San Fairy Ann Cycle Club

This lunatic's entry is in the post

Welcome to the asylum!

Another certifiable member is Richard Berry. Last weekend he rode a 600k that started in Chepstow and went up to Anglesey. Climbing a total of 8450 metres is bad enough but when the whole ride is done in a gale and over 50% in torrential rain....................

Congratulations Richard on getting your first Super Randonneur award (200k, 300k, 400k and 600k in one season) and being the first Fairy SR this year.

Wow ! Thats a hell of a ride Richard. Well done.

I love cycling, I really do ... but some people should seek treatment!

Outstanding Richard.

Good grief

Jesus Richard what/who are you trying to escape from?

Tremendous achievement Richard, but what on earth possessed you to even think about doing it??????

Did you get any good photos taken of you in action Richard ? I reckon that's worth a Milestone front cover!!! My hero

Pasty

Dear All,

Many thanks for your kind comments. It was certainly an experience, so many highs and lows, and a total of 624km in the end.

I'll submit a ride report to Ron for the next Milestone but if you want to get a feeling what it was like have a look at:

http://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=13684.585

The actual ride comments start at page 40 of the topic - just shows how much passion the Bryan Chapman Memorial invokes.

As I've mentioned to Ron the San Fairy Ann name is well known as far afield as the Menai Bridge. Mark Rigby (the organiser) also sent his regards to Ron Smith and Andy Uttley.

In answer to questions about why I did it, well I certainly asked myself that many times at the weekend. The short answer is that it's part of my London Edinburgh London preparation.

However really it was because the route sounded brilliant and I thought there would be a real sense of achievement if I could do it.

I'll be posting off my entry to the Flattest Possible 300 soon (the word flattest sounds good) so hope to see you then.

Patsy,

I've seen a couple of group pictures I'm in but nothing amazing! However over the next few days a lot of pictures will probably be posted on YACF so I'll keep my eyes peeled.

Richard

it's part of my London Edinburgh London preparation.

What Richard is too modest to mention is that he entered this last year before he had done a single audax ride. That shows an incredible level of motivation, determination and...................(You fill in the blank!)

Wow Richard awesome!

I totally agree with the cafe and not sitting eating your own food, in my earlier post I mentioned taking 10min breaks at checkpoints and aiming at 17-18mph. If I entered the 200k, which has three cafe checkpoints, if I allowed 20mins for a break at these cafes, would I still complete the 200k with spare time for punctures or any other mishap, which would occur with a person such as myself who has a lack of direction instinct at the best of times?

Michael here is a suggested schedule for the 200k

Maintain an average riding speed of 15 mph which is 24kph

200k @ 24kph...................................... = 8hrs- 20 mins.
Add on
3 cafe controls @ 20mins....................... = 1hr - 0mins
1 roadside refreshment control @ 10 mins =0hr-10min
5 Information controls @ 5mins ................=0hr-25mins
Total time...............................................= 9hrs-55mins

Time needed to complete the ride at the minimum 15kph is 13hrs 20mins
Time available for punctures, going off route, mechanical problems etc 3hrs 25 mins

Piece of cake!

Thanks Ron,
as you say `looks like a piece of cake`!
15mph is very slow for me, so I could easily make up even more time If I had too. Pretty much convinced then... I shall be sending you my 200k entry then!

If 15mph is a bit too ambitious then 12mph and more leisurely cafe stops will still get you round with time to spare.

Maintain an average riding speed of 12 mph which is 19.2kph

200k @ 19.2kph...................................... = 10hrs- 25 mins.
Add on
3 cafe controls @ 30mins....................... = 1hr -30mins
1 roadside refreshment control @ 10 mins =0hr-10min
5 Information controls @ 5mins ................=0hr-25mins
Total time...............................................= 12hrs-30mins

Time needed to complete the ride at the minimum 15kph is 13hrs 20mins
Time available for punctures, going off route, mechanical problems etc 50mins.

Has this persuaded anyone else to think about it?

An update on the entries so far

100k. 14 entries including 4 Fairies - Dee Black, Julia and Jodie Hope and Linton Schwarz

150k 4 entries including 2 Fairies - Jon Dix and Phil Harris

200k 13 entries including 3 Fairies - Pam Goode, Michael Gore and Chris West

300k 16 entries including 8 Fairies - Andrew Nannery, Richard Berry, Steve Berry, Simon Goodwin, Carolyn Hawkes, Ron Smith, Dave Stocker and Joe Wigens.

There is no official closing date, in fact I take entries on the day, but it makes life a lot easier if I do have them in advance.