Tan Hill 200k

Arthur Clune said:

Fuller report to follow at some point (I'm sure MSeries will as well), but
all I'm going to say for now is that courtesy of a monster wind I'm now
totally knackered in a way I haven't been for years and about to go to
bed. I'm hoping to stay up till 9.30, but not expecting to 🙁

On the plus side, I had good company for the ride, chatted with MSeries
and Blonde at the start and got round ok.

The strength of the wind is prehaps best illustrated by the fact that
we *averaged* 20mph for the last 40 miles, while being totally shagged.
I've been up Tan Hill several times and I've never found it as hard as
today into a block headwind. On the plus side, I finally managed to ride
the steep bit at the top that I've failed on the last times I did this
ride (a few years ago now).

Arthur

--
Arthur Clune

I think you did a different Tan Hill to me !!! Maybe you are delirious
with exhausion. My full RR will be coming soon. Are you thinking of the
25% hairpins at the start of Stonesdale, the grimp to Tan Hill or the
steep bits on Buttertubs ? I was pleasantly surprised how 'easy'
Stonesdale was, it was the first time I had gone in that direction. I
was phsyced for the hairpins and had the incentive of some Clifton CC
riders to chase down, they kindly offered themselves as my prey on each
climb !!!! Overall I enjoyed it despite the wind and rain, I went well
and enjoyed rolling in the group at the start.

A good day, nice to see you, Mark and Simon Proven of this parish.
Simon, you saw me at a few bad moments, I have been feeling down
recently and I wasn't at my best when you said hello to me at the start
and in Masham. I perked up as I progressed and am sorry I didn't see
you later in the day for a proper chat.

MSeries said:

I think you did a different Tan Hill to me !!! Maybe you are delirious
with exhausion. My full RR will be coming soon. Are you thinking of the
25% hairpins at the start of Stonesdale, the grimp to Tan Hill or the
steep bits on Buttertubs ?

The hills were (mostly) ok, it was the wind that did for me. I was down
to 30rpm on my 39x25 at one point on Buttertubs though 🙁

Still, I didn't have to walk anything, so that's ok.

--
Arthur Clune

Arthur Clune said:

MSeries said:

I think you did a different Tan Hill to me !!! Maybe you are delirious
with exhausion. My full RR will be coming soon. Are you thinking of the
25% hairpins at the start of Stonesdale, the grimp to Tan Hill or the
steep bits on Buttertubs ?

The hills were (mostly) ok, it was the wind that did for me. I was down
to 30rpm on my 39x25 at one point on Buttertubs though 🙁

Still, I didn't have to walk anything, so that's ok.

--
Arthur Clune

Yes the wind on Buttertubs was a biatch

MSeries said:

Arthur Clune said:

MSeries said:

I think you did a different Tan Hill to me !!! Maybe you are delirious
with exhausion. My full RR will be coming soon. Are you thinking of the
25% hairpins at the start of Stonesdale, the grimp to Tan Hill or the
steep bits on Buttertubs ?

The hills were (mostly) ok, it was the wind that did for me. I was down
to 30rpm on my 39x25 at one point on Buttertubs though 🙁

Still, I didn't have to walk anything, so that's ok.

--
Arthur Clune

Yes the wind on Buttertubs was a biatch

Being less sylph like than either of you two gentlemen, I don't find
the wind to be so much of a problem.

However, having recently restored batteries to my bathroom scales, I
can see why my hill climbing ability has gone from poor to abysmal
(though I do still get up them, just slowly.)

Broadly equivalent to carrying a spare bike in the saddlebag.

...d

David Martin said:

Being less sylph like than either of you two gentlemen, I don't find
the wind to be so much of a problem.

However, having recently restored batteries to my bathroom scales, I
can see why my hill climbing ability has gone from poor to abysmal
(though I do still get up them, just slowly.)

Broadly equivalent to carrying a spare bike in the saddlebag.

..d

After my apple crumble at Tan Hill, well the spead at which I ate it,
my wind was more of a problem - ouch.

Nice write-up Arthur!

I enjoyed it, despite [censored] weather and totally rain-shagged bar tape.
A great route, though Buttertubs was a real swine in that headwind - I
was in bottom gear at teh steepest point and out of the saddle and I
was still having to do my best Indurain smile/grimace! We got round
well, 10th /11th back home, so well chuffed! Thanks for lovely day out
MSeries! Thanks to Mark A and Clifton CC for organising it!

