Heathfield 200 this Sunday?

[MartinM]

Anyone else doing this?

<< 'bent/fixie advisory>>
It are mostly in East Sussex

Don't even think of entering on the line or riding along anyway, El
Supremo has a special fleet of 4x4's for dealing with such miscreants.

 

[Dave Larrington]

In article <[email protected]>,
MartinM ([email protected]) wrote:
> Anyone else doing this?
>
> << 'bent/fixie advisory>>
> It are mostly in East Sussex
>
> Don't even think of entering on the line or riding along anyway, El
> Supremo has a special fleet of 4x4's for dealing with such miscreants.

I think most of the rest of the regulars are doing The Dean on
Saturday...

--
Dave Larrington - <http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/>
My only hope in life is to die before I get my comeuppence.

 

[MartinM]

Dave Larrington wrote:


> I think most of the rest of the regulars are doing The Dean on
> Saturday...

Ahh, didn't spot that ; wouldn't do it anyway as;

1. Once over the Severn is enough for me this year
2. The Heathfield is harder
3. I don't like Bunny girls ;-)
4. Small matter of having to work Saturday

have fun.......

 

[davek]

MartinM wrote:
> 1. Once over the Severn is enough for me this year

The Dean is likely to be my only trip across the Severn this year - I'd
love to do the Severn Across, but:
a) I'm already down for the Invicta 400, and 400s on successive weekends
would likely prove a bit ambitious for me
b) it seems I can get to the start of the Invicta 400 by train much mroe
easily than previously feared
c) also, the Invicta 400 starts at the very civilised hour of noon,
meaning I can get a proper sleep the night before and set off at a
sensible time in the morning
d) the thought of trying to ****** a bit of kip in a bus shelter in
Winchester wins my vote every time. Oh yes it does. Mmmm!

> 2. The Heathfield is harder

A contentious statement if ever I saw one!

Having not done either, I can't claim to be an authority, but I'd say
the Dean looks harder on paper - 313km longways and 3900m upways (just
100m short of scenery points), compared to 201km longways and 1800m upways.

Talking of /hard/ rides, see you for the Elenith the following weekend? ;-)

> 3. I don't like Bunny girls ;-)

That's what you tell the wife, eh?

> 4. Small matter of having to work Saturday

Shame.

> have fun.......

You too.

d.

 

[MartinM]

davek wrote:


> Talking of /hard/ rides, see you for the Elenith the following weekend? ;-)

naah, BTDISIGTTS, once is enough


> > 3. I don't like Bunny girls ;-)
>
> That's what you tell the wife, eh?

no ;-0


I don't personally rate a 1200 start as civilsed on a 400, Severn
Across is 0600 IIRC. The previous Invicta was 1400; that was certainly
not civilised at 0300 after 250k outisde a garage in Winchester

 

[Dave Larrington]

In article <[email protected]>, davek
([email protected]) wrote:
> MartinM wrote:
> > 1. Once over the Severn is enough for me this year
>
> The Dean is likely to be my only trip across the Severn this year - I'd
> love to do the Severn Across, but:
> a) I'm already down for the Invicta 400, and 400s on successive weekends
> would likely prove a bit ambitious for me

Our chums The Betes Noires are playing The Windmill on the Saturday and
there's a BHPC race on the Sunday. Saved! I shall do the ECCA Festival
200 on the Monday instead.

> b) it seems I can get to the start of the Invicta 400 by train much mroe
> easily than previously feared
> c) also, the Invicta 400 starts at the very civilised hour of noon,
> meaning I can get a proper sleep the night before and set off at a
> sensible time in the morning

Wot 'ee said. The Spurn Head 400 is a 5:30 start and miles away in the
Frozen North. I feel a Travelodge moment coming on for that one.

> d) the thought of trying to ****** a bit of kip in a bus shelter in
> Winchester wins my vote every time. Oh yes it does. Mmmm!

Sleep? We don't need no steekin' sleep!

> > 2. The Heathfield is harder
>
> A contentious statement if ever I saw one!
>
> Having not done either, I can't claim to be an authority, but I'd say
> the Dean looks harder on paper - 313km longways and 3900m upways (just
> 100m short of scenery points), compared to 201km longways and 1800m upways.

It's shortened to a mere 305 now, which is no doubt why the route sheet
says 307 for the route through Oxford and 306 for the one avoiding the
chavs... I have a certain amount of trepidation about this ride and not
just from the vertigo-inducing crossing of That Bridge.

