robt
Viscount
Posts: 558
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Post by robt on Jan 6, 2019 16:45:24 GMT
Happy New Year, everyone!
As is traditional in the first week of a new year, I’ll ask the question ‘When and where are we meeting this year?’.
Dracco is keen that we come up to God’s Own County of Yorkshire, which would suit me fine, but I appreciate that some of our Southern & SW based members might feel it’s a bit far for a day’s ride, despite the magnificent scenery and fabulous beer, not to mention the traditionally warm Yorkshire hospitality.
So, feel free to comment on your availability at weekends and preferences for a venue & timings over the next couple of months, then we can try to form some sort of consensus.
Looking forward to another summer as glorious as 2018 🤞.
Edit: If any of our non-UK resident members are visiting Britain in 2019, let us know and we’ll see if we can provide you with a bonus Viscount-flavoured trip or meet-up.
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,380
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Post by Jem on Jan 6, 2019 21:11:07 GMT
Thanks for kicking this off Rob.
I'm more a June/July kind off person myself but please don't let that be any impediment to doing it later if that is the majority request.
As ever, we have to accept it will never suit everyone (either date or venue), but let's see what we can come up with.
Happy New Year to all!
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Post by goldie on Jan 11, 2019 16:27:15 GMT
Oh yes! I was hoping someone would ask this question - I felt a bit cheeky doing it myself, giving my lack of attendance at recent editions
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Post by goldie on Jan 11, 2019 16:28:26 GMT
DFRs 1 and 2 were two of the best days out I've ever had on a bike. Rinse and repeat as far as I'm concerned.
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robt
Viscount
Posts: 558
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Post by robt on Jan 15, 2019 18:19:47 GMT
If anyone is seeking inspiration, try this: ‘The Cyclists’ Special’
Good to see that our visits to Kenilworth Castle have an illustrious precedent.
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Post by goldie on Jan 16, 2019 9:41:31 GMT
That's awesome! Fantastic bikes, fantastic hairstyles, a whole train with van after van adapted to carry bikes - which presumably took nothing more than a polite telephone call from the CTC to British Railways to arrange - and some amazing clothing choices. I never knew I needed Plus Fours in my wardrobe until now. Last but not least, I loved the lad at around 10 minutes in who just drains his pint in one go and starts looking around for the next one...
The mamazing thing about DFR is that they're not a million miles away from this. Can't wait for the 2019 edition.
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robt
Viscount
Posts: 558
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Post by robt on Feb 23, 2019 8:32:58 GMT
OK, we have two votes so far - June/July time and similar to DFRs 1&2. I’m away for the first two weeks of June, but would be happy to plan something for the weekends of Fri 21st - Sun 23rd June or Fri 28th - Sun 30th* June if people are interested. I could also do any w/end in July at present, but Anjou Velo Vintage is on the w/end of 5th to 7th, which Ray & Leslie were planning to attend. I think that DFRs 1&2 were in the north-west Midlands, somewhere around Burton and/or Lichfield? I can take a look at locations around the National Forest. So, what does other folks’ availability look like in June/July? All suggestions welcome. *Edited to correct date typo - thanks, John!
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Post by cusqueno on Feb 23, 2019 11:40:20 GMT
Both weekends looking OK for me ( provided the second doesn’t run over to the 31st June !)
Prefer to keep July free for holidays at present.
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Post by sprockit on Feb 24, 2019 19:48:44 GMT
Am OK for June but may or may not be available for some weekends in July.
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Feb 25, 2019 4:23:11 GMT
I still think that we should have it here in California; Cambria, along California Route 1 is nice year round and has great bike paths :-) Oh well; just dreaming.
Cambria CaliforniaCheers Jim
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,380
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Post by Jem on Mar 4, 2019 11:08:49 GMT
Just getting availability from my friend Jon who has been for the last 3 or 4 years- pretty sure those are ok for me though
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,380
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Post by Jem on Mar 16, 2019 23:20:59 GMT
Yes, either of those June dates for me is ok , and Jon is good for those too
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Post by cusqueno on Apr 17, 2019 13:21:56 GMT
We haven't revisited this topic for some time. It seemed we have a consensus for one or other of the last two weekends in June. I am suggesting we make an executive decision in favour of the last weekend. I now realise that I will probably be unable to make the other one as Mrs C's birthday is on the 24th and we will want to do something appropriate over the adjacent w/e.
