Weekend Rides?

UndercoverElephant

Blonde Cyclist wrote:

UndercoverElephant wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

Blonde Cyclist wrote:

I was a bit worried that I might not know what to do some nicer weather so we made the long trek up to the Lake District to tackle the Fred Whitton. 112 miles, 3950m of climbing, 30% gradients and terrifying descents (and I like descending usually!) with very strong winds...

Chapeau!

+1, Did you walk up Hardknott? (Only ever been up there in a car, and it was bad enough)

Parts, yes :oops: I was nearly at the top of the first steep bit of the climb (pretty much at HR max), but accidentally found myself of the inside of bend and didn't have the gears and ended up falling off... Whoops! Then for the top steep bit a car got stuck so quite a few of us had to stop there as well. Slightly frustrating but I still feel good about managing more than most people I saw. It's just brutal!

In which case, double chapeau. You did better than my Brother-In-Law's Ford Focus, that needed an hours rest halfway to cool the clutch down. Like you say, it's brutal.

bobinski

A nice ride out from Brixton to Brighton. I hadn't been on the bike for a week due to a bad back and so was pretty desperate to turn those cranks. Strain in my back had cunningly shifted up to my neck and I had trouble turning my head to shoulder check but apart from that a real joy to get out and ride in the sun. Oh yeah, except for those fecking car drivers. Not too bad on Col de Ditchling but elsewhere felt like I was on a car race track. Lots of other cyclists out too.

Headhuunter

Saturday ride with the club, about 40 odd miles in total. Would've been further but I got 2 punctures! Nightmare... Basically my tyres are a bit threadbare but I was trying to squeeze the last few miles out of them...

Sunday - about 10 miles across London to Kings X then 25 miles around Bedfordshire with my dad...

Got the Pearson 150 next Sun - 150km from the edge of London to Brighton and back

gbsahne001

Leisurely 160+ miles, winding my way through Berkshire, Oxon, Gloucester & Wiltshire. Saw a few people I haven't seen for a while, all in all a fun day.

Wasn't much fun getting back on the bike this morning though.

itboffin

Blonde Cyclist wrote:

I was a bit worried that I might not know what to do some nicer weather so we made the long trek up to the Lake District to tackle the Fred Whitton. 112 miles, 3950m of climbing, 30% gradients and terrifying descents (and I like descending usually!) with very strong winds...

Erm why?

Blonde Cyclist

itboffin wrote:

Blonde Cyclist wrote:

I was a bit worried that I might not know what to do some nicer weather so we made the long trek up to the Lake District to tackle the Fred Whitton. 112 miles, 3950m of climbing, 30% gradients and terrifying descents (and I like descending usually!) with very strong winds...

Erm why?

I asked myself the same question several times... (although the real answer is Marmotte prep)

itboffin

90 windy but sunny miles around the Bristol area with friends, the first 50-60 of which were pretty much pan flat then we started hitting the 25% digs :shock:

Ouch those hurt and for a split second I think I tasted defeat but then MTFU slowed to nodder speed remembered to actually breath and made it to the top, phew!

Still nice day shame about the poor lanes (pave) and relentless omnidirectional wind, very glad there were three of us to share that.

domgears

UndercoverElephant wrote:

Blonde Cyclist wrote:

UndercoverElephant wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

Blonde Cyclist wrote:

I was a bit worried that I might not know what to do some nicer weather so we made the long trek up to the Lake District to tackle the Fred Whitton. 112 miles, 3950m of climbing, 30% gradients and terrifying descents (and I like descending usually!) with very strong winds...

Chapeau!

+1, Did you walk up Hardknott? (Only ever been up there in a car, and it was bad enough)

Parts, yes :oops: I was nearly at the top of the first steep bit of the climb (pretty much at HR max), but accidentally found myself of the inside of bend and didn't have the gears and ended up falling off... Whoops! Then for the top steep bit a car got stuck so quite a few of us had to stop there as well. Slightly frustrating but I still feel good about managing more than most people I saw. It's just brutal!

In which case, double chapeau. You did better than my Brother-In-Law's Ford Focus, that needed an hours rest halfway to cool the clutch down. Like you say, it's brutal.

I grew up on the outskirts of the Lake District, a little town in the south called Ulverston.

I spent many days cycling around the lakes, taking all those hills in, Hardknott, Wrynose etc. etc. back then I could ride up them without dismounting (14yrs old), however I dont think I could do the same now.

Massive respect to you BC for even attempting it.

I remember cycling past people (hikers) walking up it, I used to get comments like "Why dont you get off and push, its easier" but the proof is in the pudding, by the time they had finished their sentence I was already off and around the next corner, I had limitless power and energy back then (and enormous thighs).

You must remember to always take the outside of a corner, yes it is a 33% + gradient but on the inside of the corner it is more like 45% +

DonDaddyD

I looked after my son all day Saturday. I saw many a lovely bike heading towards his grandparents. My Garmin and bike/s hate me.

