christmas cracker

timmjackson

hi all
anyone else doing this on the 13 Dec organised by epic events

cheers Tim ps it is in the Lakes

andrewJohnson

Can you enter on the day? It was one I was looking at but the weather may be risky..

cumbriamike

Can you enter on the day?

Entry Info on The Christmas Cracker

Maximum Number of Participants : 400


christmas cracker entries 334 Records

Hope this answers your question Andrew.

I have done this sportive for the last two years and being in December and in the Lake District, its been a challenge both for the organisers and entrants.

2007 was very cold but slightly warmer than the sub zero temperatures on the days before and after the event ( -9 on the Monday morning!) so it went ahead with 60 or so taking part and’ enjoying' the scenic route. Never has a warm Christmas pudding and several cups of tea tasted so good.

2008 not so lucky this time as Cumbria was locked in an icy grip and the event was postponed until 1st February 2008 and in my opinion, changing the start to Grasmere from Cartmel Fell (a very remote place) was a masterstroke.

1st February was of course still cold, but after coping with the joys of ice on Red Bank ( a challenging little climb only a mile from the start) it was a good day all round with Christmas puds in February a novelty at the finish - still edible, they get better with age.
Incidentally on the 2nd of February the whole country was hit by blizzards!

Philip S

I'm doing it, with my entry carried forward from last year's freeze off seeing as I couldn't do the rescheduled date...

I've not ridden the complete route, but apart from Red Bank out of Grasmere, I think I've covered most of the roads on various Lake District trips. Given the change of start point, Red Bank will be interesting, seeing as we hit that without much of a warm up, but I'm kind of glad we'll get to Gummers How with only 30-odd miles rather than 65 miles in our legs... That climb just seems to go on and on and...

milleman

Gummers how?, are you sure thats on the route-have just signed up and didn't recall seeing it.

It is a bugger of a hill mind!

Philip S

Just checked the route and you're right - they must have changed it after last year to reduce the risk of the route being iced off (it was particularly icy over Cartmel Fell way on the intended day of the event). Seems we now go down to Flookburgh instead:
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2518937

Can't work out whether I'm happy or disappointed with that. :? It does, however, mean that the ride I did up Gummers How during the summer as a bit of route prep for this was a waste of time - although it was good for my ego.

Variance

Myself and the Mrs are doing this and am looking forward to my 1st mass paticipant event.

Just how tricky is that 1st climb? Think its called Red Bank

Event is now full, with over 400 riders!

Solis

[quote="Just how tricky is that 1st climb? Think its called Red Bank

Event is now full, with over 400 riders![/quote]


Its not a climb on the scale of Hardknott, Wrynose or even Honister etc as it is only short, however it is pretty steep and I suspect can be hard work if its wet, icy, leaf strewn etc or more likely being December in the Lakes all three

Higs

I'm doing this one too.

I've not been out on my road bike since the beginning of September so I'm hoping my MTB miles will see me OK.

Dr M

anyone know how much climbing is in it this year? I think it was about 2000m last time, but if the course ha changed quite a bit not sure what the new figure is..

Variance

Im not sure but I hope not too much. I know it still doesnt take in any of the "major" passes tho

Humph

Gang of us from work entered for this after missing out on last years re-arranged event.

This newer route not as hilly but according to our memory map profile there's still over 1700m of climbing.
Stars with Red Bank after only a mile or so with 3 other approx 120m climbs along the way.
As you'd expect in the Lakes there's no 'flat' sections, rolling all the way.

Variance

Sounds challenging without being a killer, what goes up..........................

rhnb

Let's hope the waters gone down by then!

See here for pics from Friday...
http://www.stridingedge.net/Walks/2009/ ... .11.09.htm

Matty50

Does anyone have a gps file for an Edge 705 that will direct me around this route- think it is a GPX file I need

Looking forward to this it will be my first sportive!!

Higs

I've got it mapped here: http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-ki ... 5757491229

You can download a GPX version from there.

I did it myself based on the official route, so I can't guarantee it's absolutely accurate but it's pretty close. Also, it's not unheard-of for sportive organisers to make small changes to the route in the days leading up to the event based on local conditions. That could certainly be the case in Cumbria at the moment.

Variance

After all the bad weather up here, its absolutley freezing now, tested my new jacket last night and was still nice and toasty despite -3c hopefully wont be thast cold on the day!

Higs

Looking forward to this but I can't help feeling I'm going to pay for not having ridden my road bike since Sept 5th. I've been running quite a bit and riding my MTB twice a week but it's never quite the same.

Variance

Im gonna try to get out on mine more thia and next week, prob in the eve to get used to the cold!!!

Higs

Are we all bristling with excitement?
Anyone got a view on the likely weather? Metcheck says cold and dry for Ambleside on Sunday.

Variance

I am, to be honest,
This will be my first sportive style ride
forecast is cold crisp and clear, perfect

sagalout

I'm doing this too. The climbing looks a lot less than the Colomba Chemo from a few weeks ago so should be overly challenging. I've stupidly got a xmas party the night before though, so that followed by a 2 hour drive probably isnt the best preparation, but still looking forward to it.....and the xmas pud at the end

Humph

See you in the morning then guys.

Off to sleep soon ready for a chilly 5.30am get up.

Have a good one.

sagalout

Brrrrrrr.....just setting off for the drive to Grasmere now. Going to be a cold one!

r3 guy

8 32 in the morning sat in the car park at the event has been delayed by an hour due to icy roads

Once_In_A_Blue_Moon

It was certainly a cold un. I hated the first 10 miles or so! But an enjoyable day and the xmas pudding with hot custard went down a treat at the finish.

Best wishes to the lads who crashed on the ice, some painful looking road rash for some riders I seen at the finish.

r3 guy

great event, well organised, and great food at the food station, and as for the Cjristmas pudding and custard at the end -Fantastic

Looking forward to the lakeland loop

pinarellodude

Once_In_A_Blue_Moon wrote:

Best wishes to the lads who crashed on the ice, some painful looking road rash for some riders I seen at the finish.

Ah didn't know you cared, my arse is sore...........

sagalout

Just got home myself. Was a great day, and the cold was fine after a few miles. Some cracking views. Comiserations on the crash - was than in the incident about 15 miles in?

pinarellodude

I fell off going up a climb about 10k in but another 5k on a bunch off lads came a cropper on a corner the road around the back off Conistion was a bit iffey.

Humph

Got in about hour and feeling a lot better for hot shower and first glug of vino.

Hope the healing process quick for you unfortunate to fall off - that first couple of miles along lake coniston did seem the worst affected.

Thoroughly enjoyed a good ride in tremendous area especially after I warmed up - could have done with Red Bank to warm us up earlier.
Organisation and atmosphere great and food stop and cake at end the same.

Not often a change for safety reasons puts 9 miles on a ride but felt great till last drag along main road to Grasmere when a lift from 2 guys passing me back to the finish was much appreciated.