First century for donkey's years

CiB

Just stuck this over on the other forum but it's Friday, and this is where I spend too much time usually.

Doing my first century in many a year tomorrow, from SW Leics up through Buxton and on to Rochdale, 105 miles. If I'm not a complete wreck when I get there I plan to have a pop at Blackstone Edge, a bit of a climb just outside Littleborough. Or maybe look at it and think 'nah - warm bath instead...'.

Not looking for advice at this stage, just thought I'd flag it up on here to give me that extra incentive not to cop out at Buxton or Glossop. If you're about to warn me of the hills, thanks but I've already looked. They look a bit scary, but then so did the one from Eccleshall up to Loggerheads in Staffs the other week when I did N Wales but I was most of the way up that before I realised that I was on it, and the climb up into Caerwys at 85 miles wasn't too bad compared to what I expected - it was near vertical on the BikeHike route elevation chart.

Anyway, 105 miles, looking at around 6 & half hours or so plus stops. Looking forward to it.

il_principe

Enjoy it. I've not done an imperial century this year and am feeling rather ashamed. Just remember to keep fed and hydrated and you'll be fine. Are they short sharp climbs or long shallow ones?

Kieran_Burns

What's the route you're doing?

If you're following sustrans routes you may come right past me!

nasahapley

Hope it all goes well Chris, I'd like to explore that part of the world myself but it's a bit of a pain getting there from where I am. I'm feeling the need to get out and do a long ride n'all; done three centuries this year (Fred Whitton plus two big rides beforehand), but haven't done much since save for commuting. Need to get another event in the calendar, that'll give me the kick up the ar5e I need.

CiB

Direct route - Burton, Ashbourne, Buxton, Glossop etc. Look out for me - I'll be the bloke with a bit of stomach laughing at Fighting Talk on the Walkman [traffic permitting].

There are a few decent and quite sharp climbs between Ashbourne & Glossop, but it's The Peak District - what else would there be there? A lot of the route is either going up or going down to some degree.

Blackstone Edge at the end is a favourite of mine, starts off quite steep, gets a bit steeper and then becomes jolly steep [for' jolly' read 'jeeez this is...'] just before the top. It's not beaten me yet though in previous runs at it

And it'll give me a hand in closing the gap on Porgy, who seems to have put some miles between us whilst I've been swanning off in a nice hotel instead of biking to work like I should.

14 Porgy - 1977 mls.
15 ChrisInBicester - 1885 mls.

Kieran_Burns

Yup - if you're doing Burton to Ashbourne you'll come within 1/2 a mile of my house (Hatton) I expect you'll do Burton, Stretton, Rolleston, Tutbury, Hatton, Scropton, Sudbury.

Or you'll go straight through Hatton up to the Salt Box Cafe and hang a right then first left up to Longford and Alkmonton (if you do the Sudbury route I know a MUCH nicer way to Ashbourne. I would offer to show you, but I suspect I will only slow you down)

If you let me know what tme you're passing I can supply drinks and cheer as you go past.

CiB

Yup - Hatton pops up on my radar. prob around 10:30. BikeHike shoved me through the lanes to Scropton, which made more sense anyway compared to using the main roads. Ta for the reroute suggestion but this isn't an opportunity to admire the picturesque nature of our countryside. It's a head down and get on with it day. I'll look for a mysterious hooded figure just after the railway bridge into the left turn to Scropton then.

Kieran_Burns

It's a level crossing

Do you turn right at Scropton or go straight on? I only ask as straight on will take you onto the A50, and A515 - and the latter is not a road to cycle on. Seriously.

I was going to suggest a loop up to Alkmonton and take the back roads - it's actually quicker and easier (one big hill, and a couple of minor ones as opposed to the A515 ridgeback

whyamihere

Agreed. Don't ride on the A515 from Ashbourne to Buxton. You'll die.

CiB

Hmmm. Bikehike takes me from Scropton into Sudbury then onto the 515 to Ashbourne. Your alt route seems to involve Hatton, then aim for Church Broughton, Ackmonton, Hungry Bentley[c'mon!!], Yeavely & onto Ashbourne. Sounds like a register for a decent public school to me, not a route

Sounds sensible, and reduces the A road mileage. Need to redo the route and relaminate it then. Thanks for the tip.

Kieran_Burns

Not a problem - it REALLY is much safer, quicker / easier.

Oh, and I'd do the Tissington Trail as well... but at that time of day (and you being on a road bike) it may not be such a good idea.... the stretch AFTER Ashbourne is worse than the one before. The A515 is NOT a good road to cycle on

whyamihere

I wouldn't do the Tissington on a roadie if I was trying to get somewhere quick...

The A515's ok from Lichfield to King's Bromley. North of that it's horrible.

CiB

Strewth - pre-ride enthusiasm to 'why-oh-why' in 10 minutes.

I'm happy to heed the advice; can reroute from Ashbourne to Buxton via the villages and avoid the 515 altogether. Anything else? Snipers in Glossop; knife-crews in Ashton U Lyne?

Kieran_Burns

whyamihere wrote:

I wouldn't do the Tissington on a roadie if I was trying to get somewhere quick...

The A515's ok from Lichfield to King's Bromley. North of that it's horrible.

Yeah, after Kings Bromley / Yoxall it turns into a rollercoaster, and there are numerous blackspots for anyone on 2 wheels


Chris - when you'e gone through Alkmonton / Yeavley / Wyaston, keep right as the left turn that goes under the A52 gets you to a one way that is against you.

Take the road to Osmaston. This will pop you out on the A52 300 yards from a roundabout - take the right turn (Derby Rd) and prepare to have a laugh down a 1/2 mile 1 in 10. I hit 35, the Tricross started vibrating like buggery and scared the crap out of me.

There are traffic lights at the bottom so ready your brakes.

CiB

Did it - see Ride reports if you really bothered.

Kieran - I hit your village at around 9:50, quite a bit sooner than planned so missed you if you were there; apologies if you were. I think I took your scenic route by mistake but it was v pleasant that way; I went the other side of Chruch Broughton and found myself on a cycle route and followed it to Wyaston & Ashbourne. The dip nr Wyaston was a bonus; flew down it at around 42; the drop on the A52 to the lights was good but the traffic was queuing back so I just ran it in at around 37, sidled down the outside and waited at the lights.

My reroute to avoid the A515 still left me with a mile or so on it at Alsop en le Dale but I missed my turn off so stayed on it. Traffic was fairly light and well behaved so in the end I stayed on the 515 all the way to Buxton [via Monyash]. It felt fine, no worries on there despite the misgivings on Friday.

Huge fun though overall.

Kieran_Burns

Yeah - that dip came as a surprise to me as well, I think I hit 34 ish - if you followed the cycle route TO it, you found a harder but more scenic route, the ripples did for me when I traversed it. Clearly you're WAY fitter than me!

If you went down a long, long stretch of road past C Broughton you also found the 'better' route - a little longer but a better road surface. I'm glad you found your way okay; I was going to get out and accompany you, but both me and the bike were creaking when I got home on Friday!