well done folks, looks like you had a great time. very upset i missed this, have been hard to live with the last few days - very grumpy. out of interest, when exactly did the belgian beers appear.. breakfast, lunch or dinner?!
Cheers for a great trip out shame we had so many punctures, but I think we had some great luck with the weather.
And a big thanks to Tim for a picnic for fit for a king could not believe you had so much weight on your bike no wonder pete was pushing you up the hills.
From my Garmin stats, I turned my pedals around about 34,500 times yesterday, enjoyed every turn - great day out.
Thanks to Martin for organizing and for the much prized badge! The biggest thanks has to go to Tim though, for lugging about 10kg of 'Belgian picnic' all the way to Narborough - Chapeau!
thanks martin for the organisation and the route, cracking day out and not bad training, thanks to tim for that pastie they tasted great from just eating bars and chicken rolls!
Highlights - some great roads in the last section especially riding through Holkham Hall estate, Belgian beer and of course the fish and chips. Lowlights - Narborough village store who only sell pet food (could be a good business opportunity there)! and riding home in the dark and nearly getting killed by a madman driving at 100mph down the A1198.
Thanks Martin for organising the trip and badges, and chapeau to Tim.
Well. All good in the end, I hope for everyone. And a grand day out with a cracking turnout. It was a pleasure to ride with such good company. Great chatter and banter. Certainly, nobody seemed to mind that we arrived over 2hrs later than scheduled following our 12 punctures. It would be wrong to make too much of those though. Nobody seemed to mind the hanging around, and it must be said all punctures and one newly applied tyre were dealt with expediently.
Useless weather forecast largely got it wrong. It never really rained, so I pointlessly carried a complete change of kit the whole way. Training, as Jon says, I suppose. By the time we'd got through Ely, the sun was popping out.
Things didn't start too well despite the decent conditions. A rather ragged effort on the rush hour A1198 to the Col du Arrington didn't bode well for peleton discipline. Wardrobe malfunctions being corrected with riders not off the road has probably removed us off the Huntingdon Commuters Association Christmas card list. I went telling drivers I was from CC Ashford. That oughta throw them off the scent.
Any way. Soon, we were on the quieter lanes and a little better in shape. Steady high teens mph throughout, blasted along by the tailwind. We said farewell to Will at Ely, lucky to see him having had to have taken the day off with a sore lip, and went on towards Downham Market. Along the way we got into the groove and a bit carried away along the tailwind funnelled dykes and Ten Mile Bank. The local farmers had duly obliged here to make our ride all the more authentic to a Flanders experience and tipped muck hither and thither. I'm sure everyone has realised by now it's the sort of Belgian toothpaste that don't really come out even on a proper wash. This ride didn't have an official tour shirt, but at least we'll all share that faintly beige spotted spattered look on rides in the future to bind us.
We only had several hundred metres of A10 action. Yet, of course, we had a puncture, and poor Strappy had to see to his Hardcase in the off-road, while the lorries sped past. Shades of standing with Adam C's puncture and a mini pump on a Belgian motorway last year. It's something of a tradition it seems.
The next puncture was just a mile further on near the Downham Market turn. We half expected Stef to rock up. A triple-badge effort that would have been. Not to be this time Stef eh - but that'll just make 2014 sweeter. And on we went. The tornados from RAF Marham kept us entertained, and one went right over our head as it landed. Then we arrived at late-lunch stop Narborough town bench. I kid you not, the shop had ran out of food and drink, and just had dog biscuits, fire lighters and rat poison on offer. Unbelievable. A little concerned, I returned to the others who didn't need to top up to see Tim D lining up 10 Belgian beers that were padded out in his bag by Crump's sausage rolls and pasties. Unbelievable! I know it had been fairly flat the last 70 miles or so, but that some serious effort. Double-badge moment, right there. And probably something of a new tradition. Never really refuelled on Duvel before, but have to say it worked a treat. A bit too effective, I'd have probably said yes to a suggestion to abandon and 'av it in Narborough for the rest of the day. Cheers Pete for the nip of brandy at South Creake too.
