Ditchling Devil 2015

asprilla

Veronese68 wrote:

menthel wrote:

Veronese68 wrote:

Just over a week to go and my preparation has amounted to zilch. I've scarcely ridden more than 10 miles in one go this year and my breathing is still cr@p. Menthel, can you drive in the collar? If so are you going to drive the team car so you can offer us drinks to help us up any slight inclines? ;-)

Unfortunately not, especially as I am spending quite a lot of my time off my tits on codeine at present! Performance enhancing I reckon!

Yes, wasn't entirely serious there, I'd have thought it a bad idea even without the drugs. Mind you, lots of people seem to drive without looking around.
Mattsaw, I think we were kind of waved off at 8am. There was no particular rush. I'll be on a green Kinesis Pro6.

Are you riding over to the start Steve? Fancy meeting at RP? I have no idea how to get to the start.

veronese68

Asprilla wrote:

Are you riding over to the start Steve? Fancy meeting at RP? I have no idea how to get to the start.

Yes, meet at the car park by Kingston Gate? The quickest way is through the park to Robin Hood gate then up the A3 to Roehampton Lane then cut across Wimbledon Common. Can you cope with gravelly paths? Kind of like the one around the edge of RP. Actually we could meet at Robin Hood gate, that would save you going over the hill at the end of the day assuming you are beaching a car. By that time you won't want to climb any more hills.
I'm having serious doubts about my ability to complete this due to the total lack of miles I've done this year. Also getting major grief off the Mrs as I'm still not right. I will probably bail at Brighton as a result, assuming I make it that far.

marcusjb

My wife and I will be stamping your cards at the end so do say hello.

It is a fantastic route with some good lumps and some fast and flat bits to make time up.

I had planned to ride the route on Saturday, but my knee is a little sore after my first fixed 600 at the weekend.

Anyway, fingers crossed for good weather and see you all at the end!

vimfuego

Looking forward to it (I think) - first Audax for me. I'll be the one in the Harlequins cycling jersey.

elbowloh

First audax for me too. Will be riding with a bunch of peeps too. Will probably be on my black felt. If not a red Arthur Cargill.

haywire

Looking forward to this. Umming and ahing over whether to ride the 40-ish k to the start, or whether that will tip me over the edge...

menthel

Very jealous! Looks like decent enough weather for the trip too. 2016 for me for my next Devil!

asprilla

Veronese68 wrote:

Asprilla wrote:

Are you riding over to the start Steve? Fancy meeting at RP? I have no idea how to get to the start.

Yes, meet at the car park by Kingston Gate? The quickest way is through the park to Robin Hood gate then up the A3 to Roehampton Lane then cut across Wimbledon Common. Can you cope with gravelly paths? Kind of like the one around the edge of RP. Actually we could meet at Robin Hood gate, that would save you going over the hill at the end of the day assuming you are beaching a car. By that time you won't want to climb any more hills.
I'm having serious doubts about my ability to complete this due to the total lack of miles I've done this year. Also getting major grief off the Mrs as I'm still not right. I will probably bail at Brighton as a result, assuming I make it that far.

I'll be riding the whole thing. RH gate it is then. What time is good for you?

veronese68

Asprilla wrote:

I'll be riding the whole thing. RH gate it is then. What time is good for you?

7.30 at Robin Hood. Gives us loads of time to get there and have a bite to eat and sign on. I think there was food at the start point last time, certainly drinks. I'll pm you my mobile in case of any problems on the day.

leeefm

Oh yes... doughnuts.... mmmmmmm

menthel

I am soooooo bloody jealous! I have today managed an epic walk into Raynes Park and am now having to rest with a cold coffee in starpiss. Oh the indignity.

drlodge

Good lucks guys and enjoy, I'm off to Wales this weekend for 3 nights at the 5* Celtic Manor Resort, might slay a dragon on Sunday if it doesn't kill me first ;-)

veronese68

Ta, and good luck with the dragon.

menthel

Have a great ride everyone!

