http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: LEL 2017 riding or volunteering? en Sun, 17 May 2026 08:29:34 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15464&page=5#post-364176 Tue, 11 Oct 2022 17:35:00 +0000 mcairney 364176@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Sad news and far too young. RIP </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15464&page=5#post-364174 Tue, 11 Oct 2022 17:18:53 +0000 edinburgh87 364174@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@hankchief - there but for the grace of God etc…awful news and a sobering reminder </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15464&page=5#post-364173 Tue, 11 Oct 2022 16:31:51 +0000 bill 364173@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@hankchief very sad news indeed </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15464&page=5#post-364172 Tue, 11 Oct 2022 16:16:31 +0000 gembo 364172@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@hankchief, sorry to hear about this. Slim margins we roll with. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15464&page=5#post-364167 Tue, 11 Oct 2022 15:04:05 +0000 HankChief 364167@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Really gutted to hear that one of the lads I finished LEL2017 with has been killed while riding to work.</p> <p>He was one of the group I teamed up with in Louth and completely turned my ride around with their cheery outlook and banter.</p> <p>Such a shame to be lost at 44.</p> <p>Really puts some of the nonsense about local cycle safety into perspective...</p> <p>Such a shame </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15464&page=5#post-312168 Wed, 07 Aug 2019 08:47:28 +0000 chdot 312168@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>From this race to -</p> <p><a href="https://road.cc/content/news/264631-transcontinental-race-no7-2019-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://road.cc/content/news/264631-transcontinental-race-no7-2019-beginners-guide</a> </p> <p>To winning -</p> <p><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/49248126" rel="nofollow">https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/49248126</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15464&page=5#post-259245 Mon, 04 Sep 2017 14:05:05 +0000 Cyclingmollie 259245@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks HankChief. It does convey the effort and discomfort, the distance and the navigational challenges. I've not ridden anything like that far but I recognise the whack a mole cycling pain thing: knees, neck, shoulders, back, saddle, feet etc. If it was just leg pain - well I wouldn't say it would be easy but it would be closer to what I imagined long distance cycling would be like. It's funny how different events can be from how you imagine them. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15464&page=5#post-259185 Mon, 04 Sep 2017 00:27:22 +0000 HankChief 259185@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I finally got round to concluding my write up of LEL.</p> <p>I'll warn you that it is a bit long, but then so was LEL. I hope it gives an indication of what it is like to ride it.</p> <p><a href="https://hankchiefblog.wordpress.com/2017/08/18/lel2017-how-far-can-you-go/" rel="nofollow">https://hankchiefblog.wordpress.com/2017/08/18/lel2017-how-far-can-you-go/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15464&page=5#post-256719 Sat, 05 Aug 2017 13:27:34 +0000 Cyclops 256719@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I got rid of the last of the blankets to the SSPCA. I just need to dispose of some boxes and my house can stop looking like a cross between a parcel depot and a transit camp! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15464&page=5#post-256702 Fri, 04 Aug 2017 21:01:09 +0000 Frenchy 256702@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Cyclops - I'm going past the SSPCA place at Balerno tomorrow. Should I ask if they want them?</p> <p>The Retired Greyhound Trust branch in Liberton may also be interested, but probably don't have space for a lot. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15464&page=5#post-256701 Fri, 04 Aug 2017 20:48:04 +0000 Cyclops 256701@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@acsimpson, Yes I tried Bethany but was told they don't accept bedding as they get it all from Fresh Start. Blytheswood are more than welcome to them as I've found 200 blankets don't half take up a lot of room in your house. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15464&page=5#post-256700 Fri, 04 Aug 2017 20:34:36 +0000 acsimpson 256700@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Cyclops, I assume you have tried Bethany but have you tried Blytheswood? They are based in Inverness-shire but I know some local volunteers so can ask for you if you like. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15464&page=5#post-256696 Fri, 04 Aug 2017 18:08:59 +0000 Cyclops 256696@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've got rid of all the towels. Still got about 200 blankets (Streetwork took about 300). I've tried every homeless charity (and the cat and dog home) that I or Crisis could think of but nobody has any storage place. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15464&page=5#post-256695 Fri, 04 Aug 2017 17:54:32 +0000 Cyclingmollie 256695@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks stickman. I will pass that on. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15464&page=5#post-256689 Fri, 04 Aug 2017 16:12:50 +0000 Stickman 256689@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Still hundreds of Ikea towels to be disposed of.</em></p> <p>The Dog &amp; Cat Home are always looking for towels. If you have nowhere else then I'm sure they'd take the lot from you. