London Edinburgh London 2025

[Ajax Bay]

Warning: OT
Three Peaks Yacht Race normally starts on the Sunday nearest the neap tide closest to the summer solstice (bit like the rules for determining Easter).
Barmouth(start)>Caernarfon>Snowdon and back down>Cumbrian coast: Scafell Pike and back down>Fort William> Ben Nevis and back down>finish.
My best time (crew of 4 that year - trimaran was too small to take 5; 2 to run/walk each mountain) was/is under 58 hours.
Snowdon (25 miles) and Scafell Pike (31 miles) in 22 hours (including 10 sailing in between).

 

[Ian H]

Friends of mine who have ridden both LEL and PBP say the quality of support at LEL plus much nicer scenery is a major attraction, but the road-side support from the French and the iconic nature of PBP makes it an essential event for randonneurs. I don't imagine that will ever change.

It wasn't when I rode it 😊

 

[Polecat]

There are a ton of alternatives if you want to run a Marathon. When I was running I did the New Forest as I never fancied London. On the other hand a friend of mine who is a runner enters the London ballot unsuccessfully every year and has done so for years. He has no real interest at all in doing a Marathon elsewhere.

But for these really big over 1000km audaxes what else is there apart from PBP & LEL?

Genuine question - what are the other events in this class? Wild Atlantic Way?

Just idle curiosity. I peaked with 400km a few years ago. I couldn't even manage that now.

I hope you can see this:
https://www.randonneursmondiaux.org/59-Calendar.html

 

[Dogtrousers]

I hope you can see this:
https://www.randonneursmondiaux.org/59-Calendar.html

Interesting thanks! I'll pore over it and choose an event to do (in a different life )

 

[Alien8]

Like this:

But not so much this:

 

[ianrauk]

Like this:

View attachment 725689

But not so much this:

View attachment 725690

Yet, the other way round for me. But thats due to my aversion to anything red.
Hopefully they do a different colour to the red. I did ask Danial and he said maybe.

 

[matticus]

Can't say I'm grabbed by either ... but we're all different!

(I happened to wear my 2017 helper's T-shirt to an event last night, and it caught the attention of someone I didn't know rode LEL in '22. Which was nice!)

 

[matticus]

There are a ton of alternatives if you want to run a Marathon. When I was running I did the New Forest as I never fancied London. On the other hand a friend of mine who is a runner enters the London ballot unsuccessfully every year and has done so for years. He has no real interest at all in doing a Marathon elsewhere.

But for these really big over 1000km audaxes what else is there apart from PBP & LEL?

Genuine question - what are the other events in this class? Wild Atlantic Way?

I've tried to enter a French 1200, and the Dutch 2100 events for 2024. Neither will have much more than 100 riders, I think. There are quite a few others on the continent. Think there's a (sold-out) 1000k from Essex? (also a smaller field than LEL).

One for you: how many running events are there of 60+hours? How about 4 days? [this in light of the recent Barkley Marathon, unsuprisingly!]

 

[Ajax Bay]

The non-plain version draws on research into (is inspired by) how to maximise conspicuity, I think.

 

[Alien8]

The non-plain version draws on research into (is inspired by) how to maximise conspicuity, I think.

I was wondering whether it was Escher inspired and would send motorists off in to a bit of a trance.

 

[Dogtrousers]

One for you: how many running events are there of 60+hours? How about 4 days? [this in light of the recent Barkley Marathon, unsuprisingly!]

Not a clue I'm afraid. I'm not involved in running these days, and even when I was, half-marathon was my thing. Although I did do some marshalling on London -Brighton a couple of times.

My reaction to my one and only marathon was a bit like my reaction to my one and only 400k Audax "Feck me that was hard. I'm not doing that again"

 

[matticus]

The non-plain version draws on research into (is inspired by) how to maximise conspicuity, I think.

That's funny, because it reminded me of the naval dazzle camo!

... of course these things are often not simple ...

 

[ianrauk]

That's funny, because it reminded me of the naval dazzle camo!
View attachment 725699

... of course these things are often not simple ...

I do remember climbing the Pico de Valetta in Spain a few years back. The highest paved road in Europe and of which is used by car manufacturers to test cars at high altitude. The testing cars had very similar camouflage.

 

[Jameshow]

I've tried to enter a French 1200, and the Dutch 2100 events for 2024. Neither will have much more than 100 riders, I think. There are quite a few others on the continent. Think there's a (sold-out) 1000k from Essex? (also a smaller field than LEL).

One for you: how many running events are there of 60+hours? How about 4 days? [this in light of the recent Barkley Marathon, unsuprisingly!]

Spine race...

Leeds Liverpool canal race + 3 other ones.

 

[T4tomo]

I do remember climbing the Pico de Valetta in Spain a few years back. The highest paved road in Europe and of which is used by car manufacturers to test cars at high altitude. The testing cars had very similar camouflage.

That is so that if a rival manufacturer spots it and photographs it, it's very hard to make out body panel shapes etc. so less likely to be cloned copies ripped off etc