Epic, it was flat for the first 25 miles. So that equates to about 5000ft in 65 miles and that felt like plenty of hills.
That sounds like a good effort but Season of Mists has nearer to 8,500 ft of climbing (some at 20-25% gradient) in 65 miles so think seriously whether you would have traded in your 25 flat miles for 50% more climbs, some at 20-25% ...
This is the profile of the event when it started and finished in Hebden Bridge. Add another couple of flat miles at the start and finish this year, since event HQ has been moved down the valley to Mytholmroyd
[NOTE Some of the event information still refers to the old start/finish in Hebden Bridge - NOT THIS YEAR!!!] ...
As you can see, there are hardly any flat roads to recover on!
As mentioned above, Brian (Littgull) and I would like to achieve a minimum rolling average of 14 kph (9 mph) in order to get back comfortably within the time limit when food and drinks are still available at the finish. I once did the ride with someone who was struggling and we ended up getting back after the cut-off time as the HQ was being closed down. We missed out on most of the post-ride food, with just a small slice of leftover cake and some cold coffee each!
Would you would be happy to make your own way back if you needed to slow down below our cut-off speed? If so, then you would be welcome to set off with us and see how you got on.
As for the type of bike ... if you were happy to do that 91 mile ride on yours then why not do this one on it? (Slick tyres would roll better than knobblies, but I don't think the size of them would make a lot of difference.)
I'm hoping to ride but my youngest is possibly back in hospital for five or six days so I may end up doing it as a perm when he gets out .
Paul
I hope your lad is okay, Paul. If you do ride on Sunday, would be doing our kind of speed, and would like some company - come and join us!
We will not be racing off at the front of the bunch. We will start towards the back of the field and go at our own pace. That usually means that we pick off a few stragglers along the way. If we went first, then
we would be the stragglers getting picked off!
Look out for my red Cannodale near the entrance to the Community Centre at about 08:55. It has yellow decals, red and black tyres, and will have a dopey-looking tallish bloke standing next to it!