étape pennines....
ianbar
Posts: 1,354
anybody doing this? i am thinking of making it an end of season challenge way more climbing that i have done before but closed roads sounds a good thing and I'm pretty sure i could make it round.
enigma esprit
cannondale caad8 tiagra 2012
cannondale caad8 tiagra 2012
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Comments
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As I live just a few miles from the start I though I would have a ride around the route.
It is a good route, but be carefull as most of the big hills are after 40 miles. Go out steady and keep plenty of energy for the last half.
http://app.strava.com/rides/22052099Cannondales
SuperSix Hi Mod Sram Red
Super X Ultegra
Tourine XT / XTR
CX 1000 Disk Ultegra (Winter Hack)
And an Empella SL Bonfire0 -
Myself and 2 mates doing this
We are fairly new to road biking and we are hoping we will get round in time
We have upped our training rides to 50/60 miles every saturday over the past month with approx 3000' of climbing.
Not quite the same, but we will give it our best shot
Seen conflicting info regarding amount of climbing
On the main site is states just below 6000' but a gpx file ive downloaded states over 7000
Can anyone confirm what is correct?0 -
My dilemma with this one is that in all my training on longer rides, I've been averaging 13mph. I've done lots of rides in preparation, 40s 50s and a 65 miler yesterday.
I know I'll be able to get round the course (I even like a good climb), but i've discovered that there's a sweep van and the cut off speed is - 13mph.
So I'm going to be going round with the thing breathing down my neck with the threat of being sent home when a lot of people have sponsored me to do the ride and I know I can do it. It's just I'm a plodder not a racer. Why put the pressure on people who are trying to raise money for a meaningful cause that folks are bound to have a multitude of personal reasons for doing?
I didn't even know what a sweep van was until today, but after all the preparation I've put in, under difficult circumstances, succeeding at this is very important to me. I can't bear the thought of being told to quit because I wasn't fast enough.
Is 1mph too much to gain just from digging in a bit with the fear of the sweep chasing me down?
or will that make me go off too hard at first and I'll die on the first climb.
If the van passes me, are they likely to clear up the signage as they go, or will I still be able to follow the route on my own so I can do this and not let myself or anyone else down?0 -
[quote="
Seen conflicting info regarding amount of climbing
On the main site is states just below 6000' but a gpx file ive downloaded states over 7000
Can anyone confirm what is correct?[/quote]
If you look at my post earlier my Strava link shows just over 9000 ft, this will be a bit more than the actuall ride as I road from home, I would guess it will be at least 8500ft going of my Garmin.
As for 13MPH ave, I managed 13.1 MPH riding on my own on a windy day. But to be honest I doubt they will be able to pull everyone that falls below 13MPH as they would need a big van, the hills are quiet hard after 40 miles.
Richard...Cannondales
SuperSix Hi Mod Sram Red
Super X Ultegra
Tourine XT / XTR
CX 1000 Disk Ultegra (Winter Hack)
And an Empella SL Bonfire0 -
The websites says 2313 metres, which is somewhere around 7000ft. The figure may not be completely accurate but it should be in the ball park. The other thing to think about is the weather though, which could have a big effect on how the course rides.
As for speeds, they normally allow you to finish at your own speed. They are public roads after all. If you fall below the quoted speed though the roads won't be kept closed for you, that's all.0 -
Thanks guys,
I guess I will be able to continue, but the blurb says they will take your timing chip off you and just cut you loose to get on with it if you want to, so I guess it would mean I wouldn't be 'completing' the ride, the finish line might be gone when I get there etc., a real disappointment after such a tough slog.
60 quid to enter, charity money raised, I'd at least hope there was a finish line to turn up at when I'm done.
@ 13mph, It'll only be 1.30pm for heaven's sake - what's their rush to get away ? I've committed weeks of preparation and fundraising to this. Feels a bit like they're just gonna "take the money and run".
Was looking forward to this, not so sure now . . .0 -
Hi DonutDad,
(I'm assuming here you haven't done any/many sportives before - apologies if I'm wrong).
Have the training rides you've done so far been on your own? If so, riding in a group will increase your average speed quite considerably and, in most sportives, there will be plenty of groups forming so, if you drop off the back of one, you should be able to tack onto the next one easily enough.