Blonde said:

was still having to do my best Indurain smile/grimace! We got round
well, 10th /11th back home, so well chuffed! Thanks for lovely day out

Hey, it's not a race remember 🙂 Though the look on the face of a VC167
lad who thought he in the first group back to find us changed and sipping
tea was amusing 🙂

Arthur

--
Arthur Clune

Arthur Clune said:

Blonde said:

was still having to do my best Indurain smile/grimace! We got round
well, 10th /11th back home, so well chuffed! Thanks for lovely day out

Hey, it's not a race remember 🙂 Though the look on the face of a VC167
lad who thought he in the first group back to find us changed and sipping
tea was amusing 🙂

Arthur

--
Arthur Clune

I presume that was Andy S (of this parish incidently). He did stop for
food at Tan Hill, even I caught him up twice, once after the crash when
your mates slowed to check and at Tan Hill as he was tucking into he
lasagne after a 30 minute wait.

Heh heh, not a race indeed, says first man home... ;- )
Glad I thought to get us pudding instead of a main course at Tan Hill,
much quicker, even though it nearly came up again on that last bump!
:- (

Blonde said:

Heh heh, not a race indeed, says first man home... ;- )

That was mainly because we only stopped once, and pushed on
past the Tan Hill Inn to the Copper Kettle in Reeth where
we got served rather quicker

--
Arthur Clune

Arthur Clune said:

Blonde said:

Heh heh, not a race indeed, says first man home... ;- )

That was mainly because we only stopped once, and pushed on
past the Tan Hill Inn to the Copper Kettle in Reeth where
we got served rather quicker

--
Arthur Clune

yes that was noted. So who won the most bodacious female award ?

MSeries said:

yes that was noted. So who won the most bodacious female award ?

No idea!

--
Arthur Clune

Quoted message said:

Though the look on the face of a VC167
lad who thought he in the first group back to find us changed and

sipping

Quoted message said:

tea was amusing 🙂

Not really a suprise, considering I knew you were somewhere up the
road, stopping at Tan Hill meant I was never going to catch you; that
and the 8hr 15min Lincoln Flat One [1] from the previous day which was
being to tell on my legs. I only managed *19mph* for the last 40miles
:-), although it was fast enough to reel in the Hambledon Groupetto.
The suprise was seeing Ray and Ken at the finish both of whom should
still have been on the road riding 208km not ambling back from Masham
and doing a lot less.

Andy S
[1] I was behind the first group back then as well. (both VC167ers)

MSeries said:

I think you did a different Tan Hill to me !!! Maybe you are delirious
with exhausion. My full RR will be coming soon. Are you thinking of the
25% hairpins at the start of Stonesdale, the grimp to Tan Hill or the
steep bits on Buttertubs ? I was pleasantly surprised how 'easy'
Stonesdale was, it was the first time I had gone in that direction. I
was phsyced for the hairpins and had the incentive of some Clifton CC
riders to chase down, they kindly offered themselves as my prey on each
climb !!!! Overall I enjoyed it despite the wind and rain, I went well
and enjoyed rolling in the group at the start.

Quoted message said:

A good day, nice to see you, Mark and Simon Proven of this parish.
Simon, you saw me at a few bad moments, I have been feeling down
recently and I wasn't at my best when you said hello to me at the start
and in Masham. I perked up as I progressed and am sorry I didn't see
you later in the day for a proper chat.

Well,

I started off by having an upset stomach which started off on Thursday
morning and I wasn't anything like back to normal until the end of
Saturday. I'll omit the gory details.

I got the train from Cambridge up to York. This was slightly less easy
than I'd have liked: couldn't reserve any bike space on the train to
Peterborough from Cambridge so I might miss my connection. However
there wasn't a bike or wheelchair in the designated space so that was
ok.

At Peterbourough, let the nice man on the platform know I was there
with my bike, and as the train pulled in I was in position. No man,
though, and I was at the [censored] end of the train so no way to alert the
driver. Could see the train pulling off without me, but nice man was
then seen sprinting down the platform apologising for being sidetracked
by something else, and off I went.

North of Newark Northgate the train slowed to a halt, turns out the
horn had failed. We ended up having to go back there, change to
another train, and continue on a much more packed train. So I
didn't arrive in York til almost 10pm and by the time I got to the B&B
it was well gone 10. Arranged for a light early breakfast (very kind
of the landlady) and went to bed.

Up at 0630, breakfast from just before 7, and at 7.20 or so I was on
the road. Saw a lone cyclist heading up the road as I was eating
breakfast and a decent sized group passed as I was getting the bike
out. Got overtaken by a group of 2 on the way out.

I had wanted to go and find some bananas the night before, but
with the delay to the train, that wasn't possible, so I just had the
two energy bars I had left from last time out. I also didn't get a
chance to get cash out, but the organiser kindly lent me £15.

