Alleycat 12.07.2011

Thank you to Joe for organising the AlleyCat. A decent turn out of nine teams, including a few SS, and at least one fixie, the usual array of MTBs & hybrids and one team on a tandem. A good mix of people from all walks of life and aged from about 19 to 65. Lois & I came in 7th, but we did managed to find all the checkpoints for the first time out of the 3 AlleyCats that we have now done.

Thanks again for organising this evenings AlleyCat Joe.

Glad you enjoyed it, definitely a good mix of people and perhaps open to a wider audience, now. Thanks for posting it on that other forum, I think that brought in about half the competitors in the end!

I'll make a facebook group with info on past and future events, so we can keep people aware of what's happening.

Cheers Joe, I enjoyed it (despite my poor positioning)!

Jules

my poor positioning!

You were riding alone against teams of three or four, though - hard to keep up, as I discovered myself in previous events.
Designing the races to be less team-friendly might alienate a lot of the guests, I'm not sure. We'll have a think about it before the next one.

In any case, you've got a score to beat next time, now :D

I have been pouring over Norwich street maps and tourist guides for the last few evenings, and I think that I have a workable AlleyCat route and set of clues sorted for early August. So Lois and I are going to cycle over the route during the weekend, and make any required tweaks and refinements.

Hopefully, the route I have chosen will make for an interesting run where speed has the advantage on a couple of some sections, and knowledge, cunning and guile has the advantage on the others.

I have been pouring over Norwich street maps and tourist guides for the last few evenings, and I think that I have a workable AlleyCat route and set of clues sorted for early August. So Lois and I are going to cycle over the route during the weekend, and make any required tweaks and refinements.

Hopefully, the route I have chosen will make for an interesting run where speed has the advantage on a couple of some sections, and knowledge, cunning and guile has the advantage on the others.

Exciting stuff! Keep us updated.

I will try and be back for it if one comes up.

Can I ask a question.

Would it be a reasonable assumption that at least one member of each team would have access to a digital camera of one description or another; pocket digi cam, phone camera, head camera etc.

I have a cracking clue for an unmanned checkpoint that could be done by taking a photo to be matched with a control photo at the finish point.

Can I ask a question.

Would it be a reasonable assumption that at least one member of each team would have access to a digital camera of one description or another; pocket digi cam, phone camera, head camera etc.

I have a cracking clue for an unmanned checkpoint that could be done by taking a photo to be matched with a control photo at the finish point.

We had an alleycat last year that involved a fair bit of photo-taking, I think so long as you make it clear that it's a required piece of kit then everyone these days should be able to get their hands on a digital camera of some sort.

I have now cycled our proposed route, and apart from some minor tweaking to the wording of two or three clues I think we have got a good'un.

There is considerably less in the way of hills for this AlleyCat, which should encorage both Single speed and fixie riders, along with Fraser and his mates to bring their bents and take part on them: There have been two minor sprints included in the course, but these will not necessarily win the race as some guile & cunning will be needed to to crack a couple of the clues. Hopefully the mix of route and clues I have incorporated should make for an enjoyable but competive across the cycling abilities AlleyCat ...... we have just got to fix a date now.

I'm intrigued by how you describe it. Guile and cunning, eh? Hmm. I can imagine us deflating each other's tyres before the start, and chucking drawing pins down on the road to slow down anyone chasing behind.

Will this be suited to teams? Or in other words, will there be an advantage available to teams who split up?

So long as every competitor passes through the two checkpoints, I don't mind which order the course is completed in so long as all 10 of the clues have been solved .............. just to make it fairer I was thinking of splitting this AlleyCat into teams competing against teams, and individuals against individuals on the same course.

So long as every competitor passes through the two checkpoints, I don't mind which order the course is completed in so long as all 10 of the clues have been solved .............. just to make it fairer I was thinking of splitting this AlleyCat into teams competing against teams, and individuals against individuals on the same course.

I had some good tips about that from a guy I know in another city, I'll email you.

There is considerably less in the way of hills for this AlleyCat, which should encorage both Single speed and fixie riders

You found hills for the last one? In Norwich?

Well, Mousehold is a Cat 3..

I had some good tips about that from a guy I know in another city, I'll email you.

I would be obliged if you could email me those tips please, mate.

I have now got the clues and the route for the next AlleyCat sorted. I have ridden the new route a couple of times, and I think that it is good to go. Lois hasn't had anything to do with this version, and has not even glimpsed the clues I have prepared: Lois and a couple of her friends wante to compete in this AlleyCat rather than Marshall it, and I thought even though they aren't going to be the fastest team of cyclists competing it would be very unfair for them to have inside information.

Due to the set backs on our house refurbishment, some business commitments, and a family gathering in South Wales, I was hoping to set the date for this AlleyCat as Tuesday the 23rd or Wednesday the 24th of August.

I would be obliged if you could email me those tips please, mate.

Sorry, will do.

Lois hasn't had anything to do with this version, and has not even glimpsed the clues I have prepared:

Yea yea, I'm sure... ;)

Due to the set backs on our house refurbishment, some business commitments, and a family gathering in South Wales, I was hoping to set the date for this AlleyCat as Tuesday the 23rd or Wednesday the 24th of August.

That's about as early as you'd want to make it anyway - minimum 3 weeks' notice I reckon, or people have other plans already.

My folks are visiting over those days but I'll still be able to attend, fo sho