Went out and did the long route of the Evan's Ride-It Rochdale. But I didn't pay, I just 'borrowed their arrows.
I'd done it legit two years ago, and for the fee you got the route markings, emergency support, and drink refills at two stops.
I'd thought about entering this year as it's a good motivation to get out in the cold for more than two hours and get some miles in. I was in two minds as I looked at the route when it was posted on Friday, it was different to two years ago, but still all roads I'm very familiar with. Still deciding right up until this morning. Reasoning went like this:
Marked Route - I know the roads anyway
High 5 Drinks - I'd have 2 bottles, enough anyway
Electronic timing - Garmin GPS does this well enough
GPX route - Had to upload and download to RidewithGPS to get a track only route
Emergency Rescue - Available from GF (but would cost a lot of cake!)
Finally decided just as I was leaving when discovered GF hadn't left the cash she'd borrowed, so I didn't have enough without a stop at a cash point. Also meant I didn't have to stop at Wardle High School either.
The weather was chilly and cloudy, but not too grey and not too icy on main roads. As I followed the arrows I realised the route wasn't following the GPX route, turned out that presumably due to road conditions the loop out to Cornholme from Todmorden then up the steep lane to Long Causeway, Mereclough, Worsthone, Thursden, Widdop and then Hebden Bridge, has been scrubbed, and we went instead over the Lumbutts and Mankinholes detour, then round and up Cragg Vale.
I was wondering if I'd missed a route split, but was sure I hadn't, and was plotting loops I could add myself to make up the distance. I decided to follow the route (Blackstone edge, Baiting Resevoir, Rishworth, Windy Hill, Denshaw, Buckstones, Ringstone Edge Resevoir, Ripponden Bank, Ripponden then back up to Blackstone edge and home via Littleborough,) to the top of Blackstone edge, and loop back down Cragg Vale and Calder Valley if necessary.
I rode the southerly loop, (same as 2 years ago btw) and then as I was riding past Baiting Resevoir towards Blackstone Edge, saw an unexpected Route Split, straight on for medium and left for long. Basically it was twice round the southerly loop. I hope no one didn't realise it was only twice and kept going round and round the loop! There wasn't really any indication it was left first time then straight on the second. Bit disappointing at first but once into it the ride seemed easier for the extra familiarity.
The weather held, the snowy tops and mirror flat reservoirs made spectacular scenery. I had 77 miles door to door in 5:15. I enjoyed getting out and the push to go a bit further than I might have. Don't feel I missed out by pirating the ride, other than giving money to Evans (I wonder if the rides are self supporting?), particularly as the route was, albeit by necessity, unimaginative at least for a local. If it'd been Audax prices, I'd happily have paid on the day. I'd even have thought up to say, £7.50 for an 'Audax plus' with signage and possibly drink stops would have been reasonable. But £15 on the day was just not worth it for me.
I'd done it legit two years ago, and for the fee you got the route markings, emergency support, and drink refills at two stops.
I'd thought about entering this year as it's a good motivation to get out in the cold for more than two hours and get some miles in. I was in two minds as I looked at the route when it was posted on Friday, it was different to two years ago, but still all roads I'm very familiar with. Still deciding right up until this morning. Reasoning went like this:
Marked Route - I know the roads anyway
High 5 Drinks - I'd have 2 bottles, enough anyway
Electronic timing - Garmin GPS does this well enough
GPX route - Had to upload and download to RidewithGPS to get a track only route
Emergency Rescue - Available from GF (but would cost a lot of cake!)
Finally decided just as I was leaving when discovered GF hadn't left the cash she'd borrowed, so I didn't have enough without a stop at a cash point. Also meant I didn't have to stop at Wardle High School either.
The weather was chilly and cloudy, but not too grey and not too icy on main roads. As I followed the arrows I realised the route wasn't following the GPX route, turned out that presumably due to road conditions the loop out to Cornholme from Todmorden then up the steep lane to Long Causeway, Mereclough, Worsthone, Thursden, Widdop and then Hebden Bridge, has been scrubbed, and we went instead over the Lumbutts and Mankinholes detour, then round and up Cragg Vale.
I was wondering if I'd missed a route split, but was sure I hadn't, and was plotting loops I could add myself to make up the distance. I decided to follow the route (Blackstone edge, Baiting Resevoir, Rishworth, Windy Hill, Denshaw, Buckstones, Ringstone Edge Resevoir, Ripponden Bank, Ripponden then back up to Blackstone edge and home via Littleborough,) to the top of Blackstone edge, and loop back down Cragg Vale and Calder Valley if necessary.
I rode the southerly loop, (same as 2 years ago btw) and then as I was riding past Baiting Resevoir towards Blackstone Edge, saw an unexpected Route Split, straight on for medium and left for long. Basically it was twice round the southerly loop. I hope no one didn't realise it was only twice and kept going round and round the loop! There wasn't really any indication it was left first time then straight on the second. Bit disappointing at first but once into it the ride seemed easier for the extra familiarity.
The weather held, the snowy tops and mirror flat reservoirs made spectacular scenery. I had 77 miles door to door in 5:15. I enjoyed getting out and the push to go a bit further than I might have. Don't feel I missed out by pirating the ride, other than giving money to Evans (I wonder if the rides are self supporting?), particularly as the route was, albeit by necessity, unimaginative at least for a local. If it'd been Audax prices, I'd happily have paid on the day. I'd even have thought up to say, £7.50 for an 'Audax plus' with signage and possibly drink stops would have been reasonable. But £15 on the day was just not worth it for me.