Once Martin had identified himself by moving his bike, I said hello,
I didn't notice anything wrong at the time I have to say. I went out
with the main group to set off and realised I couldn't find my keys
so by the time I got away everyone had rolled off. One guy came
back thinking he had gone off route because everyone else had
vanished; I suggested they had taken the first turn off the A19 as
suggested. I stuck to the official route.

Hard work into that wind. I decided not to push too hard, so was
doing 13-14mph. I didn't feel energetic. Overtook someone who
I thought was going very slowly maybe 15 miles in. I didn't think
he was going to get round in time; I suspect he was one of the
two that packed. Pushed on to the first control at Masham, and
the rain was subsiding as I headed NW (this was kind of predicted
from the BBC forecast I saw on Sat). There wasn't any big climbs
up to this point and I got there with plenty in hand. Blonde and
Martin were outside as I rolled up, preparing to leave. Martin
seemed unsure as to who I was - this was perhaps the first
sign of not being on form, though for me that would be normal
behaviour so I didn't think anything of it :-) Blonde set him straight
on who I was, and I said something about being glad I wasn't
on the Galaxy as this new bike's much faster.

They set off whilst I went to investigate stamping and food; I had
baked beans on toast. Said hello to a couple of the older
guys on the next table, who told me the climbs on this ride
weren't too bad. I was wise not to believe them. Set off after
enquiring about a bank, failed to find it, and pressed on.

Shortly after leaving the village, was passed by no less than 8
Porches (911s and at least one Boxster I counted). Just after
that I changed down to the granny ring, and the chain came off.
Fixed that, and adjusted the end stop. No more problems after
then. As you press on through this bit the going gets more hilly
and it's a steady climb, up Wensleydale, none of which was
difficult, but it's still much hillier than you'll find within a normal
dayride from Cambridge. Was passed a bit close for comfort
by a caravan during this section.

Got to the info control at Sedbusk with an hour in hand, and ate one
of the two energy bars. Whilst doing so, was chatting to the farmer
there, and then had to wait a moment as his sheep were driven through
before I could continue. Set off on the Buttertubs climb. Ouch.
Well, that was pretty bad. My legs didn't have the power to turn over
my bottom gear on the really steep bits so I walked a few short
sections. I got to the top, being told "nearly there!" by some walkers
as I neared the summit. "No I'm bloody not!" I thought.

Down the other side was hairy with the crosswind and trying to avoid
slowing down as much as possible to make up time. Went through
Thwaite and climbed up to Keld and then turned up Stonesdale lane
and saw the "not suitable for..." sign. Well, I didn't walk any of
that
25% bit, but I did pause on it. Again, not enough power. Apart from
that, this climb was mostly ok, wasn't quite as steep. However, it
kicked up as it made a right late on and I didn't have anything left,
I stopped, thought about pushing, decided that I was too proud to
do that again, clipped in the right foot, pushed off, failed to get
momentup up to get the left foot going, rolled backwards about a
foot, and fell over. OK. I'll just walk this bit and rub my elbow a
bit.
Only a few sheep saw my indignity, and the bike seems undamaged
apart from a scrape on the end of the rack.

After that I was off again and got to the pub to find still several
bikes
outside. Service was slow, though, and by the time I'd got my soup,
and it had cooled enough to drink, I'd lost all my half hour in hand
that
I'd not already lost on the climbs. I knew I had one more big climb to
get over, so I fair flew down the hill on the way out. With the wind
behind, and gravity firmly on side for now, it didn't take long to
clock
up the kms and I was at least ahead of schedule so would have a
chance of getting to Leyburn in time. That climb finally arrived and
it wasn't as tough. One pause, no walking, and the soup clearly had
an effect as well. Looked at the scary signs. Wondered about trainee
tank drivers (Caution tank drivers under instruction) and how one was
supposed to avoid 'em on a single track road. Hit 41.5mph according
to my speedo on the descent. Got to Leyburn having recovered that
half hour again. Had baked beans on toast (Masham, reprised) in
a very nice cafe. Also found a bank - finally!

Set off at a rapid pace, with the intention of having a slightly more
respectable time. One doesn't wish to keep the organiser hanging
around all evening either. It was about 17.25 when I set off. Had to
stop 3 times:

1. needed a pee

2. rattling noise. discovered loose rack mounting screw

3. Cycling along, the rain had now returned with a vengeance, and
suddenly I was blinded by all the salt being washed out of my
hair and helmet padding, into my eyes. Could barely see. Stopped
as soon as I safely could and sorted it. Wondered about the speed
of passing traffic in such wet conditions.

