CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Events, rides etc.

LEL 2013

(142 posts)
  • Started 11 years ago by Darkerside
  • Latest reply from chdot

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  1. Darkerside
    Member

    I'm going to indulge myself and create a new thread for London Edinburgh London, rather than keep it in the audax thread :p

    As ARobComp mentioned, this starts on Sunday morning. I've written a rundown with maps and elevations of the various legs below if anyone is intrigued (mainly as a way of mentally preparing myself for the hills...)

    http://www.darkerside.org/2013/07/london-edinburgh-london-2013-stage-preview/

    There's also riding tracking through the controls via the official website, providing you have the rider number.

    http://www.londonedinburghlondon.com/lastseen/

    I'm L22.

    I am also laughably underprepared, but currently excitement is just about edging out wild panic.

    Posted 11 years ago #
  2. chdot
    Admin

  3. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    You do know that's an awful long way?

    Good luck. I will follow your tracking number (not the first L22)

    Posted 11 years ago #
  4. Dave
    Member

    Good luck. Just remember the two golden rules: don't change anything on your bike, at all, from here until the start - and when you start, don't go off like an express train.

    Force yourself to ride slowly for the first couple of hundred km, reminding yourself that there's still 1200km to go like greased lighting should you so choose.

    Oh, and say hi at the Edinburgh control if you're there between 1800 Monday and 0800 Tuesday (that's my shift). Hopefully I'll be wrenching bikes, but I may be cleaning toilets... who knows :)

    Posted 11 years ago #
  5. recumboris
    Member

    Hi there - I have never met you - however all the very best with LEL. I did the rat race London to Edinburgh - also on a metabike. I certainly could not have faced turning back south :-) so good luck.

    Posted 11 years ago #
  6. ARobComp
    Member

    Nice break down and I am feeling similar. I'm probably pretty much as prepared for the riding as I'd hope to be working so much at the moment, and bike and kit I'm good with. However directionally I'm a touch challenged and need to have a proper sit down and work through the route.

    I'm A30 for those wishing to track me and also look out on @alexdrobertson for updates.

    I'm aiming to ride fast and hard as my big heavy body suits better to short intense bursts than to the longer "hours in the saddle" approach. No idea when sleep will happen. I'm gonna have a bivvy bag and a sleeping bag liner just in case!

    Pretty much can't wait now!

    Oh and I'm starting at 5:30 so probs won't see you till the way back down if we catch each other. I'm planning on finishing some time on Wed morning/lunch. So Edinburgh Monday lunch latest.

    Posted 11 years ago #
  7. ARobComp
    Member

    hah! @dave I was just thinking "hmm maybe I should adjust my cleats" but you have convinced me otherwise. If they're good and no pain over 325km I think they'll hold me for 1400!

    Posted 11 years ago #
  8. Dave
    Member

    Whatever you do, don't adjust your cleats.

    This is why.

    Posted 11 years ago #
  9. Uberuce
    Member

    Good luck. I have some flexibility in sleep and work over Monday/Tuesday, so where would I find this Edinburgh control for to be waving a small flag and say 'yay' to our intrepid CCE chums?

    Edit - or I could just read tfm and see it's Gracemount High.

    Posted 11 years ago #
  10. Darkerside
    Member

    Ahem, yeah, Gracemount High. Although if I've got enough time in the bank I'll attempt to swing by Laid Back (the cafe next door is definitely not my primary target)

    I aiming to get maximum value for money from the entry fee, so will probably be lagging well behind you ARobComp. Spankingly white metabike with blue tailbag.

    Tweeting, as usual, on @Darkerside. Or at least until my sense of humour dies...

    Posted 11 years ago #
  11. ARobComp
    Member

    So both my cleats are missing chunks now after a blast around town. I think they'll hold.Will take spare bit in kit just in case.

    Just putting on some new tyres and plotting what I still need to buy tomorrow!

    @Darkerside I needto get back so I can work on Thursday! I know how sad that is but needs must in my business. Also taking charger so I can keep on top of e-mails on the road. How sad ay!

    Posted 11 years ago #
  12. ARobComp
    Member

    Slight request - Does anyone central Edinburgh have spare small lightweight front and back lights (battery AA/AAA) that I could borrow this evening for the LEL. I've basically maxed out my various resources and am officially skint, but would like some backup lighting if possible! (my main lights are fine but worried about failure)

    Let me know!

    Posted 11 years ago #
  13. fimm
    Member

    I could possibly help - I have Smart/Cateye flashers that are in summer storage at the moment - is that the sort of thing you are looking for?

    Oh, I'm in Gorgie (but may be crossing the city centre to a pub this evening).

    Posted 11 years ago #
  14. wingpig
    Member

    My front flasher suicided itself on the way in this morning but I've a rear AAA-powered (one hour's use since freshly-charged cells were added) clip-on Smart Lunar in the pannier just to my left which is available this afternoon (west end/city centre area) as I've a spare at home.

    Posted 11 years ago #
  15. I've got a teeny 'skully' rear light (watch battery) that's pretty bright; as well as an immensely powerful tiny rear light, the brand of which I forget, which takes a specific type of battery, but I've got a spare for that as well.

