Ooooft that sounds brutal @bill, @amir
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Events, rides etc.
Audax and Sportives 2022-3
(94 posts)-
Posted 1 year ago #
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Very well ridden. Those pizzas do look good.
Posted 1 year ago # -
It was a hard day - made harder by hearing about the pizzas after my grupetto had decided on the Coop.
The last hill at Newburgh was indeed OTT. Several bits of 15%. At that point the lack of pizza kicked in. Although I managed to get up the hill quite quickly (a relatively small sprocket set helps), I was on vapour fumes for the rest of the ride back to Freuchie.
I noticed from my AUK records that the Merse and Moors 300 had even more climbing (4.25 AAA points) and ran at a similar time of year. There was a nice descent though at the end (mostly) from Redstone Rigg though.
Good to see @bill out.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Well done @Edinburgh87 on a great 300 this weekend, despite the driech weather.
Anyone trying the same route, Snow Hare, next weekend?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Thanks @amir, I’ll be doing tea / coffee at the Focus centre from 0530-9am so hopefully see some of you there if riding either event (the 300 or the 100).
Posted 1 year ago # -
I’ll be there hopefully for the Snow Hare. First 300.
Posted 1 year ago # -
@edinburgh87 see you then if not before
@nobrakes brilliant! It's a good route for a first 300
@Murun Buchstansang looking forward to your ride report from this weekend's madness ;)
Posted 1 year ago # -
@amir I will endeavour to provide
Posted 1 year ago # -
Looks like the weather this Saturday's Scenic Snowhare better than what @edinburgh87 had last weekend!
I am down for it as well.Looks forward to @Murun's report! It looked very tough.
Posted 1 year ago # -
So, the Knock Ventoux 300, a ride I’ve been wanting to do for a while (despite never having turned a pedal in Lancashire before), with a circular and extremely hilly route around the NW of England.
It was a 6am start from the suburbs of Burnley, though due to a relatively large field (70 starters), Andy the organiser was encouraging riders to depart once ready. We headed NW in dribs and drabs through the pretty village of Whalley and on into the Forest of Bowland, which I mainly knew from The Trip comedy on TV (I’ve since worked out that we just passed the Inn at Whitewell which was the location of the first episode). Passing through Dunsop Bridge commenced the first notable climb of the day, the Trough of Bowland, which makes several UK climb lists. It was a beautiful climb up a winding narrow valley, which I thoroughly enjoyed (probably the last time you’ll hear that in this post!). Darrell Whittle who got some good drone shots of LEL at Eskdalemuir last year for Arrivee had his bird up and flying at the steep bit.
There was a fast descent then a shorter climb up to an odd little folly, Jubilee Tower. From here, the Irish Sea came into view and it was pretty much all downhill to the first control of the day, at Carnforth truckstop. Finally with a proper breakfast inside me, I set off on the shortest leg of the day to Kirkby Lonsdale, 20km or so (I assume the control’s purpose was to get riders off the busier A6 corridor). At KL I fell foul of England’s curious Sunday trading laws, Booth’s supermarket was open at 9:30 ‘for browsing’ according to the staff but I couldn’t buy anything until 10am. So I settled for an ATM receipt as proof of passage and commenced on the long drag north to Langwathby, at the extreme north end of the route.
Leaving Kirkby Lonsdale, past the lovely Devil’s Bridge, the route vaguely followed the left bank of the river Lune for quite some distance before crossing it at Killington. From here, while still farmland, the roads were more undulating and with a definite upwards incline, and we got a better view of the high fells we’d be amongst later on the return route. A headwind also announced itself ominously. This section also had some marvellous old railway architecture, with viaducts and bridges from the dismantled Ingleton branch line. We then dropped steeply at Lowgill to pass under the M6, and I found the equally steep climb back out quite a struggle, having to get out of the saddle at several points, despite this only being around 10% and 100km in. I’d vacillated all preceding week over bike choice, whether to take the usual audax steed with 34x34 gearing or if I could get away with the ‘fast’ ‘light’ bike with 36x30. It appeared I’d made the wrong choice for that particular day (& rider condition!), and that was a worry, as I knew much, much worse was to come.
