http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: LEL 2021(2) - Riding or Volunteering en Sun, 24 May 2026 08:17:43 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19582&page=7#post-369891 Wed, 23 Aug 2023 07:23:02 +0000 gembo 369891@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Reports back from PBP suggest th3 once banned aero bars are prevalent </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19582&page=7#post-369889 Tue, 22 Aug 2023 22:58:39 +0000 acsimpson 369889@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>If you look at it as 5 separate rides on consecutive days then it's not any further.</p> <p>Eating is an unsold benefit of aero bars. The ability to have both hands free to unwrap a bar or peel a banana while not compromising steering is great. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19582&page=7#post-369884 Tue, 22 Aug 2023 19:42:42 +0000 nobrakes 369884@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yes I have aero bars. They are fab - on 70mm risers and quite far back so not very aero but quite comfortable. I also like that with some elastic bands you can use them as a dinner table and eat stuff on the go. </p> <p>I just need to keep pushing out the distance and see how it goes. It’s so far beyond anything I’ve tried before! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19582&page=7#post-369880 Tue, 22 Aug 2023 17:27:15 +0000 acsimpson 369880@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>If you are at all worried about your hands I would highly recommend some aero bars. You don't have to position them particularly low or even aero but the ability to take the wait of your hands and rest your wrists is worth it. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19582&page=7#post-369877 Tue, 22 Aug 2023 16:18:53 +0000 nobrakes 369877@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I have a foolhardy notion to enter the next one. Still not sure if it’s a dumb idea given my history of body problems. A few years ago I couldn’t ride more than an hour on a normal bike so I’ve definitely improved - did a couple of 300s this year and felt not too bad. Main worry is the hands which I need fully operational for my job.</p> <p>Going to attempt a SR series next year and see how I go.</p> <p>Trying to keep some form on the recumbent just in case… </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19582&page=7#post-369873 Tue, 22 Aug 2023 13:43:13 +0000 chdot 369873@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Time for a new thread</p> <p>“</p> <p>In Scotland, riders will visit Hawick (new for 2025) and Moffat before reaching the Scottish Capital. </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://bikebiz.com/london-edinburgh-london-2025-route-released/amp/" rel="nofollow">https://bikebiz.com/london-edinburgh-london-2025-route-released/amp/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19582&page=7#post-362717 Tue, 16 Aug 2022 17:30:55 +0000 gembo 362717@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Not as odd as the rest of them though </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19582&page=7#post-362706 Tue, 16 Aug 2022 16:19:09 +0000 Greenroofer 362706@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@bill I did wonder. That non-smiling look must have been quite hard for you to pull off so convincingly.. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19582&page=7#post-362700 Tue, 16 Aug 2022 13:36:21 +0000 bill 362700@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Were they told to look miserable?</em></p> <p>@Greenroofer Pretty much yes. No smiling I was told, so that's why I look odd. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19582&page=7#post-362698 Tue, 16 Aug 2022 13:20:26 +0000 bill 362698@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Awwww, Thanks for rooting for us! Loved reading all of this post-ridding! As much as I love this forum I find it a little fiddly on the phone. </p> <p>Kudos to @Murun for posting along! I opted for FB SBR page (and WhatApp, emails).</p> <p>Great seeing @HankChief and @edinburgh87 in Inners, @gembo at home and thanks for chumming me to Fairmilehead. It was good to wear the SBR jersey so that people could recognise me. That way I also met @Murun ("I don't know who he is but he is wearing an SBR jersey, therefore is my friend") and we kept bumping into each other on various controls.<br /> I even got to meet @acsimpson while he was having his arrival hot potato and I was having my departure Victoria sponge in Malton.<br /> Also @sheeptoucher hosted me in his spare room in Beattock (and provided an amazing bath towel) which was so much better than a hall full of snorers. </p> <p>Day 2 and 4 (the hilly bits) were the hardest and left me gubbed. I didn't mind the heat TBH. Interestingly my heartrate never really went up much. I just kept on plodding and got there in the end. </p> <p>It's difficult to do such ride without all the support at the controls. Food available any time and a bed for a couple of hours. During the Eightsome Reel last year we struggled to find food in late/early hours and I grew weaker and weaker as the ride progressed. </p> <p>It was rather amazing being in that bubble. Every rider doing their own thing but you would see them frequently, ride along for a bit but also ride on your own a lot. </p> <p>I had one weak moment on day 4 near Alston when I sat on the side of the road but before I could start feeling sorry for myself I was picked up by a fellow SBR member. So it was definitely nice to have someone to ride with when things got hard. