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Post by lewisg on Jan 31, 2015 23:19:11 GMT
Hi all, At DFR2 I mentioned that I was thinking of taking a few(ish) days to ride from Devon to the Midlands (or wherever) to get to DFR3, probably with some charitable intent, and with the hope that other members would join in along the way for as much, or as little, as they fancied. Sadly there's no chance of me getting the time off or training in to do it this year so the idea is on hold for now... ...or is it? Perhaps it could evolve into something else? I'm now thinking that we could do some sort of relay tour. If people are interested we (I) can map where members are from and create a massive ride - for fun!! Obviously where people live a long way from others one or more may need to be up for doing extra miles, where people are close together (I'm looking at you Midlanders) there could be a group ride. If our non-UK members can make it to a coast one of the UK members could pick up the line from the opposite coast here. Of course it would be especially good to fit it into a specific time frame - back to back days /a week / a month or whatever - it would be EPIC. I'd design some T-Shirts/Jerseys too!! Who's game? Eventually  |
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Post by Stella on Feb 2, 2015 12:19:32 GMT
I so would like to, but I'm really worried I'm not able to keep up to cycle 50+ miles, particularly if there's a lot of hills and stuff involved. I'd need a lot of breaks, I think.
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foss
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Post by foss on Feb 2, 2015 20:20:00 GMT
Sounds Very interesting , I could do a bit :-)
Foss
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Post by lewisg on Feb 3, 2015 22:30:38 GMT
I so would like to, but I'm really worried I'm not able to keep up to cycle 50+ miles, particularly if there's a lot of hills and stuff involved. I'd need a lot of breaks, I think. The great thing about the possible revised plan Stella is that everyone can do as much of a ride as they like in their own area - individually or as a group - ideally linking each person's ride to the next. Speaking very roughly and based on my 1/2 rememberances of what members we have & where they live etc it could go something like this: U.S (New York?) member rides to east coastline - Stoatie picks up the thread on Cornish coast and rides towards Devon to 'tag' me - I head north and meet someone who then goes towards Midlands - fit Scottish members in somehow - Midlanders bring the tour towards you - You head towards east coast - Australian members pick up from some kind of line from your finish and close the deal! If/where distances are too great to actually 'meet' the next person then the ride could be to a local or national landmark. It could make for a fab collection of photos at least and even if all rides were individual it could feel like a real group thing. |
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Post by sprockit on Feb 4, 2015 1:43:00 GMT
I so would like to, but I'm really worried I'm not able to keep up to cycle 50+ miles, particularly if there's a lot of hills and stuff involved. I'd need a lot of breaks, I think. Some of it could be along canal towpaths, they're pretty level and you can take a run up to get up the slopes at locks. If you're going downstream you can use gravity. The Leeds & Liverpool Canal is a little over 127 miles in length, and some people ride the whole length in one day! Stoatie could do the Bude Canal, Lewis the Exeter Canal . . . I'm up for something, dates and locations permitting. |
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Jem
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Post by Jem on Feb 4, 2015 6:01:53 GMT
Trent and Mersey for me then!
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Post by velocipete on Feb 4, 2015 7:50:34 GMT
I could do a bit of the Kennett and Avon and meet up with Whippet.
Remember though,canal towpaths can be very dangerous in places,
especially on road bikes! Parts of the Oxford canal towpath are
vertualy non-existant.
Don't go on them for a while after B.W. have been hedge cutting.
Cheers,
Pete.
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Post by Stella on Feb 4, 2015 10:51:45 GMT
I so would like to, but I'm really worried I'm not able to keep up to cycle 50+ miles, particularly if there's a lot of hills and stuff involved. I'd need a lot of breaks, I think. The great thing about the possible revised plan Stella is that everyone can do as much of a ride as they like in their own area - individually or as a group - ideally linking each person's ride to the next. Speaking very roughly and based on my 1/2 rememberances of what members we have & where they live etc it could go something like this: U.S (New York?) member rides to east coastline - Stoatie picks up the thread on Cornish coast and rides towards Devon to 'tag' me - I head north and meet someone who then goes towards Midlands - fit Scottish members in somehow - Midlanders bring the tour towards you - You head towards east coast - Australian members pick up from some kind of line from your finish and close the deal! If/where distances are too great to actually 'meet' the next person then the ride could be to a local or national landmark. It could make for a fab collection of photos at least and even if all rides were individual it could feel like a real group thing. That sounds awesome. You know I'm always up for a ride. If I can pace myself, then I can go a lot farther, too. I'd love to go touring in the UK, but it's hard to find someone at your own pace. When I'm constantly pressured to keep up with someone, I'm getting very grumpy. |
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Post by triitout on Feb 4, 2015 13:14:47 GMT
I'm a mere 10 miles from the Atlantic Ocean so I'm good to go!
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Post by lewisg on Feb 4, 2015 14:35:48 GMT
Ooo... It's coming together!
I reckon this could be towards the end of this summer if all comes together in time.
If people that would like to take part could post on here, or PM me with their location, I'll start trying to piece things together more thoroughly.
Also the type of distance you'd be happy with and proposed route if you have one.
Once a rough plan is in place I'll get back to people with my ideas but leaving each leg's specific route down to the individual(s) so you can choose canal paths/off road/M1 or whatever!
