First Sportive done......check.

[WobblyBob]

Well i just about managed it, the 'Eden Valley Epic' held at Penrith today over a 60 mile loop taking in 4650ft of climbing including a huuuuuge climb at 56 miles of almost 2 miles at about 12-13%
I managed it in 4 & a quarter hours which i was well chuffed with (ave 14mph) & even hit 45.5mph on one downhill section
Unfortunately there seemed to be quite a few 'off's' around the course with various cut/scrapes/bruises i witnessed & even worse i had heard that one guy had actually died somewhere during the event , apparently paramedics were seen working on him on the side of the road, not sure if this was because of some kind of accident or a heart attack........i seriously hope this is not the case tho & he pulled through !!!

 

[Andrew 14]

Well done on a very respectable time

 

[Garz]

Well done bob, sad news about the guy

 

[User16625]

When your doing 45+mph, do you find the bike goes unstable? I done that sort of speed recently and for some reason my bike went unstable. I enjoyed doing it nonetheless.

Sad to hear about that guy. If it is true I hope he was a bell end.

 

[The Over 40 Cyclist]

Good work Bob. Always nice to achieve something like that. Now for the next one.

one guy had actually died somewhere during the event , apparently paramedics were seen working on him on the side of the road

I saw the exact same thing on one long ride I did a couple of years ago. They tell me that he died of a heart attack, he wasn't young.

Sad though it was I decided that when it's my time I'd be happy to go like that. Out on the bike having a ride, drop dead. There's got to be worse ways.

 

[RWright]

Nice ride. Sorry to hear about the other fellow.

 

[Gravity Aided]

I love that our nearby metric century has us, at the end, climb a big ridge then travel downhill with rollers to a small nearby town. After the post ride, I have to get back on the bike and ride back up the ridge again to get home .

 

[WobblyBob]

When your doing 45+mph, do you find the bike goes unstable? I done that sort of speed recently and for some reason my bike went unstable. I enjoyed doing it nonetheless.

Sad to hear about that guy. If it is true I hope he was a bell end.

I can't say it felt unstable really, i did it more than once & i would'nt have done it if i'd felt unsafe....you may need your bike checked out possibly ?

 

[Pale Rider]

Bob,

Are you going to enter the Pennines Etape sportive?

Harder than your first, but you've got a few months to build up to it.

http://www.etapepennines.co.uk/

 

[WobblyBob]

Bob,

Are you going to enter the Pennines Etape sportive?

Harder than your first, but you've got a few months to build up to it.

http://www.etapepennines.co.uk/

Well funnily enough my buddy & me had talked about giving it a go until talking to a guy post race yesterday & he was saying its the hardest thing he's ever done & he's done loads of events all over the country.....kind of put us off a bit to be honest, not sure tho as i love a challenge !
How about you ?

 

[Rob3rt]

Well done bob!

When your doing 45+mph, do you find the bike goes unstable? I done that sort of speed recently and for some reason my bike went unstable. I enjoyed doing it nonetheless.

Sad to hear about that guy. If it is true I hope he was a bell end.

Much like yourself?

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Hills Gandalf, hills!

We don't have 'em 'ere in Suffolk.

 

[Pale Rider]

How about you ?

Ha-ha - I'd struggle to get up the first bank.

Your buddy is right, it's supposed to be one of the toughest sportives, so I was hoping you'd fall for my suggestion, I mean give it a go.

I did a bit of spectating at last year's, I was about five miles from the finish and the leader went past us at full beans but looked like he could have been smoking a cigar - impressive.

Fair bit of respiratory-induced carnage further back.

 

[WobblyBob]

Ha ha....not gonna jump into this one i don't think, might possibly cycle over to watch it perhaps

 

[Pale Rider]

Ha ha....not gonna jump into this one i don't think, might possibly cycle over to watch it perhaps

I might join you.

There's not a lot to see in one way, but I enjoyed last year - even just stood by the road you can 'feel the love' to an extent.