London Edinburgh London 2025

[matticus]

If anyone gets back by 4th August, they need to attempt some of the current point to point time trial records. Based on previous editions, the earliest back will be Tue 5th in the evening.

...which I take as a subtle hint to drop this into the thread: https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/...dinburgh-record-with-a-pub-stop-along-the-way

"Pete Dyson, the Bicycle Mayor of Bath, has broken the Road Records Association (RRA) record for the fastest non-stop solo cycle ride from London to Edinburgh. He completed the 390-mile journey in 16 hours 57 minutes, setting a new provisional time of 16 hrs 56 min 51sec for the 388-mile route "

 

[Ming the Merciless]

...which I take as a subtle hint to drop this into the thread: https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/...dinburgh-record-with-a-pub-stop-along-the-way

"Pete Dyson, the Bicycle Mayor of Bath, has broken the Road Records Association (RRA) record for the fastest non-stop solo cycle ride from London to Edinburgh. He completed the 390-mile journey in 16 hours 57 minutes, setting a new provisional time of 16 hrs 56 min 51sec for the 388-mile route "

Indeed scaling that record to LEL distance would get you back approx 10:35 pm Monday 4th from earliest start with no extra stops, and assuming no slow down on the smaller roads or longer duration. We then need to add in 21 control stops into less than 1 hour 25 mins, thus average 4 mins (or less) per control. An impressive feat it would be.

They would then be disappointed at being under the minimum time, not being validated, and thus DNF and not being recorded in the results.

 

[Trickedem]

Indeed scaling that record to LEL distance would get you back approx 10:35 pm Monday 4th from earliest start with no extra stops, and assuming no slow down on the smaller roads or longer duration. We then need to add in 21 control stops into less than 1 hour 25 mins, thus average 4 mins (or less) per control. An impressive feat it would be.

They would then be disappointed at being under the minimum time, not being validated, and thus DNF and not being recorded in the results.

And their won't be anyone at Writtle to meet them as we will probably be in the pub

 

[DCLane]

How's the training been going CC members doing LEL?

I've offered to volunteer, so I'll be at Louth Sunday/Monday with son no. 2.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Italian meal arranged for those volunteers who will arrive Richmond control on Saturday. The calm before the storm.

 

[robjh]

How's the training been going CC members doing LEL?

I'm quietly satisfied with my training - done a couple of 300 and 400s, including two 300s back to back, an overnight 200 last weekend and a 600k next. I'm not that fast and know I'll be up against the time limit, but reckon I'll at least be able to give it a good go.

Two concerns at the moment:

Saddle comfort. Neither of my favourite saddles are perfect over long distances (and the new pricy one I bought after a saddle fit was worse). Will have to make the best of an imperfect job.

Knee pain - damaged myself on that damn new saddle and am still nursing the L/H knee back to comfort. Not a show-stopper but a worry.

 

[Jameshow]

Italian meal arranged for those volunteers who will arrive Richmond control on Saturday. The calm before the storm.

What time do they come through Richmond?

 

[Ajax Bay]

My preparation has been less than optimal. Brevet Cymru (400) completed (included 3 hours planned lie down/some sleep).
And a speedy flat 100 two days later. Confidence good.
But an 'off' lost me 5 weeks May/June (left leg spent time refusing to resume weight bearing). Some 100s since then. So older and less fit than 8 years ago when I saw you [ @DCLane ] in Louth at dusk Day 4. You successfully dodged the Fenland hill country: I climbed every summit, mostly alone - where is the bulge when one needed it?
Bike and kit ready; body and contact points less so.
Looking forward to Louth (arriving at 1957 btw): my start @ 0830.

 

[Jameshow]

I'm quietly satisfied with my training - done a couple of 300 and 400s, including two 300s back to back, an overnight 200 last weekend and a 600k next. I'm not that fast and know I'll be up against the time limit, but reckon I'll at least be able to give it a good go.

Two concerns at the moment:

Saddle comfort. Neither of my favourite saddles are perfect over long distances (and the new pricy one I bought after a saddle fit was worse). Will have to make the best of an imperfect job.

Knee pain - damaged myself on that damn new saddle and am still nursing the L/H knee back to comfort. Not a show-stopper but a worry.

What saddle did you buy?
I'd struggle on anything but one of my brooks saddles!

 

[Ajax Bay]

What time do they come through Richmond?

At 467km nearly all during Monday - that's the first time the 'storm' hits Richmond, maybe the fastest early starters before Sunday midnight. A few late starters may even have a Ni2 sleep there before pressing on. The swift and the bold will come through southbound ( @1067km ) from dawn Tuesday.

 

[robjh]

What saddle did you buy?
I'd struggle on anything but one of my brooks saddles!

I tried a Specialized Power Pro short-nosed, 3d-printed thing. In the shop it was by far the most comfortable but was so-so out on the road and I was very conscious of feeling my sit-bones. Can't work out why it gave me such a sore knee later in the ride, but that's not something I could risk on the DD; it also creaked loudly after the first 30 miles, so I took it back and got a refund.

Prior to that I was using my Brooks B17 narrow, but the longer and multi-day rides lately have reminded me that even that can irritate me at >100 miles ( and I ended up with chafing by the sit bones after 2 consecutive days). So I'm now looking at my trusty old Selle Italia gel model which gets annoyingly squidgy at the end of long days but rarely feels too hard on my backside.

I'm even considering packing a spare saddle in a drop bag, just in case things get out of hand with the one I start on.

 

[Jameshow]

My trick is 2 pairs of shorts / tights remove the tights as the day warms up!

You do feel like a baby in nappies though!!

 

[ianrauk]

I've not been training as such just keeping up my level of fitness with my usual long rides. On Audaxes I've been working out the stops/controls, keeping them to a minimum and cutting back on faffing. But that's not making me complacent. I am fully aware that LEL is a whole different beast. I can ride all day no problems. Riding all day, having a few hours kip and riding all day again for five days is a whole different ball game and I'm not taking it lightly. I'll just keep riding until my body and mind say time to stop and rest. Thankfully the controls are all pretty close together so will take them one at a time. I have a 5.15 off so should hopefully be able to get to Malton on the first day before midnight at least and before the big bulge. I'll see how I feel and if all good with body and mind and weather, I may press on to Richmond.

 

[matticus]

Haven't done a 300k day since November. Should be fine on 16 years of muscle memory - right?

 

[Fergs]

Haven't done a 300k day since November. Should be fine on 16 years of muscle memory - right?

I’d say you want to taper off a bit. No sense starting off fatigued