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Jem
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Post by Jem on Feb 4, 2015 16:32:37 GMT
By the way, I didn't volunteer to do the whole of the Trent and Mersey...
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Post by velocipete on Feb 4, 2015 16:32:53 GMT
I'm just south of Swindon so I could do the canal towpath from Devizes towards Newbury to
meet up with Whippet perhaps.The canals are busy at that time of year,so mph will be less
than you may think.This needs to be born in mind when thinking of your distance to ride.
Cheers,
Pete.
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Post by cusqueno on Feb 4, 2015 17:09:05 GMT
By the way, I didn't volunteer to do the whole of the Trent and Mersey... It's only 150km (93 miles in the old money) - surely nothing to a man of your calibre? |
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Post by cusqueno on Feb 4, 2015 17:12:30 GMT
If we're talking canals, I could start on the arm of the Grand Union that exits into the Thames in west London (Brentford) and head north. But I'm not sure I fancy it too much because on any decent day the towpath would be very busy although, as I recall, the surface is good.
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foss
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Post by foss on Feb 4, 2015 18:12:12 GMT
I'm in Bognor Regis on the south coast I can do up to 100 miles most directions except Due South !.
Foss
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Jem
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Post by Jem on Feb 4, 2015 18:39:42 GMT
By the way, I didn't volunteer to do the whole of the Trent and Mersey... It's only 150km (93 miles in the old money) - surely nothing to a man of your calibre? The north-westerly bound path for about 15 miles is fine (and maybe further, I don't know as haven't ridden it further), but headed North East a few miles out of Burton and it has bumps and pot holes that I wouldn't tackle on a road bike. (I rode a section on a hybrid mountain bike without suspension a few years back - ouch! It was like being on a waltzer) I might dare to tackle 93 miles, but probably wouldn't be walking too well the next day... For info - I plan to do a weeks cycle touring last week in July, if I can coordinate with anyone for a ride, it would be great. I'm, starting somewhere around Malvern Hills I think. Although I might just take the van and camp in that and pick a different place to cycle each day (maybe Wales, maybe somewhere a bit flatter?) |
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Post by velocipete on Feb 4, 2015 19:53:22 GMT
Ah,plan B sounds the best to me!Remember Elgar rode the Malverns on an upright roadster!
Gave him the legsto play the organ at Worcester Cathederal.
Cheers,
Pete.
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foss
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Post by foss on Feb 4, 2015 22:14:14 GMT
Looking forward to finding out my part of the route ,though I believe there aren't too many around these parts so I might have some pedalling to do .
I did cycle 30 miles home from work on Monday ( bloody cold it was too ) just to keep some miles in the old legs .
Foss
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Post by sprockit on Feb 6, 2015 20:47:53 GMT
Looking forward to finding out my part of the route ,though I believe there aren't too many around these parts so I might have some pedalling to do . I did cycle 30 miles home from work on Monday ( bloody cold it was too ) just to keep some miles in the old legs . Foss There's the Portsmouth & Arundel Canal that leaves the River Arun at Ford and goes to Birdham, at or near Chichester. It's not mega long, but a few handy miles. There's probably no towpath as it's been abandoned for a century, but is undergoing restoration. The Wey & Arun and the Salisbury & Southampton (only partially built) are both in your neck of the woods, but again towpaths could be overgrown or non-existent. Might be an excuse for an exploratory bike ride or two, or three! |
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foss
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Post by foss on Feb 6, 2015 21:09:16 GMT
Looks like a challenge . I shall be looking into it .
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Post by cusqueno on Feb 7, 2015 12:58:06 GMT
Looks like a challenge . I shall be looking into it . Here's a useful map of the England and Wales canal and navigable river network, as we seem to have gravitated to a waterway route for Le Tour. If Foss could navigate the Wey & Arun > River Wey > River Thames to Brentford, I could take over on the GU canal northwards and perhaps connect with Stella. Alternatively, If Foss got to Chichester from some point to the west, I could do the leg to London. Or one of us could perhaps do Bognor or Chi to London by road (about 100km / 63 miles). My usual route driving would be A29 - A24 - A3, which wouldn't be too bad to cycle. It would be good to work out a way to avoid the fastest bits of the A24 and A3, although there are some cycle paths. At least coming down Bury Hill from the South Downs on the A29, travelling north, would be better than the reverse (Foss probably knows what I mean). Stella - I've sent you a long and boring pm about spokes. |
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foss
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Post by foss on Feb 7, 2015 13:28:47 GMT
Quote, Stella - I've sent you a long and boring pm about spokes.
LOL
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Post by Stella on Feb 12, 2015 0:47:38 GMT
Ha! Just to confirm I've received the pm and wasn't bored at all. Not sure where you'd get this idea from, John. :-) Anyhow, spoke 'issue' sorted (I think).
At least Adrian had the giggles. haha.
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Post by lewisg on May 20, 2015 6:38:48 GMT
Just to say this hasn't been forgotten about although I haven't found the time to progress it either. If not before DFR3 should jumpstart it again so watch this space.
One thought to make the whole thing much easier to arrange, and more inclusive, would be to just set a day/weekend/week, everyone rides their own ride (meeting up encouraged) then posts their mileage.
Possible T-shirt design could then change from Tour Death Fork - New York, Truro, Burton, London, Sydney (etc), to Tour Death Fork, 2 days 2132 miles (or whatever).
Easily annual too.
Thoughts?
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