closed up).
Thanks to Wastrel for the encouraging hello.
I enjoyed riding with two lads from Bradford RCC - Mark Mitchell and John Ellison - in the early parts; we had a good group on the A66.
Food stops great, only issue is lack of facilities at the end. I would love to have left a towel and clothes; ended up a shivering wreck for an hour after the ride.
I didn't hit my rather optimistic target of 7 hours, my 7.17 including about 10 minutes for a broken front mech, including manual changes after I failed to fix it, and, sadly, a couple of dismounts on Hardknott :oops:
I got my revenge - rode all 4 Hardknott and Wrynose climbs on on a much windier (but sunnier) Tuesday, though of course with no more than 1500m climbing in my legs vs 3000m.

You guys who get to train round there are so fortunate. I rode down the Duddon valley with a following wind - just stunning.

See some of you soon, I hope.

Nick