http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Anyone feeling brave / masochistic / mad? en Tue, 14 Apr 2026 23:35:11 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2183&page=2#post-29383 Fri, 15 Apr 2011 15:49:22 +0000 Dave 29383@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>You know you want to ;-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2183&page=2#post-29378 Fri, 15 Apr 2011 14:48:20 +0000 ruggtomcat 29378@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>You gonna do a 600 to qualify K-nik? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2183&page=2#post-29373 Fri, 15 Apr 2011 14:14:22 +0000 DaveC 29373@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks kaputnik, I had heard of the Paris Brest Paris event, sounds like a very grueling event. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2183&page=2#post-29369 Fri, 15 Apr 2011 13:58:34 +0000 kaputnik 29369@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>PAris-Brest-Paris Randonneur. 1200km endurance cycling event held every 4 years. Think of it as a sort of audaxing world cup, the current events are all qualifying stages for it. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2183&page=2#post-29367 Fri, 15 Apr 2011 13:53:12 +0000 DaveC 29367@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Cyclingmollie, PBP?? I'm hopless with TLA's and the like. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2183&page=2#post-29364 Fri, 15 Apr 2011 13:50:35 +0000 Dave 29364@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>For some reason I think there were only about 20 riders from Scotland last time around. (I can't seem to find this via a quick google though). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2183&page=2#post-29358 Fri, 15 Apr 2011 12:48:16 +0000 Cyclingmollie 29358@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>That looked like a great ride. Were most of the people who took part aiming for a start at PBP? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2183&page=2#post-29127 Tue, 12 Apr 2011 18:17:32 +0000 LaidBack 29127@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><strong>DC</strong> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chdot/5930782950/in/photostream">Crank shorteners</a> bolt onto existing cranks. So you pedal smaller but wider.</p> <p>Useful on tandem for less tall stokers... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2183&page=2#post-29102 Tue, 12 Apr 2011 13:54:06 +0000 kaputnik 29102@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em> found the Tour of East Lothian harder than Mull it Over</em></p> <p>Thirded.</p> <p>I found the Moffat Toffee harder too, but didn't realise that I had until I did M-I-O - but that's due to how bad my cold was. Perhaps I should have taken notice when Amir asked "are you feeling alright? you don't look alright" when we were at the first café stop! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2183&page=2#post-29098 Tue, 12 Apr 2011 13:27:35 +0000 Dave 29098@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I found the Tour of East Lothian harder than Mull it Over. The weather was pants, the road surface was terrible, and I had a grumpy knee.</p> <p>@dave c : Half the battle is keeping hydrated and with some energy coming into your system (real food or synthetic). What has always held me back on these rides is a failure to do one or the other. Usually my digestive system just shuts down and I have to force myself to swallow even the most dilectable delicacy...</p> <p>In any case, <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/78759737" rel="nofollow">http://connect.garmin.com/activity/78759737</a> is my trace. Good day out. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2183&page=2#post-29092 Tue, 12 Apr 2011 13:11:45 +0000 kaputnik 29092@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@davecrampton my audax bike ain't that different from an older 531-framed Galaxy. Slightly different geometry and built from a slightly lighter grade of steel. Your galaxy should be fine if, as you say, you remove any unneccessary weight - a medium sized saddle bag or something like a carradice would be fine for your waterproofs, snacks etc. Also running thinner and lighter tyres will help - it's a lot less weight to accellerate and to push up hills and if you get them up to a good pressure will offer a lot less rolling resistance.</p> <p>I put conti 25mm GT4000s on my bike (nice deal from a friendly LBS) and I'm well impressed. They offer great grip, comfort and resilience but are remarkably free rolling. Despite being on cheapish Shimano R500 hubs, I was able to out-roll my companions on downhills on rolling resistance until wind resistance took over. They were approximately 15% of the total build cost and worth every penny in my opinion. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2183&page=2#post-29086 Tue, 12 Apr 2011 13:04:15 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 29086@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've done a couple of 100 milers, but I have to say the one I did 'unplanned' (just me and my brother heading out to ride from Edinburgh to Aberdeen) was easily my favourite. I refer to posts passim about how unsociable a sod I am on the bike... