Hardboiled 300km audax - I came in last
vorsprung
Posts: 1,953
Just got home after the Hard Boiled. This is a 300km event that starts from Poole in Dorset at 2am
I was Hard Boiled and Lightly Frozen Photos on the blog
classic mistakes that led to me being the lantern rouge
1) stopping and loosing the fastish group on the way the first control, then getting lost
2) too long at breakfast stop control. Don't order the full breakfast if they look overworked and overwealmed
3) not doing a number two at the breakfast control, it's all weight to carry
4) weird mechanical problems, the rear brake cable clamp kept slipping and one of the screws holding on the cable adjusters fell out. I guess the awful road surfacing shook everything loose.
5) not eating enough during the hilly phase of the ride. Should have taken on 2 or 3 Friji when I had the chance. And a cheese sandwich. Sometimes cereal bars aren't enough
6) following the official route from Churchinford to Aximinster. I live up that end of the route and thought when I first went through it that I should go a completely different way. I should have followed my instincts
Also:
* Various batteries failed. Should have put in all new/fresh charged.
* GPS files appeared to work with my GPS device but actually failed after "249 waypoints". Apparently I need to "downsample the waypoints". When the GPS worked it was good though, I would have got lost much more without it.
I was Hard Boiled and Lightly Frozen Photos on the blog
classic mistakes that led to me being the lantern rouge
1) stopping and loosing the fastish group on the way the first control, then getting lost
2) too long at breakfast stop control. Don't order the full breakfast if they look overworked and overwealmed
3) not doing a number two at the breakfast control, it's all weight to carry
4) weird mechanical problems, the rear brake cable clamp kept slipping and one of the screws holding on the cable adjusters fell out. I guess the awful road surfacing shook everything loose.
5) not eating enough during the hilly phase of the ride. Should have taken on 2 or 3 Friji when I had the chance. And a cheese sandwich. Sometimes cereal bars aren't enough
6) following the official route from Churchinford to Aximinster. I live up that end of the route and thought when I first went through it that I should go a completely different way. I should have followed my instincts
Also:
* Various batteries failed. Should have put in all new/fresh charged.
* GPS files appeared to work with my GPS device but actually failed after "249 waypoints". Apparently I need to "downsample the waypoints". When the GPS worked it was good though, I would have got lost much more without it.
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Comments
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Chapeau - a 2am start and frozen water - proper cycling that. well played.
The dissenter is every human being at those moments of his life when he resigns
momentarily from the herd and thinks for himself.0 -
That is proper tough cycling for sure.chapeau sir.Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori0
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Nothing wrong with being Lanterne Rouge on that event - I've been it a few times on much shorter routes. Well done on your time.0
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You finished - all that matters in our world! You did look a bit broken on one of the climbs when Justin and I passed you (you'd got your helmet hung on your bars and looked a wee bit wobbly!).
Bloody hard weekend all in all.
If anyone has an hour or two spare - here's my rather longer write up of a rediculously hard weekend (sorry for the hijack vorsprung!) - http://marcusjb.wordpress.com/2013/04/0 ... coast-200/0 -
I was in a bad waymarcusjb wrote:You finished - all that matters in our world! You did look a bit broken on one of the climbs when Justin and I passed you (you'd got your helmet hung on your bars and looked a wee bit wobbly!).
Your write up is great, well worth a readIf anyone has an hour or two spare - here's my rather longer write up of a rediculously hard weekend (sorry for the hijack vorsprung!) - http://marcusjb.wordpress.com/2013/04/0 ... coast-200/0 -
marcusjb wrote:You finished - all that matters in our world! You did look a bit broken on one of the climbs when Justin and I passed you (you'd got your helmet hung on your bars and looked a wee bit wobbly!).
Bloody hard weekend all in all.
If anyone has an hour or two spare - here's my rather longer write up of a rediculously hard weekend (sorry for the hijack vorsprung!) - http://marcusjb.wordpress.com/2013/04/0 ... coast-200/
REally good read - I had no idea you guys camp out and continue the ride the next day - chapeau.The dissenter is every human being at those moments of his life when he resigns
momentarily from the herd and thinks for himself.0 -
Cleat Eastwood wrote:REally good read - I had no idea you guys camp out and continue the ride the next day - chapeau.
They are two separate rides, just being ridden back to back (because there are two days in the weekend, why cause yourself pain and suffering on just one of them?).
Camping seemed like a great idea, cheap, flexible, night time temps in early April should be fine etc.
It was fecking cold. I lay awake for ages needing a pee but not daring to get out of my sleeping bag for the fear of heading over to the loo. Still, we looked totally badass turning up to the second day with our handlebars still covered in frost!
Genuinely a hard weekend of riding. The 300 is the hardest 300 I have yet done (harder than others with even more ascent on due to the savage nature of the climbing in Wessex) and the 200 was less choppy climbing but had some real monsters to winch tired legs up.
A month to forget just how much it hurt and to head down there again to ride the 400km event in the series.0 -
marcusjb wrote:Genuinely a hard weekend of riding. The 300 is the hardest 300 I have yet done (harder than others with even more ascent on due to the savage nature of the climbing in Wessex) and the 200 was less choppy climbing but had some real monsters to winch tired legs up.
A month to forget just how much it hurt and to head down there again to ride the 400km event in the series.
I'm going for the easy option, the "Brevet Cymru" 400km the same weekend but in Wales.