Spirits lifted somewhat, it was now the home run to Wells. I didn't have a Garmin with me, but I did have a Vic. "Wrong way!" it would bellow. "You've added miles!". ;-) I have to admit, though I know the way, at times it all felt a bit oxygen deprived like when John Noakes was training at altitude to do a parachute jump on Blue Peter and was talking gibberish about Shep. Thanks to everyone for putting up with the occasional route blooper.
Holkham is a treat and then Vince allegedly won the sprint to the Wells village sign - the 'proper one' apparently. Excellent fresh haddock on the harbour and we resolved to move on quickish to make the train, conscious we'd get more punctures as the surface was a perfect storm of sticky n' flinty. There were a couple of riders of the edge of the bonk, but Wells has it all these days and it won't be long until there's a Michelin star restaurant one year.
The headwind never really caned us on the way back. We split into two groups when the inevitable puncture did arrive. A good idea actually. Sparked up the lights for the lovely flat last 10 miles or so and found ourselves all together again in the Fenman pub for a celebratory ale opposite King's Lynn station, having just missed the 6:37 train, with an hour to kill. We boarded the 7:37, the rail staff were indifferent to us all piling on and we soon set up 'Club Carriage 4' at the back of the train with our cheap KP nuts and Morrison's carry-out booze. We were feeling quite proud of ourselves. Some had cycled further than ever before. Respect to Jill for being the only lady in the peleton too. And the young lads, of course, Jon and Dan who did so well.
Got home 9:30ish, a little bit in the doghouse, so it was a Heinz tomato soup and mild curry Super-Noodles recovery food situation, but as Kylie Minogue once sang 'I-I-I I wouldn't change, I-I-I I wouldn't change a thing'.
So, all safe and well. I will revert to a first week in Sept date in 2014 for this ride. Before then there'll be a start-of-season ride maybe April/May. Has been around Hatfield forest before, though I've got a few alternatives in mind I might suggest.
awesome report Martin hah, (a Vic) thanks very much for planning it & all the effort can't get over tim's seatpost mounted keg and that raf tornado 100ft above us was insane. I think we actually did alright for weather I was just listening to the forecast and heard 'hurricane force winds to hit the south' that would have been interesting on the final leg..
Yeh. We did all right for end of Oct. Decent tailwind and very warm.
Check out me video all! Not got the time to get all David Lynch with the footage. Have just glued it all together and applied a bit of 80s pop on it. But captures the mood.
Martin, many thanks for organising a great day out, Tim for the stunning Belgian lunch and to everyone for making it a memorable day. I got back to Ashwell at 9.35 after a slow ride from Royston station to make it just under 135 miles on the clock. A good day's ride. John
Yes, I concur, a huge thanks to Martin for organising this. My first doubts about finishing came about 50 miles (I know, quite early on - eek) when we were averaging 28 mph and I thought, "I'm never going to manage this". Luckily the pace did slow and a big thanks to everyone who motivated me to continue on and those who got me through to Kings Lynn train station (very welcome sight). Was a great (I think) day out and I may even come back for more next year. Well done everyone:-)
Many thanks to all for a great day out. Top route planning by Martin and the buffet lunch provided by Tim was just legendary!!! I think we were blessed with good weather and the fish (well double jumbo sausage) and chips tasted all the better after so many miles in the saddle. Thanks again and see you all soon.
Comments
out of interest, when exactly did the belgian beers appear.. breakfast, lunch or dinner?!
Cheers for a great trip out shame we had so many punctures, but I think we had some great luck with the weather.
And a big thanks to Tim for a picnic for fit for a king could not believe you had so much weight on your bike no wonder pete was pushing you up the hills.
Well done to all roll next year.
strappy.
Thanks to Martin for organizing and for the much prized badge!
The biggest thanks has to go to Tim though, for lugging about 10kg of 'Belgian picnic' all the way to Narborough - Chapeau!
thanks to tim for that pastie they tasted great from just eating bars and chicken rolls!
Highlights - some great roads in the last section especially riding through Holkham Hall estate, Belgian beer and of course the fish and chips.
Lowlights - Narborough village store who only sell pet food (could be a good business opportunity there)! and riding home in the dark and nearly getting killed by a madman driving at 100mph down the A1198.
Thanks Martin for organising the trip and badges, and chapeau to Tim.
Hope Vic you soon recover from your spill.
