Suffolk

co10 wrote on 25/03/2007 16:21 +0100:

Quoted message said:

Travelling between Sudbury and Clare, and back, this morning, haven't seen
so many cyclists since last years TdF on telly. All age groups, all sorts
of bikes, including some 69 quid specials, and a rather tasty three wheel
bent. Does anyone know what it was in aid of, a reliability trial perhaps?

My ride out this morning on the Cambs/Herts border was in beautiful
sunshine with a nice temperature and only one other bike spotted the
whole way. Perhaps they were all over at Sudbury but I doubt it because
its the same most weekends.

--
Tony

"The most savage controversies are those about matters as to which there
is no good evidence either way."
- Bertrand Russell

"co10" <[email hidden]>typed

Quoted message said:

Travelling between Sudbury and Clare, and back, this morning, haven't seen
so many cyclists since last years TdF on telly. All age groups, all sorts
of bikes, including some 69 quid specials, and a rather tasty three wheel
bent. Does anyone know what it was in aid of, a reliability trial perhaps?

Quoted message said:

Bill

Possibly Jim Brown's 'Start of Summertime' Audax rides. Stevenage -
Lavenham - Stevenage and variants?

--
Helen D. Vecht: [email hidden]
Edgware.

co10 said:

Travelling between Sudbury and Clare, and back, this morning, haven't seen
so many cyclists since last years TdF on telly. All age groups, all sorts
of bikes, including some 69 quid specials, and a rather tasty three wheel
bent. Does anyone know what it was in aid of, a reliability trial perhaps?

Bill

Start of Summertime Audax events from Stevenage.

210km event went from Stevenage to Lavenham via Thaxted, and returned
via a different route through Thaxted. B*gger of a headwind for the
first half, but a wild return leg - blown along by the tailwind.

If you saw a sweaty, slightly overweight bloke on a Pompino Fixed
grunting up the hills, it was probably me 🙂

"co10" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Travelling between Sudbury and Clare, and back, this morning, haven't seen
so many cyclists since last years TdF on telly. All age groups, all sorts
of bikes, including some 69 quid specials, and a rather tasty three wheel
bent. Does anyone know what it was in aid of, a reliability trial perhaps?

There were a lot more cyclists out yesterday around Leicestershire than
normal. Not many in large groups though, often just 2 or 3 people.

I think it was because the weather forecast was better than the last few
days.
--
peter

Cheap train tickets database
http://www.petereverett.co.uk/tickets/

Email sent to this address is generally deleted upon arrival
Visit website if you want to contact me

co10 said:

Travelling between Sudbury and Clare, and back, this morning, haven't seen
so many cyclists since last years TdF on telly. All age groups, all sorts
of bikes, including some 69 quid specials, and a rather tasty three wheel
bent.

That was me, that was. Stevenage Start Of Summertime 200 Audax.

Ping David Damerell: how did you get on after Lavenham?

Quoting Dave Larrington <[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

That was me, that was. Stevenage Start Of Summertime 200 Audax.
Ping David Damerell: how did you get on after Lavenham?

We made it to the 150km control about 20 minutes before it closed, but
around 175 km - just shy of Henham - I sat down at the side of the road
and metaphorically burst into tears; I was pretty much completely broken
at that point.

We phoned the ride organiser to say we were abandoning, crawled into
Henham, stopped at a pub there for BEER and crisps, and went the circa 25
miles back to Cambridge, stopping for more food en route. This proved to
be a good idea - 2 miles South of Cambridge Naath's ankle pain blew up and
she had to walk half the time, so even if I hadn't been broken we wouldn't
have completed anyway and would have had to find a hotel/B&B in Stevenage.

So obviously we were a bit overambitious (although I'm glad we tried, the
only way to know if we could do it was to try it). The big problem I had
was getting food into me - from about 50km I was feeling half-empty most
of the time, and that left us spending time at each control scaring up
food, which meant we had to go faster, which... well, I'd be interested to
know how you get more energy in. Foul-tasting energy drinks?