--
Dave Larrington - <http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/>
They came for Eamonn Holmes; I think I'm right in saying that I
applauded.

 

[davek]

Dave Larrington wrote:
> I have a certain amount of trepidation about this ride and not
> just from the vertigo-inducing crossing of That Bridge.

You'll be pleased to know you're not the only one.

I really really really really really hope the wind dies down a bit
before I get as far as crossing That Bridge.

d.

 

[Dave Larrington]

In article <[email protected]>, davek
([email protected]) wrote:
> Dave Larrington wrote:
> > I have a certain amount of trepidation about this ride and not
> > just from the vertigo-inducing crossing of That Bridge.
>
> You'll be pleased to know you're not the only one.
>
> I really really really really really hope the wind dies down a bit
> before I get as far as crossing That Bridge.

Likewise. However, I have a secret weapon. Well, two, if you count my
new! IMPROVED!! go-faster haircut. Where the route sheet says "L at T
no sp (in Winchcombe)", it omits to note that the next 5 km are up the
Sodding Great Hill which forms the last bit of Scenery on the Cotswold
Corker, and is followed by a 1:4 downhill on which it is practically
impossible to let 'er rip, as it's narrow and twisty.

I am going a Different Way at this point; even if it does add about 2.5
km to the route it loses about 150 m of climbing. Via Gretton &
Gotherington, detour fans.

--
Dave Larrington - <http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/>
A complimentary biro(tm) is /not/ to be sniffed at.

 

[Dave Larrington]

In article <[email protected]>,
MartinM ([email protected]) wrote:

> I don't personally rate a 1200 start as civilsed on a 400, Severn
> Across is 0600 IIRC. The previous Invicta was 1400; that was certainly
> not civilised at 0300 after 250k outisde a garage in Winchester

I've just noticed that the Invicta 300 starts at 03:00. That is Cruel
and Unusual Punishment.

--
Dave Larrington - <http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/>
The thing about Tony Parsons, though, the defining aspect of his
personality, is that he is a complete ****.

 

[MartinM]

Dave Larrington wrote:
> In article <[email protected]>,
> MartinM ([email protected]) wrote:
>
> > I don't personally rate a 1200 start as civilsed on a 400, Severn
> > Across is 0600 IIRC. The previous Invicta was 1400; that was certainly
> > not civilised at 0300 after 250k outisde a garage in Winchester
>
> I've just noticed that the Invicta 300 starts at 03:00. That is Cruel
> and Unusual Punishment.

the Heathfield 300 is 0400; IIRC from the yahoo AUK list Rob made the
start 0300 as El Supremo's used to start then (well I remember that
one, 30 mins sleep, good PBP training I suppose). But even El S has
seen sense now, although the route sheet says you can start earlier.

 

[MartinM]

davek wrote:
> Dave Larrington wrote:
> > I have a certain amount of trepidation about this ride and not
> > just from the vertigo-inducing crossing of That Bridge.
>
> You'll be pleased to know you're not the only one.
>
> I really really really really really hope the wind dies down a bit
> before I get as far as crossing That Bridge.

if it is essentially the Severn Across without the extra bit to/from
Chalfont you should be OK; but the SA did more or less parallel the M4
all the way back to the Thames Valley, it seems the last stretch is the
sting in the tail of the Dean.
On the SA the bit from Cotswoldsish to Yat Rock was a complete and
utter barsteward due to the headwind. There was only one stupid hill
just after the bridge.

 

[davek]

Dave Larrington wrote:
> I've just noticed that the Invicta 300 starts at 03:00. That is Cruel
> and Unusual Punishment.

But it's great! It means you get the night-time leg out of the way
first, and you get to ride it as a big bunch, highly amusing as you ride
through Chav central (aka the Medway towns).

d.

 

[MartinM]

davek wrote:
> Dave Larrington wrote:
> > I've just noticed that the Invicta 300 starts at 03:00. That is Cruel
> > and Unusual Punishment.
>
> But it's great! It means you get the night-time leg out of the way
> first, and you get to ride it as a big bunch, highly amusing as you ride
> through Chav central (aka the Medway towns).

we had the same thing on El Supremo's; only it was Brighton (no chavs
there). You also get to ride into the sunrise (which is not as
satisfying as doing it at the end of a 400) presumably around the
cliffs of Thanet rather than Beachy Head?