    Front light, my Hope Vision One is probably a bit chunky as a back-up.

    Posted 11 years ago #
  16. Roibeard
    Member

    I've got a selection - Blackburn Mars or Cateye TL-LD 600 rear (no idea which is lighter or brighter) and for the front Cateye HL-EL450 (3xAAA) or some sort of USB rechargeable one (Blackburn again?).

    I know the latter isn't disposable, but might suit.

    PM me if you're interested.

    Posted 11 years ago #
  17. Arellcat
    Moderator

    Incidentally by the way, as a matter of fact, there's a rollcall of rider numbers over on yACF:

    https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=74083.0

    Posted 11 years ago #
  18. Uberuce
    Member

    Front: Smart Lunar 35 lux, AA batteries. Pretty good but very small spotlight, so it'll serve for night-time country illumination but you really need to pay attention.

    Rear: Cherrybomb. AAA batteries. 84g apparently

    You can also borrow my NiteRider Lumina 650, which is pretty damn burly even in 18hr battery mode. Not the lightest and it's a USB.

    Posted 11 years ago #
  19. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Sorry don't think I've got anything AA/AAA-powered that would do the trick. Rear is USB rechargable and my non-dynamo front light has an inline battery pack, again USB rechargable. Cherry Bomb long ago fell apart and stopped working.

    Although thinking it over, I might have a Cateye LD400-type light with 4 rear LEDs that takes AAA. I think.

    Posted 11 years ago #
  20. ARobComp
    Member

    @Uberuce - I might take you up on the cherrybomb and the Smart Lunar if that's ok. Have texted you!

    Thanks for all the other offers guys. Can't believe how much this race has cost (even without buying my speed machine)

    Alex

    Posted 11 years ago #
  21. Darkerside
    Member

    Ditto. The hot weather has hit my wallet hard - I'm just not set up in the wardrobe department for five days cycling in up to 30 degrees...

    Posted 11 years ago #
  22. ARobComp
    Member

    I've just upgraded some of my wet weather stuff tbh although fingers crossed it'll be used mostly as it's doubled up use as warm weather gear instead!

    Posted 11 years ago #
  23. ARobComp
    Member

    I've just upgraded some of my wet weather stuff tbh although fingers crossed it'll be used mostly as it's doubled up use as warm weather gear instead!

    Posted 11 years ago #
  24. Uberuce
    Member

    I can confirm that Alex' bike weighs sod all. My finger feels insulted that I referred to lifting the Fenix as a test.

    Posted 11 years ago #
  25. ARobComp
    Member

    So on train on the way south. WEather looking ... interesting. My bike fully packed is still light as I've ever felt a loaded bike (at least one of mine) I've got my bags packed for the bag drops and stuff to shove in in case of spare space. I am going to smell very bad by the end of this I fear.

    I think that the LEL Edinburgh checkpoint needs some support still if anyone has some time free on mon/tues and wants to help out. I'm going to see if my brother can assist for some time!

    Good Luck @darkerside

    Posted 11 years ago #
  26. Uberuce
    Member

    Good luck, you two, John and indeed the other 997 people of questionable judgement.

    I've just filled in the form thingy for Tuesday.

    Posted 11 years ago #
  27. LaidBack
    Member

    LEL.... Andy Allsop's 'Barring Mechanicals' book seems to have attracted a few followers!

    Sure last LEL was only a few hundred.

    I should make some idlers* available at the turn round point. Maybe Dave can collect? I'm not a real bike mechanic of course so can only do less technical tasks ;-)

    Will be following with interest....

    * Recumbent chain management part

    Posted 11 years ago #
  28. Uberuce
    Member

    I can easily nab them tomorrow and transport to Gracemount.

    Posted 11 years ago #
  29. gembo
    Member

    That YACF webforum reminds me of this forum. Cracking argument where one of the organisers is trying to help a last minute non-paid-up late entrant (the event is way over subscribed). Anyway to be helpful, the sub organiser states that the organiser is going to post on facebook if any spaces as tho 1000 have signed up they anticipate 100 dropping out, maybe weather will put more off? Anyway, original late person says Ta but then a big argument ensues about why it is only on Facebook, how terrible facebook is etc.

    Are cyclists more pedantic than other people (this webforum is the only one I am on so maybe others are even worse and it is just people who are incredible). I resisted facebook for many years then to help out the duke of Edinburgh as an e-mentor I joined facebook. You see Dof E thought young people do email but they don't they do facebook, but then I thought slightly wrong to be a friend of fifteen year olds on facebook who I am supposed to be checking have done all their d of e tasks.

    So I did nothing and I keep getting messages from facebook, asking me if I am friends with people but I just ignore them, however I could check YACF places on facebook with no harm done but the best poster on YACF sees this is the thin end of the wedge and that facebook is pernicious.

    Of course I do not do twitter,that is pernicious. JOKING

    Anyway good luck to Arobcomp and darkeside

    Ps whereis Edinburgh checkpoint.? I suppose I could check facebook but thoughts would ask

    Posted 11 years ago #
  30. chdot
    Admin

    "Ps whereis Edinburgh checkpoint.? I suppose I could check facebook"

    Or scroll up

    All life is here

    And some of the answers

    Posted 11 years ago #

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