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19582&page=6#post-362648 Sun, 14 Aug 2022 19:36:33 +0000 edinburgh87 362648@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Great, was hopeful he'd make it. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19582&page=6#post-362646 Sun, 14 Aug 2022 19:32:15 +0000 HankChief 362646@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Apparently the hunt wheel guy, rode on to Brampton where a pal met him with a replacement wheel and he completed the ride. I forget where I heard that though... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19582&page=6#post-362645 Sun, 14 Aug 2022 18:58:27 +0000 edinburgh87 362645@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Cracking summary @hankcheif - hard to add much! Echo your comment about not finding out what happened to people. Had one guy (Dutch / German I think) arrive early on Tues morning, massive time in hand, adamant that he'd had enough and was DNF'ing. Said to have something to eat and a lie down, and see how he feels. Never found out what happened to him. </p> <p>There was also the guy whose Hunt wheels fell to bits and was trying to source a replacement. Again, stacks of time but don't know if he packed or not. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19582&page=6#post-362643 Sun, 14 Aug 2022 15:16:19 +0000 HankChief 362643@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thought I'd share a few thoughts on volunteering (No idea how comparable our control was to others)</p> <p><strong>1. Staffing</strong>: Lots of different people volunteer; former riders (i.e. me), partners/children of riders (to get a guaranteed rider place), people in the audax/cycling community including those from overseas, friends /children of the controllers, random locals.</p> <p>There was a real mix of people there and also a mix of when people we available to help. From people doing a single shift to those who were there all the way through. Everyone was welcomed and found something to do.</p> <p>We also had visits from 'special forces' who were ultra keen individuals who were being bussed around the country to help controls deal with the bulge multiple times over. Not a role for the work shy.</p> <p><strong>2. Rota</strong>: Notionally we had a rota with volunteers spread across 3 eight hour shifts, so we'd have fresh volunteers coming on to replace the weary ones. A lot of extra hours were worked though and volunteers were being told to take a break.</p> <p><strong>3. Tasks</strong>:<br /> <strong>A. Kitchen</strong>: We had 1000 riders to feed enough calories to, to get them back on their bikes and heading down the road. Our control took the decision to get soup, quiche, jacket potatoes, porridge &amp; cakes, so that it was just a case of heating up and serving them. We did have the school's dinner ladies working a daytime shift but we were on our own overnight.</p> <p>Explaining what each of the choices were was a big task to tired riders for whom English wasn't their first language. As was washing up the dishes.</p> <p><strong>B. Registration</strong>: Welcoming riders, stamping their brevet card, recording them on the tracking system, pointing out where all the facilities were and dealing with any questions requirements (first aid, mechanical support, blankets, charging points etc.)</p> <p><strong>C. Main area / random</strong>: clearing tables, filling water bowsers, directing to beds, maintaining coffee/ tea facilities, emptying bins &amp; keeping everything clean and finally (&amp; most importantly) consoling/enthusing riders and dealing with any issues they had, which including trying to source wheels, shoes, pharmaceutical advice, warmth in their body, onward travel etc. </p> <p><strong>D. Set up and pack up</strong>. Inflating/deflating air bed, sorting out signage, tables chairs etc.</p> <p>I thought our controller had an excellent attitude/briefing. We weren't being allocated specific tasks, we should just do whatever we saw needed doing and to look after each other by offering to swap roles / get food/drinks for each other and importantly telling each other to take breaks.</p> <p>I spent most of my time in the main area, (but I also missed @murun because I was on registration and didn't get spot his arrival/message), but I also did a bit of roving work - setting up an additional sleeping area at the other end of the village, going back there at 5am to steal some of their milk (they were all asleep so didn't notice), buying 20litres of milk from the corner shop when it opened at 6am so we didn't run out of porridge, and getting some instance coffee when the filter coffee machines packed in.</p> <p><strong>4. The Bulge</strong><br /> A lot of time at the control was spent worrying about when the bulge would hit us. Previously Innerleithen got really busy in the afternoon of Tuesday, but the heat, hills, headwind and Dunfermline detour meant riders were several hours behind that, so whilst we had riders trickling in during Tuesday daytime it never got crazy, but we knew it was coming...</p> <p>We had a website that told us how many we had checked in and also the same for Moffat &amp; Dunfermline, so we could see them getting hit with 100 riders an hour, whilst we were still only on 30 or so.