Silly Commuter Sportives
Comments
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That probably was JG, I was in there as well somewhere. We finished in 6:19'ish after a couple of de-tours.
I'll testify to the cold/wet/windy conditions. I couldn't feel my feet after about 1/2 hour, and got soaked between the two feed stations.
Still a good ride, would have like to have been a bit closer to gold but in reality I don't think I could have ridden any faster on the day. A big thanks to JG for pulling me home after the second feed station when i was just about all inpain is temporary, the glory of beating your mates to the top of the hill lasts forever.....................
Revised FCN - 20 -
Damn detours! Missed a turning on Little Lumpy yesterday and added 4 miles to the route, cut off for a gold medal time was 6:30 and I came home around 6:44 so pretty sure I would have made it but for the detour. Oh well, my own stupid fault - spotting route markers is obviously a key part of riding a sportive! I found it extremely tough, especially the last 11 miles after I'd done my century, ridiculous amounts of climbing and some seriously dodgy gravelly descents, my arms were aching as much as my legs by the end with all the braking on the drops...
Overall, 111 miles (95% of which ridden solo
), 6:44, average moving speed 17.1mph - not too bad for first century ride in almost a year! 0 -
Yeah, that was a tough day on the bike. Wet, windy and cold. The rain jacket stayed on until the second feed stop at 70miles. Bleurgh. The sun came out at that point and the last 30 miles were lovely.
They seemed to delight in finding all the 20%ers in the area :shock: I can attest that Somerset is not very level. The climb up through Cheddar gorge was super, though 8)
That's my first 100 miler and still felt pretty strong towards the end. The 'continuous eating' nutrition strategy seems to work.
The cider at the end and a bacon buttie were most welcome...
Was very surprised when my legs worked this morning. Hurrah
Edit: camping next to a family whose kids scream all night is not the best preparation for a sportive
Edit2: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/335958000 -
Thems my local hills, but we don't get along very well. I was flagging big time towards the end, finishing in about 6:30. Had a slow start though as I rode with a mate who hasn't ridden a bike for any great distance probably since he was a junior.
I was with a couple of people from the 2nd feed through to Wrington, one of whom reminded me of JonGinge (what pictures I've seen) - black top with some thin stripes around the chest - that wasn't you was it?
Very enthusiastic people at the feed stops - had my bottle filled & my bike held for me while I filled my boots from the mounds of food available.Specialized Allez
Trek 65000 -
Yeah, grey top with bands. Hello!risi wrote:Thems my local hills, but we don't get along very well. I was flagging big time towards the end, finishing in about 6:30. Had a slow start though as I rode with a mate who hasn't ridden a bike for any great distance probably since he was a junior.
I was with a couple of people from the 2nd feed through to Wrington, one of whom reminded me of JonGinge (what pictures I've seen) - black top with some thin stripes around the chest - that wasn't you was it?
Very enthusiastic people at the feed stops - had my bottle filled & my bike held for me while I filled my boots from the mounds of food available.
The feed stops were great. So much cakiness Putting some of those worm jellies in my back pocket was not such a clever plan: they went a bit gooey 0 -
JonGinge wrote:
Yeah, grey top with bands. Hello!risi wrote:Thems my local hills, but we don't get along very well. I was flagging big time towards the end, finishing in about 6:30. Had a slow start though as I rode with a mate who hasn't ridden a bike for any great distance probably since he was a junior.
I was with a couple of people from the 2nd feed through to Wrington, one of whom reminded me of JonGinge (what pictures I've seen) - black top with some thin stripes around the chest - that wasn't you was it?
Very enthusiastic people at the feed stops - had my bottle filled & my bike held for me while I filled my boots from the mounds of food available.
The feed stops were great. So much cakiness Putting some of those worm jellies in my back pocket was not such a clever plan: they went a bit gooey
That's the one - hello back! Should have tried DDD's "are you on BikeRadar" approach. You might have passed a group waiting just before the bottom of Wrington hill - that was the family, so I had to stop and say hello. Must have added loads of time to my total...
