Bloody AUK

[MSeries]

MartinM wrote:
> MSeries wrote:
> > MartinM wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > mentioning (if it's not too early) The Scottish Ride, I assume everyone
> > > else is going for the 90 hr time?
> >
> >
> > Scottish Ride ?
>
> not anything to do with Scotland; I refer to the PBP; in the tradition
> of Shakesperian actors I have decided it is bad luck to refer to it by
> it's proper title.

Ah right so. Yes 90hours for me..

 

[Simon Bennett]

MartinM wrote:

> not anything to do with Scotland; I refer to the PBP; in the
> tradition of Shakesperian actors I have decided it is bad luck to
> refer to it by it's proper title.

Is 90hrs a quick time for PBP? Never having ridden more than 300km in a
single ride, I have no idea how long it would take me.

I managed a very hilly 300km in about 14hrs last summer. So how would that
scale up to 1200km?

 

[MSeries]

Simon Bennett wrote:
> MartinM wrote:
>
> > not anything to do with Scotland; I refer to the PBP; in the
> > tradition of Shakesperian actors I have decided it is bad luck to
> > refer to it by it's proper title.
>
> Is 90hrs a quick time for PBP? Never having ridden more than 300km in a
> single ride, I have no idea how long it would take me.
>
> I managed a very hilly 300km in about 14hrs last summer. So how would that
> scale up to 1200km?

I am impressed with 14 for a hilly 300. My fastest 300 was 15hours,
20kph average is good enough for me !!! 90 hours is the largest time
limit for PBP, take longer than this and you have failed. So it is not
a quick time. I'll be happy to finish inside 90 hours, I don't care id
f it is 10 mins or 5 hours though I hope I am not down to counting
minutes. 1400km of LEL took me 106 hours. To my final overnight stop in
Gamlingay I'd covered 1170km in 86 hours and that was with at least 6
hours off each day and planning on a 1400km, four night/five day ride.

 

[Arthur Clune]

Simon Bennett wrote:
>
> Is 90hrs a quick time for PBP? Never having ridden more than 300km in a
> single ride, I have no idea how long it would take me.

No, it's not, in fact it's the maximum allowed. A fast rider should be
able to have proper stops and decent sleep in 90 hours. It's only 8mph
average, so if you can average twice that normally, that's a lot of scope
for sleeping.

PBP also has a proper race group. I forget what time the winners do but
it's damm fast - 49 hours or so.

> I managed a very hilly 300km in about 14hrs last summer. So how would that
> scale up to 1200km?

Depends if you want to bash round with minimum stops, or stop and sleep
properly etc. but basically that's fairly fast so you should be ok.

I'm not really the person to ask mind since I've never ridden more than
140 miles in a day myself.

Arthur

--
Arthur Clune

 

[MSeries]

MSeries wrote:
>. To my final overnight stop in
> Gamlingay I'd covered 1170km in 86 hours and that was with at least 6
> hours off each day and planning on a 1400km, four night/five day ride.

The six hours off does not include time spent at controls, just at the
end of each days ride before the next.

 

[Simon Bennett]

MSeries wrote:

> I am impressed with 14 for a hilly 300. My fastest 300 was 15hours,
> 20kph average is good enough for me !!! 90 hours is the largest time
> limit for PBP, take longer than this and you have failed. So it is not
> a quick time. I'll be happy to finish inside 90 hours, I don't care id
> f it is 10 mins or 5 hours though I hope I am not down to counting
> minutes. 1400km of LEL took me 106 hours. To my final overnight stop
> in Gamlingay I'd covered 1170km in 86 hours and that was with at
> least 6 hours off each day and planning on a 1400km, four night/five
> day ride.

When I decided to do it about 3 years ago, my aim for PBP was to do it in a
reasonably fast time. I'm not sure I'd keep up with the really fast riders
(49 hours!). I ought to do some longer distances to find out how my usual
pace holds up over extremely long distances.

 

[MartinM]

My plan is to start at 2200 (the slow lot) then ride the 400 and
something to
Loudieac control,then collapse for a few hours, therafter it's less
than 200
to Brest, and you're on the way home. But it's just a vague plan. Tim

Wainwright reckons a tried and tested method is to ride it like 4
300's.
certainly intend to keep a few hours in reserve for the last day in
case of
mishaps. I get the impression that the key to a succesful finish is
being
able to balance the need for sleep with riding at enough of a pace(1);
in
theory we could all do the actual riding in 60-65 hrs but I don't think

anyone gets 30-35 hrs sleep.

(1) plus riding the equivalent distance to the Moon beforehand

 

[Dave Larrington]

In article <[email protected]>, Arthur Clune (ajc22
@york.ac.uk) wrote:
> Simon Bennett wrote:
> >
> > Is 90hrs a quick time for PBP? Never having ridden more than 300km in a
> > single ride, I have no idea how long it would take me.
>
> No, it's not, in fact it's the maximum allowed. A fast rider should be
> able to have proper stops and decent sleep in 90 hours. It's only 8mph
> average, so if you can average twice that normally, that's a lot of scope
> for sleeping.
>
> PBP also has a proper race group. I forget what time the winners do but
> it's damm fast - 49 hours or so.