</p> <p>With the bulge coming later &amp; the next stop after us (Eskdalemuir) not having sleeping facilities, we could tell we were going to get hit with many riders wanting to sleep (&amp; potentially wanting to eat twice).</p> <p>We already had the primary school's sports hall, a couple of classrooms, a portacabin and giant marquee (complete with ornate chandeliers!) out the back filled with air mattresses and blankets, but as an example of the level of planning involved, they had also rented the memorial hall as an emergency extra space, but not expecting to use it.</p> <p>Foreseeing a night-time bulge this too was pressed into action, with a special forces team bringing airbeds and people to staff it.</p> <p>The bulge itself when it came was pretty frenetic, with riders sleeping everywhere, us nearly running out of milk, coffee machines breaking down and the electrical system overheating with the amount of people trying to charge their electronics, but we coped. The riders got fed, warmed and some kip.</p> <p>By daybreak things started to calm down and we knew we were over the worse.</p> <p><strong>5. The riders</strong><br /> There an interesting evolution to the riders, early ones didn't want to stop long and generally knew what they were doing and could look after themselves. The bulge was a true mix of people (50% overseas riders so language ) and the stragglers were in an increasingly sorry state. Many suffered with the cold of the granites after such scorching daytime temperatures as well as the usual complaints of saddle-sores and muscle fatigue. </p> <p>One thing I did find a bit weird, is that you could help a rider in an element of distress and you'd do what you could for them and maybe suggest their next steps. You'd see them around the control for a bit and then they would disappear. You wouldn't know if they had worked out their issues or not, and with so many riders/ rider numbers no way of working out if they finished or not.</p> <p>@acs chaperoned a very cold &amp; struggling German rider into Innerleithen and I did my best to warm him up before sending him for some sleep. He seemed much more chipper a few hours later and I encouraged him to make the most the sunny/warm day and push on to Brampton before deciding to quit or not. He left but I have no idea what happened to him.</p> <p><strong>6. Volunteer accommodation</strong><br /> They had arranged a few different places for us around the village, I was in a static caravan sharing a room with an Indian chap who was on a different shift to me so we never met at the caravan. Some volunteers brought tents and most got some rest at the school on an air-mattress when they could.</p> <p><strong>7. Volunteering vs Riding</strong><br /> Both were hard but in very different ways. The volunteering was pretty full on because there was always something you could be doing and being on your feet for so long was shock to me as an office desk jockey. Lots of problem solving to do as well.</p> <p>The riding is obviously very full on, but you have clarity of purpose. You just ride your bike and you get regular breaks when you hit a control and you get a medal at the end. As a volunteer you get a couple of sweaty Tshirts ;)</p> <p>Given that the riders had done a couple of days riding before I started volunteering and some did a couple of days more riding after I have finished, made me glad I was a volunteer.</p> <p>I hope the above gives an inkling to what being a volunteer is like and maybe encourages some of you to consider it for next time, if you're not riding it that is :) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19582&page=6#post-362642 Sun, 14 Aug 2022 12:25:46 +0000 Murun Buchstansangur 362642@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The trick to eating the harder ice lollies on randonnee is to stick them in your saddle bag until they’ve softened </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19582&page=6#post-362641 Sun, 14 Aug 2022 09:56:59 +0000 edinburgh87 362641@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Didn’t know that, just up the road from me. Will definitely check out!</p> <p>Solero tip duly noted! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19582&page=6#post-362640 Sun, 14 Aug 2022 09:53:22 +0000 gembo 362640@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I had frozen roof of mouth yesterday from a twister in Roslin, A twister is the opposite of what I asked for- a Solero. @edinburgh 87 a solero is good as the cold bit is first then it is warmer, you can eat it quickly. A twister the warm bit first then the cold bit, much trickier.</p> <p>Lovely portugeuse supermarket in Roslin did I say and also portugeuse cafe in Rosewell. That bit of midlothian now known as Little Portugal </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19582&page=6#post-362639 Sun, 14 Aug 2022 09:45:27 +0000 edinburgh87 362639@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Indeed, that was true from the system we used to check riders through too. Something like 100-150 left the start (or registered) then didn’t check through the first control.</p> <p>I guess some could have had an unforeseen emergency between registration the day before and leaving but nevertheless it’s bizarre. It’s not something I thought you’d just turn up at on a whim. Even if not feeling up to it better to DNS before going to London and save a few £ on logistics. </p> <p>There were bag drops yep, and it was also possible to pay extra to bring a support van and crew. I personally don’t agree with it as it confers an unfair advantage IMO but a couple of the “faster” groups had one. </p> <p>This SBR won’t be adopting the lolly trend. Takes me too long to eat cold stuff! