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I think her team had decided they really wanted to win it (Rouleur has an article about her special bike/gearing and how long they spent recceing) and the other teams didn't or hadn't worked out how to ride it or the riders just didn't want Vos to win so never chased Deignan down.Quote:
Originally Posted by PeteS
Excellent performance and win, but Paris-Roubaix? It started something like 150 miles north of Paris and 40 miles from Roubaix.
Indeed. Like having the Llanbedr-Blaenafon fell race starting from Abergavenny.Quote:
Originally Posted by Witton Park
A plod up and down the hill on gravel, forest tracks. Gave me 9.5 miles and 1900ft.
Not been on the bike for a while and not the road bike for a longer while. Fitted in a 26 miles with 3600ft ride this afternoon - not fast but a few hills to keep me honest and remind me that I need to train!!
A 33.33 miles (1450feet) dawdle towards genteel Harrogate on the Boardman ADV plus 3.2 miles on the Bianchi on the way for its service. I mentioned that it (the latter) was a bit noisy and was wondering about the Bottom Bracket but the mechanic thought it was the chain and cassette. Whilst recovering from the likely cost of this (plus wheel trueing, new blocks et al)I noticed that of the 20 or so Bianchi bikes on display in Woodrup (Kirkstall in Leeds)19 were equipped with Shimano, none had SRAM and just one had Campagnolo.
I muttered "Italian bike, Italian equipment?" on my way out and received a shrug in response.:(
I frequently go off-road on my touring bike, but it's been few years since I last ground to a halt due to sticky mud clogging up the space between tyre and mudguard. I you ever feel tempted to cycle along Occupation Lane near Willoughby-on-the-Wolds on anything other than a mountain bike, don't!
Quote:
Originally Posted by anthonykay
I think mountain bikers only do it to get muddy. Basically - they never grew out of splashing in puddles.:)
Well, this weekend's cycle
Friday - Cononley to Ingleton 42.15 mi 2,651 ft
Saturday - Ingleton to Grinton 61.17 mi 3,924 ft
Sunday - Grinton back home via Park Rash 46.07 mi 3,425 ft
Fantastic weekend with much laughter and there might have been beer!
I have no doubt most on the forum know the steep rocky zig-zag descent from the top of Fairfield down to the col between Seat Sandal and Fairfield - the last time I went down it there were a couple of mountain bikers descending the route - I was half expecting to see body parts scattered over the fell side, but no, they got down without incident. Very brave and skilful.
Chapeau.:)Quote:
Originally Posted by brett
Their body parts or those of other walkers?Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike T
That'd be the version for me :DQuote:
Originally Posted by anthonykay
To celebrate the return of my beautiful B*nch* with new cassette/chain and just as frolicky and happy as a sping lamb, I ventured into North Yorkshire to revisit Norwood Edge which rises from Lindley Wood Reservoir near Otley (5/10 in Simon Warren).
"Edge" might suggest that the wind can blow and today it did, it being November. My route also crossed Fewston/Swinsty reservoirs (all fed by the River Washburn - as is Thruscross Reservoir which lies a little upstream)which would suggest that the only route away from the water will be up, so the 25 miles included 2300 feet of climb.
But then, in my case, there is the nice descent into the village of Askwith (near Ilkley) and without me pedalling at all I was up to 42+ mph.
Obviously my bike was pleased to see me again.:)
I'm not sure if bicycle related posts are welcome on here any more, but tough, here's another one.
It cleared up yesterday afternoon so I put the Arkose in the back of my car and drove to Hulme End. From there I cycled down a deserted Manifold Way to Waterhouses, although the last third is beside the, still dry river bed, of the River Hamps. The trail has mainly woodland on either side and is tarmaced for its full distance but there are 3 or 4 sections of 2 to 300 yards in length where the tree roots have lifted, but not broken the the tarmac surface, and this gives the cyclist a good rattling. Not good for fragile shoulders!