It's one of the joys of sportive riding - everyone is normally friendly and supportive so you should be able to get round without being swept up. I don't think you need to stop looking forward to it.
Hope you enjoy the ride,
drober0 -
I assume the minimum speed is set as they can only have closed roads for a certain time. I agree that 13 mph average is a bit of a challenge on a ride like this, but if you can join on to a group and benefit from drafting behind them, you'll find you can get you average speed up and save energy for the hills.DonutDad wrote:Thanks guys,
I guess I will be able to continue, but the blurb says they will take your timing chip off you and just cut you loose to get on with it if you want to, so I guess it would mean I wouldn't be 'completing' the ride, the finish line might be gone when I get there etc., a real disappointment after such a tough slog.
60 quid to enter, charity money raised, I'd at least hope there was a finish line to turn up at when I'm done.
@ 13mph, It'll only be 1.30pm for heaven's sake - what's their rush to get away ? I've committed weeks of preparation and fundraising to this. Feels a bit like they're just gonna "take the money and run".
Was looking forward to this, not so sure now . . .0 -
IF you do get caught by the sweep van, you will still be able to continue, albiet the road will be reopened. Judging on the way they operate the Etape Caledonia they are very flexible with this. You will be fine!!0
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Also remember the broom wagon leaves after the last rider. The sooner you get off the more head-start you get. Just set the alarm a little earlier :-)0
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Thanks for the replies and encouragement,
I've just been riding about 25 weeks, but only managed less than 1000 miles in that time, so not the most dedicated training regime ever I know. It's been tough fitting it all in between the stuff we all have going on in our lives etc.
I have only ever ridden on my own.
I have done one sportive ride before, the Virgin Cyclone in Northumberland in June. I was far too unprepared for it, and was ready to drop with back pain at 55 miles (out of 104 miles) when I tried to quit and ride back.
Cutting a very long story short, I ended up actually riding 112 miles after quite an adventure.
As someone aptly put it it was an 'Epic Fail'. Should have stuck with the route and I would have achieved something, instead of the failure eating away at me ever since...
I entered this ride to regain a sense of achievement rather than living with failure (hard on myself, I know), and I've applied myself to training as best I can, learned some lessons and gone for stamina (@13mph...) rather than speed, and lost another stone - so I'm up for it, it just feels a little doomed at the minute.
One thing is for sure - I will not quit this one, for the people who have shown faith and sponsored me, for the people who will benefit from those funds, and for myself as a matter of personal pride. I'm not accepting failure again.
My only beef, I guess, is that they will take my chip away so I won't get a time.
And I can't find an answer to the question of whether the route will still be marked, or do I need to take a map?0 -
Again if it's like the EC, which it will, it will be brilliantly marked and marshalled. Relax you will do it, in time and enjoy it.0
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Cheers, I'm ok. I've got all indignant and determined and I think its even given me confidence.
... and it'll be helpful having my own pace car ;0)
Good luck everyone0 -
Donut Dad - the worst that can happen is that you have to finish the ride with traffic on the roads and give up your timing chip and presumably get listed as DNF on the official results. You'll know when you started and you'll know when you finished, so you'll have a time to tell your sponsors and to set down as a marker for next year.
I'll be joining you down the back, dodging the broom wagon, I expect, judging by my training efforts so far. I just don't have the time to put in any really long distance rides, so will be entering territory I haven't visited in 20+ years once we get past 45 miles. That's right in the middle of the heavy-duty climbing, too. I've ridden all those hills - I live in Weardale - but never back to back.
One consolation is that the map in the Event Information booklet you can download from the website shows a Cat 2 hill right at the end. I've queried that with the organisers, because it doesn't exist! There is a bit of a climb towards Cornsay and Quebec, but it's noting like that - not even Cat 4, I don't think. There's one other oddity on the map, too. The route they show through St John's Chapel (which comes at the bottom of a 2 mile descent where you lose over 1000 feet) crosses the river Wear at a ford! There is a very narrow footbridge, but I hope to hear back from the organisers that it's another mistake on the map.0 -
Update on the route. They are building a bridge over the ford at St John's Chapel. They seem reluctant to correct the mistake on the map, though. A glance at the OS map shows a height gain of about 90m in about 3km where they have a Cat 2 hill. As the Cat 2 marker wasn't on the early versions of the map posted on the website it seems odd no-one thought to check the map when the mapping software added the biggest hill on the route.0
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Thanks for the words stabilised,
I live less than a mile from the start (the reason I couldn't ignore this ride!), so I've most of my riding at this end - doesn't help me with the monster climbs, but at least the homing pigeon in me will kick in for the last 20.
