POLKADOT Challange 17th June

[mike chappell]

Anyone doing this ride from here? I'll be doing the 100, Granny ring all fitted!!

 

[musa]

Is there any more info on this?

 

[mike chappell]

100 mile or 54 mile, the 10 mile has 11000' of climbing I think. See details at www.polkadotchallenge.co.uk.
The ride start from Woodford south east of Manchester and route goes up and away into the Penines.

 

[rdt]

This is a high quality route, with the bulk on traffic-free roads (unlike some other events that insist on routing along busy A roads):-

http://www.polkadotchallenge.co.uk/images/SpudRiley-map-lrg1.jpg

 

[fred22]

Signed up but can't make it now after shoulder op last week.

Good luck mike and anyone else doing it

 

[copper585]

did this event couple of years ago, i can well recommend it, fantastic route and mostly quiet routes however it is bloody hard, not to be underestimated! great food stops and well sign posted, would of done it again this year however doing the white rose classic instead, however weather not looking good for either event at the moment!

 

[fossyant]

Anyone ride it. Weather turned out not too bad - it's not had good weather the last 2-3 years.

 

[doctornige]

I met it going the opposite way!

 

[mike chappell]

Well I rode it and finished it. .......But you're right it's not easy, there were 16 classified climbs, including Brickworks, Windgatherer, Goyt Valley and Flash in the first 30 miles and at the end after 80 miles Axe Edge moor and at 90 miles Dead Mans Wall..My Garmin clocked 10,800' of climbs. The down hills were loads of fun and my Motor bike racing experience held me in good form on the descents, but the climbs were really leg sapping for someone who lives and rides in the flat lands. I just had to pace myself to finish and not get lead off by the many faster riders. The two feed stations were well stocked . However the first was 3/4 of the way up a climb which made starting again a bit of an effort. The weather was OK, a bit showery at first with sunshine on the back 50 miles, the 20 mph wind from the west did no favors on the return leg either.......I've done 2 flatish 100 mile sportives this year, my first year doing them, and managed a best time on the Norwich 100 of 5:30 but this was something else....I was sooooooo slow
My time,....ride time 8:10, with total time 8:35...so not any where near the time I was hoping for but as said pleased to finish without walking any of the climbs...maybe being the wrong side of 54 and the food poisoning on Thursday didn;t help, yep that must have been the reason it took so long..

 

[Hacienda71]

It's hilly around here

 

[doctornige]

I have just been up to see a friend of mine who was essentially 4th on the scene of a very bad accident in the Longnor area during this event. I'll spare you the details, because they are unpleasant. On the positive side, I understand that the cyclist did not die at the scene (still in coma though), in no small part due to the fact that the next 25 or so competitors included a surgeon, two anaesthetists, a GP, a nurse and a fireman.

 

[mike chappell]

I did come upon this incident, but there were already many cyclists coming to both the injured parties help. It looked very unpleasant, especially for the cyclist. Fingers crossd for a full recovery and thoughts and best wishes to his/her family and friends