44:40 in 2003. Gethin Butler was first BRITON home, in 49:01. These
people are clearly mad.

In "Eiger Dreams", Jon Krakauer wrote that while his companion wanted
very badly to climb the North Face, he, Krakauer, merely wanted very
badly to /have/ climbed the North Face. Sometimes I feel the same about
the French Event.

--
Dave Larrington - <http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/>
Me, I wanna be an anglepoise lamp, yeah!

 

[MSeries]

Simon Bennett wrote:
> MSeries wrote:
>
> > I am impressed with 14 for a hilly 300. My fastest 300 was 15hours,
> > 20kph average is good enough for me !!! 90 hours is the largest time
> > limit for PBP, take longer than this and you have failed. So it is not
> > a quick time. I'll be happy to finish inside 90 hours, I don't care id
> > f it is 10 mins or 5 hours though I hope I am not down to counting
> > minutes. 1400km of LEL took me 106 hours. To my final overnight stop
> > in Gamlingay I'd covered 1170km in 86 hours and that was with at
> > least 6 hours off each day and planning on a 1400km, four night/five
> > day ride.
>
> When I decided to do it about 3 years ago, my aim for PBP was to do it in a
> reasonably fast time. I'm not sure I'd keep up with the really fast riders
> (49 hours!). I ought to do some longer distances to find out how my usual
> pace holds up over extremely long distances.

You'll need to understand how you react with sleep deprivation, what
you can eat over long periods etc, etc, etc.

 

[Dave Larrington]

In article <[email protected]>,
MartinM ([email protected]) wrote:
> My plan is to start at 2200 (the slow lot) then ride the 400 and
> something to
> Loudieac control,then collapse for a few hours, therafter it's less
> than 200
> to Brest, and you're on the way home. But it's just a vague plan. Tim
>
> Wainwright reckons a tried and tested method is to ride it like 4
> 300's.
> certainly intend to keep a few hours in reserve for the last day in
> case of
> mishaps. I get the impression that the key to a succesful finish is
> being
> able to balance the need for sleep with riding at enough of a pace(1);
> in
> theory we could all do the actual riding in 60-65 hrs but I don't think
>
> anyone gets 30-35 hrs sleep.

Not sure what his plan was, but a Dutch acquaintance reached Brest in 27
hours and did an overall time of 65 and a bit. So I suspect he had a
reasonably long kip at the turn.

--
Dave Larrington - <http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/>
Every establishment needs an opposition.

 

[Dave Larrington]

In article <[email protected]>,
MSeries ([email protected]) wrote:
>
> Simon Bennett wrote:
> > MSeries wrote:
> >
> > > I am impressed with 14 for a hilly 300. My fastest 300 was 15hours,
> > > 20kph average is good enough for me !!! 90 hours is the largest time
> > > limit for PBP, take longer than this and you have failed. So it is not
> > > a quick time. I'll be happy to finish inside 90 hours, I don't care id
> > > f it is 10 mins or 5 hours though I hope I am not down to counting
> > > minutes. 1400km of LEL took me 106 hours. To my final overnight stop
> > > in Gamlingay I'd covered 1170km in 86 hours and that was with at
> > > least 6 hours off each day and planning on a 1400km, four night/five
> > > day ride.
> >
> > When I decided to do it about 3 years ago, my aim for PBP was to do it in a
> > reasonably fast time. I'm not sure I'd keep up with the really fast riders
> > (49 hours!). I ought to do some longer distances to find out how my usual
> > pace holds up over extremely long distances.
>
> You'll need to understand how you react with sleep deprivation, what
> you can eat over long periods etc, etc, etc.

And I bet you can't get beans on toast or BACON sandwiches Over There...

--
Dave Larrington - <http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/>
I have a shell collection, have you seen it? I keep it scattered on the
world=3Fs beaches.

 

[Tim Hall]

On 27 Feb 2006 08:20:05 -0800, "MartinM" <[email protected]> wrote:

<snip PBP plans>

I was chatting with John Curtin, of fixed wheel fame, a couple of
years back, whilst partaking the delights of the Denmead 200.

He was saying that the key to a succesful PBP was to bank plenty of
miles early on.

So engrossed in our conversation were we that we soon illustrated the
other key to a succesful PBP, or indeed any Audax - keep an eye on the
route and don't miss a blindingly obvious left turn. <fx: turn round,
retrace 2 miles, rejoin route>


Tim

 

[MSeries]

MartinM wrote:
> My plan is to start at 2200 (the slow lot) then ride the 400 and
> something to
> Loudieac control,then collapse for a few hours, therafter it's less
> than 200
> to Brest, and you're on the way home. But it's just a vague plan. Tim
>
LEL I did approx

400 (5)
200 (7.5)
280 (7.5)
280 (7.5)
240

the figures in parenthese are hours off after each 'day ride' and is
what I shall base my schedule on. Obviously the placement of the
controls will be weaved into the mix too,

 

[MartinM]

MSeries wrote:
> MartinM wrote:
> > My plan is to start at 2200 (the slow lot) then ride the 400 and
> > something to
> > Loudieac control,then collapse for a few hours, therafter it's less
> > than 200
> > to Brest, and you're on the way home. But it's just a vague plan. Tim
> >
> LEL I did approx
>
> 400 (5)
> 200 (7.5)
> 280 (7.5)
> 280 (7.5)
> 240

assuming times of 20-22h for 400, 10-12h for 200 etc, you will run out
of time with that (and that doesn't include the very long controls);
this is why they often say LEL is easier as it has a lower minimum
average speed.