I think I spent a little too long at the feed stops eyeing up all that good stuff as well. Always my downfall!Specialized Allez
Trek 65000 -
Anyone doing "King of the Downs" next Sunday?
I think I'll aim for a 6am start like last year. Hope the weather's better.
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Sadly I had to miss out on the Cornwall Tor, despite me having done lots of training over the last few weeks / months - I've been ill for a week with sinusitis / cough / cold etc and in no fit state to cycle anywhere, let alone 72 miles up hill / down dale. Boo.
Very jealous of all these active antics!0 -
JonGinge wrote:
Yeah, grey top with bands. Hello!risi wrote:Thems my local hills, but we don't get along very well. I was flagging big time towards the end, finishing in about 6:30. Had a slow start though as I rode with a mate who hasn't ridden a bike for any great distance probably since he was a junior.
I was with a couple of people from the 2nd feed through to Wrington, one of whom reminded me of JonGinge (what pictures I've seen) - black top with some thin stripes around the chest - that wasn't you was it?
Very enthusiastic people at the feed stops - had my bottle filled & my bike held for me while I filled my boots from the mounds of food available.
The feed stops were great. So much cakiness Putting some of those worm jellies in my back pocket was not such a clever plan: they went a bit gooey
Hey Risi, if you saw someone slogging along behind JG in a red jacket, that was me. God that was hard work, but racing on Saturday afternoon probably wasn't such good preparation for a 100 mile sportive :roll:pain is temporary, the glory of beating your mates to the top of the hill lasts forever.....................
Revised FCN - 20 -
Rich158 wrote:JonGinge wrote:
Yeah, grey top with bands. Hello!risi wrote:Thems my local hills, but we don't get along very well. I was flagging big time towards the end, finishing in about 6:30. Had a slow start though as I rode with a mate who hasn't ridden a bike for any great distance probably since he was a junior.
I was with a couple of people from the 2nd feed through to Wrington, one of whom reminded me of JonGinge (what pictures I've seen) - black top with some thin stripes around the chest - that wasn't you was it?
Very enthusiastic people at the feed stops - had my bottle filled & my bike held for me while I filled my boots from the mounds of food available.
The feed stops were great. So much cakiness Putting some of those worm jellies in my back pocket was not such a clever plan: they went a bit gooey
Hey Risi, if you saw someone slogging along behind JG in a red jacket, that was me. God that was hard work, but racing on Saturday afternoon probably wasn't such good preparation for a 100 mile sportive :roll:
Yeah - I was right behind you, slogging away too. Having to look after small children while my wife went shopping wasn't the best preparation either. That's my excuse & I'm sticking to it.Specialized Allez
Trek 65000 -
Any Northern Irish Commuters on here doing Lap the Lough 2010?. Entried are now open and they're filling up. I'm doing it with a couple of friends, considering using the Brompton as its a pretty flat course....0
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Rich & JG: If you hadn't noticed, Black Rat pictures are now up at http://www.philoconnor.com/sportive/index.htm
me = 541Specialized Allez
Trek 65000 -
None of you look like you're really enjoying it
Hanging on for dear life springs to mind Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.0 -
Was looking at the London Duathlon, which is right on my doorstep in Richmond Park. All set to enter the ultra distance (which isn't really very ultra) until I saw the price tag. £99!! :shock: No dice. Will stick to sportives, which are quite frankly much better value.0
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London Duathlon is a rip off - its practically a closed road anyway, you could run and cycle round there any weekend if you got up early enough (or left it late in the evening).
Pictures are up for Little Lumpy as well. On that third one I look like I'm doing a trackstand and gurning - weird, and not good! At least the bike looks good....
http://sportivephoto.thirdlight.com/vie ... d=124638870 -
Signed up for the Communicat - looks like June is going to be busy - I've got a 28 mile MTB ride on the 6th and the Great Western Sportive at the end of the month0
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Signed up for the Sussex Surrey Scramble standard route on 30th May.
64 miles in total. 31.5 of them uphill, 31.5 of them downhill and only the 1st mile being flat :shock:
Ummm :?0 -
MatHammond wrote:London Duathlon is a rip off - its practically a closed road anyway, you could run and cycle round there any weekend if you got up early enough (or left it late in the evening).