 

[davek]

MartinM wrote:
> You also get to ride into the sunrise (which is not as
> satisfying as doing it at the end of a 400) presumably around the
> cliffs of Thanet rather than Beachy Head?

On last year's ride, I got to see the sunrise just as I hit the coast at
Reculver - couldn't really have timed it better. The fastest riders
would have been in Margate by then. Unfortunately, it was too foggy to
really appreciate the full glory of the sun coming up, but the
silhouettes of Reculver Towers shrouded in wisps of low cloud made a
mightily atmospheric sight.

d.

 

[MartinM]

davek wrote:
> MartinM wrote:
> > You also get to ride into the sunrise (which is not as
> > satisfying as doing it at the end of a 400) presumably around the
> > cliffs of Thanet rather than Beachy Head?
>
> On last year's ride, I got to see the sunrise just as I hit the coast at
> Reculver - couldn't really have timed it better. The fastest riders
> would have been in Margate by then. Unfortunately, it was too foggy to
> really appreciate the full glory of the sun coming up, but the
> silhouettes of Reculver Towers shrouded in wisps of low cloud made a
> mightily atmospheric sight.
>

I really have no idea where I'll be for the sunrise on the El-S 300 as
the route is so incredibly complicated, possibly Dungeness.
Possibly still in bed

 

[Dave Larrington]

In article <[email protected]>,
MartinM ([email protected]) wrote:

> if it is essentially the Severn Across without the extra bit to/from
> Chalfont you should be OK; but the SA did more or less parallel the M4
> all the way back to the Thames Valley, it seems the last stretch is the
> sting in the tail of the Dean.
> On the SA the bit from Cotswoldsish to Yat Rock was a complete and
> utter barsteward due to the headwind. There was only one stupid hill
> just after the bridge.

Oh no, we've got a double crossing of the Ridgeway after that. Like the
middle of the Marlborough Connection in reverse. I would be quite
looking forward to the descent after Lambourn, save that it will
undoubtedly be dark by the time I get there, chiz.

--
Dave Larrington - <http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/>
Pepperoni and green peppers, mushrooms, olives, chives!

 

[MartinM]

Dave Larrington wrote:

> Oh no, we've got a double crossing of the Ridgeway after that.

you have my sympathies; looking at the route from the AUK calendar it
seems to go across the Ridgeway in the reverse direction of the
Anfractuous 200 (of Arrivee cover fame). Last year Phil Chadwick was
selling the info control at Lambourne (his home) to avoid having to go
up it, but had no takers, it wasn't that bad anyway.

So does this mean that I am doing Severn Across in the company (very
briefly) of a Mr Kahn of this parish and no-one else?

Do I qualify for an AUK award / Sectioning if I go straight down to
Portsmouth and do the IOW after it?

 

[MSeries]

MartinM wrote:
> Dave Larrington wrote:
>
> > Oh no, we've got a double crossing of the Ridgeway after that.
>
> you have my sympathies; looking at the route from the AUK calendar it
> seems to go across the Ridgeway in the reverse direction of the
> Anfractuous 200 (of Arrivee cover fame). Last year Phil Chadwick was
> selling the info control at Lambourne (his home) to avoid having to go
> up it, but had no takers, it wasn't that bad anyway.
>
> So does this mean that I am doing Severn Across in the company (very
> briefly) of a Mr Kahn of this parish and no-one else?
>

You know I talked about it, I'd like to do the event but not this year,
I really can't be ar$ed to make the necessary arrangements. I am doing
the Plains 300 instead, which starts at 23:00 on the Saturday. Next
year.

 

[MSeries]

Dave Larrington wrote:

>
> Wot 'ee said. The Spurn Head 400 is a 5:30 start and miles away in the
> Frozen North. I feel a Travelodge moment coming on for that one.
>

Let me know if you need help with arrangements for this. It'll be good
to meet you. The route goes within 3km of my house after 27.7 km !!!

 

[MartinM]

MSeries wrote:

> You know I talked about it, I'd like to do the event but not this year,
> I really can't be ar$ed to make the necessary arrangements. I am doing
> the Plains 300 instead, which starts at 23:00 on the Saturday. Next
> year.

I certainly shan't be doing it again next year if it's as early in the
calendar; the main reason for doing it this year is our 400 2 weeks
later; quite fancy the Invicta again. Severn Across was a filler
between the 600s and the PBP in 2003. Apparently the
Cambridge-York-Cambridge is on very busy roads with no real
alternative. Quite like the idea of the 3 coasts 600, how hard is that?