Twas lumpy. The climb from Keld to Kirkby Stephen was a killer The descent to Nateby was scary, I was accelerating despite having my brakes on. The Etape du Dales riders where whistling past at obscene speeds I couldn't trust the sheep not to leap out in front of me to allow myself to go any faster not that I could stop anyway.... My front wheel struggling with the braking forces popped a couple of spokes and I called it a day at Kirkby Stephen and was given a lift back to th estart bythe organiser.
Not entirely gutted. I wasn't lantern rouge until 25 miles into the ride. I coped with the long drags, in some instances keeping pace with some of the Etape riders mind you they'd probably had a few killer climbs under their belts by the time I encountered them at Keld. I had some time in hand at Kirkby Stephen but didn't want to stress my out of trued front wheel any further with the descents into Alston and Teesdale.
The scenery was stunning and I'll be going back to do the rest of the route later in the year. Meanwhile I'll admire the Trek mountain bike that I treated myself ato yesterday and plan some trail riding.
Twas lumpy. The climb from Keld to Kirkby Stephen was a killer The descent to Nateby was scary, I was accelerating despite having my brakes on. The Etape du Dales riders where whistling past at obscene speeds I couldn't trust the sheep not to leap out in front of me to allow myself to go any faster not that I could stop anyway.... My front wheel struggling with the braking forces popped a couple of spokes and I called it a day at Kirkby Stephen and was given a lift back to th estart bythe organiser.
Not entirely gutted. I wasn't lantern rouge until 25 miles into the ride. I coped with the long drags, in some instances keeping pace with some of the Etape riders mind you they'd probably had a few killer climbs under their belts by the time I encountered them at Keld. I had some time in hand at Kirkby Stephen but didn't want to stress my out of trued front wheel any further with the descents into Alston and Teesdale.
The scenery was stunning and I'll be going back to do the rest of the route later in the year. Meanwhile I'll admire the Trek mountain bike that I treated myself ato yesterday and plan some trail riding.
That's a shame. You might have been OK though. I descended the Col du Tourmalet with two broken rear spokes.
That's a shame. You might have been OK though. I descended the Col du Tourmalet with two broken rear spokes.
Yebbut you want to try stopping my body mass from accelerating on a long descent, my coolstop salmons were well poached by the time I got to Nateby ;-)
I did a risk assessment and decided that I didn't want to risk a front wheel failure - the stresses under braking were forcing the wheel even more out of true. When the spokes popped, it took a couple of seconds to register what had happened and a lot longer to come to a stop. I've struggled on with rear spoke failures in the past but the rear end doesn't get as much hammer under braking.
I have no doubt in my mind that the ride is manageable and that I am fitter than I was last year. I was really looking forwards to a Hartside ascent without my camping gear.
The other benefit of the spoke breakages is that it's moved me towards having new front wheel built - I don't know how much meat is left on the front rim as it has no wear lines and I don't know the level of use the bike had in previous owners' hands. I might even have a dynohub wheel built.
I'm determined to get a 200 out of the way soon even if it means doing it as a permanent. Next week will be a good opportunity as I've got a week's holiday.
That's a shame. You might have been OK though. I descended the Col du Tourmalet with two broken rear spokes.
Yebbut you want to try stopping my body mass from accelerating on a long descent, my coolstop salmons were well poached by the time I got to Nateby ;-)
I did a risk assessment and decided that I didn't want to risk a front wheel failure - the stresses under braking were forcing the wheel even more out of true. When the spokes popped, it took a couple of seconds to register what had happened and a lot longer to come to a stop. I've struggled on with rear spoke failures in the past but the rear end doesn't get as much hammer under braking.
I have no doubt in my mind that the ride is manageable and that I am fitter than I was last year. I was really looking forwards to a Hartside ascent without my camping gear.
The other benefit of the spoke breakages is that it's moved me towards having new front wheel built - I don't know how much meat is left on the front rim as it has no wear lines and I don't know the level of use the bike had in previous owners' hands. I might even have a dynohub wheel built.
I'm determined to get a 200 out of the way soon even if it means doing it as a permanent. Next week will be a good opportunity as I've got a week's holiday.
-=V=-
Me and at least three others are going to do The Hartside as a DIY perm in June
it was wet for first 9 hours. Heavy going, 1 puncture for me, my first on an Audax
The Stonehenge 200 (which doesn't actually go past it any more) will have to wait another year; this means my next Audax is the Dales Grimpeur in 2 weeks, it will have run out of rain by then (coudn't have the hose pipe ban lifted could we possibly?)
Twas lumpy. The climb from Keld to Kirkby Stephen was a killer The descent to Nateby was scary,
I'll second you on that. Wasn't in the race, dont't even do Audax, but my parents live in Ravenstondale and I have cycled all that area on an old hardtail that hangs around in my parents shed. Got those awful centre pull brakes that just don't stop you.......as I found out at Nateby! Fortunately when I came off I somehow managed a long motorbike style slide without hitting anything (too) hard.
The Stonehenge 200 (which doesn't actually go past it any more) will have to wait another year; this means my next Audax is the Dales Grimpeur in 2 weeks, it will have run out of rain by then (coudn't have the hose pipe ban lifted could we possibly?)
That's a shame. You might have been OK though. I descended the Col du Tourmalet with two broken rear spokes.
<snip>
Quoted message said:
I did a risk assessment and decided that I didn't want to risk a front wheel failure - the stresses under braking were forcing the wheel even more out of true. When the spokes popped, it took a couple of seconds to register what had happened and a lot longer to come to a stop. I've struggled on with rear spoke failures in the past but the rear end doesn't get as much hammer under braking.
<snip>
Quoted message said:
The other benefit of the spoke breakages is that it's moved me towards having new front wheel built - I don't know how much meat is left on the front rim as it has no wear lines and I don't know the level of use the bike had in previous owners' hands. I might even have a dynohub wheel built.
<snip>
Quoted message said:
-=V=-
I agree that if you start occasionally popping spokes for reasons other than accident damage, it's time for a wheel rebuild. However, just for out on the road repairs, I've seem these things mentioned before: http://ucycle.com/accessories/item.php?name=fiberfix
If you're riding 32 + spokes per wheel, one broken spoke normally wouldn't end your day anyway. It might have helped you out this time though.
Possibly OTT to carry as a spare except on a loaded multi-day tour with limited LBS availability. Even then you've probably got a casette cracker and spare spokes anyway.
Tough luck Vern, it sounds like you were really up for the full ride. Sometimes you just lose faith in some bit of your kit. You want to press on, but the internal voice says go easy. You probably made the wisest choice.
That's a shame. You might have been OK though. I descended the Col du Tourmalet with two broken rear spokes.
How was your 400? Would a snorkel and wetsuit have helped?
it was wet for first 9 hours. Heavy going, 1 puncture for me, my first on an Audax
Snorkel would /definitely/ have helped on some of the flooded lanes 'twixt Castleford and South Cave. I too was visited by the P+nct+r+ Fairy for the first time in 2000+ km of audaxing.
Snorkel would /definitely/ have helped on some of the flooded lanes 'twixt Castleford and South Cave. I too was visited by the P+nct+r+ Fairy for the first time in 2000+ km of audaxing.
In order to try to make up some time I elected to take the A road from Cas. to Snaith. Something beyond my consciousness must have guided me around those flooded parts. I intended to take the main road to Airmyn (the L at Glews) but again The Force made me turn left at Snaith to rejoin the route. Then I sighted four others, two of whom we spent the rest of the ride with.