The GPS reporting the estimated time to finish showed I would be
well ahead of my expectations. I was seeing an ETA of around
8pm which got improved on as I headed onto the final stretch, and
the official recorded time was 7.50. I was going by the GPS's
number of metres to the finish countdown, having forgotten I'd
misplaced the start/finish pt by about 150m so almost cycled
straight past! I believe I actually finished this ride with more time
to spare than my other two 200s, in the end.

Cycled back to B&B. Had a shower, then found a pub for some
food - they kindly served me even though I was a bit late - and
then went back to B&B and crashed. Up at 6.59, a bit later than
planned, rushed breakfast, and cycled like a man possessed to
catch the 7.36. At Stevenage had to ask the driver to let my
bike out as again no sign of any staff. Had my ticket queried on
the train but managed to persuade 'em it was kosher (it said
Route: Ely but the route reserved was:

York->Stevenage->Cambridge->Ely->Cambridge

I had asked when I was sent the tickets, and was told it was
valid, so I said that to the inspector on the train, and they didn't
charge me a penalty fare, which was nice).

Back to Cambridge, home, cos I'd my laptop there, drove to
work.

Fin.

PS

Will need to try again without the stomach upset to see how
much that may have slowed me down. I probably wasn't
absorbing food very well so that may not have helped. I have
been feeling a bit slow lately so I may take it easy for a bit
and not do a long ride this weekend. I also signed up for
the Mildenhall 300... so I will have to try to get some miles
in and keep turning over for that.

It was nice to meet some of the hardened Audaxers from urc,
I have no idea how you got round so fast.

Top ride and top report mate, it's nice to read that others suffer too
:-) well done, not sure my climbing lags are up to such a bumpy 200.
It's also MUCH harder riding for long spells alone so well done.

cheers,

Tony B

PS they are all on drugs ;-)

Audax drugs of choice: Black Sheep, ibupofen, carrot cake. No know test
for synthetic carrot cake either, so all's well there then...

Man, I feel for you!!! Tan Hill is a [censored] of a hill!! It totally knackered
me as well when I did it last year, against the wind and under pissing
rain!!! That was during the W2W.

Great view from the top, though, uh?

--
Vivian
-------
"We learned more from a three minute record than we ever learned in school".
No Surrender

"Arthur Clune" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Fuller report to follow at some point (I'm sure MSeries will as well), but
all I'm going to say for now is that courtesy of a monster wind I'm now
totally knackered in a way I haven't been for years and about to go to
bed. I'm hoping to stay up till 9.30, but not expecting to 🙁

On the plus side, I had good company for the ride, chatted with MSeries
and Blonde at the start and got round ok.

The strength of the wind is prehaps best illustrated by the fact that
we *averaged* 20mph for the last 40 miles, while being totally shagged.
I've been up Tan Hill several times and I've never found it as hard as
today into a block headwind. On the plus side, I finally managed to ride
the steep bit at the top that I've failed on the last times I did this
ride (a few years ago now).

Arthur

--
Arthur Clune

Simon Proven said:

[tan hill]
25% bit, but I did pause on it. Again, not enough power. Apart from
that, this climb was mostly ok, wasn't quite as steep. However, it
kicked up as it made a right late on and I didn't have anything left,
I stopped, thought about pushing, decided that I was too proud to
do that again, clipped in the right foot, pushed off, failed to get
momentup up to get the left foot going, rolled backwards about a
foot, and fell over. OK. I'll just walk this bit and rub my elbow a
bit.

This bit has always defeated me in previous years. It's a nasty
sting in the tail isn't it! I was pleased to finally cycle up the
whole thing this year.

Hope it was worth the long trip for you, and I'm sorry we couldn't
arrange better weather. Maybe next year.

Cheers,

Arthur

--
Arthur Clune

Simon Proven said:

Overtook someone who
I thought was going very slowly maybe 15 miles in. I didn't think
he was going to get round in time; I suspect he was one of the
two that packed.

Well done on your ride, unfortunately the person you passed after 15
miles was my dad who was ambling to Masham and back while his idiot son
did the full route.
The slight ribbing the two DNF got when I finished, will be upped next
time I see them. Although they had been used to the warm weather of the
Sem. Fed. before yesterdays' persistent wash and blow dry.

Andy S

Andy S said:

Not really a suprise, considering I knew you were somewhere up the
road, stopping at Tan Hill meant I was never going to catch you; that
and the 8hr 15min Lincoln Flat One [1] from the previous day which was
being to tell on my legs. I only managed *19mph* for the last 40miles
:-), although it was fast enough to reel in the Hambledon Groupetto.

I was rather surprised that we were the first back since I thought you
were up the road after the amble to Masham. If I'd know you were you
(if you see what I mean) then I'd have come and said I, but I was a
little fried at that point.

--
Arthur Clune