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2183&page=2#post-29084 Tue, 12 Apr 2011 13:02:44 +0000 gembo 29084@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>IN the video the guy commenting said he had done the ride out of Loch Aline six times and this was the first time he had seen any of the scenery. It did look like a great day out </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2183&page=2#post-29074 Tue, 12 Apr 2011 11:42:11 +0000 amir 29074@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The Tour of East Lothian was tough, especially given the time of year. I found it harder than the Moffat Toffee 200 km. The older of us may also benefit from establishing platforms, so e.g. so do a few 60 milers before you try an 80 or 100 miler. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2183#post-29071 Tue, 12 Apr 2011 11:29:00 +0000 DaveC 29071@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hmm so do you remove your old crank arms or just the peddles?</p> <p>My biggest hang up about anything longer than 100km was the Tour of East Lothian. I seriously ran out of energy and even those jellies didn't last long in my system. I also get dehydrated but have rediscovered rehydration powders, so only needing a water top up along the way. I had wondered what bike to get to do an Audax on but turns out I have a good un anyway - Dawes Galaxy, from some of the photos above. I might just need to remove as much excess weight as my bike is quite heavy at the rear end when I have the frame and rear bike box, perhaps just carrying a smaller lighter bag with essentials in. Plus I can put smaller tyres I suppose as I think I have heavy winter tyres 35mm instead of 28mm I am hoping to get off a friend who no longer needs them. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2183#post-29070 Tue, 12 Apr 2011 11:15:16 +0000 kaputnik 29070@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>but isnt...err..300km quite a long way?!<br /> </em></p> <p>Longest I have ever ridden to that point. The previous longest was the Moffat Toffee 2 weeks previous which was 200k. That at the time was also the longest I'd ridden, previous longest being 106 miles (170km). When I did my first 100 miler - Trossachs Ton last year - longest previous ride had been about 75 miles.</p> <p><em>I'm aspiring to do the local 200km Erit Lass in September </em></p> <p>go for it! if you can get a 100 miler in (plenty of Sportives to pick from - entries for the Bonnyrigg in june just opened) then there's no reason you can't step up on the day. I find it remarkable what encouragement notching up your "next longest ride" can be to get you through the miles. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2183#post-29069 Tue, 12 Apr 2011 11:14:03 +0000 ruggtomcat 29069@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>they bolt onto your cranks and make the pedaling circle smaller. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2183#post-29067 Tue, 12 Apr 2011 11:06:14 +0000 DaveC 29067@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Please Sir?!?! Whats a Crank Shortener? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2183#post-29063 Tue, 12 Apr 2011 10:39:37 +0000 Dave 29063@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Sounds like you all had an amazing day. And how were the gears? Did you keep crank shorteners on?</em> </p> <p>No, I didn't like them riding around the block and thought I shouldn't risk it!</p> <p>However, I put them back on this morning for the commute, and weirdly I quite like them... how strange! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2183#post-29056 Tue, 12 Apr 2011 09:50:39 +0000 kaputnik 29056@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>What time did you finish?</em></p> <p>I've got a missed call on my mobile at 5 past 9 from my Dad giving me a ring to see if I had finished. We had just finished at that point and were in the hall. The first guy back was just leaving at this point, roadie in Lichfield CCC / Zipvit kit. He appeared to have been struggling earlier on but I think it's just he was trying to do everything on mull in the big ring. When he started using the little ring he began to fly. We had a chat with him and when we pulled in at Acharacle for a quick pitstop he had been about 2 or 3 minutes behind and chasing us, hadn't seen us pull in and had shot past and spent the next 30 miles on the way to Glenfinnan desperately trying to catch us and hoping he hadn't taken a wrong turn! </p> <p>I ate remarkably little - my appetite generally shuts off during big rides - was constantly fearing I'd hit a wall, but managed to keep going on about 3 litres of PSP drinks (I took a spare supply of powder -NEVER get the "original" flavour, truly disgusting!), 4 mars bars, 2 bananas, a sugary coffee, a bottle of lucozade, a pint of milk and a bag and a half of jelly babies. All backed up with a good fill of breakfast porridge!</p> <p>The guys I fell in with were old hands at PBP and audaxing in general and were driven on by not being beaten back by a tandem! I think they were very pleased to accomplish that mission. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2183#post-29055 Tue, 12 Apr 2011 09:43:45 +0000 riffian 29055@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Well done guys! It looks like a beautiful ride -but isnt...err..300km quite a long way?!<br /> I'm aspiring to do the local <a href="http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/11-22/">200km Erit Lass</a>in September if I can get the miles in the this summer - but finding even this a bit daunting. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2183#post-29053 Tue, 12 Apr 2011 09:39:07 +0000 LaidBack 29053@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Sounds like you all had an amazing day. And how were the gears? Did you keep crank shorteners on? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2183#post-29050 Tue, 12 Apr 2011 09:15:40 +0000 Dave 29050@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I wondered where you were, I missed the ferry-before-the-first-ferry by a few minutes because I didn't realise there was one (doh!).</p> <p>What time did you finish? I was done by quarter past 10 which was way better than expected (aiming for midnight).</p> <p>Cracking ride though. I drank almost 7L in a vain attempt to stave off dehydration. One flat and I had to boot with a chunk of cardboard (!) - teach me to use a very old commuting tyre... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2183#post-29039 Mon, 11 Apr 2011 21:47:16 +0000 amir 29039@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Well done Kaputnik!</p> <p>Next PBP or LEL?</p> <p>Kinross will seem a little short. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2183#post-29038 Mon, 11 Apr 2011 21:20:13 +0000 kaputnik 29038@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdlUNP8MjNY" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdlUNP8MjNY</a></p> <p>Lovely wee video that someone took the time and effort to make of the day. Both Dave and I can be seen disembarking the ferry at Craignure. I can also be seen doing my contemplative thing at the start, gazing back to Oban thinking "*************! what the ******* have I let myself in for!"</p> <p>Needn't have worried, as you can see from the video it was a stunning day in stunning surroundings with a top group of riders to boot. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2183#post-29035 Mon, 11 Apr 2011 20:29:11 +0000 kaputnik 29035@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Nothing makes you put your head down and find hidden inner reserves of awesomepower than chasing down a ferry to avoid a 45 minute wait for the next one. We cut the Lochaline-Fishnish ferry VERY close but were last on and coming in 1 ferry ahead of the mornings most optimistic schedule was a huge boost.</p> <p>Corran ferry was an equally hard run to catch as you can see the thing sitting at the slip for about 5 miles away, but made it with about 10 minutes to spare.</p> <p>Stopped at Glencoe village to put on some more layers and affix / turn on lights. In darkness for the last hour or so, was quite a buzz to be honest. The group I was with had a couple fo good dynamo lights that did the job of lighting up the tarmac. Mine wouldn't depress low enough to help with that but did a great job of lighting up catseyes, road markings and signs.</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaputniq/5610274721/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5302/5610274721_60a5e798b1.jpg"></a><br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaputniq/5610274721/">Corran Ferry - made it (just!)</a> by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/kaputniq/">kaputniq</a>, on Flickr<br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaputniq/5610852992/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5146/5610852992_27e297f772.jpg"></a><br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaputniq/5610852992/">Lochaline ferry - made it! (just)</a> by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/kaputniq/">kaputniq</a>, on Flickr </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2183#post-29032 Mon, 11 Apr 2011 19:37:36 +0000 gembo 29032@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>weather gods kind</p> <p>distance gods still wanted 300k</p> <p>what was road at end from Ft William to Oban like, for me it would be in darkness? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2183#post-28976 Sun, 10 Apr 2011 22:43:10 +0000 kaputnik 28976@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Will type more when I'm not on me phone suffering oban signal, but this was quite literally the best ride of my life. Stunning scenery, stunning weather, grest company and feel a great persona achievement, far exceeding my personal goals. When's the 400k on? :-D </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2183#post-28743 Thu, 07 Apr 2011 09:54:52 +0000 kaputnik 28743@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I haven't dared to look :/ </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2183#post-28725 Thu, 07 Apr 2011 08:08:28 +0000 amir 28725@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Good luck to those of you going out to Mull this weekend. Forecast looks okay. </p>