I stopped at Tebay truckstop for a quick carb and fluid reload, then it was off to Orton and the ascent of Orton Scar. On this section I was passed by 5 riders from Liverpool Century CC and I was able to catch a wheel for a bit. Despite my climbing difficulties, one of their number was struggling as well and the others were periodically waiting so we played cycling hopscotch for a while. Once off the top, with cracking views of the Lake District, it was pretty much flattish to Langwathby, though there was much craning of riders’ necks rightwards as now in view was the golf ball of the radar station atop Great Dun Fell, which was to be the high point of the ride, in altitude terms at least.
With such an imposing climb ahead, there was a pensive mood amongst the riders congregated outside the little shop in Langwathby. The Liverpool guys decamped to the pub. Finally it could be put off no longer, and I set off for the bottom of the climb which gives this ride its name, Knock being the hamlet at the foot of “England’s Ventoux”. The climb starts gently enough, but at the end of the public road, quickly gets into mid-teen gradients around an S-bend. I ground through it and a couple of similar sections following. The road levels for a bit at around 550m, but on rounding the next corner, there’s nothing but long steep hill. About 1.5km of it to be precise, all at gradients in the 10-20% range. Into a headwind. It was a struggle. There were ‘rests’. I did cycle it all. The Liverpool guys came steaming past at one point.
Finally the gradient relented and the road wound its way to the radar station, albeit with a couple of kickers en route. Finally I was on the UK’s highest tarmac, at 847m. A selfie was taken to suffice as PoP, then for the descent. Passed the Scousers congregated at the bottom. They soon caught me up. We traversed the farm lanes fringing the Pennines at relative speed now with a tail wind. We entered an army training area at Warcop. I did not know there was a pictorial road sign for ‘No tanks beyond this point’. I do now.
We came to an unexpected obstacle – the A66, which was extremely busy (I think it always is). Long unbroken queues of fast-moving vehicles streamed past. Andy’s route sent us down it for 5km to Brough. Liverpool’s peloton moved off. I did not fancy it, it has to be said. I replotted a route that got me off it ASAP and onto quiet roads through Gt Musgrave then to Brough. Things had been relatively flattish for a hour or so therefore clearly it was time to climb again, this time up Barras Brow (leg situation - grim) then over rolling moorland to the Tan Hill Inn, Britain’s highest pub (528m). The older amongst you may remember this place being used to flog double glazing back when people watched TV ads. But it was warm, and that was A Very Good Thing as outside it was cold, starting to rain and windy. Service was slow (coinciding with the start of the dinner rush), and some other riders were quietly impatient to be back outside. I have to say I did not mind one bit. I did mind finally walking back out into a sleet shower. By the time I got repacked and lighted etc, my teeth were chattering.
My prior knowledge of the route onwards from here was light, to say the least. The Yorkshire Dales always confuse me. I don’t know how they hang together and a fair proportion of them sound like they should be in Lancashire if there was any sort of sensible watershed boundary drawing. So I was a bit in the dark, but it was not the weather for map consulting. I knew we had to climb Buttertubs, but I only knew it vaguely & vicariously from the 2014 TdF. I also thought it was a fair bit away. So when in not too far, I passed through Thwaite and took a sharp, steep right turn, I didn’t know if this was Buttertubs or just ‘A N Other’ hill (there’d been a few of those). Finally the view ahead resolved – as my eyes tried to pick out possible road directions through the drystone walls, none of this looked congruent with what I had in my mind from 2014, of throngs of people at an S-bend at the top. I crawled despondently up the hill and along a flat to downhill traversing section, fearing there was still another large climb to come. Then finally I could see what I hoped for, a left- then right-bend with retaining walls! Hurrah! No more classified climbs!
There was a steep descent into Hawes (also pretty), up Widdale to Newby Head and down to Gearstones and then the wonderful Ribblehead viaduct, surrounded by the Yorkshire 3 Peaks. Then left into Ribblesdale (see previous comment re Roses naming/geography). By now, it was getting very cold and dark. In Settle, I stopped briefly at the Co-op with 2 other bikes outside to try to get a hot drink, the other riders had the same idea but the machine was being cleaned so there would be a 10 minute wait, instead I decided to bash on. After this, I confess to being on autopilot and a bit dozy and don’t recall too much of the section in the dark other than ticking off village names, finally arriving at Sawley which I’d picked up from Andy’s route was to be a main road bash down the A59 back to Whalley. I’d replanned a back road version, but since this immediately set off up a steep hill, I turned and main road it was!