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Post by dracco on Apr 17, 2019 15:54:40 GMT
The last weekend in June is good for me. The previous weekend clashes with the York rally, that I like to get to.
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rmw
Viscount
Posts: 143
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Post by rmw on Apr 25, 2019 7:44:22 GMT
Oh rats, I do not have very good availability in June and July. Roll on DFR8.
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Post by sprockit on May 4, 2019 20:09:17 GMT
Looks like the weekend 28th-29th-30th June is the best one for the respondents so far.
I haven't seen anything from 'the former employee' since last year. Did anyone keep their contact details, and should we invite them along again this year? If so, perhaps a repeat of last year's arrangements may be best, as all three were able to be present.
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Post by whippet on May 5, 2019 19:58:08 GMT
I’m cycling the Ireland end to end last week in June, otherwise I would have been there. Have a good time and hopefully see you all next year.
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Post by cusqueno on May 19, 2019 13:18:04 GMT
Feeling guilty about pushing this, but I can't organise anything much north of Potters Bar. Is someone plotting a route / starting point / campsite? It was suggested we could revisit an earlier venue, wasn't it? Can't now remember which one.
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robt
Viscount
Posts: 558
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Post by robt on May 22, 2019 7:14:37 GMT
Sprocket suggested a re-run of last year’s arrangements, when we met at Warwick Parkway and followed a route through Warwickshire lanes taking in Kenilworth Castle and the England vs. Sweden world cup match. We ran it as a one-day event (pn 7th July) due to various folks’ availability.
There seemed to be some consensus that the weekend of Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th June suited some people this year.
If so, I’d be happy to plan a route and act as ride captain on either of those days.
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Post by cusqueno on May 22, 2019 9:29:18 GMT
That would be great Rob and many thanks for the offer. A possible alternative might be a re-run of DFR1, which was organised by Steve (Busaste) and began/ended in a car park in the Chasewater Country Park. But more than happy to revisit last year's route. DFR1: here is the Garmin data that Whippet (Kev) provided for the first half of the ride. John
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Post by whippet on May 29, 2019 19:10:05 GMT
That would be great Rob and many thanks for the offer. A possible alternative might be a re-run of DFR1, which was organised by Steve (Busaste) and began/ended in a car park in the Chasewater Country Park. But more than happy to revisit last year's route. DFR1: here is the Garmin data that Whippet (Kev) provided for the first half of the ride. John Note length of pub stops 😂
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Post by velocipete on May 30, 2019 6:02:36 GMT
Nothing to do with me Kev!!!!
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Post by cusqueno on Jun 16, 2019 16:48:00 GMT
Hi. On my MapMyRide App I keep seeing Rob doing lots of cycling - does that mean you are planning DFR7? However it is getting perilously close to the designated weekend - does that mean we should postpone? Would early September be a possibility?
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robt
Viscount
Posts: 558
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Post by robt on Jun 17, 2019 10:03:04 GMT
Hi. On my MapMyRide App I keep seeing Rob doing lots of cycling - does that mean you are planning DFR7? However it is getting perilously close to the designated weekend - does that mean we should postpone? Would early September be a possibility? Hi, John! Yes, lots of miles this month but, unless the forum fancy a DFR along the Loire Valley, I wasn't surveying a new route. So far, it's just you and me for a week on Saturday so, given the June weather we're experiencing, postponement to September sounds like a good idea. I'm currently free most weekends in September.
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Post by dracco on Jun 17, 2019 13:06:47 GMT
Well, I've still been planning for a DFR on Saturday week. I could do September as well, IF it doesn't clash with a certain international cycling event that's taking place in my backyard! (I'm a race volunteer, which probably means standing at a junction, in the rain, in the middle of nowhere, waving a flag).
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Post by cusqueno on Jun 17, 2019 21:21:42 GMT
Duh! I just saw you were doing lots of miles Rob, but didn’t look to see where!
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,380
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Post by Jem on Jun 18, 2019 20:52:27 GMT
I was ok for the DFR (and I think my none Viscount owning friend John was coming too) - I just lost focus over the last few months though, with the weather being awful, getting almost zero time in the saddle and my mum not being too well.
I would always be a "will be there if I can make it.." but as it stands, it "I'll be there if my mum is doing ok that week"...over the last 2 weekends it would not have been possible to make it.
