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Absolutely brilliant again! Hats off to all involved in running it. We left behind the Mercx Volvo right at the front of the 55. Survived one front puncture on fast downhill gravel/chippings section.
Couldn't make the top of that last gruelling hill in before the end in time to see the RAF plane fly down the valley - a minute later we'd have summited and been looking down on it!
Thoughts:
Good steer from @bikes_knob on pubs; didn't see your list before we went but would agree with Manners and Queens Arms.
Best to get out early doors so you can really hammer those railway tracks before the families/walkers/dogs/kids/DofE hikers/mountain bikers clog them up.
Team Carlton did OK; mrs de Selby got round the 30 fine - in a frock! - on her Pro-Am; self and bro-in-law ripped the 55 despite a busted spoke and the aforementioned flat. Tx to Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative for en-route wheel truing.
Finish line a bit confused due to the billions of people milling about. A bit less smooth there than last year.
Respect to the 55-mile guy riding fixed (black jersey/white cross) who tore past us on one of the big climbs!
@wjwat1... how u get that finish line picture? Should I have given them an e-mail or something?
Best weekend of the year - back next year for sure!
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Yes, another fantastic weekend, a bit chilly but not too rainy. It was noticeably busier than last year, about a third more people apparently. Just went so quickly.
Personal highlights were seeing Mrs Duck and my lad getting round the 30 and still smiling , Jaipur, the general positive vibe and having a nice chat with Malcolm Elliot at Chatsworth.
I too rode the 55 on fixed, (66) and it wasnt too bad, the last hill was a bit sticky but all doable. Trickiest bit was being on fixed on some of the rough tracks, strapped in with shoe plate on unable to put your foot down. Also had to think ahead approaching junctions as you only have brief moments to release the strap before having to go into track stand mode. Maybe the 100 next time on fixed?Only regret, utterly failing to take any photos.
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Great to see loads of forum'ers this weekend. Thanks to all who stopped by the stand. It was really hard coming down to see the riders off in Bakewell village on the Sunday morning and not being going off on the ride too. My partner rode the 30 mile this year instead. She loved it..
Definitely much bigger this year but that didn't seem to harm the good spirit that was so evident last year. Will have to work out a way to do riding and selling next year!
The four different Massif Central personalised rider prints of all the routes are available via the website - use the code LEMOND89 for discount. https://massifcentral.myshopify.com/admin/collections/71118787
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Had a great time despite going the wrong way. I was doing the 55, my mate the 100. Rode with him to find that the route had split some miles before, so had to retrace some steps - didn't regret the extra journey with him though and the espresso at Tidewell was lovely. My ride did end early though when my tire blew just after a rocky off road section. Big hole in sidewall (maybe should have booted I know) - was a Paris-Roubaix too, which I had bought especially to avoid such disaster. Gatorskins as normal next time. Replaced tube, and gingerly rode down the A6 back to Bakewell - so only 50 km all in. Met family, funfair. Dodgems and then I scored 7 out of 7 on the shooting gallery. I asked the carny-folk if it had ever been done before. Terse yes, and polyester animal handed over. Back next year.
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Hi @7VEN it was nice to meet your (briefly). So sorry to read why you had to scoot off to NZ. Terrible news. I hope you and your family cope ok and as we red sea peds say I wish you a long life
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My first (hopefully of many) Eroica's and it was brilliant. Still haven't had a review from mrs Conker. I'll wait a few days, then ask her what she thought of it - once all the pain has gone away.
Great to see a few old & new faces. Wish I'd had more time to meet more of you.
So next year, will hopefully find a B&B in Bakewell, then we'll get the train up, (without the van I could have drank more). Also, if I can persuade 'her indoors' to do it again, she may well have had time to get a few miles in before the event.
I'll be of the bike for a hopefully short while now as I have to have an operation, so it was a nice 'sign off' for me.
NB. nice pics @hairnetnic I haven't even looked at mine yet, but they're probably crap
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Ahhh it all makes sense now. I stopped at the point where you were high fiving people. I thought the group of you were probably from lfgss but couldn't stay and chat too much as I still had 50 miles to ride!
Most of my pics are on my instagram for those interested - account is just my username.
For those interested next year we stayed at darwin forest and would recommend it. Dog friendly and very private. 10inute drive or 30inute ride to bakewell.
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The 100m was much amaze - felt like this from the first up hill to the last...
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^ ah very cute
efb
Backstop
frithnow
wjwat1
mattyc
dr_nosh
de_Selby
oat44
duck
hms
XJimX
tonyme
ian(conker)
mands
MartinERK-
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About
L'Eroica Britannia 2015
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just done a quick spin to check all is well, we'll be in a green john smedley and a red john smedley Jersey on a silver holdsworth and a white atala, say hi if you see is, we'll arrive about 8am tomorrow