Suffolk Sunrise 2012 - anyone else doing it?

[mattobrien]

Hi All,

I am entered into this years Suffolk Sunrise as my first 100 mile sportive. It is looking like the guy I was planning to ride it with won't be joining me as the excuses are coming already, so I am now planning to go solo on this one.

Wanted to ask if any Cyclechatters are entered? It would be nice not to be on my own for the entire ride.

I am aiming for an early start (6:30ish) and hope to complete it in a rolling 6 hours, that is if the legs don't fail before then.

Matt

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

Afraid not Matt, but if you want to get some miles in I'm out three/four times a week.

 

[mattobrien]

There's a chance I might be doing a road stint early Sunday morning. Currently dependant on whether or not the guys I usually go MTBing with are about or not.

I ought to know by today / tomorrow, so will let you know.

As I have kids, it will be an early start though, possibly 6:15am, so don't feel you have to drag yourself out of bed on my behalf

I am also mentally planning the longer runs that I need to do before the event - probably going to aim to do a 60 & 80 in April in prep. If I am actually able to plan in advance, I will let you know when.

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

I'll PM you my phone number.

If you click on "Downloads" on the left hand side of the Suffolk Sunrise site, it will take you to a training plan. I followed it when I did the SS last year and it'll give you a good idea if you're on track or not.

 

[e-rider]

I did this event last year and some parts of the organising were a shambles!

No chip timing (the guy couldn't be bothered to get out of bed), long queues for the few toilets, appalling venue/road surfaces, feed stations stocked mainly with high sugar 'junk' food.... For the entry cost I expected a lot better.

I believe they have chnaged the venue this year though.

The route itself was quite nice though.

 

[mattobrien]

From what I can gather it is starting in Framlingham this year. I really ought to extend one of my regular rides to include Framlingham, a lovely part of the world.

 

[Rezillo]

The venue last year, which was pretty awful, was a change - it started from Woodbridge in previous years. At Debach, people were picking up punctures on the last 100m in and it wasn't much of a sense of occasion riding to the finish.

Chip timing was a disaster for early starters, which was not really the organisers fault - they were keen to point out that the chip provider was the only paid employee at the start location and had let all the volunteers down by being late. The van turned up just as we were leaving without chips, with some rather lame excuses being shouted by the driver about putting the wrong location in the satnav.

I thought the food was ok, everything from bananas to biscuit bars but the flapjacks were in short supply. Lunch at Peasenhall was a major improvement on previous years. Instead of just a heap of bananas and tired sandwiches in clingfilm, some rather classy bistro-style food (and bananas!)

The entry cost has gone up a lot but Action Medical Research were getting a bit peed off with entrants paying the basic cost-covering fee and treating it as a straight bike event without providing any additional donations or sponsorship. As funding for AMR is why AMR volunteers were organising it in the first place, this year's fee includes a minimum donation.

I miss the Bawdsey ferry trip but the event has become too popular for it to cope.

John

 

[GordonB]

A rolling 6 hours is possible, I think John and I did it in around that time last year but, as usual, the last 10 miles are the killer. The change of start venue is to be welcomed as the bomb site that is Debach airfield made a truly awful finish, but I thought the food ranged from ok to very good. Mind you, other than lunch all I tend to eat is bananas and they had plenty of them.

Getting in a couple of longer runs is just about essential in my opinion, you'll suffer if you don't. We've done our 60 miler already from Mickfield up to Bungay and back along the Waveney valley, we did about 40 on Saturday (which, I read, John negated later that day by pigging out on Orford pastries!) and we'll get an 80 in some time during April. I'm off to Jersey for a week over Easter so will have the chance to do some serious cycling up those things we don't have in Suffolk - hills. Should make the slope up from Wilford bridge look like a pimple!

Gordon

 

[Paul Langworthy]

Hi Matt, im doing this on my own as well. First ever sportive so not sure what to expect. Took up road biking last summer. Im currently up to 65 miles in my training miles and that takes me 3hr 40 (excluding a 5 min stop in the middle) so thats 18mph average. I have no idea whether thats fast medium or slow as always ridden on my own and never entered an event before. The Suffolk Sunrise is 6 weeks before the London to Paris in 24 hrs that im doing end of June so its a going to be a good marker for me. Im 36, ok fitness, so hope the legs last and id be happy with anything under 6 hours! Im driving down from near Huntingdon so 6.30 may be a bit of a push but i was certainly planning an early start (7ish).
cheers
Paul

 

[Rezillo]

Paul,

If you can average 18mph over 65 miles solo, you will be fine. I can only manage that speed for about 25 to 30 miles fully fit in the summer but I can do 16 average over the 100 (ride time average - not including several food stops!).

Doing the distance is key - if you can get an 80 miler in about two weeks before the event, that would be good. Get in to a group on the day and you'll fly.

John

 

[mattobrien]

Paul,

Happy to postpone my start until 7am if you fancy some company for the ride.

I can't guarantee that I'll be able to match your 18mph over 65 miles, but am happy to give it a go - I can only hope my two year youth advantage will come into play.

Jimmy the whiskers and I managed a similar distance at 17.1mph and I think that we were both taking it easy at the start as it was our first ride together.

Let me know if you fancy some company and we can arrange from there.

Matt

 

[mattobrien]

Did my last big training ride before the event. Managed 80 miles in glorious Suffolk sunshine and a little coastal wind. Ended up averaging 17.5mph, but found the last 20 miles challenging.

I don't think I fuelled as required and didn't carb up last night. I took two water bottles of energy drink but nearing the end of the second one I literally couldn't stomach any more. Could probably have done with more food the night before and more snacks on route, or at least higher calorie ones.

Now planning to get in another four short and medium rides before the day and possibly a little mountain biking too.

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

That's a long haul on your own; you'll have company on the day, and be surprised how the distance flies!

Having food-stops along the route will make a big difference: apart from not having to carry so much yourself, they prompt you to eat even if you forget.

Don't forget to take the week before easy.

 

[GordonB]

On the basis that I have no idea what the other Cycle Chat Suffolk contingent look like (other than Rezillo) there may be some value in wearing a metaphoric red rose in the lapel so you can be recognised on the ride - or avoided! I'm fairly sure Rezillo (John) will be sporting his CC shorts, I'll probably be the only Olmo man on the ride, old fart on a cream Olmo steel bike dressed top to toe in vintage Olmo team kit.

Gordon

 

[mattobrien]

What time are you gents looking to start?

In terms of my red rose for the event, it may be a little weather dependant. I have a few jerseys to choice from, some being thinner / thicker than others, so the forecast will play a large part in my decision what to wear.

I will be riding a white spesh alley, but I expect there may be a few of them there as they aren't exactly rare.

I will have to give some thought to some kind of identifying Cycle Chat Suffolk marker