Well. All good in the end, I hope for everyone. And a grand day out with a cracking turnout. It was a pleasure to ride with such good company. Great chatter and banter. Certainly, nobody seemed to mind that we arrived over 2hrs later than scheduled following our 12 punctures. It would be wrong to make too much of those though. Nobody seemed to mind the hanging around, and it must be said all punctures and one newly applied tyre were dealt with expediently.
Useless weather forecast largely got it wrong. It never really rained, so I pointlessly carried a complete change of kit the whole way. Training, as Jon says, I suppose. By the time we'd got through Ely, the sun was popping out.
Things didn't start too well despite the decent conditions. A rather ragged effort on the rush hour A1198 to the Col du Arrington didn't bode well for peleton discipline. Wardrobe malfunctions being corrected with riders not off the road has probably removed us off the Huntingdon Commuters Association Christmas card list. I went telling drivers I was from CC Ashford. That oughta throw them off the scent.
Any way. Soon, we were on the quieter lanes and a little better in shape. Steady high teens mph throughout, blasted along by the tailwind. We said farewell to Will at Ely, lucky to see him having had to have taken the day off with a sore lip, and went on towards Downham Market. Along the way we got into the groove and a bit carried away along the tailwind funnelled dykes and Ten Mile Bank. The local farmers had duly obliged here to make our ride all the more authentic to a Flanders experience and tipped muck hither and thither. I'm sure everyone has realised by now it's the sort of Belgian toothpaste that don't really come out even on a proper wash. This ride didn't have an official tour shirt, but at least we'll all share that faintly beige spotted spattered look on rides in the future to bind us.
We only had several hundred metres of A10 action. Yet, of course, we had a puncture, and poor Strappy had to see to his Hardcase in the off-road, while the lorries sped past. Shades of standing with Adam C's puncture and a mini pump on a Belgian motorway last year. It's something of a tradition it seems.
Spirits lifted somewhat, it was now the home run to Wells. I didn't have a Garmin with me, but I did have a Vic. "Wrong way!" it would bellow. "You've added miles!". ;-) I have to admit, though I know the way, at times it all felt a bit oxygen deprived like when John Noakes was training at altitude to do a parachute jump on Blue Peter and was talking gibberish about Shep. Thanks to everyone for putting up with the occasional route blooper.
Holkham is a treat and then Vince allegedly won the sprint to the Wells village sign - the 'proper one' apparently. Excellent fresh haddock on the harbour and we resolved to move on quickish to make the train, conscious we'd get more punctures as the surface was a perfect storm of sticky n' flinty. There were a couple of riders of the edge of the bonk, but Wells has it all these days and it won't be long until there's a Michelin star restaurant one year.
The headwind never really caned us on the way back. We split into two groups when the inevitable puncture did arrive. A good idea actually. Sparked up the lights for the lovely flat last 10 miles or so and found ourselves all together again in the Fenman pub for a celebratory ale opposite King's Lynn station, having just missed the 6:37 train, with an hour to kill. We boarded the 7:37, the rail staff were indifferent to us all piling on and we soon set up 'Club Carriage 4' at the back of the train with our cheap KP nuts and Morrison's carry-out booze. We were feeling quite proud of ourselves. Some had cycled further than ever before. Respect to Jill for being the only lady in the peleton too. And the young lads, of course, Jon and Dan who did so well.
Got home 9:30ish, a little bit in the doghouse, so it was a Heinz tomato soup and mild curry Super-Noodles recovery food situation, but as Kylie Minogue once sang 'I-I-I I wouldn't change, I-I-I I wouldn't change a thing'.
So, all safe and well. I will revert to a first week in Sept date in 2014 for this ride. Before then there'll be a start-of-season ride maybe April/May. Has been around Hatfield forest before, though I've got a few alternatives in mind I might suggest.
thanks very much for planning it & all the effort
can't get over tim's seatpost mounted keg
and that raf tornado 100ft above us was insane.
I think we actually did alright for weather I was just listening to the forecast and heard 'hurricane force winds to hit the south' that would have been interesting on the final leg..
Check out me video all! Not got the time to get all David Lynch with the footage. Have just glued it all together and applied a bit of 80s pop on it. But captures the mood.
John
and add another puncture to the list, I just took my bike out to clean it and its punctured!!