I don't mind not knowing the climbs, I think it will be preferable to knowing how long they are gonna drag on for.
I'd heard about the temporary bridge, an odd one that. And that Cat 2 climb at the end (looks to me like it may be the rise from Quebec up to Esh Village, following the descent from the B6301 crossroad) - well I don't know much about categories and stuff but Strava tells me it's a 117ft height gain in 0.4 miles, gradient 3.5%.
I've come to terms with probably being officially DNF, not losing sight of the fact that I started this to undertake a personal challenge and raise funds for a worthy cause. By the end of next sunday I'll hopefully be tucking into a huge chinese takeaway from Witton Gilbert (highly recommended if anyone needs one) having achieved both of those goals and I'll be very proud of myself for doing so.
I don't need their validation to tell me I did it, and the people who need the funds don't need it in order to benefit.
See you at the back! 8)0 -
Good luck to everyone on this- I'll also be joining you at the back I suspect. At least the weather forecast looks OK and a gentle westerley could be just the thing for the last 20/30 miles...0
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Good Luck everyone doing this tomorrow!
Forecast is still great, should be a good day out with some fantastic views in the hills!
Spoke to an official guy about the sweep van today at registration - he told me they aren't allowed to leave riders out on the roads if they have fallen behind, and I will have to get in the van, so it looks like i'll have to try and beat the van after all.
I could always 'resist arrest' and insist on being allowed to ride on a public open road of course, but i thought I'd save that argument for the day
See y'all tomorrow0 -
How did you get on DonutDad?0
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Got swept up and put on the mini bus approaching 60 miles.
brutal wasn't it
you?0 -
DonutDad wrote:Got swept up and put on the mini bus approaching 60 miles.
brutal wasn't it
you?
I bailed out at High force hotel, in hindsight shouldn't have started it, wasn't feeling tip top due to head cold. I thought the route, although superb scenery, and brilliant weather was purely a climbers sportive, i've done quiet a few, this made others such as etape caledonia seem like a sunday afternoon social/group ride. The group i did it with, only 2 of them finished and only one of them inside the cut off time, if the weather hadn't been so kind i think it would have a desperate situation for a lot of people on top of those hills.All lies and jest..still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest....0 -
I agree that it was a climbers sportive more than a fun sportive. One of the delights of the Caledonia is the big groups of cyclist flying along the lake for 20 miles. I managed it under 6 hours (with about 40 minute stopped due to a tyre problem of my friends). The first 40 miles were ok but from 40 to 65 and then the hill at about 70 were brutal. I cant fault the organisation and the route was scenic and the people cheering on great but I think it would have put alot people off if they signed up thinking it was like the Etape Caledonia. I wouldnt do it again but will always do the Etape Caledonia. The good points from yesterday was hitting 49mph on one of the descents though!0
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Yeah the descents were definitely the highlight for me - managed to hit 52 (ok, it was 51.9) on the way down to St John's Chapel. Being a big fella has its advantages, although everyone was re-overtaking me on the climbs.
One disappointing thing for me was the amount of food for the folks at the back. I was feeling decidedly flaky due to the lack of it, and the kind people manning the stations were even giving their own sarnies out, not that they went very far. They blamed riders at the front taking handfuls of stuff - there should have been plenty, especially for those who were spending twice as long out there. I'll definitely pack a couple of energy bars of my own, next ride I do! You live and learn...
The Caledonia sounds more my cup of tea I think!0 -
The EC isn't as tough as this (although the weather last year was mental), it sounds like it has slightly better feeding stations too, and the scenery is much better!! 0
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It sounds a great route and is somewhere I'd like to cycle, but I reckon the event is a little bit late in the year for the terrain. They got away with it this time, but it sounds like there could be some serious casualties in bad weather!
