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

[Kbrook]

Thanks would like to try the 107 miler, any idea what the total climbing is for that route? Apologies if I missed it I have not checked the entire thread.

 

[ColinJ]

Thanks would like to try the 107 miler, any idea what the total climbing is for that route? Apologies if I missed it I have not checked the entire thread.

Take a look at the profile in the first post of the thread. The dotted lines are at 50 metre intervals so it is fairly easy to add up the uphill bits. I would have to do that to give you an answer, so you might as well do it yourself.

A lot of them are uphill drags rather than proper climbs though. For example - that first lump between 10 km and 15 km is the long drag up the A646 between Todmorden and Cliviger. I wouldn't call that a 'proper' climb, though it adds to the energy expenditure for the day. It's the steeper ones that do the damage.

 

[Kbrook]

Thanks Colin, will monitor this thread for info.

 

[ColinJ]

I just totted up the uphill bits - I reckon about 1,800 metres for the full route from Hebden Bridge.

 

[Kbrook]

That's very kind of you, think thats within my capabilities, fingers crossed

 

[totallyfixed]

Decided to have a closer look at the route up to the high point at the trough and it is indeed as I remember it last year, except we did it the other way around. A note of caution to anyone who is thinking of riding this single speed, fixed or freewheel, it is not easy, in fact I would class it as damned hard. The problem [no offence Colin], is that folks that don't actually ride fixed think that we can climb anything, when of course there is a limit, so while the geared folk are spinning along in their 30 inch gear, the single speed nutters are trying to get up a climb that has an arrow on it in a gear maybe two and a half times the size of theirs.
Once over the top of the trough there is some serious descending to do, steeper in fact than what we will have just come up, and fixed does not stop as easily as gears. By the time the fixed riders get to the bottom they will be well and truly knackered.
BTW, this is not a complaint, just pointing out the difficulties of attempting this on fixed. We will be up in the area this weekend, well Cheshire actually but on the Saturday we have arranged to have a recce with Kiwi Sal, probably going roughly via Longridge and Chipping up to the Trough to see if it is in fact feasible. If anyone else is around who wants to say hello please do so, and if there is anybody who has got up the Trough on fixed without walking I would like to hear of their experience.

 

[ColinJ]

I was going to mention the descent from the Trough ... It is essential to watch out for traffic coming the other way, and also for wandering sheep!

I thought that Chris Boardman hit a sheep on the descent from the Trough in the Prutour one year, but I just checked and it was coming down off the Nick o' Pendle. Still, it's the same on all of those roads. Sensible local riders know what the sheep are like and exercise due caution, but some riders may not be used to livestock roaming freely on unfenced moorland.

 

[Steve H]

Just over four weeks to go until the return of the infamous @ColinJ forum ride! I, for one, have really missed them and I'm looking forward to getting out with you all again.

 

[ColinJ]

Just over four weeks to go until the return of the infamous @ColinJ forum ride! I, for one, have really missed them and I'm looking forward to getting out with you all again.

Cheers Steve!

I'm looking forward to it too, but there is a big question mark over how fit I will be. I am going to do my best to get a mid-week ride in from Hebden Bridge to the top of Waddington Fell, and back some time in the next 3 weeks. That would be roughly equivalent to the main loop on the 29th. I will see how I do with that. If fine, I will go for the 107 miler (with the option of taking up SNSSO's offer of a lft back to cut it down to 86 miles). If necessary, I can buy a return rail ticket to Burnley (assuming that the Holme Tunnel works are finished, which they should be). The train would give me the option to cut my day down to about 82 miles. I don't need to make a decision on that until the last minute, as long as I let people know what I am doing.

 

[oldfatfool]

Most I have done for weeks is 4 miles and that is the daily commute, going to have to try and get some mileage in over the next couple of weeks whilst on holiday, hope the weather holds up. Was planning on at least the ride from HB but might end up taking the car to Whalley.

 

[totallyfixed]

Most I have done for weeks is 4 miles and that is the daily commute, going to have to try and get some mileage in over the next couple of weeks whilst on holiday, hope the weather holds up. Was planning on at least the ride from HB but might end up taking the car to Whalley.

Which might raise another possible problem, the car park at Spring Wood is not very big so might be worth finding out how many are intending to come in cars?

 

[Pjays666]

Which might raise another possible problem, the car park at Spring Wood is not very big so might be worth finding out how many are intending to come in cars?

That is a very good point I hadn't even considered that and I was only there on Saturday. Can we park on main road into whalley facing springwood I will check for restrictions this weekend

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

That is a very good point I hadn't even considered that and I was only there on Saturday. Can we park on main road into whalley facing springwood I will check for restrictions this weekend

There's plenty of free parking on the hill going into Whalley however, there are some pretty major roads works going on at the moment at the top end. I don't know if they'll be finished by Colin's ride. If not you'll just have to park further down towards the bottom and ride up.

On another note, I'll definitely be working Friday night but will ride out to the carpark. I work opposite the Padiham greenway and I finish at 8am - what time are you guys planning on hitting the start of the greenway?

 

[ColinJ]

On another note, I'll definitely be working Friday night but will ride out to the carpark. I work opposite the Padiham greenway and I finish at 8am - what time are you guys planning on hitting the start of the greenway?

Still as posted here.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

Too

Still as posted here.

tired for math, someone nice work it out for me please.