From Waterhouses, uphill past the giant Cauldon quarry buildings and The Yew Tree pub. It is famous for the vast array of proper antiques inside which include a Penny Farthing, some bone shaker bicycles and a large collection of Polyphons and Symphonions! I've not been in for years and as it only opens in the evenings during midweek today was not the day for my return.
Still gently uphill and past Windy Harbour to my first objective, the TP at Black Heath. A fast descent to Winkhill and up the other side to the roadside TP of Martins Low. A steady climb up to Grindon Moor before the return, via Warslow, whose Beer Festival Fell Race would make a great Champs race, to the car at Hulme End.
I really enjoyed the 21 miles and 1,500 feet, my first ride for 6 weeks. I've now visited 83 different TP's this year either by run, walk or cycle. It should have been 84 but as the Ras Rhobell Fawr didn't go to the summit this year it didn't count. I'm hoping to get to 100 by the end of the year but there are none left close enough to run/walk from home so more cycling to be done. I am also looking at a trip to Wales and The Dales but have realised that the higher the hills the fewer TP's there are and also a greater distance between them!
I once looked out the trig points local to me... One was off a footpath in some fields, and was so overgrown nobody would know it was there, and only a determined lunatic like myself would actually bother to go and find it.
The other was located off a road and in Severn Trent Water private property.
I thought that they, along with our clubhouse, made a fantastic triangle for a race.
Alas i realised that the off-road nature and isolated locations would put off 90% of club members, so i devised a similar race using the various railway stations in Coventry as checkpoints instead.
Thus our first christmas special race was born.
The Manifold Trail is really beautiful, although I once had a head-on collision with a small girl while cycling along there; at slow speed (both of us), and no injuries caused!Quote:
Originally Posted by Llani Boy
There are 4 trig points in Charnwood Forest, and I keep thinking about joining them in a single walk. Starting and finishing at home, it would be a little over 20 miles, although I would probably take some indirect routes to avoid road-walking. Maybe next year . . . ?Quote:
Originally Posted by Llani Boy
Reminds me of my visit to Mark Hill...Quote:
Originally Posted by Travs
Quote:
Originally Posted by mr brightside
I have just been perusing OS Maps to see where I can get most TP's for my efforts and I have found some that I have not visited for years. They are in the Radnor Forest as recently reported on by MattPo.
There are 5 that I can, on the face of it, bag on a 12 miles run with 2,500 feet of climb in a circuit from New Radnor. Once on the ground I might have a slight snag with the private weapons testing range in Harley Dingle but my planned route loops to the north of it from Black Mixen to Great Rhos via Shepherds Well.
I just need to pick a decent day now!
I'm loving that keystone with the notch in it to finish off the arch.Quote:
Originally Posted by mr brightside
They don't build things like that nowadays!
Llani have you ever done the Kington 8 Peaks route in that area.... start and finishes, funnily enough, in Kington.Quote:
Originally Posted by Llani Boy
13 miles with perhaps 3000-ish feet of ascent.
The local scout/charity/rotary group hold it as an annual race/walk/challenge... i did it a few years ago... unfortunately i was thwarted by searching for a summit punch for about half an hour which had been removed, and had to settle for 2nd behind DaveMole of this parish (although his local knowledge was invaluable in getting back to the finish from the final top).
It makes for a great training run in that area.
No I've not Travs but have been in the area when walking Glyndwr's Way which starts in Kington. Two or three TP's up for grabs too so I might make a couple of days of it.
Well I read that and the rebel in me...23 miles, 2400 feet, average pulse 105, maximum 141, maximum speed 38 mph and maximum gradient (up) 25%. Just a little local loop around Blubberhouses Moor.Quote:
Originally Posted by Llani Boy
Total of 2468 miles so far for the year - but I have done 13 fell races:)
But you've omitted the brand of your steed Graham!
