My longest ever ride...

[Ajay]

I had a fantastic ride today, every superlative you can think of in terms of weather, scenery, route, no traffic etc etc (Lancaster-Arnside-Kirkby Lonsdale-Dent-Ribblehead-Settle-Wray-Lancaster 102miles)
Only when I got back did I realise that it was the furthest I'd been without a brew stop! (not counting sportive feedstations etc), I did have a nice rest by a little waterfall in Dentdale. I was gasping for a mug of sweet tea by the time I got back though.
Just thought I'd share that with the class.

 

[Globalti]

Mabrouk!

 

[Ajay]

Mabrouk!

Shukran

 

[Globalti]

....but seriously, that's a superb route you took in some beautiful scenery. Are you based in Lancaster? Let's read a bit more about you, your bike and your rides. On longer rides, have you tried using a drink supplement like SIS? It doesn't sound as if you really need it but it does help keep you going after the first hour when you've exhausted your own stored energy.

 

[Ajay]

Hi Globalti, thanks for the interest, I live in Lancaster, 40, Scorpio ... I hope you didn't think I was saying I did a 100miler without a drink! I took 2 750ml bottles with High5 4:1 (don't like the artificial sweeteners in SIS), plus a water top up from a campsite tap, 2 cereal bars and a maxim gel that I had with 20 to go as I was feeling the heat! It's just that I've always stopped for coffee n cake on long rides so it was a first!
I "returned" to cycling 2 years ago, me and a couple of pals decided we needed to do something to get fit and get a focus away from work/ family for a change so we signed up to do the Raid Pyreneen (with Marmot Tours - they were fantastic, highly recommended). We did that in sept 09, last year I did a few sportives, rode up Le Ventoux. This year I'm doing another French coast to coast in June, channel to med ( Caen to my house near Montpellier) then meeting up with a friend to ride Le Ventoux (his first time).
I do most of my cycling solo, I've tried local clubs, but haven't found one that suits my style of riding. I'm a "big unit" so don't climb quickly enough for riding with the road club to be enjoyable and I tend to go a bit quicker than ctc pace. I joined colinj's recent flat 100 forum ride, which was a good day out!
I ride a Cube Peloton, a Kona Sutra and have an old Marin mtb. for towing my youngest on the tag-along.
Yesterdays route is one of my favourites, mixing coast, valleys and high moors, two AONBs and a National Park ain't bad going!
I'm spoilt for choice here with the south lakes and western dales so close, but as you know, Bowland-sher takes some beating

 

[numbnuts]

102 miles well impressed, I've never ridden a hundred miles

 

[fossyant]

Sounds a good ride - need to ride Bowland some time.

 

[Globalti]

Maybe we should organise a Bowland forum ride!

 

[zexel]

Nice one.

Yet to do my first 100 miler, (next month) thanks for the info about drinks and that.

Also doing a France coast to coast (Montpelier to Calais) in August/September which will include a 100 miler, but will probably be a bit warmer than the UK at the time.

I thought about doing the Ventoux but will leave that for another year. How did you find it? Doing it I mean. How long did it take you? I'm a 'big unit' too (6'2" 85Kg & 40yrs) and struggle over railway bridges!

 

[Garz]

It's a great route that, especially in weather like we are experiencing this weekend!

I travelled some of that last year when the national road race was on, starting in Lancaster and made way over to Gisburn (got slighlty off course) before nearing Barley. Returned over waddington fell and dunsop, was absolutely goosed after - make sure you dont do a hilly thirty mile ride the day before!

+1 on the "organise a Bowland forum ride"

 

[Ajay]

Nice one.

Yet to do my first 100 miler, (next month) thanks for the info about drinks and that.

Also doing a France coast to coast (Montpelier to Calais) in August/September which will include a 100 miler, but will probably be a bit warmer than the UK at the time.

I thought about doing the Ventoux but will leave that for another year. How did you find it? Doing it I mean. How long did it take you? I'm a 'big unit' too (6'2" 85Kg & 40yrs) and struggle over railway bridges!

Hi zexel
good luck with your 1st 100miler next month, once you get that milestone distance out of the way any ride less than a century will feel like a gentle leg strecher

So you're going through France south to north? Won't that feel like you're heading uphill all the way

The Ventoux is a must, you should make the effort to ride it at some point. The climb itself isn't so bad, the gradients rarely get above 10% so quite tame compared to British climbs. The difficulties come if you push yourself hard, and the weather condition on the day. On my first attempt I went up on windy day (dont ), I took the classic route from Bedoin up through the forest, by the time I emerged at Chalet Reynard it was seriously strong. There were still some riders going up so a followed a group, as we got onto the exposed mountainside the gusts became increasingly violent, to the point at which we dismounted and were trying to walk, all the while being shot-blasted by the gravel and scree! By the time we neared the Simpson memorial, it had become dangerous, for the first time in my life I was actually blown off my feet, a dutch guy near me saw his carbon pride n joy tossed 100m down the road. We'd seen enough and turned back
A couple of days later and the mistral had blown itself out, so I went up again, this time via Malaucene, a very different ascent, much more open than the forest, more changes of direction / gradient / views. Getting to the summit was pure elation, although I wasnt on my own - half of Holland and Belgium was up there or so it seemed. The views are outrageous, as it's an isolated mountain, rather than a hemmed in col you can see to infinity (and beyond on a clear day). I descended to Sault and returned to base via the sublime Gorges de la Nesque. Probably my best day on a bike.
Crikey, at 85kg I'd hardly call you a big unit, I'm 6'2" aswell, but 104kg - whats that, 3 stone difference!! If I can get my lardy arse over the Tourmalet and Ventoux then you've no excuse!!

 

[HLaB]

Nice one Ajay, I decided to get my first ton in of the year yesterday too, as the weather was great but I stopped for an icecream.

 

[Ajay]

Maybe we should organise a Bowland forum ride!

Splendid idea!
My routes start from Lancaster (obviously)
IMHO the best climbs / quietest roads are to the north eg Cross of Greet, Bowland Knotts, along with the Trough itself and Jubilee Tower (for the views) in the west.
What distance / level of difficulty do you think we should pitch it?

 

[moxey]

I'm in Lancaster too and love riding out to Arnside. I also like going out to devils bridge at Kirby Lonsdale. Haven't linked the 2 of them up as yet.
I'd be up for a forum ride round this area as I've not been able to manage any of the other forum rides as yet.

 

[eddie coffin]

I'm up for a Bowland ride too. Based in Poulton nr Blackpool