fizban
Reged: 15/09/2007
Posts: 922
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The organisers are evil people, but more of that latter.
This was my first organised ride, so here's a bunch of random sentences which may or may not help. I did the 80Km route, other option was 140km. The queue at sign on was about 10 deep but speeded up after me once it was realised that they didn't need to watch every body fill in the back of handlebar card. The start was get a case of get in a queue and waved out in batches depending on traffic.
The route was well marked, big yellow florescence signs with black arrows, the only suggestion I'd make is there only one sign where the route, the paranoid in me would have preferred two split and the first 20-30 miles well marshalled, I assume once the field broke up there wasn't the need for marshalling, although where the route joined the dual carriage way section there was a police motorcyclist.
For me the route it's self was in places challenging, several steep climbs, the comment about the organisers being evil was for the last few kilometers where it statered as gradual climb and then ending ending up in 30% climbs for 2-3Km from the end. Other parts of the route where pleasantly whizzing through rural Kent and it's villages (well I would have whizzed along if it wasn't for the fact I'm an out of shape lard arse who had the stuffing knocked out of him on the climbs).
The feed station was about 35 miles round for the short loop and served cakes, biscuts, bananas and orange squash along with taps for water.
At the end lunch was Covent Garden soup with either ham or cheese baguettes with a collection of fruit pies.
The electronic timing tags worked for me and the people around me when I finished but Mrs Fizban heard mutterings from a couple of people it hadn't worked for them.
Will I be back next year, yes assuming I'm fitter and a better climber, oh and won't be in the minority of 5 who don't use clipless pedals.
Edit: Time was 3:49 if I do the 80km next year target is 2:30
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i before e except in Leipheimer
Edited by fizban (14/09/2008 17:04)
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bfergie
Reged: 19/04/2008
Posts: 3653
Loc: Sticks ,Scotlandshire
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Well done Fizban and a nice report to boot, Next year it will be the 140km route in this years time(aim high I say) All these events on today I feel so left out up here on my solo 76mile trip!
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I now accept PAYPAL!!!!
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bigoldsideofham
Reged: 23/12/2007
Posts: 2288
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Well done guys.
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El_Cid
Reged: 02/08/2007
Posts: 1499
Loc: Ilkley, Yorks
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Well done Fizban - Enter the long one for next year, the long term worry of it will be incentive to train.
My own effort today was paltry in comparison with you men. A 15 mile spin this morning. Was unable to go further due to severe hangover. Doh! And only 2 weeks to go to the 130 mile Ullapool sportive (Sad face with picture of boot kicking self up arse)
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"TODAY, WE RIDE"
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bfergie
Reged: 19/04/2008
Posts: 3653
Loc: Sticks ,Scotlandshire
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At least you will get a nice fish and chips at the little chippy at the top of the harbour in Ullapool, I think you might need it!
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I now accept PAYPAL!!!!
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hubbub
Reged: 22/10/2007
Posts: 813
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Sod that, the Argyll does good pub food and damn good real beer! 
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bfergie
Reged: 19/04/2008
Posts: 3653
Loc: Sticks ,Scotlandshire
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I meant before the start.. 
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I now accept PAYPAL!!!!
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hubbub
Reged: 22/10/2007
Posts: 813
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Now that's just plain greedy! 
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Sly
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 732
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Sounds like a tough ending, FB. The hills, not the soup.
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tvrbird
Reged: 21/06/2008
Posts: 1135
Loc: slumped over the keyboard
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I did warn you about that last hill! Last year almost everyone was walking, but good to hear you enjoyed it. And didn't get lost like I did on that ride last year....
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What doesn't kill us makes us stronger - Friedrich Nietzsche (German Hill Climb Champion and sub-19 man)
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wuverley
Reged: 16/05/2008
Posts: 4045
Loc: Man of Kent
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You did well Fizban. Thanks for the report.
2.30 for the fifty miles, next year, seems ambitious!
At least the weather was quite good today.
I wonder how Mr Shifter did? Did you see a skeleton riding?
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Invicta
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goblin
Reged: 31/03/2007
Posts: 1389
Loc: down yur me anzum
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Well done Fizban .. a very nice report too.
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fizban
Reged: 15/09/2007
Posts: 922
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Quote:
And didn't get lost like I did on that ride last year....
Wasn't sure at one point, the flat bit had some stretches of road where you didn't need to turn off for awhile and few other riders around...
Quote:
2.30 for the fifty miles, next year, seems ambitious!
Well two riders where 2:30 or below, so it's a target. I'll probably be happy to get in the Gold time (2:46)
Quote:
I wonder how Mr Shifter did? Did you see a skeleton riding?
Afraid not.
The other thing to mention, which I don't know if it's normal as well a broomwagon was a handful of motorbike riders going round the route to help people with difficulties
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i before e except in Leipheimer
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parttime_shifter
Reged: 24/04/2008
Posts: 68
Loc: east kent
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Quote:
You did well Fizban. Thanks for the report.
2.30 for the fifty miles, next year, seems ambitious!
At least the weather was quite good today.
I wonder how Mr Shifter did? Did you see a skeleton riding?
Thanks for remembering me !!
A good report fizban Icould not have put it better myself
I had some bad luck to put it miledly !!!!
3 yes THREE thats THREE punctures !!! 
but i think despite all I made a respectfull 3hours 25
I did look for a nervous man in a marmite top
but you may have seen me madly changing tubes at the road side 
and i only had two spare tubes but the third was a slow one
and i stoped every 4/5 miles to pump it up 
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Its not that I cant spell Im dislecsic !
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wuverley
Reged: 16/05/2008
Posts: 4045
Loc: Man of Kent
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3 punctures is bad luck. Well done for getting round. 
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Invicta
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Sly
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 732
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Do boney fingers make it easier or harder to change flats?
That is bad luck, you did well to finish at all. If I'd had 3 flats on a ride I would have 2 tyres stuffed full of grass clippings to get me home!
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parttime_shifter
Reged: 24/04/2008
Posts: 68
Loc: east kent
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Thanks guys ,
Dont know if bony fingers helped but I think I could change a tube with a blindfold now !
perhaps i will get one of them skeleton shirts to ride futre sportivs in 
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Its not that I cant spell Im dislecsic !
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Sly
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 732
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I seriously think we should all start to wear personalized shirts at Sportives so others can spot us and avoid at all costs.
What happened to the Penguin shirts btw?
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parttime_shifter
Reged: 24/04/2008
Posts: 68
Loc: east kent
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Ive just looked on line and I will have no problem
buying a skeleton top infact im going to get one next week ,
ive got get some tyres this week ,
I think some of you will struggle to find tops that fit your forum names or images
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Its not that I cant spell Im dislecsic !
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