Ultracycling

I'm can only get interested in dot watching people I know.
There's so much dot-watching around nowadays that you have to be selective.

Thanks rj, hippy. I really like the look of the Fairlight Secan. Think I'll put down the deposit and will hopefully have it up and running in April.

I don't ask this with the sole purpose of being a dick but... I'm probably gonna come across a bit of a dick...

Do you think dropping loadsa money on bikes, kit, air flights (or long distance rail journeys), accommodation, training adventures and the like are going to enable you to raise more money for charity, than giving a regular donation? I think people here have costed their competing in these events before and the total amount (even if done on the cheap) is quite staggering.

If you genuinely want to be charitable maybe this isn't the best way to do it? If you want to be an ultra-dude and have some amazing adventures but also help charity a regular donation might be a good start. Less in total, but regular donations given to charity over a long period of time actually enable them to do more...

Personally, I'm far more likely to donate to people doing shit that they don't like than something they do like. I mean, otherwise I'd have made a million already.

Sounds like you've taken a swing at me, and yes you come across as a dick. That said, I understand where you are coming from and why you've reached your views. You might even be correct in the majority of cases when you're questioning a stranger's choices, but you're wrong in this case.

You've made incorrect assumptions wrt what I am planning in terms of getting into ultra cycling, why I'm doing it, how much it will cost me, how I'm doing it, and what I am already doing in my life in terms of supporting charities.

You've chosen to go into specifics, so I'll address them.

My net incremental spend will be about £200 on bike, kit, travel, and accommodation for the event I will do for charity. The event I am doing is DIY (starting from my house), will be incredibly taxing for me - both physically and emotionally - and will enable me to raise a lot of money. I won't enjoy it one bit, which is partly why I'll be able to raise the money. The last time I did something like this, in similar circumstances, I raised nearly £4,000.

Training adventures will have an incremental cost of around £0. You see, I don't really travel anymore, I just like riding bikes, and I want to switch from one discipline into something else. I think long, peaceful rides in the countryside where I live will be good for my soul, and help me deal with some of the tragic shit I've been through over the past two years. I'm really hoping that I'll be able to get myself into sufficient physical and mental shape to do my planned ultra charity ride in 2021. I won't be asking you for any money.

Sorry - I’ve hit a nerve. I just wanted the question the validity of trying to raise money for charity through ultra-racing. I think it’s probably not possible to raise much for the expenditure to compete and I’d echo the question of sponsoring people to do fun stuff. I really hope you find a way of making it work! Safe racing and thanks for doing some selfless stuff. Sorry to have offended. Peace sign emoji. I hope this doesn’t derail the thread.

https://twitter.com/darrenfranks/status/1231843695751815168

Good luck, throw a thread up so we can follow this!

Crash or like overuse injury? He said something on twitter about 20% grades so if it's off-road maybe lots of hike-a-bike up hill could've tweaked something.

Hike-a-bike

Good luck, throw a thread up so we can follow this!

+1 to this ^ @consciousbadger

Sofiane already doing some small recovery rides :')

While I will never be able to compete in an ultraendurance event, I have done long rides and have, on some occasions, sought to use the event to raise money for charity.

My view has been that I want to ride a long way. If I can use this desire to help a good cause and to connect with friends who sponsor me, why not? It helps motivate me. Nothing like getting up sore and stiff and wondering why am I bothering than the thought that if I don't I've either conned my chums or let down a charity.

I spend enough on kit to ensure I can complete the ride safely. I would spend it whether sponsored or not. The sponsorship is good for the charity.

I should add that I always look to do something tougher than before. I recognise charity fatigue. So many times I have happily dipped my hand in my pocket to sponsor dome fat middle aged couch potato run a marathon only the find that they come back to me seven or eight times once they are lithe and fit and obsessed with running. I would never, for example, ride the Ride London as I would prefer the slot to go to someone who can raise money for charity by riding it.

Guess this is the best place;
Pennine Way- 205 miles.
What’s the surface and ride like?
What sort of bike/ tyre would be best and or passable?

The Pennine Way is largely footpath, and therefore there's no ROW for bikes.

The Pennine Bridleway is a bit of a mix. Some bits you could ride on 28c tyres, other bits you'd be better off on an MTB with some form of suspension.
The Great North Trail follows quite a lot of it. Cycling UK have put together some route sheets which can be found on this page:
https://issuu.com/ctc_cyclists
Each section is pretty well described in terms of likely terrain.

Brilliant thanks it’s the second, a friend has asked if I want to join a ride but without much info.
Have you ridden it?

Bits of it, pretty much everything up to Gisburn. I'm actually slightly surprised how much I've covered! The vast majority I rode on my Cotic Escapade, with 42c knobblies.
The surfaces were generally pretty good, bar a couple of muddy stretches.

There are gates. So many gates.

Ha thanks. Any other insights?

Essentially I’m wondering how unsuitable my canyon ultimate is and or if I could put the spare Ultegra hydro group-set on something suitable

Gaaaaatttteeeeeessssss.

I've ridden parts of it on 35 slicks/cross tyres and done Kirkby Stephen to Buxton on a SS 29er a couple of times.

I think Buxton to Matlock runs along the old railway line (maybe?), in which case it's used on a few audaxes and fine on a roadbike unless it's been absolutely pissing it down, then it gets a bit muddy in places.

Everything is pretty gritty, but nothing's super technical.

Kirkby Stephen to Settle is a bit rocky. Then there's a slog through farmland until you get outside Hebden Bridge. Hebden and the MTL is probably the most technical section.

Can't remember exactly what the run to Buxton is like but I'd guess gritty farm double-track for the most part.

And the Pennine cycleway which is road route up to Berwick. It crosses the Bridleway quite a few times and it a fantastic route itself.

Hadn't heard of that one!

dome fat middle aged couch potato

Good typo.

I maybe haven't articulated myself fully, aware that what I'm doing is challenging someone's good intentions and have done a slightly poor job of tip-toeing (or stomping) around. My root point is that in a room full of privileged white men it would be a shame if we came to the conclusion that taking part in an ultra event is an effective way of contributing to a good cause, unchallenged.

Anyone considering taking part in something like this likely has enough disposable income to make a regular donation or even better, take a pay cut to give a voluntary afternoon a week to a charity/good cause by either doing menial work, or consulting in their day profession for free to a charity. Aa a result maybe buy less expensive bike stuff, go on fewer holidays, eat out less, etc.

£1 donated monthly for five years goes much further than £60 donated as a one off because the regular can be planned for (refer to donations thread on this very site). Same for committing to regular voluntary work which generates income. All actions help and there's no reason not to take on sponsorship for challenges, but there are more effective (less exciting and sexy) ways of helping...

And your point is good - cycling for charity is fun, easy to relate to and will encourage people to talk about a cause, raise money for it, donate... which is never bad... But often the more boring solution does considerably more unfortunately.