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15464&page=5#post-256688 Fri, 04 Aug 2017 16:04:19 +0000 Cyclingmollie 256688@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@gembo wow. Mind you early Tours de France were intended to whittle the finishers down to just one. That would need a lot of hills (or badgers). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15464&page=5#post-256687 Fri, 04 Aug 2017 16:01:32 +0000 gembo 256687@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Cyclingmollie, pretty good DNF rate, that Scotland tpo Wales ru n the DNF rate was 76% </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15464&page=5#post-256686 Fri, 04 Aug 2017 15:57:47 +0000 Cyclingmollie 256686@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The DNF rate is provisionally 34%. Cyclops has a van full of blankets from the Edinburgh control that are going to a homeless charity in Edinburgh. Still hundreds of Ikea towels to be disposed of. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15464&page=5#post-256685 Fri, 04 Aug 2017 15:48:21 +0000 ARobComp 256685@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A rider hit a badger. Aparently this isn't the first badger related incident on LEL with a similar badger related off in 2013. Rider fine, badger status unknown. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15464&page=5#post-256683 Fri, 04 Aug 2017 15:28:06 +0000 gembo 256683@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Unlike LEL this does not appear to have been any fun</p> <p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-40826311" rel="nofollow">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-40826311</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15464&page=5#post-256682 Fri, 04 Aug 2017 15:12:45 +0000 Cyclingmollie 256682@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Then there was another indian who came all the way just to volunteer. </em></p> <p>I don't think I can say strongly enough how enjoyable it was to work as a volunteer. In fact I am really missing it today. It's like coming home from a really great holiday. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15464&page=5#post-256673 Fri, 04 Aug 2017 12:12:52 +0000 acsimpson 256673@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks for clarifying the helmet/innertube setup. I was trying to imagine all sorts of setups but couldn't work out what was going on from your tweet. Glad he finished, and found a good use for a cycle helmet.</p> <p>Here's a couple of Gems from the LEL facbook page:<br /> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/392520757598601/permalink/750755171775156/">That mountainbike from Laidback's post above</a> (completed the ride this morning, just 3 hours outside time, P45) He only seems to have stopped for more than 2 hours at one control.</p> <p>Then there was <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/392520757598601/permalink/749073108610029/">another indian</a> who came all the way just to volunteer. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15464&page=5#post-256671 Fri, 04 Aug 2017 11:03:34 +0000 HankChief 256671@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Cliff finished at 4am this morning with 5 hours in hand. Chapeau.</p> <p>Frenchy - you got mail. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15464&page=5#post-256668 Fri, 04 Aug 2017 10:15:31 +0000 Frenchy 256668@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@HC - Turns out there's a bug in my workaround for downloading your gpx files - it resets the start time to the time I download the files.</p> <p>I'm pretty sure I can sort this, but if you're impatient, you could export the individual files yourself and send them to me. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15464&page=4#post-256659 Fri, 04 Aug 2017 08:49:50 +0000 Frenchy 256659@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Did Cliff finish last night? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15464&page=4#post-256658 Fri, 04 Aug 2017 08:29:38 +0000 Darkerside 256658@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The @sirwobbly Pashley Governor adventure came to an end at Spalding. Timed/knee-ed out.</p> <p>Heroic stuff. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15464&page=4#post-256654 Fri, 04 Aug 2017 07:50:16 +0000 Frenchy 256654@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>So turns out that downloading other people's GPX files is (now?) a Premium feature. This means I can't mass download them the way I was planning, but I have found a workaround. It'll just take me 15 minutes instead of 5, and I need to walk the dog the now. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15464&page=4#post-256649 Thu, 03 Aug 2017 22:24:21 +0000 HankChief 256649@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@frenchy, Yes Please. The harder ask is to find another 7am starter and copy their data for the first 5 miles because I forgot to start my Garmin. D'oh.</p> <p>Don't copy the data for the chap who 100m out had his tyre burst from a badly fitted mudguard though... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15464&page=4#post-256644 Thu, 03 Aug 2017 21:15:51 +0000 Frenchy 256644@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@HC - if you want your Strava segments merged together into one file, let me know; I can do this fairly easily. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15464&page=4#post-256640 Thu, 03 Aug 2017 19:23:29 +0000 HankChief 256640@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Looks like Cliff is on track to finish tonight.</p> <p>"<em><br /> I'm feeling brilliant.<br /> Got to the head of a train through the fens and derny'd them to St Ives.<br /> Going to leave here at 1930</em><br /> "</p> <p>We need people like Cliff to take the wind for the team, not to mention getting me out of a hole by taking my bike down. Top bloke :-) </p>