Spring Into The Dales 2011

[pizzicatooff]

As the organiser of Spring Into The Dales and its companion event Leap Into The Aire, I'm always pleased to see interest in them. Normally I just let you all get on with it, but thought that I'd better give you an update about what's happening.

It will be possible, as usual, to enter on the day although paypal entry is still available via the Audax UK event pages at
http://www.aukweb.ne.../detail/11-162/ for Spring Into The Dales,
and at
http://www.aukweb.ne.../detail/11-161/ for Leap Into The Aire.

If anybody does decide to enter on the day it will help us to cope with the anticipated rush if you can bring along a completed entry form, available from those event pages, where you can also find updated route sheets. For those of you unfamiliar with Leap Into The Aire. it shares its first 18 km and last 18 km with Spring Into The Dales, but the midddle 18 is quite different, although still rather hilly.

I rode Spring Into The Dales just under 2 weeks ago and Leap Into The Aire earlier today. As a result of those rides some minor revisions have been made to both route sheets. The routes remain unchanged from last year; a few instructions have been modified slightly to conform better with the way that I'd like you to go.

The route sheet for Spring Into The Dales also now draws riders' attention to a faulty cattle grid on the gated road between Bolton Abbey and Halton East, about 2.3 km after Bolton Abbey, at a cumulative distance of about 75.7 km. Having had to deal with front and back wheel punctures here on my ride, and being made aware of other recipients of multiple punctures here, I recommend that you do not attempt to ride across this cattle grid, and that you walk instead.

Veterans of these rides will have become accustomed to the arduous climb up to the top floor of Salem Community Centre, described by some as the Col de Salem, at the start and finish. That particular room has been block booked on Sundays for this year, so we will be housed in slightly different accommodation on the first floor. I am confident, however, that the Audax altitude man (who has entered), will not remove any of the AAA points on offer as a result.

I hope to see loads of you on Sunday. And that ColinJ has another left hand crank that he can fit to his bike.

Regards,

Chris

 

[ColinJ]

Thanks Chris. I've found a spare crank in my junk box!

I normally ride over cattle grids at full speed so I'll watch out for that damaged one and walk over or round it.

I won't miss the hike up the stairs at the end!

 

[Fiona N]

I think I'm going to be envying you guys - I just plotted the Carmarthanshire Snapper on Bikehike and found it's got 2000m of ascent with section of 20% Not to mention the full 200km, 5 sheets of instructions, and loads of info controls.
OMG what have I let myself in for

Not going to be one of my fastest 200's I feel

 

[ColinJ]

I think I'm going to be envying you guys - I just plotted the Carmarthanshire Snapper on Bikehike and found it's got 2000m of ascent with section of 20% Not to mention the full 200km, 5 sheets of instructions, and loads of info controls.
OMG what have I let myself in for

Not going to be one of my fastest 200's I feel

You know you love it really, that feeling you get as you walk in the door of "Thank goodness I'm not still out there!"

 

[potsy]

Which car park are you all meeting in ? or should i just loiter near the start ? Plus what time for the meet up ?

I'll be aiming to get to the same car park as the last ride we did Skud for about 8am. (Market street)
Either walk down to register and leave the bike in car, or if there's a couple of us going together we can have a ride down to the HQ and register and then wait for the rest to show up.

Colin- Glad you found that dodgy crank now and not mid-ride

Zack- Cheers for the tips re the 605, getting used to it a bit now, will use it Sunday as I have downloaded the route, but if I don't work it out I'll just use it as a 'ride log' and follow the slow train

 

[ColinJ]

I'll be aiming to get to the same car park as the last ride we did Skud for about 8am. (Market street)

An easy mistake to make, but - NO - it is Market Place car park!

Market Street is the main shopping street through the town on which the Co-op stands, and off which event HQ is located.

Colin- Glad you found that dodgy crank now and not mid-ride

Even if I hadn't crashed and killed or maimed myself, cycling back right-legged from Burnsall wouldn't have been much fun!


By the way folks, in case you haven't spotted it yet - check out this thread -> A Mere CycleChat Two Hundred.
Kevin and I will be doing a mid-week 200 in Cheshire/Shropshire after Easter and we want your company!

 

[potsy]

An easy mistake to make, but - NO - it is Market Place car park!

Market Street is the main shopping street through the town on which the Co-op stands, and off which event HQ is located.

Ha Ha, it was a 50/50 guess as I couldn't be ar*ed to check

 

[skudupnorth]

I'll be aiming to get to the same car park as the last ride we did Skud for about 8am. (Market street)
Either walk down to register and leave the bike in car, or if there's a couple of us going together we can have a ride down to the HQ and register and then wait for the rest to show up.

Cheers Potsy,thought as much.Better ride like the wind to meet up for 8 !

 

[Steve H]

I'll be aiming to get to the same car park as the last ride we did Skud for about 8am. (Market street)
Either walk down to register and leave the bike in car, or if there's a couple of us going together we can have a ride down to the HQ and register and then wait for the rest to show up.

Sounds like a good plan Potsy. I'll aim to meet you guys in the car park (Market Place) for 8am.

Here's the an extract from the weather.co.uk website for Sunday...

High
18°C
Mostly SunnyWindFrom West South West at 8 kmphMaximum Humidity66%UV Index4Chance of Precip.10%Avg. High.14°CRecord HighN/ASunrise06:03

 

[PaulB]

As the organiser of Spring Into The Dales and its companion event Leap Into The Aire, I'm always pleased to see interest in them. Normally I just let you all get on with it, but thought that I'd better give you an update about what's happening.