Sunday, what Sunday?

okgo

Got to laugh at all the people treating the Fred Whitton like a race, looks horrid, if there was a sportive to do it would be that one. Nothing stopping you doing it any day of the week though I guess.

bigmat

okgo wrote:

Got to laugh at all the people treating the Fred Whitton like a race, looks horrid, if there was a sportive to do it would be that one. Nothing stopping you doing it any day of the week though I guess.

Not too many races taking in that kind of terrain /scenery are there? I reckon its the best British sportive - certainly of those that I've ridden. Closest to the continental style where its really a race, even though its not a race, if you know what I mean!

okgo

No, its no doubt a proper ride. Just saying that the way sportives are going it seems like they are promoting racing almost, I've read a few "race reports" of the Fred. I agree with them principle, but think they should be steering away from the race and gold silver etc angle. It promotes silly riding.

Its strange, because when reading about people's rides on things like these, they sound like the kind of competitive people that would want to race, but they don't?

spasypaddy

well most sportives now offer gold silver and bronze time cut offs to promote racing.

rick_chasey

okgo wrote:

Its strange, because when reading about people's rides on things like these, they sound like the kind of competitive people that would want to race, but they don't?

I think I can answer that.

a) sportives are more like the end-to-end routes you see in professional cycling - they're also not about how many sprints you can put out in an hour so it's a different kind of effort.

b) You're less likely to end up in some enormous peloton crash.

c) Sportives tend to spread the field out so you're near riders of a similar ability - which is always more fun. So if you're obviously rubbish, you can still compete - rather than getting chucked out the back after 1 lap of some circuit.

okgo

spasypaddy wrote:

well most sportives now offer gold silver and bronze time cut offs to promote racing.

Exactly, why are they doing this, it isn't a race.

okgo

Rick Chasey wrote:

okgo wrote:

Its strange, because when reading about people's rides on things like these, they sound like the kind of competitive people that would want to race, but they don't?

I think I can answer that.

a) sportives are more like the end-to-end routes you see in professional cycling - they're also not about how many sprints you can put out in an hour so it's a different kind of effort.

b) You're less likely to end up in some enormous peloton crash.

c) Sportives tend to spread the field out so you're near riders of a similar ability - which is always more fun. So if you're obviously rubbish, you can still compete - rather than getting chucked out the back after 1 lap of some circuit.

a) Look at the Fred, they offered sprint points, and KOM, that sounds like they want to promote a racing scenario to me...

b) Possibly, but people falling off their bikes up hill, causing others to do the same etc, poor bike handlers flying down hills at 50 mph with potentially far more people around you, sounds like a disaster to me.

c) Yes, but you this is the point, its not a competition against other people, just yourself, they need to change this whole image they have created with the sprints, and time cut offs, if people want that stuff then they really should be doing it in a controlled racing environment with other people. Not with potential new riders without the proper support around them.

All IMO.

bigmat

okgo wrote:

spasypaddy wrote:

well most sportives now offer gold silver and bronze time cut offs to promote racing.

Exactly, why are they doing this, it isn't a race.

Its more like a time trial. I have never experienced dangerous or aggressive riding in a sportive - the courses tend to be long enough and arduous enough to spread the field out so that kind of thing isn't necessary. Rick's post above is pretty spot on - far more likely to be taken out in a race and a lot of people aren't up for that, plus sportives tend to feature more interesting climbs and routes so in that respect "feel" more like you're riding the Tour etc which is what no doubt appeals to the target market.

rick_chasey

okgo wrote:

a) Look at the Fred, they offered sprint points, and KOM, that sounds like they want to promote a racing scenario to me...

b) Possibly, but people falling off their bikes up hill, causing others to do the same etc, poor bike handlers flying down hills at 50 mph with potentially far more people around you, sounds like a disaster to me.

c) Yes, but you this is the point, its not a competition against other people, just yourself, they need to change this whole image they have created with the sprints, and time cut offs, if people want that stuff then they really should be doing it in a controlled racing environment with other people. Not with potential new riders without the proper support around them.

All IMO.

a) I'm saying they do want to race, but just not the kind of 'racing' you actually get on the amateur scene, so I can see where that is coming from.

b) - for sure, but it's the perception right? I hear about more accidents in standard crit-style amateur races than I do in sportives.

c) People want competition . Just a different kind!


Ultimately, I'm put off by amateur racing since a) I don't like the style of efforts required for them and b) The likelihood of crashing seems to be too high, especially at the lower levels (where iI'd be at). I don't want to expect to be injured at some point in the season, nor do I want to fork out to replace bike kit.

I'd be much more inclined if races were longer - rather like a sportive, where there is more natural selection, and the effort is more endurance based.