Not to worry - the data went in the correct column.:)Quote:
Originally Posted by Llani Boy
Graham - I wonder with all your cycling if you actually do any running other than races? With my aging years and recurring injuries, I'm wondering if this is the way to go and just concentrate on the bike. I really don't want to give up running entirely but, with the obvious notable exception of the downhills, I don't see much difference in training benefit between a good hilly ride and a comparable ascent on a run.Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
The short answer is "No".Quote:
Originally Posted by PeteS
The very long answer is between 55-65 years I raced 50 times a year and did an average total running mileage of 1200. That was enough to be competitive in my vet. category unless, say, Ken Taylor or Kieran turned up.
When I was 65 I had an arthroscopy and my surgeon showed me (colour pictures) that my cartilage had virtually disappeared and told me I would need new knees one day - so stop fell running.
So between 65 and 74 years I basically only did short races, averaging 55 races a year, I never ran a step unless it was in a race. So eg in 2018 I ran 373 miles in total in 65 races. However that year I cycled around 1500 miles to keep my heart and lungs working.
I had decided to stop fell running because it hurts too much but this year I have run in 13 races to see if I could win some V75 prizes but I have only run a total of 71 miles so far. However I have ridden nearly 2500 miles.
Obviously running and cycling use different muscles but if my pulse on the bike is around 140-150 bpm then that is what it would be on a serious fell race and I don't think my heart cares very much what my legs are doing. :)
I've seen some people do distance raced [divided by] distance driven to races, as a ratio.
Perhaps the one you need Graham is distance run in total [divided by] number of prizes won. It sounds like your current ratio will be very hard to beat.
Ha ha.Quote:
Originally Posted by noel
In 2016 I ran in 60 races and won my V70 cat in 50 of them. Ken Taylor wins his cat. in every race he turns up to - but fortunately for me he wasn't then 70. :)
But nothing lasts and since then my running life has gone down hill - fast!:(
Chapeau, Sir! (Of course I could have just clicked on the like button but we don't have one yet....)Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
I figure your personal comment is a hell of a lot meaningful than a quick jab of a like button;)Quote:
Originally Posted by PeteS
Quote:
Originally Posted by PeteS
Thank you.
I once interviewed Ian Holmes for The Fellrunner. First, he chose to come to my house rather than me travel to his and amongst other things he said he never bothered to collect race results. He also said that I need not send him my article for his approval (although I did).
I guess if you are simply the best, Colossus even, you don't need to bother yourself with trivial matters!
I've got every race number i've ever been given, but not every result.
I have a record of every fell race i've done... date/time/position.... all recorded in the back of the FRA calendar for that year. Then a separate list of how many times i've done each race and my pb time/position.Quote:
Originally Posted by mr brightside
Currently stand on 103 races, of which exactly 50 have been long/ultra distance.
Used to collect the numbers but just became too many... also when you take off your muddy, sweaty vest, then get home several hours later and try to retrieve the number off the front, it's often in a bit of a mess.
I have all my race numbers which I keep in a couple of scrap books. I add details of times and positions etc. Looking back through them certainly jogs a few memories but unfortunately also reminds you of how fit you used to be...🙄
Twenty miles (1600 feet) and so hardly worth getting my kit on - but I was doing some errands. So over the Cow & Calf climb, which is where we take Tour riders when they come to Ilkley, to the village where I used to live who are having trouble with the local quarry. I used to be the Residents' Association Secretary so I had a lot of exchanges with the quarry owner. I would have seen them in Leeds Magistrates Court but they failed to turn up having liquidated the company the week before and started up again under a virtually identical name. Businessmen eh?
Then to my (nurse) daughter's house to borrow her blood pressure kit. Oh what fun I will have! Then to Otley Library to borrow Simon Barnes' Epic. In Search Of The Soul Of Sport..
I so hate driving when I can do errands on my bike. So why keep the old Mercedes? Perhaps I should start keeping hens?:)
I find hens tend to rattle a bit when you get above 30mph, you're probably better sticking with the Merc.Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
Another 20 miles errand back to the library (860 feet of climb) taking me over 2500 miles so far with just 71 miles of running this year.
I think this fell running is seriously encroaching on my time on the bike. :)
Oh to be retired! :(Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
Quote:
Originally Posted by millipede
Oh to have your vivacious youth, sweet lady!:)