It will be possible, as usual, to enter on the day although paypal entry is still available via the Audax UK event pages at
http://www.aukweb.ne.../detail/11-162/ for Spring Into The Dales,
and at
http://www.aukweb.ne.../detail/11-161/ for Leap Into The Aire.

If anybody does decide to enter on the day it will help us to cope with the anticipated rush if you can bring along a completed entry form, available from those event pages, where you can also find updated route sheets. For those of you unfamiliar with Leap Into The Aire. it shares its first 18 km and last 18 km with Spring Into The Dales, but the midddle 18 is quite different, although still rather hilly.

I rode Spring Into The Dales just under 2 weeks ago and Leap Into The Aire earlier today. As a result of those rides some minor revisions have been made to both route sheets. The routes remain unchanged from last year; a few instructions have been modified slightly to conform better with the way that I'd like you to go.

The route sheet for Spring Into The Dales also now draws riders' attention to a faulty cattle grid on the gated road between Bolton Abbey and Halton East, about 2.3 km after Bolton Abbey, at a cumulative distance of about 75.7 km. Having had to deal with front and back wheel punctures here on my ride, and being made aware of other recipients of multiple punctures here, I recommend that you do not attempt to ride across this cattle grid, and that you walk instead.

Veterans of these rides will have become accustomed to the arduous climb up to the top floor of Salem Community Centre, described by some as the Col de Salem, at the start and finish. That particular room has been block booked on Sundays for this year, so we will be housed in slightly different accommodation on the first floor. I am confident, however, that the Audax altitude man (who has entered), will not remove any of the AAA points on offer as a result.

I hope to see loads of you on Sunday. And that ColinJ has another left hand crank that he can fit to his bike.

Regards,

Chris

Hey Chris,

Complying with the request, I entered this a few days ago and enclosed my cheque and an SAE which I assumed would be to send on my details but nothing has come and it's obviously too late now. What happens there? Do I have to enter again tomorrow or do you have my details, and if so, what was the purpose of the SAE you requested?

 

[zacklaws]

Just a timely reminder, don't forget to switch your computers and GPS to metric if not so already to match up with the route card so their is no panic after you've crossed the start line and nothing matches up and you don't know how to do it because the instructions are at home.

 

[Svendo]

Hey Chris,

Complying with the request, I entered this a few days ago and enclosed my cheque and an SAE which I assumed would be to send on my details but nothing has come and it's obviously too late now. What happens there? Do I have to enter again tomorrow or do you have my details, and if so, what was the purpose of the SAE you requested?

I would imagine that as long as your entry reaches Chris before the event, you'll collect your brevet and the other bits and pieces there rather then have them sent out in the first SAE. The second one is to send your completed brevet back once its been checked and stamped. When I've entered on the day I've taken one SAE with me for this and it's been appreciated.

 

[potsy]

Just a timely reminder, don't forget to switch your computers and GPS to metric if not so already to match up with the route card so their is no panic after you've crossed the start line and nothing matches up and you don't know how to do it because the instructions are at home.

Cheers zack, done that now. I don't like working in metric though, I get easily confused and will be mentally trying to convert everything back to imperial

One other question- Do we have to take anything to registration/HQ? I assume my details will be there as I have signed up online.


Steve- You can meet at Market Place if you want, I'll be at Market Street

 

[zacklaws]

Cheers zack, done that now. I don't like working in metric though, I get easily confused and will be mentally trying to convert everything back to imperial

One other question- Do we have to take anything to registration/HQ? I assume my details will be there as I have signed up online.
Steve- You can meet at Market Place if you want, I'll be at Market Street

Don't worry about being in metric, it all just numbers and is irrelevant and no need to think miles.

Its actually easier to convert from Kilometers back to miles to give you a close estimation, just halve the figure and add it to the first figure you halved, ie

50 kilometers, half it, gives you 25, add it to the 5, and the answers 30 miles (31.o6 the accurate conversion)

100K, half it, gives you 50, add it to 10 and the answers 60 miles (62.1 the accurate conversion)

8K, half it, gives you 4, add it to 0.8, and the answers 4.8 miles (4.97 the accurate conversion)

I'll be asking questions out on the route.

As for registering you just need yourself, an filled in entry form if your entering on the day to save time plus fees, a pen may come in handy, and also some money if you want a brew and maybe something to eat.

I too will be parking up in the Market Cross car park too

 

[ColinJ]

There will be a table for those who pre-registered. The cards will be laid out in alphabetical order. Pick yours up and take it over to Chris or his helper(s) to get it signed.

And now the bad news***... I'm definitely not 100% well. My nose was blocked this morning when I woke up and my chest was wheezy. My legs were a bit wobbly last night. (No, that wasn't due to beer intake! )

I'm going to get my bike ready today anyway and try riding up the first SITD hill this afternoon to test the bike and me. If that leaves me feeling wretched, I'll have to be sensible and stay at home tomorrow. If I survive the test ride, I'll get up tomorrow in time to ride the event and see if I'm up to it.

I feel peeved about the timing. This is one of my favourite rides of the year, we have a great weather forecast and my body picks this particular weekend to go wrong on me!


*** Get Your Excuses In Early™ - perfect for those rides you love to struggle on!