Somerset Hills Gran Fondo

nickel
nickel Posts: 476
edited May 2012 in Sportives/audaxes/training rides
I know its early but has anyone else entered this?

My main goal for 2012 is to ride it without walking my bike up Crowcombe. I'm no stranger to hills but riding up Crowcombe with 70 miles and about 5000 feet of climbing in the legs is a daunting prospect, last time I rode it it was half way round a 35 miler. At any rate im really looking forward to it, couldnt refuse entering a Sportive on my doorstep!

Comments

  • bigpikle
    bigpikle Posts: 1,690
    might do it as y folks are just around the corner...Crowcombe is a beast and I was glad there was no traffic coming down when I wobbled my way up last time!
    Your Past is Not Your Potential...
  • dodgerdog
    dodgerdog Posts: 292
    Very interesting, not done this one before and was looking at doing the Forest of Dean Sportive on the same day, but since this is more local with more climbing and for less dosh I think I will be throwing my hat in the ring.
    Allez Triple (hairy with mudguards) - FCN 4
    Ribble Gran Fondo
  • vs
    vs Posts: 468
    Just checked that climb out on Strava - 14.3% ave for nearly a mile - quite tough then.

    Couldn't help but notice that I have the KOM from last years event - don't reckon that will survive this years now that many more riders are aware of Strava.
  • vorsprung
    vorsprung Posts: 1,953
    Enter the "Mad March Coasts and Quantocks" Audax on the 4th of March starting in Exeter and you get to climb the other side of that hill and wear down your brake blocks going down towards Crowcombe. If you are pooped after 100km you need to get some miles in :D

    Details on the Mad March here: http://www.ukcyclist.org.uk/madmarch200
    Audaxing Blog - Long Distance Cycling
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  • nickel
    nickel Posts: 476
    vorsprung wrote:
    Enter the "Mad March Coasts and Quantocks" Audax on the 4th of March starting in Exeter and you get to climb the other side of that hill and wear down your brake blocks going down towards Crowcombe. If you are pooped after 100km you need to get some miles in :D

    Details on the Mad March here: http://www.ukcyclist.org.uk/madmarch200

    Love to do it if I wasn't stuck at uni in boring flat leicestershire!
  • dodgerdog
    dodgerdog Posts: 292
    If you are at Uni then you have the time spare to cycle down to it! :wink:
    Allez Triple (hairy with mudguards) - FCN 4
    Ribble Gran Fondo
  • nickel
    nickel Posts: 476
    Thought I'd bump this thread as its getting closer to the event, any takers?
  • humpyg
    humpyg Posts: 50
    Nickel wrote:
    Thought I'd bump this thread as its getting closer to the event, any takers?
    I've signed up to it. I've just came back to cycling after breaking my wrist, so while I was out, I made this my target event. Still got loads of training to do though :lol:
  • dodgerdog
    dodgerdog Posts: 292
    One of my targets although not yet signed on
    Allez Triple (hairy with mudguards) - FCN 4
    Ribble Gran Fondo
  • thebicycletuner
    thebicycletuner Posts: 3
    Here a post from last years event viewtopic.php?t=12777389
  • humpyg
    humpyg Posts: 50
    I'm looking forward to this next weekend, pleased it didn't happen today!
    391 people signed up so far. 109 spaces left if anyone fancies it and they're not signed up.
    http://www.somersetgranfondo.co.uk/

    ps - thanks thebicycletuner for posting the link to a review :D
  • dodgerdog
    dodgerdog Posts: 292
    Did the Medio Fondo route of 81.8 miles yesterday.

    Well signed, great route and feed stops were well thought through although dissapointed that they only provided water and not electrolyte/energy drink options alongside the fresh fruit and muesli bars.

    Crowcombe was a bitch, cadence went down to around 30 rpm!!
    Allez Triple (hairy with mudguards) - FCN 4
    Ribble Gran Fondo
  • nickel
    nickel Posts: 476
    Well I did the Gran Fondo route yesterday and it was a fantasic day, route was well marked and the food at the feed stations was great. Crowcombe really hurt but managed to get up without putting a foot down. All in all a great first sportive, It was also quite satisfying to pass a lot of people on the climbs who were riding bikes 3 times more expensive than mine.
  • humpyg
    humpyg Posts: 50
    I did the gran fondo. Really like the route and pleased the weather was decent. The feed stations were well stocked and having 3, split the route up well. Will definitely do again next year. Next up for me is the Bristol Black Rat sportive in two weeks.
  • Krys
    Krys Posts: 51
    Did the Gran Fondo. Would like to complain about Crowcombe Hill but we, and many others, missed the sign for that bit and ended up doing a different loop instead. Same mileage, no walking up hill! *grin*. I gather the locals had been being helpful... Had a good day out, bar the odd niggle, made a very nice change not to get rained on, and I blogged it if you fancy a read http://www.thecyclingmayor.com/somerset ... gran-fondo. :)
    My cycling blog: http://www.thecyclingmayor.com
  • nickel
    nickel Posts: 476
    Krys wrote:
    Did the Gran Fondo. Would like to complain about Crowcombe Hill but we, and many others, missed the sign for that bit and ended up doing a different loop instead. Same mileage, no walking up hill! *grin*. I gather the locals had been being helpful... Had a good day out, bar the odd niggle, made a very nice change not to get rained on, and I blogged it if you fancy a read http://www.thecyclingmayor.com/somerset ... gran-fondo. :)

    I know that the signage was a little dodgy around the road out of doniford, it wasnt easy to tell whether you needed to go straight across the A39 or follow the A39, that was the only bit which I found confusing. But anyway, try and pretend you missed out crowcombe by accident ;)
  • richiebones
    richiebones Posts: 379
    it was ok, had no problems with the signage. was very disapointed with the second 'lunch' feed station, by the time i got there all that was left was a mini muffin, a few bananas and a bowl of raisins, not enough fuel to get you over crowcombe. added 1hr to my time waiting for the nearby cafe to make me a roll!
    i know it was a 'cheap' sportive but every sportive ive done has supplied enough lunch for everyone, even the slow oldies in the autobus

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