Shakespeare SPRING 100 - 7 April 2013

[Typhon]

It's no good hoping Saintbury Hill won't be used James, we need to crack it beforehand.

Should have known you'd see right through that! Yep we do, I am determined to get up that hill without stopping or my lungs bursting out of my chest!

 

[Rob Brookes]

I tried Saintbury for the first time last weekend in the knowledge it has been used on previous Shakespeare rides. A slow painful grind to say the least.

 

[robgul]

I tried Saintbury for the first time last weekend in the knowledge it has been used on previous Shakespeare rides. A slow painful grind to say the least.

The upside (!) is that you'll have had a good run on the flat before you get there to get the legs ready!

rob

 

[Damaged Hero]

This will be my second ever Sportive,my first is this Sunday (Shropshire Devil) .Looking forward to the Saintbury climb

 

[BrianEvesham]

!!! Brian : slight change of plan, we'll have to post your jersey to you .. in the next day or two

Rob

Many thanks Rob received today.

Big drum roll...................
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It fits a treat

 

[robgul]

Many thanks Rob received today.

Big drum roll...................
...........
...........
It fits a treat

Excellent .... you realise that the next size up comes complete with poles to use as a tent !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rob

 

[BrianEvesham]

Excellent .... you realise that the next size up comes complete with poles to use as a tent !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rob

Lol and FRO and all that


I am getting there, two stone lost just need warmer weather to get out more.

 

[ColinJ]

It's no good hoping Saintbury Hill won't be used James, we need to crack it beforehand.

Ah, Saintbury Hill - I remember it well!

Or for Imperialists:

Have fun!

 

[BrianEvesham]

I have no excuse Colin, the base of that mountain is only 4 miles away from my front door. I just need to man up and get there and get on with it!

 

[ColinJ]

I have no excuse Colin, the base of that mountain is only 4 miles away from my front door. I just need to man up and get there and get on with it!

If you are really struggling, Brian, then it might be an idea to lower your gearing until the hill seems less intimidating. Better to tackle it 50 times in a low gear, than to dismount on it 5 times because you are overgeared and then give up altogether!

My gearing has been changed in both directions over the years, as my fitness has gone up and down. My road bike bottom gear has varied between 40" (42/28) and 25" (26/28).

 

[BrianEvesham]

I think gearing is fine Colin, it's my weight and fitness levels that are wrong.

 

[ColinJ]

I think gearing is fine Colin, it's my weight and fitness levels that are wrong.

My 39/26 bottom gear was fine for me when I was slim and fit but I needed to use 26/28 to get up the same hills at about 1/3 of the speed when I became fat and unfit!

 

[Typhon]

We have 30/25 on our Tribans. I never use the granny ring normally so effectively my lowest used gear is 39/25.....but then I don't usually go up Saintbury hill. Just getting up in the granny gear will be a challenge! I just hope the wind isn't coming from the south......but it normally does.

 

[robgul]

... there have been suggestions that we have boxes of tissues at various places on Saintbury ... grown men have been known to weep as they trudge up on foot

No, not really ... it is steep but it's also a mind-set thing .... there's another hill near here that holds total terror for me, but it's really quite easy when you get to it (it just happens it's only about 3 miles away and invariably I'm on my way home after a long-ish ride)

Rob

 

[Rob Brookes]

@ robgul

How many entry's do you have?