+1000!FCN 2-4.
"What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
"It stays down, Daddy."
"Exactly."0 -
Going against my plan I went for a very gentle ride this morning just to make sure everything was in order before the Dragon tomorrow, good job I did as I spotted a tiny bit of inner tube sticking out the side wall of my gatorskins :shock: another gift from my off the other week, so i'll be slipping those 4000s on shortly, phew!
I got back just in time for the postman, who was delivering my weekly supply of inner tubes
So just who from here is doing the Dragon ride tomorrow?
Even though it's not a race my race number is 1606 i'm aiming for an 8am start.Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.0 -
Interestingly un-coordinated look there......ahem, 'unique'.
Nice to see you're keeping that friend of yours happy. Is that a day's worth of tubes?Dahon Speed Pro TT; Trek Portland
Viner Magnifica '08 ; Condor Squadra
LeJOG in aid of the Royal British Legion. Please sponsor me at http://www.bmycharity.com/stuaffleck20110 -
itboffin wrote:So just who from here is doing the Dragon ride tomorrow?
Even though it's not a race my race number is 1606 i'm aiming for an 8am start.
Not quite in the same league as the Dragon - I am riding the Norwich 100 tomorrow which will be only my second ever 100 miler. Anyone else here doing it?Still breathing.....0 -
Just got back from the Bethany Sportive in the beautiful Scottish Borders, was with a group from work and we went as fast as the slowest man, so the time wasn't too impressive. Rolling time of about 4 h 30 mins for 72 miles. The big difference was how different I felt from last year, a years commuting has taken me from being one of the slowest in the group to being one of the fastest. Had to keep holding myself back to let them catch up, hard when people overtake you.
Lovely day, great (if quite hilly) route, nice people. Highly recommended.0 -
Doing the Three Castles ride tomorrow - 28 miles over the Ridgeway - weather looks good - not as hot as today I hope0
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first 75 mls solo was a challenge as was the wind, I need a loooong soak in the bath and several Guinness, still it's all good character building stuff :shock:Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.0 -
Completed 28 miles over the downs in 3 hours - nice warmup for next weeks Communicat - by the way is it me or have the distances been shortened ? I thought Communicat was 51 miles but its down as 46 in the rider's pack0
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Jay dubbleU wrote:Completed 28 miles over the downs in 3 hours - nice warmup for next weeks Communicat - by the way is it me or have the distances been shortened ? I thought Communicat was 51 miles but its down as 46 in the rider's pack
It might be short but it still have the 3 big climbs
Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.0 -
Jay dubbleU wrote:Completed 28 miles over the downs in 3 hours - nice warmup for next weeks Communicat - by the way is it me or have the distances been shortened ? I thought Communicat was 51 miles but its down as 46 in the rider's pack
There was a note on the cycle GB site (I was on checking the time standards......) and it said that some small changes had been made but I think that only effected the Route-80 and Magnificat - bumping them up a mile each so they are now 81 and 127 respectively :-D0 -
itboffin wrote:Jay dubbleU wrote:Completed 28 miles over the downs in 3 hours - nice warmup for next weeks Communicat - by the way is it me or have the distances been shortened ? I thought Communicat was 51 miles but its down as 46 in the rider's pack
It might be short but it still have the 3 big climbs
Try Hodson Hill plus the little haul up to Barbury Castle 8)
Two new dislikes - singlespeed mountain bikes that climb faster than me and people on touring bikes with apparently full panniers who cruise past you apparently making no effort0 -
That was a great Dragon at the weekend, good conditions, if a little hot and humid at times, and a bit of a headwind! I was looking to be blinded by ITB's new bling, but didn't bump into the old fella once on the way round. Mind you that wasn't surprising given the crowds, thankfully things had thinned out a bit towards the end and had a storming final 20k to just miss out on a sub 6 hour time, still I'm well happy with a 6:02 for my first time chasing dragons pain is temporary, the glory of beating your mates to the top of the hill lasts forever.....................
Revised FCN - 20
