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

[Pennine-Paul]

As the sun has come out today, is it time to start canvassing for folks who fancy an imperial century from Hebden Bridge?

If the trains are running to Hebden Bridge again I'd be up for that,otherwise it means 147 miles for me,I've ridden further than that in a day before but it just becomes a trudge riding that far tbh.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

I'd be up for a hundred miler night ride but it'd be slow.

 

[robjh]

I like the idea of a 100-miler but it'll depend where I find to stay, I haven't sorted that one out yet.

 

[ColinJ]

As the sun has come out today, is it time to start canvassing for folks who fancy an imperial century from Hebden Bridge?

Are you talking about the forum ride 107 miler, or another, separate one?

I would still like to tackle the long forum ride but my heart took 4 days to recover from my 102 km ride on Monday, so I'm not sure it is a good idea!

I think I will keep my options open and see how I get on with my riding over the next couple of weeks. I'll try and get at least another couple of 60-plus milers in.

If I am not sure of being able to do the full 107 miles, I could always ride over in the morning, do the loop, then cadge that lift back from SNSSO or ride to Accrington or Burnley station and catch the train back.

If the trains are running to Hebden Bridge again I'd be up for that,otherwise it means 147 miles for me,I've ridden further than that in a day before but it just becomes a trudge riding that far tbh.

The trains are running from Manchester to HB, which is the line that you would be using.

It is the Blackpool train from HB to Burnley that has been affected. Holme tunnel is being completely rebuilt but the service is supposed to be restarted on Mon 24th March, and the works were up on schedule last time I checked. That gives me the option of catching the train to/from Burnley or Accrington and cutting my distance for the day.

You mean this one? Great on the way down but quite short and not the steepest hillock in the world to climb (or walk) IME.

Yes - that's the one. I was caught out by it last time, without the aid of my usual grovelling gears!

I am hoping to have fitted extra low gears to my Cannondale by the time of the ride, and have a sunny day for it, in which case I would ride that bike.

 

[ColinJ]

Anybody wanting to stop locally - Mankinholes YH is in a good location on the hillside above the A646 between HB and Todmorden. If you stop there, it would be just a quick downhill to the A646 in the morning. We would be passing that junction at about 08:10 - 08:15. You would still get about 105 miles in if you started and finished your ride there.

PS The Top Brink Inn is a 10 minute walk away!

 

[tubbycyclist]

Apologies if i have caused confusion - I did mean our respective two groups on 29th March, as there is a HB start as an optional extra for the keen ones.

 

[MikeW-71]

Yes - the really steep bit on the Trough is about 18% but not for too long. The only other really steep climb I can remember is a short nasty one after we drop down to cross the Ribble at Ribchester on the way back. Again, that is only for a couple of hundred metres. If the worst comes to the worst, you are talking about 10 minutes of walking with your bike in a ride lasting 6 hours or so.

Come on down. And then then come on UP!

Right then... thinking out loud...

Problem:
Unknown steep climb + 11-28 + Look pedals = Unsure if I can make it up, can't get going again if I need to stop (I'm bloody-minded enough to want to pedal all of it)

Solution:
Defy has SPD's, swap lighter wheelset onto Defy, swap 12-30 onto them = Still unsure if I'll make it up, but CAN get going again if I stop.

Sorted... see you there unless it's horizontal rain

 

[robjh]

Anybody wanting to stop locally - Mankinholes YH is in a good location on the hillside above the A646 between HB and Todmorden. If you stop there, it would be just a quick downhill to the A646 in the morning. We would be passing that junction at about 08:10 - 08:15. You would still get about 105 miles in if you started and finished your ride there.

PS The Top Brink Inn is a 10 minute walk away!

Bad news, Mankinholes is fully booked that weekend. And it looks like the Hebden Bridge Hostel doesn't open until Easter.

I may have to resort to bringing the camper van and doing a bit of self-catering. Shame in some ways as I have rail tickets, and I prefer the train to the M6.

 

[ColinJ]

Try Angeldale guest house. It is 100 metres from the car park from which the 107 miler will start. Also the White Lion in the town centre. The Hare & Hounds is in a fab location in Old Town village above HB. Kersal House is a few yards from the start!

 

[Pjays666]

Alternatively go out get drunk spend night in cells free breakfast - caution - simples lol (only downside cycling 100 miles with hangover) not pretty - on 2nd thoughts listen to colinj

 

[Steve H]

Yo Colin.

Less than 3 weeks to go and I still haven't received my:

• Handle bar rider number
• Electronic timing chip
• Bike post rider number
• Cable ties and safety pins

What's going on? What sort of a sportive is this? The closed roads and feed zones better make up for this.

 

[coffeejo]

Less than 3 weeks to go

 

[ColinJ]

We are all equally important on my rides, so everybody is awarded a virtual number 1!

The timing chip is built in to your GPS/bike computer, or those of the rider you are following. NB If you are going for the wheelsucking option, make sure that the person you are following is actually doing this ride, and is not some random Ribble Valley cyclist heading somewhere else!

I have already dispatched virtual cable ties and safety pins to attach the virtual numbers.

Yes, the time is short. The only thing stopping me getting into a panic about my fitness is the thought that I can rely on 1 or 2 people to be even slower than me!

After Phil's thread elsewhere about the bike stolen from a cyclists' cafe ... REMEMBER TO BRING A LOCK. LET'S LOCK OUR BIKES TO EACH OTHER OUTSIDE THE CAFE SO ANY WOULD-BE THIEF WOULD HAVE TO CUT 3 OR 4 LOCKS!

 

[ColinJ]

As for closed roads ... most of them are pretty quiet. Anyway, pro cyclists in the Roma Maxima race yesterday had to put up with locals driving at them, and we will be going much slower, so I am sure that we will cope!

Food supplies can be found at convenient locations in your pockets or bag.

Bottles can be topped up from streams, some of which may be parasite-free. Put it this way - no landowner has ever charged me for the water-borne parasites I picked up from their waterways!

 

[coffeejo]

NB If you are going for the wheelsucking option, make sure that the person you are following is actually doing this ride, and is not some random Ribble Valley cyclist heading somewhere else!