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robt
Viscount
Posts: 558
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Post by robt on Jun 25, 2019 9:01:06 GMT
I haven’t planned a route for this coming weekend, and ‘other stuff’ is now appearing in my diary, so I’m not planning to lead or take part in a DFR this weekend. Sorry. The UCI World Championships are to be held in Yorkshire (all finishing in Harrogate) from Sunday 22nd to Sunday 29th September. Would people like to feel part of the event by riding in Yorkshire in September? If so, I’d be happy to work with John (Dracco) to plan a route that takes in some of the beautiful scenery that lies between the ‘big cities’ of Leeds and York. Questions to be answered by anyone who’s interested/available (or hoping to be) in a September DFR: 1. Which weekend/s in September: 7/8; 14/15; 21/22; or 28/29? 2. Is accessibility by train essential? 3. Preferred location: North London/Midlands/Cheshire/Yorkshire/other? 4. Day ride or weekend stopover? 5. If weekend stopover, do you prefer to camp or to stay in a B&B/Hotel? Having muddled the last couple of DFRs together, the main challenge is confirming accommodation for more than three or four people. Last year’s day ride around Warwick was a simpler affair, though somewhat brief, and lacking the ‘round the campfire’ pleasure of previous weekend DFRs. I do appreciate that Yorkshire might be a tricky day-trip for people in the South East and South West, though, so let me know your preferences and I’ll try to come up with some suggestions.
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Post by dracco on Jun 26, 2019 16:51:09 GMT
Happy to help sort things out for a Yorkshire DFR. Access is easy from London/SE, since the East Coast line goes from London to York in about 2.5hr. York itself is well-served by cycle tracks and the countryside around is very amenable to "cyclists of a certain age" (i.e. it's flat). This weekend past the York Cycle Rally ran a "Retro Ride" as one of its scheduled events on the Saturday morning. It was a beautiful sunny day, with zero wind and about 30+ participants took part including two Viscounts (my recently refurbished Pro, built up from a frame generously donated by Scott) and another gentleman on a Grand Touring (who has visited this site, but not registered). A wide variety of other bikes also, ranging from an original Moulton to a very-well looked-after Colnago Master (with the star-section tubing). A nice 25-mile circular route from York Racecourse around the villages to the West on minor and largely traffic-free roads (Route map at: gb.mapometer.com/cycling/route_4926491.html)Harrogate is also accessible (transfer from the East-Coast main line at Leeds or York), and there's a wide variety of camp-sites, holiday cottages, caravan parks etc. in the locality (although pretty much all this accommodation is already booked up for the period covering the UCI WCs: races from 21st to 29th - I'd therefore suggest a date earlier than these weekends (especially since - as noted above - I'll be on volunteer duty during this period). For those looking for slightly more challenging terrain, access to the Yorkshire Dales is easy, using the Nidderdale Greenway from Harrogate to Ripley, with access via Ripon to the National Trust sites at Fountains Abbey and nearby villages and market towns (e.g. Masham) or a haul up to Brimham Rocks (https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/brimham-rocks - a longish but not too steep climb, with some great views and a really rewarding descent on the return: NB - I am 67, and I can get up this without too much distress!). There's quite a good caravan site at the Yorkshire Showground (https://www.harrogatecaravanpark.co.uk/, on the southern side of Harrogate, that is conveniently located for a Sainsbury's supermarket and also for the award-winning local produce shop "Fodder" (https://fodder.co.uk/). (Also a rather good pub - the Travellers' Rest, just nearby). Both Harrogate and York are also easily reached by road (M1/A64 for York; M1/A1 for Harrogate: it took me about 2.5 hours from Warwick to Harrogate after DFR6 and about 3.5 hours from Ledbury after DFR5). Andy (not John!)
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Post by cusqueno on Jun 27, 2019 9:02:19 GMT
This sounds good Andy. Letting the train take the strain would be suit me, although I might have to ride across London to get to the mainline station. Alternatively, I could possibly combine DFR with visiting friends in Leeds for the w/e. By road from where I live is around 4 hours to York or Leeds - wouldn't want to drive both ways in one day, although it is mostly motorway.
With regard to dates, at the moment any September weekend is OK, with a slight preference for the 7/8 or 14/15.
John
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