More to the point, though, for the last 125km this wasn't fun, since it
had turned into a deathmarch, so signing up for longer helpings of that
doesn't seem like a good idea. I think Naath and I will go for 50s and
100s and see if we can get to a state where we can have fun on longer
rides. There's always 2011...
--
David Damerell <[email hidden]> Distortion Field!
Today is Second Stilday, March - a weekend.

David Damerell said:

Quoting Dave Larrington <[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

That was me, that was. Stevenage Start Of Summertime 200 Audax.
Ping David Damerell: how did you get on after Lavenham?

We made it to the 150km control about 20 minutes before it closed, but
around 175 km - just shy of Henham - I sat down at the side of the road
and metaphorically burst into tears; I was pretty much completely broken
at that point.

Sounds like hard work.

<snip>

Quoted message said:

So obviously we were a bit overambitious (although I'm glad we tried, the
only way to know if we could do it was to try it). The big problem I had
was getting food into me - from about 50km I was feeling half-empty most
of the time, and that left us spending time at each control scaring up
food, which meant we had to go faster, which... well, I'd be interested to
know how you get more energy in. Foul-tasting energy drinks?

Eat little and often. Eat before you get hungry, drink before you get
thirsty. I eat any or all of; bananas, Soreen Malt Loaf and cereal
bars. And then eat a bit at the controls too.

Keeping hydrated is very important. Mr Larrington will be along in a
minute to say how thirsty I got on the Alan Furley Memorial. Don't
fall into the trap of just going on that litle bit more before you
eat/drink/adjust clothing/take a leak.

Quoted message said:

More to the point, though, for the last 125km this wasn't fun, since it
had turned into a deathmarch, so signing up for longer helpings of that
doesn't seem like a good idea.

Yes, it's meant to be fun. There's no point if it's not enjoyable.

Quoted message said:

I think Naath and I will go for 50s and
100s and see if we can get to a state where we can have fun on longer
rides. There's always 2011...

100s are a good start for tandem teams. Mrs. Hall is (cough) not as
fit as I am (and I'm no racing snake), but we've done a few 100s on
the tandem. Nothing too hilly mind.

Tim

David Damerell <[email hidden]>typed

Quoted message said:

Quoting Dave Larrington <[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

That was me, that was. Stevenage Start Of Summertime 200 Audax.
Ping David Damerell: how did you get on after Lavenham?

Quoted message said:

We made it to the 150km control about 20 minutes before it closed, but
around 175 km - just shy of Henham - I sat down at the side of the road
and metaphorically burst into tears; I was pretty much completely broken
at that point.

Poor thing! That's a horrid feeling.

Quoted message said:

So obviously we were a bit overambitious (although I'm glad we tried, the
only way to know if we could do it was to try it). The big problem I had
was getting food into me - from about 50km I was feeling half-empty most
of the time, and that left us spending time at each control scaring up
food, which meant we had to go faster, which... well, I'd be interested to
know how you get more energy in. Foul-tasting energy drinks?

You need to stoke up for several days before the ride; cake, pasta
anything really; don't try to lose weight beforehand and avoid alcohol
if you can, as well.

Quoted message said:

More to the point, though, for the last 125km this wasn't fun, since it
had turned into a deathmarch, so signing up for longer helpings of that
doesn't seem like a good idea. I think Naath and I will go for 50s and
100s and see if we can get to a state where we can have fun on longer
rides. There's always 2011...

Everyone is different. I did well on CAKE, teacakes licorice allsorts
and and like chocolate milk late in long rides. I avoided fatty foods,
but liked salty crisps on hot days. Beans on toast can be OK and helps
you avoid saddle soreness ;-).

The trick is to eat before you feel broken, which might mean taking food
with you and stopping to eat it every 60-90 minutes, no matter what
others are doing.

If, on your travels, you see a foodstuff you really fancy, go for it; it
will probably do you a lot of good.

Looking back, I'm still amazed I completed as many Audax rides as I did;
I have a very low aerobic capacity and was very slow...

--
Helen D. Vecht: [email hidden]
Edgware.

