Hell of the Ashdown

Lots of busted derailleurs on show. Chap on a sky rep dogma busted his on the first climb.

Heh

Er, most people?

I don't even leave the house to go the shops without a little somthing somthing.

What annoys me most about the sponge is even if I get past the fact it tasted like cardboard. I can't even wrap a piece up and put it in my back pocket without it becoming a soggy mess.

Why must they try to feed 300 riders for less than a tenner?

It was a reliability ride for one of the oldest and most respected CCs in the country. They turned it into a sportive to raise money for charity. Costs would be kept down to pass as much onto the charity as possible.

^ This

Also, can be bothered to carry half a pharmacy around just in case but baulks at the thought of carrying a sandwich??

^ this

They turned it into a sportive to raise money for charity. Costs would be kept down to pass as much onto the charity as possible.

Seem to have a very flash catford CC 'team' van parked outside.
No food at all next time - think of the charity.

Lots of busted derailleurs on show. Chap on a sky rep dogma busted his on the first climb.

Heh

The cyclocross gods are going to make you pay next season for your display of schadenfreude. Maybe.

Seem to have a very flash catford CC 'team' van parked outside.
No food at all next time - think of the charity.

Sponsored by Jeff Banks to develop U23 talent.

Looked like an amazing day out there, sad that I missed out what is usually the first big ride of the year. Need to get out there for the ToW.

boo!

Sponsored by Jeff Banks to develop U23 talent.

Yep completely different budget

Glad every body enjoyed it, I will pass on the thanks to the rest of the Club.

The Ice was our biggest problem this year, much less than previous years but on two of the steepest descents and all in the first ten miles.
I did put out some extra signs early this morning when I checked the route again and phoned the appropriate Marshalls to shout out warnings.
There was no point in reverting to the Ice Route as that does not change from the normal route until after Hever and from then on it was OK apart from some road surfaces that wouldn't look out of place in a Belgian Classic.

As for food I know they got the maths wrong for the drink supplement at Ashdown feed but we certainly don't set out to skimp, we were praised last year for good feed stations what was wrong this year? what was missing? I will pass it on so those in charge of the Feed Controls can put it right next year.
Cheers
Steve

Thanks for another well organised ride Steve and a big shout out to all of the very cheery and smily marshals too.

As far as I could see, the food was plentiful and varied. I think someone mentioned a lack of 'race food'. Since when is cake not 'race food'?

I don't even leave the house to go the shops without a little somthing somthing.

What annoys me most about the sponge is even if I get past the fact it tasted like cardboard. I can't even wrap a piece up and put it in my back pocket without it becoming a soggy mess.

Why must they try to feed 300 riders for less than a tenner?

and I'm sure you were effusive in your thanks to the people who spent the best part of their weekends signposting and marshalling the ride and manning the feed stations for nix

The massage people in the assembly hall at the end were a nice idea too, although I may have scarred a young girl with the sight of my pasty tattooed body. I hope she recovers soon.

^^^^ It was brilliant, I would not have changed a thing, well run, professional and a fantastic route that nearly had me giving up a couple of times. congratulations and thank you to all those involved

Perfect day for it really. If had been 24 hours earlier the wind would have blown so many people away it was proper horror show Saturday.

I went out on training ride a little later in order to miss the masses but still saw a few and always got a cheerful hello from the marshals when I crossed their path.

I kept my eye out for 6pt and tc but no luck. I wonder if we just missed you? That ginger you spotted could have been me...but anyway thanks for the marshalling and to the rest of the crew. I had a great day - sunshine instead of snowflakes was a much welcomed difference from last year. The lemon cake was top-notch too. And almost grateful in the end for missing my first train as by starting at 940 all the ice had melted by that point. KT and Howard we great company and I enjoyed the highly civilised pace. Garmin tells me 4:30ish in the saddle for the course - I'd say we burned at least an hour in the cafes and socialising over carbs and innertubes hence I won't discuss the non-representative official course time.

Next year I reckon FGSS with pub stops.

Nice to see in this day and age a ride going ahead with hazards and everyone piling in head first. Chapeau everyone.

A great day.... Huge thanks to the marshalls and those that passed on to them the worst of the ice locations... Saw a hell of a lot of people turning round in the first few miles....yes it was icy, but the sun was coming up and it was only going to get better... Understandable if you've had a nasty off, but otherwise??!

Brilliantly marshaled as in all previous years.

and I'm sure you were effusive in your thanks to the people who spent the best part of their weekends signposting and marshalling the ride and manning the feed stations for nix

To be honest I was too busy stuffing my face with cake at the time.

As for food I know they got the maths wrong for the drink supplement at Ashdown feed but we certainly don't set out to skimp, we were praised last year for good feed stations what was wrong this year? what was missing? I will pass it on so those in charge of the Feed Controls can put it right next year.

I think this was in part the problem, heard a few triathletes moaning that the gels and bars they expected from last year weren't there.
Personally I love a good flapjack but whatever form the sugar takes I want to be able to pick it up and be off sharpish if possible.
The problem with the Ashdown feed was partly down to a lack of just plain water as an alternative.
I will give praise for amount and size of the bananas available.

When im on a paid event I tend to setoff without carrying my normal pockets loads of food.
Hence my crankiness as riding 120km on limited supplies.

3.57 - anyone else owning up?

3.29 - really glad I had a late start as the ice was either gone, or maybe my Conti 4-Season tires just gripped sufficiently well.

Great day anyway and well done to Catford CC for organising it! Can't comment on the feed stops as I didn't use them apart from rolling over the timing mat...

When im on a paid event I tend to setoff without carrying my normal pockets loads of food.

Well everyone has their own tactics I suppose. But to me this makes no sense.

On the whole food debate, although I didn't do the ride this year, I have in the past, and have done a fair few other sportives.

I think if you're fussy about getting bars / gels etc on board during a ride, you should always play it safe and take your own. On 'smaller' sportives such as this you shouldn't expect that there's going to be a science lab full of stuff awaiting you at the stops, and if you don't go prepared then you need to accept that beggars can't be choosers really.

turns out I strava'd the whole ride accidentally logged into my girlfriend's Strava account on my iPhone...I got a lot of QOMs.

(have deleted the ride)

Entries for 2015 opening 31st of Oct. I'll been busy with the wee baby seamus but will sign up for it anyway. I'd like to gear down and give this a go fixed (maybe).