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Post by Deleted on Nov 23, 2015 15:40:57 GMT
Heads up on the Etape Caledonia 2016. Entry is now open for the sportive to be held on Sunday 8th May 2016. It is a closed road circuit and looks pretty easy going. Date: 8th May 2016 Distance: 81 miles / 130km Climbing: 1,196m Make sure you don't miss out on being part of the UK's premium sportive. Click here to enter now! General entries sold out in 58 hours last year so be quick!
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Post by rockbus on Nov 23, 2015 22:10:15 GMT
As a newbie to Cycling I hope to give some sportives a go next year, where I really need a challenge to keep me going.
Would be interested to hear of any which are good for beginners I.e. Decent distance but fun and not too serious!
Also, preferably not too far from the Midlands.
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Post by erictherat on Nov 24, 2015 8:13:34 GMT
Here. I'm not the only one whose thoughts are turning to rides next year as the weather has turned dark and cold. I really enjoyed my audax rides this year, but didn't do as many as I would have liked as I did not book ahead. So this year I hope to do a 200 a month with the lovely folks at peak audax. www.delphcyclist.info/index.html and maybe some longer adventures too. As for sportives, I might do the hog again. www.glossopkindervelo.co.uk/index.php/sportive/ familiar local roads, but a lot of fun. rockbus - most sportives and shorter audaxes are doable by all riders. If you can do 50k in comfort, then a low tempo 100 is no harder. And, once you can do 100 , try a 200. =) As much fun as fantasising of a summer holiday to get you through the winter.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2015 14:39:24 GMT
My feelings about next years events are mixed. My riding friends have already signed up for the Cheshire Cat but I've yet to join them. That particular event has seen a Β£5 price increase, up to Β£40, which is making me consider the value of this event and others like it. Last year I entered the Cheshire Cat, the Cavendish Rise Above sportive and the Evans Ride It North Wales events. Out of the 3 I enjoyed the Evans ride the most and by a long way. It was the smallest, the best organised and was 1/2 the price of the other 2. Suppose I'm questioning the value for money with these Sportives. Β£40ish to ride on roads I could ride on any weekend does not appeal. Could be a case of 'been there, done that, got the t-shirt/medal'. Taking a quick look at the Audak rides erictherat posted - they look very interesting and a different type of challenge.
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Post by erictherat on Nov 24, 2015 15:21:35 GMT
@alexg - i love audax, I am going to join audax UK at the end of the year, so my comments are biased. Audax is very different from sportive, it is not a cheap sportive - it is very different: steel not carbon brooks and a carradice not narrow and wedge comfy not aero tea not sports drinks cake and chips not gels and bars tortoise not hare self sufficiency not support vehicles route sheets not signs small (50 riders is a lot) not big You are expected to be able to find your own way and get yourself out of trouble, fix your bike, ride in any weather and still do the distance. I love the pre-ride safety brief, which is usually "off you go then, have a good ride, see you later." Catering arrangements vary from - nothing to... full on breakfast, all the homemade cakes you can eat and 3 course dinner at the end. They are quite old fashioned, very friendly - a bit like the women's institute on bikes. Damon Peacock has made some great little films - mostly PBP and north west audaxes. It is quite a small world and i recognise many of the faces. gives you a taste of this odd little sub sub culture. www.youtube.com/user/damonpeacock/videos
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Post by joby on Nov 24, 2015 16:09:12 GMT
They are quite old fashioned, very friendly - a bit like the women's institute on bikes. Funny you should say that. I did an Audax* last year, great fun. The midpoint cake stop, at a village hall in deepest Hertfordshire, was run by the WI. *the superb Emitremmus, which is organised by Stevenage CTC and takes place on the Autumn equinox each year (the reverse version, Summertime, takes place on the Spring equinox)
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2015 16:34:13 GMT
@alexg - i love audax, I am going to join audax UK at the end of the year, so my comments are biased. Audax is very different from sportive, it is not a cheap sportive - it is very different: Sounds very interesting, kinda like fell running events. Small, self sufficent, not fancy or flashy. The Cavendish ride last year made me re-think things. I was not in the best of form but a culmination of lots of little things spoilt it for me. Rubbish pre-registration, slow start with lots of hanging around in the cold, woefully inadequate feed stops and non of the advertised goodies at the end (they'd all been given away). I gave constructive feedback to the organisers as events like this are good for my home town (Chester) but felt I was not being listened to. On reflection it felt like an oversubscribed event that must have given someone a very nice pay-day. Note - those are my opinions and I know others ( goffski for example) enjoyed the event.
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Post by erictherat on Nov 24, 2015 19:18:08 GMT
@alexg - It was the large number of riders and cost that first attracted me to audax. (I dont really like crowds). Since then Ive cometo really like the ethos - I'm no racer. Since you in Chester - www.delphcyclist.info/calendar.html are the closest to you - and me. Most of their rides are flat runs across cheshire, with a 200 on the last weekend of the month. If you fancy doing one let me know and we could meet up.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2015 20:12:51 GMT
Sounds good Eric, I can zoom along if needed but I'll be saving those efforts for triathlons next year. I'll take a look at that website.
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duplo
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Post by duplo on Dec 2, 2015 10:48:34 GMT
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Post by erictherat on Dec 3, 2015 8:05:53 GMT
That looks beautiful. 200 off road sound real tough though
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Post by jimc on Dec 3, 2015 19:48:12 GMT
I've already signed up and paid for the 2016 Eroica Britannia - if you have a pre 87 bike that qualifies it's brilliant. A 3 day festival and a Sunday ride in the Peak District, 30, 55 and 100 miles (doing the 100 this year). It's mostly on quiet roads, the Monsal Trail and the odd farm track - it's not an easy ride by any means, but there are some wonderful bikes and riders, from loons on Penny Farthings, to ladies in tea dresses on single speed town bikes through to stunning Italian road bikes. The organisation is excellent and the people are lovely. eroicabritannia.co.uk/This is just after the last stop on the route, Chatsworth House where we had Prosecco and sandwiches! I'll also be doing the IoW Randonnee which is another favourite of mine - 55 or 100km routes around the Island, totally free, organised by our local Touring Club, The Wayfarers. Around 2000 people take part and again it's great fun. www.cycleisland.co.uk/This is the view from the top of Blackgang at the most southerly point of the ride, looking west. I'll also chuck in a couple of Isle of Wight cycling festival rides too, but they're not announced yet, some road and some MTB.
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Post by erictherat on Dec 3, 2015 21:15:27 GMT
bike looking very lovely in the dales sunshine - looks like a big gear to be pulling up the hills. wishing you same weather next year. great rides to look forward to in the dark and rain
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duplo
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Post by duplo on Dec 4, 2015 14:15:25 GMT
That looks beautiful. 200 off road sound real tough though Yeah, I'm using it as a training motivator!
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Post by bandit3 on Dec 5, 2015 17:31:13 GMT
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