elbowloh

Bugger, I'm ill. Don't think I'm going to make tomorrow. My throat feels like someone has taken a cheese grater to it, my glands are swollen and walking is a fecking chore.

veronese68

Sorry to hear that Elbow, thanks Menthel. Shame you can't make it. I'll be doing Ditchling without the Devil and bail at Brighton due to pressure and worrying from the family. But I get to go to a barbecue at my sisters so I'll be having a cold beer as the rest of you ride back. :-)

asprilla

I look forward to the return leg in the headwind on my own once you've bailed on me Mr68.

veronese68

Asprilla wrote:

I look forward to the return leg in the headwind on my own once you've bailed on me Mr68.

:oops: I'm sure we'll pick up some others for you to ride with. Or you could feign an injury and come for the BBQ.

rick_chasey

Good lucks guys. Enjoy.

roger_merriman

have fun, seems quite nice weather for it!

marcusjb

Beautiful morning and 280ish riders on the road.

There's a few snaps on the Audax UK Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 642&type=1

Few of the faces on here are featured in the pics.

Hope all the riders are enjoying the day. I will be checking them in at the finish - first riders usually start to roll in after about 7.5 hours and the last about 13.5 hours, so it's going to be a long afternoon and evening!

asprilla

Well, I didn't finish.

Cramp in both thighs after Coombe Bottom so on the way through Esher I just turned off and came home rather than go up to RP and come back.

Got to say that the route, organisation and stops were amazing. I loved it, despite the pain.

veronese68

You got a lot further than me. I was utterly done for by the time I'd got up Ditchling. Beer and food at my sisters in Brighton was good and very welcome. Then had a walk along the front before being driven back. As we crossed the bottom of Kingston Hill I saw some of the riders in Molesey CC kit heading for the park.
Excellent organisation and a brilliant ride. Huge thanks to all of the organisers. I'll do it properly next year.

mattsaw

We managed to make it back, 3 out of the 5 bailed just before Coombe Lane, I felt similarly, but managed to latch onto a group with a decent pace just before Cobham.

As others have said the organisation was fantastic. Strava tells me I burnt around 5k calories. I think I ate twice that in bacon rolls cake, Jaffa cakes and pizza.

The organisers deserve a medal

menthel

Sounds like a good day to me! The organisation is superb and it is always easy to eat more calories than burned on an Audax!

menthel

Veronese68 wrote:

You got a lot further than me. I was utterly done for by the time I'd got up Ditchling. Beer and food at my sisters in Brighton was good and very welcome. Then had a walk along the front before being driven back. As we crossed the bottom of Kingston Hill I saw some of the riders in Molesey CC kit heading for the park.
Excellent organisation and a brilliant ride. Huge thanks to all of the organisers. I'll do it properly next year.

I will be there for 2016 as long as I don't have any incidents to stop it!

ugo.santalucia

Why so many DNF???

Lovely day without a breath of wind... I don't understand... :shock:

asprilla

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Why so many DNF???

Lovely day without a breath of wind... I don't understand... :shock:

I simply don't have the miles in my legs.

veronese68

Asprilla wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Why so many DNF???

Lovely day without a breath of wind... I don't understand... :shock:

I simply don't have the miles in my legs.

This, but even more so. After feeling so rough for so long I just haven't ridden my bike more than going to work and back for ages.

veronese68

Mattsaw wrote:

We managed to make it back, 3 out of the 5 bailed just before Coombe Lane, I felt similarly, but managed to latch onto a group with a decent pace just before Cobham.

As others have said the organisation was fantastic. Strava tells me I burnt around 5k calories. I think I ate twice that in bacon rolls cake, Jaffa cakes and pizza.

The organisers deserve a medal

Were you on a pale blue Ritte? Did some wierdo on a green bike pull up next to you at that horrible junction after Ditchling? Hello if that was you.
Met Vimfuego and Ian at the start. Nice to meet you Vim, good to see you again Ian. Vim was gone by St Helier so I guess he did ok. Didn't see Ian after the start. Hope you enjoyed it.