Welcome to the forum
Stevenage Start of Summertime Special 7th April
Anyone up for this? This annnual short(ish) audax event is coming up on 7 April. It starts from Stevenage and goes out east into Essex, Suffolk and back.
There are different distances. The longest is 210 km/130 miles approx. This is generally an enjoyable event. Good early season miles, fairly flat. I am entering the 210km.
Some 2012 lejoggers may remember it was our first distance training ride.
Entries have to be in by March 28th. It costs just £8. You have to enter by sending a form and cheque by post. Get the details and download the form from the Stevenage CTC website
There are different distances. The longest is 210 km/130 miles approx. This is generally an enjoyable event. Good early season miles, fairly flat. I am entering the 210km.
Some 2012 lejoggers may remember it was our first distance training ride.
Entries have to be in by March 28th. It costs just £8. You have to enter by sending a form and cheque by post. Get the details and download the form from the Stevenage CTC website
Comments
I'm up for this one again.
Vicky
What time did you do last year? Does 10 hours sound about right (130 miles @ 15mph = 8hr40, plus a couple of punctures, plus 3 x 10min snack stops, plus 30 min lunch)? Happy to do more/longer/shorter stops according to what's available and when ... and of course, whatever everyone needs on the day. (Can't imagine this will be a day where anyone says no to an unexpected tea shop)
Jane, I think I said 10 hours. In this sort of event you have to stop at checkpoints and have the little card stamped, and those are generally at cafes, so it is possible to have about three stops. Sometimes they are crowded so it takes a bit longer, so bring sandwiches!
For riding companions I said "other CCA riders" so you could put the same or put my name (and Robbie).
John
There are four main food / control stops: Thaxted (caf
Think Alistair's hoping to join us too. NB DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES is Thursday ... and it's by post
130m = lots buns
Vicky
Shaun has kindly sent me the garmin file for this... I can load and lend the garmin to John.
Touching wood as I type this, but if the weathermen are to be believed, spring will finally arrive on Sunday
Think Shaun and Mick will be joining us for the 1st third ... maybe Nathan, maybe Will ... all welcome. More the merrier
Not yet decided whether I'm going to cycle to Stevenage or take the car.
MC, it's an 8.15am start.
8 miles to start. Think 7.30am is slightly tight though (we should really sign on and pay. This will involve form filling).
Suggest 7.15am depart... and a coffee before the event start if we have time to spare
John
No?
Just me then...
See you there
I was having a little chuckle about Robbie's buns (see above). He has smart new tights now though, so no more giggling
Lovely tea stop in Thaxted and a nice pace on the way back, clocked just under 80 miles at 17mph on the nose.
Looking forward to seeing how Jane, Alistair and John got on. They looked strong when we left them. Full of beans.
I've now converted two rider's bikes to single speed after derailleur exploding episodes this week. What are the chances of that?
Went back to Fairlands this evening to see Jane, Alistair and John come in. They finished in good spirits, if a little tired. They'd all had a good ride...
It's a great route and was quite stunning in the sunshine today. We rode with some real characters, including a grunting Yorkshireman; an eccentric guy in black who yo-yo-ed about in the group like a springer spaniel; a chap in blue who kept appearing on the horizon no matter how many times we overtook him; and a very talkative recumbant cyclist who we met several times, but never really had the heart to ride with. Oh and 1 or 2 wiry old fellas who really did seem to be bike-shaped. Eclectic bunch these audax-ers
Logged 129 miles at 16.1mph (av based on moving time) with a suprising 2200m climbing. The return from Thaxted got hillier and hillier, although that might just have been my perception - admit to feeling a little tired by the end
Thanks to John and Alistair, especially for the laughs but also for the shelter. Cheers too to Shaun, Will, MC and Steve for making the 1st leg such a good ride.
Long way and an awful lot of going up hill for a flat ride.
Odd riding with audax people, they always look as if they are going slowly with little effort, but they are always in front of you too! And many on bikes that look like they weigh an awful lot. Yet another group from whom there is much to learn.
Thanks to everyone for the company, the tow out to Thaxted and to Will for the food stop, hope you got back OK.
Alistair
That chap that overtook us early on (Shaun told us he could average 18s for 190 miles...) looked so natural on the bike! Amazing form. Standard steel frame, Brooks saddle, nothing flash, just fast. Those audax riders are an interesting bunch!
John