I can see where the 'sportive' racers are coming from.

bigmat

Rick Chasey wrote:

okgo wrote:

a) Look at the Fred, they offered sprint points, and KOM, that sounds like they want to promote a racing scenario to me...

b) Possibly, but people falling off their bikes up hill, causing others to do the same etc, poor bike handlers flying down hills at 50 mph with potentially far more people around you, sounds like a disaster to me.

c) Yes, but you this is the point, its not a competition against other people, just yourself, they need to change this whole image they have created with the sprints, and time cut offs, if people want that stuff then they really should be doing it in a controlled racing environment with other people. Not with potential new riders without the proper support around them.

All IMO.

a) I'm saying they do want to race, but just not the kind of 'racing' you actually get on the amateur scene, so I can see where that is coming from.

b) - for sure, but it's the perception right? I hear about more accidents in standard crit-style amateur races than I do in sportives.

c) People want competition . Just a different kind!


Ultimately, I'm put off by amateur racing since a) I don't like the style of efforts required for them and b) The likelihood of crashing seems to be too high, especially at the lower levels (where iI'd be at). I don't want to expect to be injured at some point in the season, nor do I want to fork out to replace bike kit.

I'd be much more inclined if races were longer - rather like a sportive, where there is more natural selection, and the effort is more endurance based.

I can see where the 'sportive' racers are coming from.

Rick - why not try a road race as opposed to a circuit race? More akin to "proper" racing without the constant stop / start bursts of acceleration usually required for circuits / crits. Still significant risk of being wiped out though...

rick_chasey

BigMat wrote:

Rick - why not try a road race as opposed to a circuit race? More akin to "proper" racing without the constant stop / start bursts of acceleration usually required for circuits / crits. Still significant risk of being wiped out though...

They're as rare as rocking horse sh!t for n00bs aren't they?

bigmat

Rick Chasey wrote:

BigMat wrote:

Rick - why not try a road race as opposed to a circuit race? More akin to "proper" racing without the constant stop / start bursts of acceleration usually required for circuits / crits. Still significant risk of being wiped out though...

They're as rare as rocking horse sh!t for n00bs aren't they?

Not that rare, SERRL races in South East, Surrey road race league, probably other stuff north / west of London as well I imagine. Just look for anything that covers 4th cat and you'll be able to ride. Usually on a loop on open roads, but 10km + rather than 1.5km. All good fun having a lead car / motorbike outriders etc!

rick_chasey

BigMat wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

BigMat wrote:

Rick - why not try a road race as opposed to a circuit race? More akin to "proper" racing without the constant stop / start bursts of acceleration usually required for circuits / crits. Still significant risk of being wiped out though...

They're as rare as rocking horse sh!t for n00bs aren't they?

Not that rare, SERRL races in South East, Surrey road race league, probably other stuff north / west of London as well I imagine. Just look for anything that covers 4th cat and you'll be able to ride. Usually on a loop on open roads, but 10km + rather than 1.5km. All good fun having a lead car / motorbike outriders etc!

Hmmm.


Now, to be able to cycle fast. I'll look into that, cheers.

okgo

There's none in the surrey league, but plenty about. However most of them are 3/4 races and they're quick. I did a 3/4 road race the other week and it was one of the fastest I've done.

cjcp

Sportives: get round in the fastest time possible. I'm not pootling. In that sense, it's a TT.

rjsterry

itboffin wrote:

90 windy but sunny miles around the Bristol area with friends, the first 50-60 of which were pretty much pan flat then we started hitting the 25% digs :shock:

Ouch those hurt and for a split second I think I tasted defeat but then MTFU slowed to nodder speed remembered to actually breath and made it to the top, phew!

Still nice day shame about the poor lanes (pave) and relentless omnidirectional wind, very glad there were three of us to share that.

Just trying to think of a route around Bristol that would match that description; where did you go?

itboffin

Sort of outside Bristol http://connect.garmin.com/activity/177814766

rjsterry

itboffin wrote:

Sort of outside Bristol http://connect.garmin.com/activity/177814766

Ah. Many of my formative cycling experiences took place in that bit of the world. Many a ride zigzagged up and down the Cotswold escarpment. Must get back and do some riding around there.

itboffin

Someone needs to fix the moon crater roads, some of those pot holes were so big I swear I could see straight through the earth.

il_principe

itboffin wrote:

Someone needs to fix the moon crater roads, some of those pot holes were so big I swear I could see straight through the earth.

Pfft, you should try the coastal roads of Kent. Had a stretch on Sun where every 10 metres the tarmac had split creating a mini canyon stretching from kerb to kerb. Lasted about 4 miles and drove me f*cking nuts. That and epic potholes, usually strategically located on gloomy downhill sections. PITA.

itboffin

Actually talking of Kent you just reminded me when I was young visiting my nan near Rye I remember there's a couple of twisting climbs we used to struggle up, in the car :shock:

Must look those up some time, in the car natch!