Some nutters are going to try and do both the Brevet Cymru and the 400km from Poole, "The Porkers". The Wales 400 starts at 6am Saturday and the The Porkers (so called because it is a pig of a ride) at 2pm Sunday.
One person is even going to ride the 95 miles from the end of the Brevet Cymru to Poole. And he is doing the whole lot on fixed.0 -
Holy shit I want to both do that and never do that at the same time, i'm soooo in / perhaps
Good work to the OPRule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.0 -
vorsprung wrote:Some nutters are going to try and do both the Brevet Cymru and the 400km from Poole, "The Porkers". The Wales 400 starts at 6am Saturday and the The Porkers (so called because it is a pig of a ride) at 2pm Sunday.
I shall stick with just the Porkers 400 thanks! Looks more than hard enough with fresh legs, let alone 400+km (550ish if you ride between the two events) in them.
Looking forward to it greatly. Been doing a little route studying this evening now I am getting to understand the area better.0 -
vorsprung wrote:marcusjb wrote:Genuinely a hard weekend of riding. The 300 is the hardest 300 I have yet done (harder than others with even more ascent on due to the savage nature of the climbing in Wessex) and the 200 was less choppy climbing but had some real monsters to winch tired legs up.
A month to forget just how much it hurt and to head down there again to ride the 400km event in the series.
I'm going for the easy option, the "Brevet Cymru" 400km the same weekend but in Wales.
Some nutters are going to try and do both the Brevet Cymru and the 400km from Poole, "The Porkers". The Wales 400 starts at 6am Saturday and the The Porkers (so called because it is a pig of a ride) at 2pm Sunday.
One person is even going to ride the 95 miles from the end of the Brevet Cymru to Poole. And he is doing the whole lot on fixed.
Screw that. The BCM 2 weeks after the Brevet Cymru is enough for me!English Cycles V3 | Cervelo P5 | Cervelo T4 | Trek Domane Koppenberg0 -
Great write-up Marcus. Took a look at the Strava profiles. 200km looks like fun. Not so sure about 300!FCN 3 / 40
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The Dorset Coast 200 is a really lovely 200 - fantastic views etc. - with fresh legs, I'd have enjoyed it a lot more (it was a bit of a grind with 300-odd km in the legs!). It is a very different beast to the 300 as it has, primarily, nice long climbs (some very steep though!) where you can get a rhythm going and get it done. The 300 was many times harder (ignoring the extra distance) as the climbing was all very choppy and on some really small lanes with poor conditions.
But I'd strongly recommend the Dorset Coast 200 for anyone around that way - it's been running something like 36 years, so it's clearly a good route! A hard day, but very enjoyable.
The 300 on the other hand, a hard day out, less enjoyable! Hardest 300 I've done so far.0 -
Grill wrote:Screw that. The BCM 2 weeks after the Brevet Cymru is enough for me!
Quite!
I'm rather hoping the BCM will be a gentle respite from the Wessex Series (sitting 2 weeks after the Porkers and 2 weeks before the Brimstone)!
Those riding both (and riding between) will need to cover around 950km in 59 hours (with the small matter of over 11000m of ascent to deal with!).0 -
All this make me feel even more worried about Elenydd 300 this weekend and my lack of km due to poor weather; only managed a few 100 km rides this year whilst you guys are talking of 500 / ++ rides alraedy :shock: :shock:
An idea at moment is a plan B option to review @ Builth 100km to see if I commit to full 300 or cut it short to 200 leaving out though `best bits` of Tregaron, Elan valley. Legs and weather will decide !! Have just been unable to get road avg on the 100 km ( c 1000m climbs too) to over 23kph which is going to leave me a fair few hours night riding0 -
You'll be fine!
Elenydd is such a great ride. The new penultimate control and finish section are great (especially the long downhill to the finish!).
From memory, you're an old hand at this audax game who's getting back into it - so you know what you're doing. Pace yourself and you'll be fine.
It is a hard ride, but rewards you all the way around with great views etc. Apart from the Devil's Staircase section, the climbs are generally gradual ones that make for an easier time than the steep choppy stuff.
A large field and great controls help you around the event.
It is one of my very favourite rides (if not my favourite) - I am sad not to be there this year, but my domestic balance (and finances!) need to be kept in check.
I wish you well with the ride and hope the weather is good.0 -
As ever, Vorsprung has posted yet another excellent blog.
I must say, "ouch" to a 2am start for any audax. It may result in an earlier finish but what a tough starting time :shock:0 -
You'll be fine!
cheers and thanks Marcus for encouraging words and enthusiasm for event
; weather`s not looking too bad, a developing south wind to blow us home but some rain; AND might even reach double digit C temps---not been like that here many weeks 
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JamesB wrote:All this make me feel even more worried about Elenydd 300 this weekend and my lack of km due to poor weather; only managed a few 100 km rides this year whilst you guys are talking of 500 / ++ rides alraedy :shock: :shock:
The Elenydd is easier than the Hardboiled. The weather is looking a bit wet for the weekend in Wales.
People talking about doing two 400s back to back in early May shouldn't put you off a much more reasonable distance next weekend
Here's a write up of last years Elenydd https://audaxing.wordpress.com/2012/04/16/yr-elenydd/0 -
Indeed it is looking really quite wet at weekend now but much less cold than it has been here. Good write up --living just 2 miles further west (@ New Radnor ) of your `snow on hills` picture I do remember that April weekend and 1. glad I wasn`t riding that day , 2. great respect for those that came thro` village mid morning on such a foul cold wet day .
And yes it is pouring with rain here this evening!!0
