Epping Forest Epics

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Bigguy · Joined: 27 Jan 2007 Posts: 77 Location: South Woodford

I am trying to sign up, but it won't accept my card??? There's money in there honest!!!

Might have to ring them and do it over the phone.

But yip I'm up for it too!
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"Growing old is mandatory, but growing up is optional!"

Bigguy · Joined: 27 Jan 2007 Posts: 77 Location: South Woodford

I got the route in the post as the rest of you did, Im sure.

Only problem is I don't see any pubs posted along the way!? Shocked

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"Growing old is mandatory, but growing up is optional!"

squirrel chaser · Joined: 28 Sep 2007 Posts: 47 Location: stratford

anyone else got a 8.20 start time. im hoping i can make brighton for last orders now Wink

Jason_wright · Joined: 27 May 2008 Posts: 48 Location: Epping

think I am 8am..... so should be half way there betime you get going Laughing

Rich · Joined: 06 Mar 2008 Posts: 54 Location: Winchmore Hill N21

I'm 8:20.....seriosly what time are you expecting to do it it ?

Also, looking at the route do you think its more 'not-on-road' rather than off road? Was going to fit a reasonably light pair of tyres accordingly unless ive got it wrong ofcourse ?

Jason_wright · Joined: 27 May 2008 Posts: 48 Location: Epping

I am hoping for the 6 to 6.5 hour mark... which will mean averaging around 12mph.... and not stopping..... may be a bit ambitious but i think it should be achievable..... depending on how well the course is sign posted and no mechanical failures !!!

i agree that the terrain will not be to treacherous so light tyres will be a good choice..... i am going to run my "High Rollers", which should hopefully help towards the timing as well

Rich · Joined: 06 Mar 2008 Posts: 54 Location: Winchmore Hill N21

cool - nice to know im on the right lines - on go the LK Fast Track!

6.5 hours would be great. Couple of us did 46 miles 2 weeks ago and it took us about 6 hours inluding stoppage time.

I was thinking 10mph average, 1 hour of stops....but thats 8ish hours!!!!!!!

squirrel chaser · Joined: 28 Sep 2007 Posts: 47 Location: stratford

Jason_wright · Joined: 27 May 2008 Posts: 48 Location: Epping

Is there a designated pub that everyone is going to head to at the end...... or is it simply the nearest one when we get there ???

Flogger · Joined: 29 Sep 2007 Posts: 11 Location: Forest Gate

I don't know the exact route (I'm not going on it) but South Downs chalk is absolutely horrible after a wet spell. Sticks everywhere, seriously adds weight to the bike.

SENOR J · Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 9:50 pm Post subject:

Hello all.

I have an 8.00 a.m. start time.
I'll be happy to do it in 8 hours.
I think i may stop for tiffin along the way
Very Happy

If it stays dry this week then the hardtail with panaracer razer xc's will be the selected ride. i do think it will be a "tame" ride but i'm looking forward to the crack.
How's everyone getting to the start?
I'm thinking of cycling the 12 miles from my house to putney - 85 miles,
make a day of it!!!

J.

Bigguy · Joined: 27 Jan 2007 Posts: 77 Location: South Woodford

I have a 9am start!!!!!! Mad

_________________
"Growing old is mandatory, but growing up is optional!"

tonto · Joined: 03 Jan 2006 Posts: 163 Location: danbury

Good luck to you guys for the weekend - it looks like nice weather.

Don't forget to keep eating as you ride - when you get hungry it is too late!
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it's all good in the wood!

Jason_wright · Joined: 27 May 2008 Posts: 48 Location: Epping

Right Team !!!

I am rider number 60
I'll be riding a white Marin Mount Vision.... and will be looking super keen Very Happy

Looking at the bumpf I got sent through I kick of at 8am

Hope to see you all on the day !!!

Good luck all Exclamation

p.s.... if you could post your number it would be great as I am sure i will not recognise everyone Embarassed

Bigguy · Joined: 27 Jan 2007 Posts: 77 Location: South Woodford

I'm number 399, I'll be the chunky bald guy at the back, cause Ientered late!

Thanks Jon for stayin back and starting at 9 instead of 8:20.

Its gonna be a good day!

Noel
_________________
"Growing old is mandatory, but growing up is optional!"

SENOR J · Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 8:45 pm Post subject:

Hello.
I'm rider number 666......only joking.
number 58.
Gonna be carrying a complete tuck shop - including kendal mint cake!

