England : Lancashire ColinJ's 103 km or 107 mile 'Back from the Dead' forum ride Sat 29/03/14

[ColinJ]

Mmm, might have to run a 48 chainring instead of the 50. We have done the Trough the other way round which I recall is steeper, but on gears. Not too worried about the Ribchester climb as it is fairly short. I can't tell from the profile how steep in percentage terms the steepest parts are.

I know it is hard to work out but you can see the Trough climb (the big one) and the steep little one towards the end and they look steep on the profile. Everything else is easier than those. Most of the climbing is the long draggy kind that would be ok for experienced fixed riders such as you and dr_p - I reckon 5 - 7% maximum.

I think the Trough is slightly harder from the Dunsop Bridge side, as we will tackle it. The last 1.25 km from that side averages about 9%, with 500 m at 13% including a short stretch at about 18%. I am thinking of using my best bike on the day if it is not raining. I have climbed the Trough on it before when I was reasonably fit. Its 39/29 bottom gear is much higher than my Basso's 26/28 but hopefully I will be fit enough by then not to need a gear as low as that!

Clucking bell that's a big ride if everyone turns up!

[Nervously ...] Er, yes!

I would have loved to do this one, even had an offer of a lift from pubbers but Im riding Barrys Bristol blast on the 30th with a friend who hasnt done an audax (or ridden the distance ) before. After talking him into having a go theres no way I can pull out now :-(

Hope it goes well and the sun shines on you.looking forward to the after ride pics and banter on here.

Oh well, there will always be another one ... Enjoy the Bristol Blast!


Yes, I am really hoping for good weather. If the sun is shining, we could have a lovely day out. If it isn't, er, forget that - the sun is going to shine on us!

 

[Christopher]

hi
I should coco the sun shines, as I have fished out my Cyclechat jersey from the Special Drawer for the ride. Heck, I might even wash it!

edit: I have seen a fixed rider get up the Trough from the south side, he had to weave a bit but he rode all the way up - most impressive.

 

[ColinJ]

I have seen a fixed rider get up the Trough from the south side, he had to weave a bit but he rode all the way up - most impressive.

I still think it is mad, but yes - impressive to see!

I would have thought that pulling hard on the bars to climb the Trough with a still-dicky shoulder might be a painful experience, @totallyfixed?

 

[totallyfixed]

hi
I should coco the sun shines, as I have fished out my Cyclechat jersey from the Special Drawer for the ride. Heck, I might even wash it!

edit: I have seen a fixed rider get up the Trough from the south side, he had to weave a bit but he rode all the way up - most impressive.

That doesn't mean a lot, depends on the gear inches.

I still think it is mad, but yes - impressive to see!

I would have thought that pulling hard on the bars to climb the Trough with a still-dicky shoulder might be a painful experience, @totallyfixed?

Should be ok, pulling on it doesn't seem to cause a problem, a bit sore after but that is all. The 13% I can do in the 50 x 18, the 18% might be worth filming .

 

[Pennine-Paul]

I've had to drop down to a spinny 70" following my accident at work,I'll be walking up the steepest bits,managed some steepish hills at the weekend but nothing as steep as the trough tho,dont want to risk popping my rib out again,it is healing up well so far.

 

[totallyfixed]

I've had to drop down to a spinny 70" following my accident at work,I'll be walking up the steepest bits,managed some steepish hills at the weekend but nothing as steep as the trough tho,dont want to risk popping my rib out again,it is healing up well so far.

It's the downhills that are scary.

 

[Pennine-Paul]

It's the downhills that are scary.

Give me a head start, I'll be descending gingerly,
lots of leg braking,I'll see you all at the bottom

 

[coffeejo]

One of my favourite past times is watching people on fixed wheel bikes go downhill. It makes up for being left far behind on the climb

 

[totallyfixed]

One of my favourite past times is watching people on fixed wheel bikes go downhill. It makes up for being left far behind on the climb

This one is puzzling me, to watch someone going a bit berserk on the downhills, don't you have to be at the top of the preceding climb at the same time
Got it! potsy is going to push you up ahead of everyone so you can watch.

 

[phil_hg_uk]

One of my favourite past times is watching people on fixed wheel bikes go downhill. It makes up for being left far behind on the climb

One of my favorite pastimes on CC rides is watching @potsy backlight jump off its mount and bounce around the road on a fast downhill

 

[coffeejo]

This one is puzzling me, to watch someone going a bit berserk on the downhills, don't you have to be at the top of the preceding climb at the same time
Got it! potsy is going to push you up ahead of everyone so you can watch.

It made sense in my head.

 

[coffeejo]

One of my favorite pastimes on CC rides is watching @potsy backlight jump off its mount and bounce around the road on a fast downhill

 

[potsy]

This one is puzzling me, to watch someone going a bit berserk on the downhills, don't you have to be at the top of the preceding climb at the same time
Got it! potsy is going to push you up ahead of everyone so you can watch.

More like she is bringing her binoculars in the hope you are just in sight as she reaches the top

The only pushing will be the 'tea' group pushing their bikes up the trough

 

[phil_hg_uk]

I tried to catch it but I had someone behind me and it was on a corner so I couldn't with out taking them out as well.

 

[totallyfixed]

It made sense in my head.

Then you have a head like mine. I hope the weather is something like this for the ride, we did this one early in 2013. This is dr_pink coming down from the highest point on the Trough of Bowland, we will be going up here