Pork Pies and Potholes

cartesr
cartesr Posts: 70
Hi

anybody riding the above on the 4/7 or have ridden it in the past I would welcome any thoughts regarding pothole sections;-)
I used to do a bit meself you know

Comments

  • Mike67
    Mike67 Posts: 585
    I'm riding it, I'm doing the 180km option :roll:

    I've never ridden it before though so have only heard what the tracks are like.
    I'm told they are not too horrendous with a few rocky bits here and there.

    I see the organisers offer an alternative route around the worst bits to avoid shaking your bike (and teeth) to pieces.
    I may take the road options towards the end if I get really knackered.

    Out of interest, what kind of training have you got in for it.
    I've managed to get up to 75miles around the hills in Derbyshire. I'm hoping to hang on for the extra 30 miles on the day as it should be a bit flatter than here.
    Mike B

    Cannondale CAAD9
    Kinesis Pro 5 cross bike
    Lots of bits
  • cartesr
    cartesr Posts: 70
    Hi
    not had such a great mid season so Im doing the 100k option, I was wondering about tyres etc im riding conti 23's I take it they should be ok
    I used to do a bit meself you know
  • Mike67
    Mike67 Posts: 585
    It may depend on your puncture protection...which contis are they?

    I've played it a bit safe and gone for Conti Gatorskins in a 25mm, a bit hardier than my 4000s. They should be a bit more comfy than the 23s too, especially on the bumpier bits.

    If there is the odd rock about then your tyre sidewalls might get the odd scrape too.

    It's all a bit of an unknown quantity really though. There's always the option of trying the first one or two off road bits. If it's mad rough then you can detour around the later ones.

    One thing for sure is to take plenty of inner tubes and patches :D
    Mike B

    Cannondale CAAD9
    Kinesis Pro 5 cross bike
    Lots of bits
  • ashbyalien
    ashbyalien Posts: 609
    I see that rain has been forcast, if it really chucks it down tomorrow or saturday I think i'll use the mtb. otherwise the roadbike will be fine.

    the offroad bits arent that gnarly, just rough. Judging by the amount of puncture victims i passed the other year there were some lightweight tyre choices.

    fwiw, i'm using evo cg's (24mm), i did manage to rip a hole in a tubular version the other year but i think its a case of luck to be honest. having said that, foul weather will bring out the mountainbike.
  • Mike67
    Mike67 Posts: 585
    I see the first feed station is over 50miles in on Sunday.
    Seems a long way to me if it turns out hot.

    Is that normal for a sportive or am I just being a bit wussy, need to man up, tough it out etc etc :D
    Mike B

    Cannondale CAAD9
    Kinesis Pro 5 cross bike
    Lots of bits
  • Yep you need to man up! :D What do you do when you go on a training ride that is longer than 50 miles?

    Answer - you take two bottles and some food with you. So you just need to do the same on a sportive then fill up at the feed at 50. Lots of people actually miss the first feeds out as they are often only 30 miles in to a sportive so there is no need unless its 40 degrees or something.

    It will probably be pork pies at the feeds anyway. :)
  • ashbyalien
    ashbyalien Posts: 609
    i have reliable info that says the feed zone will be serving porkpies, dolmio sauces and stilton.

    :shock:


    note, this might not be totally accurate
  • At the last feed there was indeed some Melton pork pies!

    There were tiny pots of pasta with dolmio sauce at the finish.

    It was a fun and different event with the off road sections setting it apart from all the other sportives. A sign missing right at the end sorted a few people out who didnt recognise where they were, fortunately we realised where we were and looked at the map.

    The offroad parts were easily rideable on a road bike with 23mm tyres. 10 of us rode and only one puncture between us and that was after one mile!
  • Mike67
    Mike67 Posts: 585
    DOh...guess I took too long to get to the last feed station then..no pork pies for me :cry:

    It was indeed a good course...more up and down than I expected...it seemed to be one or the other with no real flat bits.

    I enjoyed the off road bits and glad i did all of them.
    I was going to go around the Stromberg section from all the stories I'd heard about it but in the end it didn't seem any worse than the other off road bits.

    I think there are more parts of me that ache/are numb than are not...i have tomorrow off to recover though...lie in...lovely :D

    How did you all do?
    I got around in 7hrs8mins ride time (7hrs41min total timw) on the 180km which I'm quite pleased with.

    It was my first sportive and first 100+ ride all in one day.
    Mike B

    Cannondale CAAD9
    Kinesis Pro 5 cross bike
    Lots of bits
  • cartesr
    cartesr Posts: 70
    bit of a cock up on my part along with a few others. took a wrong turn after the somerburg ended up on the long route. 10 miles later realised.
    ran out of fluid manged to blag some water at a pub. and decided to take the direct route back to Melton still road 66 miles.

    gutted I missed the pies as the thimble full of pasta didnt really cut it at the end thankfully I had my own food.

    Plus points
    good changing
    good parking
    challenging route
    no punctures

    Negatives
    signs could have been better, perhaps different for each ride as once we have got onto the long ride we didnt realise as we followed the same signs. We did check the map but it was too late

    all in alll enjoyed it and if the two guys I rode with are reading this I hope you got back ok. I was the one in the brooklyn jersey not really doing it justice ;-)
    I used to do a bit meself you know
  • Mike67
    Mike67 Posts: 585
    I think it was easily done...I had to double check the map a few times as the wind had bent a few signs around...at least you realised before you got to the coast :D

    Did anyone see the photographer on the course...I think he got me a couple of times.
    I was wondering if these are going to be available to view anywhere. There's nothing like a pictorial reminder of your suffering to bring back happy memories.
    Mike B

    Cannondale CAAD9
    Kinesis Pro 5 cross bike
    Lots of bits
  • cartesr
    cartesr Posts: 70
    HI

    yeah I think this is the site
    http://sportivephoto.thirdlight.com/libraryhome.tlx

    if not check the back of your number (if you still have it) there was a website on it. Ive just forgotten it so did a google search and found the above
    I used to do a bit meself you know
  • Mike67
    Mike67 Posts: 585
    Cheers for that.

    I thought I'd seen it somewhere but couldn't remember....I was only staring at it all day after all :D
    Mike B

    Cannondale CAAD9
    Kinesis Pro 5 cross bike
    Lots of bits
  • cartesr
    cartesr Posts: 70
    pictures are now up on the site mentioned earlier
    I used to do a bit meself you know