Spring into the Dales 2010 (Yorkshire Dales!)

[Arch]

Well, the extra £2 isn't a bit deal....

I'll think a bit more, but I'm worried about doing my knees in on a Sunday and being in pain for work the next day. I might have worked up to that distance by then, but only might... I'd rather think "oh well, maybe I could have" than "owwwwwwwwww! oooowwwwwwwwwww!"

It's the hills, really.... I'm hoping to be fine for the 60 mile Big G this year, but I'll have had a fortnight of touring in France under my belt by then.

 

[ColinJ]

Having worked out that 110km is 73 miles, I think I might have to opt for the leap into the Aire instead - I don't know that I'm up to 70 on the trike at the mo, kneewise, even flat....

Actually, 110 km ~= 68.4 miles but yes, it is almost 70 miles!

Also, is my normal CTC membership sufficient for the insurance stuff? If so, I don't need to include the extra fee, right?

It's there on the forms...

TEMPORARY MEMBERSHIP If you are not a member of AUK, we need to know that you are insured. Some CTC or BC memberships include the requisite cover, so if this applies:
Give your CTC or BC membership no:

If you come over in time for the start of SITD you could say hello to the rest of us before we set off, but then you'd have an hour to wait before LITA.

Both events start off up the A6033 (Keighley Road), a 7 km climb which isn't great with cold legs so I'd suggest that you spend 10 minutes riding along the A646 valley road towards Todmorden to warm up and 10 minutes back. Aim to get back to HQ at 09:50 to line up with your fellow Leapers.

PS Alun and I only averaged 13.6 kph (8.5 mph) last year including stops so we weren't exactly setting the roads on fire. I expect that we'll be doing about the same speed this time. If you do opt for SITD, you'd be welcome to come along with us and I would navigate for you.

I have to say that the hills are quite demanding so they shouldn't be taken lightly.

One suggestion - the two events both go to Scar Top. You could start off on SITD but if you began to feel that you weren't on a good day, you could adjourn to the tearooms there and wait for the LITA riders to arrive and then do the rest of the LITA route with a group of them instead of continuing with SITD. You wouldn't have officially completed either event, but I don't suppose that would be a major concern - you'd still have got a nice ride in.

 

[Arch]

Actually, 110 km ~= 68.4 miles but yes, it is almost 70 miles!

Ah, my mistake, I worked it out roughly to 2/3rds, instead of properly.

Dammit, now it sounds do-able. Like 5 miles makes a difference.

The CTC thing - it says 'some CTC or BC memberships' - that was my query, whether my standard CTC m/ship was the right one...

You're right, I'm just after a nice ride and a bit of companionship along the way. So maybe I should go for the SitD as you suggest. I've no idea what my average is on the trike as I don't have it set up with a computer yet - on the strength of my ride last weekend, it's 10mph or just over. That's on relatively flat terrain of course. But then on the trike, I can get more advantage from the downhills. If you don't mind escorting someone on a wierd mount...

If I'm going to do LEL next time, I need to be a bit braver about taking on hills.

 

[trio25]

yes CTC membership covers it. If its a BC membership needs to be Silver or Gold.

 

[longers]

Happy to be wrong! I might not be able to do the ride but might ride over if you've got an hour to kill Arch.

 

[ColinJ]

The CTC thing - it says 'some CTC or BC memberships' - that was my query, whether my standard CTC m/ship was the right one...

According to the CTC website, all members get £10,000,000 worth of 3rd party cover. I think that Audax UK and event organisers just need to know that they aren't going to be held liable for damages caused by uninsured riders on audax events. You will therefore be okay and just need to write your CTC membership number on the audax entry form.

So, you can save the extra £2 for the collection plate at the finish! (Voluntary contributions towards the cost of the refreshments.)

You're right, I'm just after a nice ride and a bit of companionship along the way. So maybe I should go for the SitD as you suggest. I've no idea what my average is on the trike as I don't have it set up with a computer yet - on the strength of my ride last weekend, it's 10mph or just over. That's on relatively flat terrain of course. But then on the trike, I can get more advantage from the downhills. If you don't mind escorting someone on a wierd mount...

If I'm going to do LEL next time, I need to be a bit braver about taking on hills.

I think if you get to Scar Top and are already thinking OMG! then you ought to take the LitA option because you will have only covered 16% in terms of distance and 25% in terms of climbing by then. If you feel perfectly okay then why not go for it!