Tim Hall <[email hidden]>typed

Quoted message said:

Keeping hydrated is very important. Mr Larrington will be along in a
minute to say how thirsty I got on the Alan Furley Memorial. Don't
fall into the trap of just going on that litle bit more before you
eat/drink/adjust clothing/take a leak.

Never a truer word written...

A full bladder addles everything!

--
Helen D. Vecht: [email hidden]
Edgware.

On Mar 26, 3:27 pm, David Damerell <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

The big problem I had was getting food into me - from about 50km
I was feeling half-empty most of the time, and that left us
spending time at each control scaring up food, which meant we had
to go faster, which... well, I'd be interested to know how you
get more energy in. Foul-tasting energy drinks?

The best way seems to be to take small nibbles of food at frequent
intervals, and certainly well before you actually feel the need. Once
you've bonked you are in trouble and have to go to survival mode.
Cramming sugary food in is the usual fix, but the respite is sometimes
only temporary.

Quoted message said:

More to the point, though, for the last 125km this wasn't fun,
since it had turned into a deathmarch, so signing up for longer
helpings of that doesn't seem like a good idea. I think Naath and
I will go for 50s and 100s and see if we can get to a state where
we can have fun on longer rides.

Riding with the bonk is morale-sapping and is a miserable experience
for anyone. It's important to find a feeding regime that works for
you. I have problems with this too as I'm prone to acid reflux on long
rides, and energy drinks can exacerbate this. On last year's Kernow &
SW 600 I was in trouble from about the 150km mark. I got severely
painful hiccups so that I was both hungry and thirsty but unable
either to eat or drink much at all. I'd also got sunburn which didn't
help matters, having omitted to bring any sunscreen on what turned out
to be a scorchingly sunny day.

Quoted message said:

There's always 2011...

All is not necessarily lost but it doesn't leave you much time to sort
the problem out. Qualifying is made somewhat more awkward by the fact
that you ought to be gentle with yourself for the next tow or three
rides. Riding at 18kph with a small number of shortish stops can be
faster than riding at 28kph with frequent long stops. If you still
want to qualify, this is probably the key.

Your energy crunch problem may actually be easier to put right quickly
than Naath's ankle injury. Was this a case of her stepping up the
distance too quickly? It's also worth having a very close look at her
pedal alignment.

--
Dave...

Quoting Tim Hall <[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

food, which meant we had to go faster, which... well, I'd be interested to
know how you get more energy in. Foul-tasting energy drinks?

Eat little and often. Eat before you get hungry, drink before you get
thirsty. I eat any or all of; bananas, Soreen Malt Loaf and cereal
bars. And then eat a bit at the controls too.

We had bananas, malt loaf, oat bars, fig newtons... maybe I just need to
hog more of everything.

Quoted message said:

Keeping hydrated is very important. Mr Larrington will be along in a
minute to say how thirsty I got on the Alan Furley Memorial.

No problem there - and our victory for the day was recovering the
waterbottle we left at 50km on the way out when we got back to it at
150km.

Quoted message said:

100s are a good start for tandem teams. Mrs. Hall is (cough) not as
fit as I am (and I'm no racing snake), but we've done a few 100s on
the tandem. Nothing too hilly mind.

Well, we did 100 into the wind and the lumps, so I pretty sure we can do
those.
--
David Damerell <[email hidden]> Distortion Field!
Today is Second Stilday, March - a weekend.

Quoting Helen Deborah Vecht <[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

David Damerell <[email hidden]>typed

Quoted message said:

food, which meant we had to go faster, which... well, I'd be interested to
know how you get more energy in. Foul-tasting energy drinks?

You need to stoke up for several days before the ride; cake, pasta
anything really;

I think this was probably where it went wrong - I hadn't eaten much in
previous days. I've got out of good habits - the best shape I've been in
was after the E2E in 2004.

Quoted message said:

The trick is to eat before you feel broken, which might mean taking food
with you and stopping to eat it every 60-90 minutes, no matter what
others are doing.

We were doing that, but maybe not enough. I think having a reserve of fig
newtons accessible on the move might help.
--
David Damerell <[email hidden]> Distortion Field!
Today is Second Stilday, March - a weekend.