As for greedy riders taking all the food early on - Being pretty slow, I've experienced that in other events and it pees me off. I think the answer would be to give riders coupons at sign-on to exchange for food and drink at the feed stations. Make sure that there is enough to go round and ration it!0 -
The countryside is beautiful, and it made me want to explore it more being local - I need to be more adventurous.
Even though it turned out be a glorious day, there were ice warnings early on which could have been disasterous on those steep descents - it was all gone of course by the time us slow coaches got there...
Ah look, I've just received an email congratulating me on completion of the ride and telling me how extra proud I should be to own my medal - except I didn't and I haven't got one. Thanks for that.0 -
I am a fairly experienced sportive rider, both here and abroad and I have to say that was one of the toughest last 40k I have ever ridden in an event. I have never witnessed so many people walking up the climbs, I think it definitely caught some people out if they were expecting another Etape Caledonia!
I really enjoyed it, the scenery was awesome, but I dread to think how awful those roads would have been if the weather had been nasty, exposed does not get close.
I finished in just over 6 hours with two rear punctures so quite pleased with that. Thought the organisation was upto the usual Caledonia standard, although the que for the parking in the morning looked dreadful? I rode in from my hotel and felt quite smug as I passed a long line of cars queuing up the hill, I'm guessing this is why we started 15 minutes late?
Just have to say a quick shout out to one of the motorcycle outriders, I punctured right next to one, my spare tube would not inflate and my pump was not working very well. As hoards of riders flew by I began to fluster, but he supplied me with a new tube, a spare for my saddle bag, and he lent me his pump to inflate my tyre properly, a proper night in shining armour, whoever you are I owe you a pint!
I heard at the start that 700 entrants had not registered, and with less than 1400 starting that would make sense. That is a huge drop out considering the weather forecast was so good? Perhaps they knew something about those last 40 miles that we did not?0 -
It's interesting reading the response to this. I never entered myself because I left it far too late as usual (I really wanted to do it too). These are my local hill however, and so it's the norm for me. And it's nice to know they're not the norm for everyone else because they damn near kill me too! Makes me feel a bit better
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Sorry to hear you got 'swept', donutdad. But glad to hear that you are inspired to ride out that way more often. You don't need closed roads to have a lot of fun out there as traffic is pretty minimal most of the time in any case. I have ridden round the lanes for an hour and a half and seen nothing but rabitts, sheep, weasels and grouse before a car spoiled the solitude.
I made it round and was not as far down the list as I expected at 6 hours twenty something. I was running on empty for the last six miles, though, and joined the walkers for last 200 hundred yards of the hill just past 70 miles - my legs were just gone. As that was my first ever sportive I'm glad to hear they aren't all like that, as I'm not sure I'm desperately keen to do that sort of thing for fun again.
The weather was perfect - Teesdale and Weardale looked their loveliest, so the local tourism people will have been delighted. The way the mist hung in the valley in Teesdale was postcard stuff. As another local, though, I know early October isn't always like that (unfortunately). I hate to think what the DNS and DNF lists would be like if the forecast were for rain and wind (which could be snow on the top of the King of the Mountain climb - it has snowed up there in June!)
Might try the Cyclone next year, perhaps.0 -
I live in the Dales as well.
I didn't enter because when I read the details, I accepted that I couldn't average 13 mph over 78 miles of this terrain. Having seen the results and comments, I'm now actually quite proud that I can manage 10mph on our hills in our usual weather conditions. (I am will into pension age, mind). Sunday was the best weather we have had for months - can't remember when we last had such a windless day. If the weather had been more normal, there would have been a lot more non-finishers.
However, spectating made excellent entertainment. I was providing "encouragement" on the hill out of Rookhope, and I was surprised that so many riders had enough breath left to reply, and even more surprised that they were polite replies!
If you didn't complete the ride as you wanted, don't be too disappointed, it was very tough.
If you did complete it, consider this:
You did not ride the steepest, or the roughest, or the toughest roads in this area!
There's never much traffic on the hill roads, so do come back and ride our area again, but in your own time, perhaps
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