I'd suggest keeping the stops fairly short to give yourself the maximum time for riding. If we had three 15 minute stops then we'd have to average 8 mph when moving to make the event time limit. Obviously we don't have to do that, but we don't want to get back after everyone has packed up and gone home and we don't want them to be hanging around just waiting for us either!

The last hills from Keighley to Haworth Brow and from Oxenhope up onto the moor can be really draining when you are tired but remember that SitD has a really big plus towards the end - it finishes with a great 7 km downhill leaving us only 300 metres from event HQ!

 

[Arch]

Oh... I really don't know what to do. Need to decide sharpish - I'm away next week, and from what people have said, it might pay to have the entry in soon...

I'll sleep on it. For a moment I felt brave, now I'm wavering back to the shorter option. The combined/cheat option might work...

If it was later in the summer, I'd be more confident, but I've not yet done more than 40 gentle miles on this new trike...

I'll get back to you all....

 

[trio25]

I'm hoping to enter nearer the event, I can't predict this far in advance if I will be free. Any of these events I have done have always seen people signing up on the day.

 

[ColinJ]

I'm hoping to enter nearer the event, I can't predict this far in advance if I will be free. Any of these events I have done have always seen people signing up on the day.

I can't imagine anybody being turned away but if you don't sign up in advance, I'm sure that the organiser Chris Crossland would appreciate it if you at least give him a call a day or two beforehand. They need to know how many cards to prepare and how much food to lay on. His number is 01422 832853.

That's reminded me to print out my entry form. Must nip out to buy some stamps now...

 

[Arch]

Well, I'm just back from 43 miles on the trike - was hoping for 50, but not having a computer on it yet, my guess was a bit out. Not hilly by Dales standards, but hillier than to the east.

Anyway, my knees were hurting a bit by the end, so I think I better opt for the LitA - to add on more than 20 miles, and some big hills just seems too much in the time - I'll be off the bike altogether for a week now, and then that leaves limited training weekends...

It'll give me a target for next year, to do the longer ride.

Still, it was a lovely ride out today, ended up in short sleeves!

And probably set my max speed so far on the trike. Anyone who came on my Mills and Bridges ride, to Thorp Arch, may remember the nice downhill just after the old mill at Bramham. My face was being smeared back to my ears!

 

[ColinJ]

Well, I'm just back from 43 miles on the trike - was hoping for 50, but not having a computer on it yet, my guess was a bit out. Not hilly by Dales standards, but hillier than to the east.

Anyway, my knees were hurting a bit by the end, so I think I better opt for the LitA - to add on more than 20 miles, and some big hills just seems too much in the time - I'll be off the bike altogether for a week now, and then that leaves limited training weekends...

It'll give me a target for next year, to do the longer ride.

That's a pity but it sounds like it might be the right decision for this year.

SitD has a sister event in October which you might be able to prepare yourself for - Season of Mists. At 100 km it is 10 km shorter but with about 2,500 m of tough climbs it is 10% hillier!

 

[aJohnson]

Never done an audax, tempted by this though, do I need to register or anything anywhere if I was to enter?

 

[ColinJ]

Never done an audax, tempted by this though, do I need to register or anything anywhere if I was to enter?

Yes, you do. It is £3.50 for audax UK members plus an extra £2.00 for non-member's insurance unless you already have suitable cover e.g. through the CTC.

I gave the link to the event webpage in my first post. That provides a link to the entry form which has details of what you need to do.

 

[Arch]

That's a pity but it sounds like it might be the right decision for this year.

SitD has a sister event in October which you might be able to prepare yourself for - Season of Mists. At 100 km it is 10 km shorter but with about 2,500 m of tough climbs it is 10% hillier!

That sounds like a good plan - I'll have toured for a fortnight by then, and had a summer of riding, so I'll have many more miles under my belt.

 

[ColinJ]

Hi all,im determined to have a crack at this ride this year! although i will be collecting a new bike only a week before the event!!! so there"s every chance i will be seriously grovelling by the end.

On the advice of legal counsel, I'm not saying anything!

Actually, assuming all is well this time Andy, tag along with the 'CycleChat slow train' consisting of me and anybody else who wants to take 7-8 hours rather than 5-6. My navigation services provided free of charge as per usual.

Oh, I've just noticed my SitD entry form right next to me. I must nip out to post it tomorrow!