Sunrise Express

Peddle Up!

I completed this event yesterday for the first time and thought I'd post my impressions.

I chose the clockwise route (as opposed to the Snowdrop counter-clockwise variant) which ran from Hartlebury down to Evesham, via Upton-on-Severn and back up to the start taking in several villages largely on quiet B roads and country lanes. The organisation was excellent and refreshingly straightforward - turn up, log in and wait for the start. Way stops were excellent too, with lashings of food on offer to keep body and soul together (and fuelled).

The weather was always a key variable, but thankfully it wasn't icy which I understand has caused more than a few wipe-outs on previous rides. Out of five and a half hours cycling, about half were spent riding into icy rain and a strong gusty wind, but it was, as they say, nice when it stopped.

All in all a thoroughly enjoyable event and I'm looking forward to the 2013 event.

Bobbinogs

Top stuff. It may only be a truckers cafe at the finish but it is one of the best. Unfortunately I missed it this year (my wife had an appointment with Strictly Dancing :roll: so I pottered off on an 80m reliability ride at Leicester today).

I take it you weren't this unfortunate chap Peddle Up: "One person crashed three time caused by (i) oil; (ii) a distressed horse; (iii) touch of wheels."

Not bad going in one 123k ride!!

Anyone keen on following up the event, there is another ride in June (the Cotswold, which always sells out too) and that one finishes at the Rugby clubhouse with a veritable mountain of food waiting, nom nom nom nom

tomabbott

It was a good ride, made tougher by the headwind - gusting to 30mph at times.

Well organised, nice places to stop and the new bike was ultra comfy. Pah to rain!

WorcsPhil

I also rode this very enjoyable audax on saturday. It's a local ride for me, but was my first organised ride using my new Garmin (aren't they just fab!), so no problems with directions. As usual with events you look forward too, the mild, still weather of the previous week broke on saturday, so we all knew it was going to pee down at some point, and sure enough a very wet 90 minutes interrupted progress, but not as much as the gusty wind, just how is it possible to cycle into a headwind for 75% of the time on a circular ride! Not the hilliest ride of the year certainly, but an undulating 123kms or so is a great way to up the mileage in Olympic year and to tell you that the thrilling turbotrainer in the garage can be put away till next winter. Thanks to Phil and the Beacon team for showing everyone just how to organise an event...straightforward, friendly welcomes and chat, no gimmicks with a mountain of beans and toast at the end...They deserve all praise that comes their way.

Philip Whiteman

Glad you all enjoyed it. The weather certainly made it a tough event. I know quite a few of the entrants as strong riders but they returned at Hartlebury in a state of exhaustion. The worst affected were the faster Sunrisers having hit an awful squal in the closing stages. There were also a small number of people suffering with mild hypothermia but nothing so serious that food, hot drink and a place next to the heater would not resolve. Oddly enough, the many returners that arrived just before closure, looked completely unphased by the weather of showing any signs of dampness - a good indication that they were hiding in a cafe somewhere en-route.

Here is a plug for the next Beacon RCC audaxes:-
24th June: Cotswolds Audaxes 200/150/100. Entry system has yet to open. Organised by George Barker
18th August: Kidderminster Killer 210 / From Clee to Heaven 120. Entries being taken.
http://www.beaconrcc.org.uk/audax/killerclee/index.html

Provisional finish list for the Snowdrop and Sunrise:
http://www.beaconrcc.org.uk/message_boa ... highlight=

Peddle Up!

I take it you weren't this unfortunate chap Peddle Up: "One person crashed three time caused by (i) oil; (ii) a distressed horse; (iii) touch of wheels."

Happily not me, but clearly someone drove over a black cat carrying a mirror on a preceding Friday the Thirteenth.

just how is it possible to cycle into a headwind for 75% of the time on a circular ride!

I'm glad it wasn't just me! I was seriously doubting my sanity when every turn ended up facing into the wind. :?

dbg

We got clobbered by horizontal rain/hail by the level crossing near Droitwich coming back, was hard to get warm after that! Funny thing was my brother saying 'I think the rain has finished now' half an hour before

Peddle Up!

Philip Whiteman wrote:

Glad you all enjoyed it.

There was a chap taking photographs at one point along the course. I don't know if this was connected to the event, but I'd be interested in taking a look at the results if possible.

Bobbinogs

Here you go:

Photos

Peddle Up!

Bobbinogs wrote:

Here you go:

Photos

So it was you!

rodgers73

Is it possible to download any of these pics? I like to have a photo from all the events I do

rodgers73

Philip - PMs are not working for me. My reply to you of 3rd March is still in my outbox for some reason. So, my reply is -

Hello,

Thanks for that. I'd like image 72 please. My email address is rodgers73@hotmail.com

Cheers

Tom


Hope that helps!

Bobbinogs

If a message is stuck in your outbox then it usually means that the intended recipient has not picked it up. Best not give out your email address to a wide audience if you can avoid it.

rodgers73

I'm sure they will only try and sell me fake viagra, penis enlargement cream and fake rolexes

Peddle Up!

Anyone know if the event is going to be written up in any of the mags?