 

[MartinM]

Tim Hall wrote:
> On 27 Feb 2006 08:20:05 -0800, "MartinM" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> <snip PBP plans>
>
> I was chatting with John Curtin, of fixed wheel fame, a couple of
> years back, whilst partaking the delights of the Denmead 200.
>
> He was saying that the key to a succesful PBP was to bank plenty of
> miles early on.

I think he climbed off last time; I spoke to him a couple of years ago.
But that was due to lack of food IIRC.

BTW has anyone got Tim's stuff on it?

 

[Simon Bennett]

MartinM wrote:

> I think he climbed off last time; I spoke to him a couple of years
> ago. But that was due to lack of food IIRC.

I don't understand that; if you're suffering from a lack of food, why not
just eat something? It works for me; if I'm bonking, or close to bonking, 5
minutes after eating, I'm ready to go. Or is the situation different on
really long rides?

 

[MSeries]

MartinM wrote:
> MSeries wrote:
> > MartinM wrote:
> > > My plan is to start at 2200 (the slow lot) then ride the 400 and
> > > something to
> > > Loudieac control,then collapse for a few hours, therafter it's less
> > > than 200
> > > to Brest, and you're on the way home. But it's just a vague plan. Tim
> > >
> > LEL I did approx
> >
> > 400 (5)
> > 200 (7.5)
> > 280 (7.5)
> > 280 (7.5)
> > 240
>
> assuming times of 20-22h for 400, 10-12h for 200 etc, you will run out
> of time with that (and that doesn't include the very long controls);
> this is why they often say LEL is easier as it has a lower minimum
> average speed.

Times and distances are approximate, I DID complete 1170km in approx 86
hours without trying. Had 1200km been my goal my schedule would have
been different. We knew our capabilites and afforded ourselves the rest
we wanted based on how long we anticipated the next leg to take.

The LEL + PBP veterans I have spoken to said LEL is harder, harder
route and longer.

 

[MartinM]

MSeries wrote:
> MartinM wrote:
> > MSeries wrote:
> > > MartinM wrote:
> > > > My plan is to start at 2200 (the slow lot) then ride the 400 and
> > > > something to
> > > > Loudieac control,then collapse for a few hours, therafter it's less
> > > > than 200
> > > > to Brest, and you're on the way home. But it's just a vague plan. Tim
> > > >
> > > LEL I did approx
> > >
> > > 400 (5)
> > > 200 (7.5)
> > > 280 (7.5)
> > > 280 (7.5)
> > > 240
> >
> > assuming times of 20-22h for 400, 10-12h for 200 etc, you will run out
> > of time with that (and that doesn't include the very long controls);
> > this is why they often say LEL is easier as it has a lower minimum
> > average speed.
>
> Times and distances are approximate, I DID complete 1170km in approx 86
> hours without trying. Had 1200km been my goal my schedule would have
> been different. We knew our capabilites and afforded ourselves the rest
> we wanted based on how long we anticipated the next leg to take.
>
> The LEL + PBP veterans I have spoken to said LEL is harder, harder
> route and longer.

I think there's a lot of debate about it; some say the LEL longer time
is an advantage, some say the atmosphere of PBP makes it easier. You
will have no problem (or Dave Kahn). I'll decide if I can do it when
I'm back in Paris ;-)

 

[MartinM]

Simon Bennett wrote:
> MartinM wrote:
>
> > I think he climbed off last time; I spoke to him a couple of years
> > ago. But that was due to lack of food IIRC.
>
> I don't understand that; if you're suffering from a lack of food, why not
> just eat something? It works for me; if I'm bonking, or close to bonking, 5
> minutes after eating, I'm ready to go. Or is the situation different on
> really long rides?

I'm sure it's the same JC, he said he got to a control having tried to
eat for over a day and just ran out of energy; it was not his first
time though and he had completed before. Actually looking through
previous finishers on the AUK site there are a lot of names not there
that you would expect to see.

 

[MartinM]

MartinM wrote:
> Simon Bennett wrote:
> > MartinM wrote:
> >
> > > I think he climbed off last time; I spoke to him a couple of years
> > > ago. But that was due to lack of food IIRC.
> >
> > I don't understand that; if you're suffering from a lack of food, why not
> > just eat something? It works for me; if I'm bonking, or close to bonking, 5
> > minutes after eating, I'm ready to go. Or is the situation different on
> > really long rides?

dunno, but my best meal ever on an AUK ride was a mega fry up at the
Red Lodge transport caff at about 400km of a 600; 100 K later I still
managed to clear Tesco's out of savoury pretzels.