Quoting dkahn400 <[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

Your energy crunch problem may actually be easier to put right quickly
than Naath's ankle injury. Was this a case of her stepping up the
distance too quickly? It's also worth having a very close look at her
pedal alignment.

ICBW, but I think it was just progressive soreness - she seems to be OK
today. A change of footwear might help.

Also, I should have brought my dorky warm hat.
--
David Damerell <[email hidden]> Distortion Field!
Today is Second Stilday, March - a weekend.

in message <[email hidden]>, David Damerell

(') said:

So obviously we were a bit overambitious (although I'm glad we tried, the
only way to know if we could do it was to try it). The big problem I had
was getting food into me - from about 50km I was feeling half-empty most
of the time, and that left us spending time at each control scaring up
food, which meant we had to go faster, which... well, I'd be interested
to know how you get more energy in. Foul-tasting energy drinks?

I think sorting your nutrition problem is the main thing - as others have
said, once you're running on empty, eating is no longer an instant
solution. You need to avoid getting to the point of running on empty. Put
plenty of carbohydrates 'in the bank' before hand, and have things
which /you/ find palatable and which /you/ can eat on the move in a place
you can get at them without stopping. For me, a pre-sliced and
pre-buttered malt loaf in the handlebar bag works. Also Soreen 'Go' bars
and Geobars stuffed in back pockets.

I can't go fast, so tearing along and then stopping for a meal isn't an
option for me. But you may find that ambling along and eating on the move
suits you better than stopping for meals.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; single speed mountain bikes: for people who cycle on flat mountains.

in message <[email hidden]>, Tim Hall

(') said:

David Damerell said:

Quoting Dave Larrington <[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

That was me, that was. Stevenage Start Of Summertime 200 Audax.
Ping David Damerell: how did you get on after Lavenham?

We made it to the 150km control about 20 minutes before it closed, but
around 175 km - just shy of Henham - I sat down at the side of the road
and metaphorically burst into tears; I was pretty much completely broken
at that point.

Sounds like hard work.

<snip>

Quoted message said:

So obviously we were a bit overambitious (although I'm glad we tried, the
only way to know if we could do it was to try it). The big problem I had
was getting food into me - from about 50km I was feeling half-empty most
of the time, and that left us spending time at each control scaring up
food, which meant we had to go faster, which... well, I'd be interested
to know how you get more energy in. Foul-tasting energy drinks?

Eat little and often. Eat before you get hungry, drink before you get
thirsty. I eat any or all of; bananas, Soreen Malt Loaf and cereal
bars. And then eat a bit at the controls too.

Keeping hydrated is very important. Mr Larrington will be along in a
minute to say how thirsty I got on the Alan Furley Memorial. Don't
fall into the trap of just going on that litle bit more before you
eat/drink/adjust clothing/take a leak.

Be careful where you fill your bidons, too - on the 2005 7/24 I refilled
mine from a tap at Newcastleton at 2am. It was dark so I couldn't see the
colour... Doing 100Km in the middle of the night with the bottom trying to
fall out of your bottom is... interesting.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

More to the point, though, for the last 125km this wasn't fun, since it
had turned into a deathmarch, so signing up for longer helpings of that
doesn't seem like a good idea.

Yes, it's meant to be fun. There's no point if it's not enjoyable.

Absolutely.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
; gif ye hes forget our auld plane Scottis quhilk your mother lerit you,
; in tymes cuming I sall wryte to you my mind in Latin, for I am nocht
; acquyntit with your Southeron
;; Letter frae Ninian Winyet tae John Knox datit 27t October 1563

naked_draughtsman said:

There were a lot more cyclists out yesterday around Leicestershire than
normal. Not many in large groups though, often just 2 or 3 people.

I think it was because the weather forecast was better than the last few
days.

Interestingly after last week's snow (in Germany), and the weather now a
rather pleasant sunny 16C, I saw only 3 individual cyclists and 1 family
of cyclists (all wearing various replica team kits).