At 11pm the A59 was very quiet and the few cars that did pass were great, finally arriving at Whalley I retraced the outward route back to the arrivee. Andy was there on his own, with 24 riders still to come in. Co-op guys arrived while I warmed up. Felt a bit sick so could only manage a mug of hot sweet tea by way of digestive reward. I slept well.
TLDR; hills, cold, railways. Highlight: Forest of Bowland. Lowlights: gears (not enough!), A66
Posted 1 year ago # -
Thanks @mb. Great report of an extraordinary ride.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Thanks MB we walked a lot of that route without the hills at Easter - Dalesway. We were a little confused on leaving limsrptone Yorkshire and slogging through muddy lancashire so actually seeing the ribblehead viaduct was great,
Posted 1 year ago # -
@Murun,
That sounds like a tough ride. I admire your optimism of running the bigger gears.
Having viewed the A66 while climbing tan hill from Kirby Steven it looked like the sort of vehicular procession that I actively try to avoid.
I'm not familiar with the no tank beyond this point sign but dropping a random pin on the A66 I did find it's companion warning sign: Caution Tanks on A66
Posted 1 year ago # -
Posted 1 year ago #
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I wonder if there will be tank signs on the Chevy Chase audax on6 May. It goes on the Otterburn range roads.
Posted 1 year ago # -
@murun That ride report has given me a saddle sore I have had to buy an ointment
Posted 1 year ago # -
Vicarious saddle sore?
Posted 1 year ago # -
I wonder if there will be tank signs on the Chevy Chase audax on 6 May
Assuming the route hasn't changed, you get all sorts of military paraphernalia on the ranges including riding down the middle of a runway. I've probably ridden this 4 or 5 times and have never managed to ride to the top of the Camel's Path. It is mostly downhill from the top of The Gibbet though.Posted 1 year ago # -
Great report @Murun! I think we all could feel those climbs with you. (Though it was a lot easier for us as you did all the hard work). Really enjoy your Street view additions. Helps to visualise the route.
Posted 1 year ago # -
@cyclops thanks for the warning about Camel's Path. It looks properly tough!
I am very much looking forward to the Chevy Chase. Somehow I have missed out on doing it over all these years. I may be riding solo as I don't know of any from up here doing it this year. But then perhaps I can have a look at Chew Green etc. being a bit of a Roman fanatic.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Incidentally someone has named the Strava segment for Camel's Path "menfromboys"
Posted 1 year ago # -
Weird question - does anyone know what kind of transport would leave criss-cross gouges in a road like on the link below? It went on for some considerable distance
Posted 1 year ago # -
Some sort of tracked vehicle maybe? Bulldozer, Tank or something.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Excavators/bulldozers/tanks etc make track marks perpendicular to the direction of travel in my experience. I thought it very odd for the marks to be at an acute angle to the travel direction on straight roads.
Posted 1 year ago # -
True. Maybe someone towing some sort of plough or other agricultural hardware and accidentally contacted the road? Am equally intrigued
Posted 1 year ago # -
I did think about a disc harrow but they're generally foldable/retractable for on-road travel as they're not going to last very long otherwise
Posted 1 year ago # -
Could it be someone with a broken exhaust mount? Or possible running with a shredded tyre.
Edit: actually I've just realised that petrol can dissolve tarmac so my hypothesis would be chemical rather than mechanical damage.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Was out at Yieldshields road in south Lanarkshire this a.m. lot of rain. Hope the Snow Hares doing ok. Did see a hare in a field near Tarbrax earlier. And a deer unable to get over the high fence across from Kelly Syke. South easterly on return was OK. Four women all out cycling on their Jack Jones first three very cheerful but the fourth was Set Tempo Woman. She is not known for her mirth. But is fast.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Dave C is through Langholm, less than 75 km to go
Posted 1 year ago # -
@Murun - I think I've ridden that road too, and I remember seeing those marks and wondering what they were. Definitely a moving vehicle made them (as I too remember them going on quite a long way), but really unclear what.
Posted 1 year ago #
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