Took part in this sportive yesterday and just like the club run it rained and rained.
I noticed on the start list other club member were taking part, how did you all get on.
I had two punctures, both front and back which slowed me down plus a level crossing on red to contend with, stil managed 4Hrs 13mins covering 67 miles, which I was happy with considering the conditions.
Regards
Ron
Spring Onion Sportive
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Spring Onion Sportive
by Ronnie » Mon Mar 18, 2013 7:39 pm
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by adrian » Tue Mar 19, 2013 6:45 pm
That's an amazing effort, Ronnie. You must have had lightning-fast pit stops!
I did this as well. I parked next to a car featuring an ACC sticker but didn't see any kit on the course - hardly surprising, what with all the rain gear.
It's the second year running that I've done this event. It's a good one for 'recruiting the muscles' - not too long or hard, and despite the many incomprehensible emails from the organiser, pretty well run. I've never seen a feed station quite so well stocked - I pinched enough energy bars and gels to last me all season! I did think the HQ was woefully inadequate, though - lucky only 450 or so of the 750 entrants turned up.
Weather ranged from grim to atrocious - I don't think I've ever seen so many puncture casualties. They seemed to line the route from the very start to the very end. Anyone lucky enough, like me, to avoid punctures must have gained at least half an hour on most of the field. Towards the end, I think I would have struggled to get a tyre back on the wheel, my hands were so cold.
Even so, my time was not great - worse than last year, and I've been training all winter
My excuses: 1) I couldn't shift onto my large chainring, and had to keep stopping to do this manually (only when I got home did I realise all I needed to have done was give the barrel adjuster half a turn 
). 2) I got cramp at about 50 miles and had to stop to let that subside. 3) Five minutes after restarting, I managed to go off course, which cost me half an hour. Muppet! 4) Had to wait an eternity at not one but two level crossings...
Still, it's all miles in the bank. Cheshire Cat this weekend for me - please let it not rain. At least not the whole time...
I did this as well. I parked next to a car featuring an ACC sticker but didn't see any kit on the course - hardly surprising, what with all the rain gear.
It's the second year running that I've done this event. It's a good one for 'recruiting the muscles' - not too long or hard, and despite the many incomprehensible emails from the organiser, pretty well run. I've never seen a feed station quite so well stocked - I pinched enough energy bars and gels to last me all season! I did think the HQ was woefully inadequate, though - lucky only 450 or so of the 750 entrants turned up.
Weather ranged from grim to atrocious - I don't think I've ever seen so many puncture casualties. They seemed to line the route from the very start to the very end. Anyone lucky enough, like me, to avoid punctures must have gained at least half an hour on most of the field. Towards the end, I think I would have struggled to get a tyre back on the wheel, my hands were so cold.
Even so, my time was not great - worse than last year, and I've been training all winter
My excuses: 1) I couldn't shift onto my large chainring, and had to keep stopping to do this manually (only when I got home did I realise all I needed to have done was give the barrel adjuster half a turn ). 2) I got cramp at about 50 miles and had to stop to let that subside. 3) Five minutes after restarting, I managed to go off course, which cost me half an hour. Muppet! 4) Had to wait an eternity at not one but two level crossings...Still, it's all miles in the bank. Cheshire Cat this weekend for me - please let it not rain. At least not the whole time...
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Re: Spring Onion Sportive
by spike » Sat Mar 23, 2013 3:01 pm
I was there. Pretty much as Adrian says above, very grim conditions and I was glad of all the wet weather gear I'd put on. The day before I went to the lbs and got new overshoes and sks mudguards and fitted these together with winter tyres - very glad I did as it kept me a lot drier and warmer and I avoided all the punctures. Fairly happy with my time all things considered. I rode to the start and back (30min in, 42min back) and regretted that as I was very cold on the ride home.
The Cheshire Cat has been moved to later in the year due to the weather - I did it last year and GOT SUNBURNT. How far away that seems now!
The Cheshire Cat has been moved to later in the year due to the weather - I did it last year and GOT SUNBURNT. How far away that seems now!
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Re: Spring Onion Sportive
by adrian » Mon Mar 25, 2013 1:02 pm
[quote="spike"]
The Cheshire Cat has been moved to later in the year due to the weather - I did it last year and GOT SUNBURNT. How far away that seems now!
The Cheshire Cat has been moved to later in the year due to the weather - I did it last year and GOT SUNBURNT. How far away that seems now!
Yep - gutted about this. Was looking forward to two nights away - as it was, the kids behaved especially badly just to rub my nose in it
Couldn't get a refund for my train tickets, and had to pay cancellation fee on my hotel. 
The rescheduled date is 7 July, so we'll try again then. Apparently it clashes with a couple of other events, so quite a few places will open up in case anyone here fancies giving it a go.
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