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19582&page=6#post-362638 Sun, 14 Aug 2022 09:36:54 +0000 gembo 362638@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Mr Bill was saying people registered out at Lee Valley and then did not start. I would have thought leaving it to see how you felt on the day would be an odd choice for this event. The tracker seemed to confirm this impression.</p> <p>The first back Matt Page had bag drops is that right? Like you can do the event sort of supported?</p> <p>My favourite thing was the adoption of ice lollies by The Scottish Borders Randonneurs. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19582&page=6#post-362636 Sun, 14 Aug 2022 09:00:34 +0000 edinburgh87 362636@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@chdot - yep, it's another benefit for sure as guarantees your place. Guess one could argue it would be rude not to! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19582&page=6#post-362634 Sun, 14 Aug 2022 08:31:22 +0000 chdot 362634@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Presume <em>one</em> reason for volunteering is to get a place in the next event?</p> <p><a href="https://londonedinburghlondon.com/volunteer" rel="nofollow">https://londonedinburghlondon.com/volunteer</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19582&page=6#post-362633 Sun, 14 Aug 2022 08:22:23 +0000 chdot 362633@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcontinental_Race" rel="nofollow">https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcontinental_Race</a> </p> <p><a href="https://www.transcontinental.cc" rel="nofollow">https://www.transcontinental.cc</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19582&page=6#post-362631 Sun, 14 Aug 2022 07:44:17 +0000 edinburgh87 362631@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><blockquote>And well done to @edinburgh87 and @HankChief, and all other volunteers. They, and the organisers and controllers are the legends here. The care I saw them take of one injured, possibly not ride-endingly, rider in Hessle was extraordinary.</blockquote></p> <p>It was honestly a really enjoyable experience, and I'd recommend it to anyone, including riders who want to see the 'other side'. You could easily make a cycling or walking break out of it too, accommodation provided and plenty to explore from most controls when 'off' shift. Admittedly I wasn't involved in any actual organizing, I just turned up but running this must have involved about a million times more paperwork and complexity than any typical 'event'! To think it's run on a completely non-commercial basis but is still 'catered' (unlike TCR etc) is pretty special. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19582&page=6#post-362617 Sat, 13 Aug 2022 13:43:35 +0000 Arellcat 362617@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Were they told to look miserable?</em></p> <p>Knowing Charlotte, that was probably the intention. It's all very "I can take the despair. It's the hope I can't stand."! Bill's in that gallery, but I don't recognise anyone else.</p> <p>Charlotte's smiley photos are on a separate page – and in glorious technicolor:</p> <p><a href="https://www.charlottebarnes.co.uk/lel2022portraits" rel="nofollow">https://www.charlottebarnes.co.uk/lel2022portraits</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19582&page=6#post-362610 Sat, 13 Aug 2022 07:26:38 +0000 gembo 362610@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Apart from Bill who looks fine and dandy </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19582&page=6#post-362609 Sat, 13 Aug 2022 07:01:21 +0000 paddyirish 362609@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Well done all three of you- will be interested to hear the stories and your thoughts on the event - hope that you get a well deserved rest and no lingering ill effects </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19582&page=6#post-362608 Fri, 12 Aug 2022 22:40:48 +0000 Greenroofer 362608@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Those pictures make people look very weird. Some of them (not the CCErs) look like goblins and even the CCErs don't look like what I think they normally look like (understandable 1,500km stares notwithstanding)</p> <p>Were they told to look miserable? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19582&page=6#post-362605 Fri, 12 Aug 2022 21:08:36 +0000 gembo 362605@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Amazing what 1600km of cycling and black and white photo can do to your appearance </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19582&page=6#post-362603 Fri, 12 Aug 2022 20:52:39 +0000 amir 362603@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Love these photos <a href="https://www.charlottebarnes.co.uk/lel2022hardriders?fpciidx=85" rel="nofollow">https://www.charlottebarnes.co.uk/lel2022hardriders?fpciidx=85</a></p> <p>Spot the almost unrecognisable ccers </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19582&page=6#post-362600 Fri, 12 Aug 2022 20:12:43 +0000 stiltskin 362600@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>So. Is anyone riding back from London?<br /> Well done everyone. </p>