If the wind happens to blow you up to Thaxted you'll be able to catch a bit of the first road race of the season, a few blue shirts would always be a welcome sight for a few other blue shirts going round in circles... It's the Crest RR. On the Thaxted circuit for those that know.
Hope the winter training has gone well. Doubt the Black Pig will sail that far East this Sunday as would then have to ride back home into a gale!
Personally, I may drive to Blue Egg and then ride over to RR circuit and watch the blue blur whizz by! Is this the circuit (found on East London Velo's website):
At the junction of the B184 & Bolford Street in Thaxted take the B184 towards Saffron Walden on Newbiggen Street (B184), continue onto Walden Road (B184) & Thaxted Road (B184) to Howlet End, turn left (M) onto unclassified road Water Lane, turn left (M) onto unclassified road Ivy Todd Hill, continue on Mill Road through Debden then Thaxted Road to Debden Green, at T junction (Thaxted) turn left (M) onto Newbiggen Street (B184) to complete the circuit. The FINISH and Prime Point is in Water Lane at the end of the Lay Bye 0.8 mile from the left turn at Howlett End.
Good luck to the Ashwell team on Sunday and may see you charge past! Go Ashwell!
A new adventure for the black pig
Speeds between 10 mph and 25 mph according to the wind
Great timing for the train
Return foxton , Shepreth , Royston , Ashwell done at record speed
£3.90 for return group deal a bargain
Sign of things to come
Bring on the bury ride
Great to do different roads
thanks John for organising
Great ride today, nice and safe with the wind mostly behind, so no dangerous cross winds to trouble us.
10 mile prologue Hitchin - Ashwell blown along at 18mph average, including fastest personal time up Claybush Hill.
Ashwell - Cambridge 42 miles @ 15.5mph, slowed by psychopaths on the cycle paths in Cambridge. Got faster and faster once we got over the hills to Buckland. Very fast section from there to Barkway, around 23mph average with Cap'n to the fore giving it full gas up the inclines! Tony the Bullet very frisky, as was Big Nick, the latter fortified by 3 egg breakfast and showing us he's got good form for the Spanish mountainous cycling holiday. John R with a huge effort just north of Saffron Walden and Dom going well, despite being off the bike and mostly running recently.
Plenty of cyclists out near Saffron Walden for the Crest road race. Unfortunately we had a train to catch and ploughed on to Cambridge. Coffees and sandwiches on the train and new personal best achieved on the return journey to Ashwell - averaged over 50mph into the headwind and seemed effortless!
Glad you enjoyed your ride to Bury, Alex!
More of this again soon. Blue Egg to Maglia Rosso is Saturday 21st March.
Comments
Plenty of wind on Sunday to blow up your mizzen!
25-30mph strong Westerly breeze with gusts up to 40mph.
Must be careful we're not 3 sheets to the wind.
The Flailing Weatherman
Hope the winter training has gone well. Doubt the Black Pig will sail that far East this Sunday as would then have to ride back home into a gale!
Personally, I may drive to Blue Egg and then ride over to RR circuit and watch the blue blur whizz by! Is this the circuit (found on East London Velo's website):
At the junction of the B184 & Bolford Street in Thaxted take the B184 towards Saffron Walden on Newbiggen Street (B184), continue onto Walden Road (B184) & Thaxted Road (B184) to Howlet End, turn left (M) onto unclassified road Water Lane, turn left (M) onto unclassified road Ivy Todd Hill, continue on Mill Road through Debden then Thaxted Road to Debden Green, at T junction (Thaxted) turn left (M) onto Newbiggen Street (B184) to complete the circuit.
The FINISH and Prime Point is in Water Lane at the end of the Lay Bye 0.8 mile from the left turn at Howlett End.
Good luck to the Ashwell team on Sunday and may see you charge past! Go Ashwell!
FD
Will check out the wind speed tomorrow for Sunday
Maybe gusts too high and turbo time
Keep you posted
CP
But 20mph winds with 35 mph gusts
In two minds
Anyone fancy going for it ?
If not turbo
Let me know
CP
Time to raise the mizzen and go for a ride
So head north east with the wind and back on the train
So feel like a pro - wiz along with no effort
Bring some money, 30 mins back on the train
Should be fun !
CP
But probably saffron walden and then Cambridge
Trains at 11.55 and 12.55 depending how we get on
25 mins back to Ashwell
FD leading the way
Back in time for the rugby
CP
One more will not matter :-)
should be fun
CP
Here's tomorrow's route to take advantage of the wind expected to be initially a westerly, then a south westerly:
https://connect.garmin.com/course/8934408#
Ashwell, Sandon (5 miles) Buckland (10 miles) Meesden (15) Clavering (20) Arkesden, Wendons Ambo, Saffron Walden (25), Hadstock (30) Linton, Balsham (35 miles Cap'n kindly goes on front into head/sidewind), Fulbourn (40 miles, Cap'n stays on front into headwind), Cambridge (45).
45 miles, should make 16mph average with a 20mph tail wind most of the way. Feel like a pro, indeed. Perhaps a bit slower!
So 2 3/4 hours with a little wriggle room in time for 12.55pm train. Arrives back at Ashwell station at 13.21pm. £5.90 fare or Hitchin 13.34pm £7.90.
FD
A new adventure for the black pig
Speeds between 10 mph and 25 mph according to the wind
Great timing for the train
Return foxton , Shepreth , Royston , Ashwell done at record speed
£3.90 for return group deal a bargain
Sign of things to come
Bring on the bury ride
Great to do different roads
thanks John for organising
CP
Thanks for the suggestion! Otherwise would have ended up on the turbo again...
Great ride today, nice and safe with the wind mostly behind, so no dangerous cross winds to trouble us.
10 mile prologue Hitchin - Ashwell blown along at 18mph average, including fastest personal time up Claybush Hill.
Ashwell - Cambridge 42 miles @ 15.5mph, slowed by psychopaths on the cycle paths in Cambridge. Got faster and faster once we got over the hills to Buckland. Very fast section from there to Barkway, around 23mph average with Cap'n to the fore giving it full gas up the inclines! Tony the Bullet very frisky, as was Big Nick, the latter fortified by 3 egg breakfast and showing us he's got good form for the Spanish mountainous cycling holiday. John R with a huge effort just north of Saffron Walden and Dom going well, despite being off the bike and mostly running recently.
Plenty of cyclists out near Saffron Walden for the Crest road race. Unfortunately we had a train to catch and ploughed on to Cambridge. Coffees and sandwiches on the train and new personal best achieved on the return journey to Ashwell - averaged over 50mph into the headwind and seemed effortless!
Glad you enjoyed your ride to Bury, Alex!
More of this again soon. Blue Egg to Maglia Rosso is Saturday 21st March.
Flying (Scotsman) Dutchman
Certainly worked for se