Also no Nordic walkers in the forest for a change.

--
AndyM

In news:[email hidden],
David Damerell <[email hidden]> tweaked the Babbage-Engine
to tell us:

[Death-march Stuff]

Ouch! Sounds unpleasant. FWIW the expected boost from the tailwind on the
return leg didn't happen, and I grovelled into the finish with about three
minutes in hand. Apparently there were still more than twenty people Out
There when I got back, and I don't think anyone else came in while I was
hanging around at the end.

Quoted message said:

So obviously we were a bit overambitious (although I'm glad we tried,
the only way to know if we could do it was to try it). The big
problem I had was getting food into me - from about 50km I was
feeling half-empty most of the time, and that left us spending time
at each control scaring up food, which meant we had to go faster,
which... well, I'd be interested to know how you get more energy in.
Foul-tasting energy drinks?

One part Lucozade Sport to two parts water seems to work for me. Orange or
lemon flavour, as the so-called "mixed berry" stuff actually tastes like
shredded wheat, or cardboard, or something equally non-palatable. BEER[1]
also works as a mid-ride pick-me-up :-) I had a nice bottle of Czech lager
in Wye on the Invicta 200 on Saturday.

Apropos the chap - Peter Servante - who had the crash in Long Melford; I
heard at the finish that he needed a Several of stitches, but that he and
his bike had been collected by his son on his release from the hostipal.

1 - BEER IS food, Lewis! - Inspector Morse

--
Dave Larrington
<http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk>
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from
a yo-yo" - Enoch Root.

Quoting Dave Larrington <[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

David Damerell <[email hidden]> tweaked the Babbage-Engine
[Death-march Stuff]
Ouch! Sounds unpleasant. FWIW the expected boost from the tailwind on the
return leg didn't happen, and I grovelled into the finish with about three
minutes in hand. Apparently there were still more than twenty people Out
There when I got back, and I don't think anyone else came in while I was
hanging around at the end.

Twenty? Some of them must have fallen off before - we were dead last out
of Lakenham and the 150km.

That's a bit of a relief in a way - quietens the little voice saying we
should have pressed on.

Quoted message said:

One part Lucozade Sport to two parts water seems to work for me. Orange or
lemon flavour, as the so-called "mixed berry" stuff actually tastes like
shredded wheat, or cardboard, or something equally non-palatable.

Something besides water seems the main source of input I'm missing.

Quoted message said:

BEER[1] also works as a mid-ride pick-me-up :-)

Shame it's all Greene King country round there, really, although by pure
fluke I got a decent pint of Adnams after we abandoned. (Naath drinks
filthy gin.)

Quoted message said:

Apropos the chap - Peter Servante - who had the crash in Long Melford; I
heard at the finish that he needed a Several of stitches, but that he and
his bike had been collected by his son on his release from the hostipal.

Good to hear it. From my extensive experience of bashing my own head on
things, it didn't look too bad, but...
--
David Damerell <[email hidden]> flcl?
Today is First Potmos, April.

David Damerell <[email hidden]>typed

Quoted message said:

Something besides water seems the main source of input I'm missing.

Think:

Carbs
Fat
Salt
Rest
Clothes
Protein

If you missed meals in the days before the ride, your carbs might have
been down.

Some people need fats to help them ride.

Salt depletion can occur on long rides in the summer, but is unlikely
this time of year unless you've eaten little and lost much. Fruit/veg
juice can help with other electrolyte depletion. Some riders swear by
V8.

Difficult to factor rest in if you're close to time. A few minutes off
the bike can sometimes help enormously. Make sure you EAT ASAP if the
p*nct*re f**ry visits on a future Audax ride. The food is absorbed
faster, your head will be clearer and it might be the last time your
hands are clean...

Make sure you don't get too hot/cold/wet.

Some people find they need protein. I am not one.

Avoid alcohol if possible and reserve caffeine for first thing in the
morning of the ride and late into a ride when you're down. If you can
leave off caffeine for a few days before a ride, it can be a BIG HELP
later on.

--
Helen D. Vecht: [email hidden]
Edgware.