Jason, you gonna big ring it all the way?! Very Happy

see you there.

have fun.

J.

Jason_wright · Joined: 27 May 2008 Posts: 48 Location: Epping

absolutely !!! There's no ring like a big ring Shocked

squirrel chaser · Joined: 28 Sep 2007 Posts: 47 Location: stratford

im thinking that the numbers wont be elligable Question

its not a xc race Wink

ill have an aqua blue top on and be riding a red rockhopper with white forks.

so say hello when you pass Very Happy

if anyone wants a beer afterwards, ill be in the nearest bike friendly (beer garden) pub to the end.

good luck to all and hopefully see you tomorrow

Very Happy

Jason_wright · Joined: 27 May 2008 Posts: 48 Location: Epping

Well chaps, I hope everyone did well and there was no en route disasters.
The foggy start was definetly interesting !

I got a little lost when we started going off road but luckily found some bloke with a GPS so soon got back on course.

Really enjoted some of the downhill when going through the North downs, even though I did end up a little lost (again) for a while..... Good job GPS man was at hand !!

The Downs Link was definetly a test of stamina and mind power !! To then be followed by the "Devil Hill" to get up and over the South downs. Good job it was down hill after that !!

So in the end for me it was a total ride time of 5hrs 52 mins and a total of 77 miles.... I think total trip time was just over the 6 hours mark (got there around 14:30) when you include stoppages to find the way !!

My new claim to fame is that I was the 1st over the finish line, for the 1st London to South Cosat ride !!!!!

A pretty succesful day... hope you all enjoyed !

SENOR J · Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 8:11 pm Post subject:

brillant riding jason.
well done on the time.
it was a great day and a much more interesting route than
i had expected.the diversion was great.
i rode with a friend till the slindon checkpoint and had to drop him as he was
holding things back. got in at 4.10pm - 7.10 hours - we also got lost!
two pointless climbs before we realised.
tired now.
great day and a real sense of achievement.
hope the bigguy and squirrel chaser had fun.

btw.thinking of an earlyish one from highbeech this sat. will post up.
have fun at d2d everyone who's doing it.
j.

Rich · Joined: 06 Mar 2008 Posts: 54 Location: Winchmore Hill N21

yesterday was great...much better than expected.

Total time was 8.5 hours....we got in at 4:50pm, with riding time 6.5 hours (1 puncture and plenty of map reading!)

We got way lost! All went wrong when trying to get on to the Wey navigation early on so I think we ended up following the old route and not the new route. After going through Guildford we finally caought everyone back up on the Dows Link.

Still really enjoyed it, and would beup for something similar!!!!

Bigguy · Joined: 27 Jan 2007 Posts: 77 Location: South Woodford

I had a great day! my time was pretty slow, total of 6 hrs 50 riding time. But I had such severe cramps, I had to constantly stop and ice and stretch, its was agony! Not sure how long it took as I got a very late start, but I recon I took forever!

But I finished and that was all that I wanted. Congrats to everyone that did it!
_________________
"Growing old is mandatory, but growing up is optional!"

squirrel chaser · Joined: 28 Sep 2007 Posts: 47 Location: stratford

well done to all the others. i looked out for your numbers/bikes but no joy.

got there a little after 8.30 and got in the queue shortly after, finally set off at 9.20 Sad

all was great upto checkpoint 1, powering along in big gear and passing other riders.

i ended up so lost with two other guys, we navigated back onto the original blue route but couldnt find any signs, after over an hour or so of riding around/asking people/just following the compass south) we realised that the map we'd been given at the start was a replacement route, (3 of us not told there was a route change). id already waterproofed the map we were sent and stuffed the lamenated version in the rucksack assuming it was a duplicate.

anyway, we finally came across the support vehicle who was taking down the direction signs, so i asked him how are we supposed to get there without signs, he wasnt able to tell us where we were on the map. so he said, "follow us", at which point he pulled out and accelerated up a hill and over, by the time we got there the van had disappeared. lost again and with no signs or idea where we were on the map.

well over 2 hours had passed and seriously pissed off we bumped into a bloke on a mountain bike and another guy on a cyclo cross bike taking the signs down. now back on track he told us about the red ribbons (why none of us new this is a mystery) we set off again.

soon hit that really rooty steep downhill bit was amazing. left the other two behind and big gearred it all the way to the stoney climb at the end, i started pedalling up the hill, turned a corner and saw loads of people pushing, so i got off as i couldnt climb it, finally hit the top of the hill as the sun was low. got to the marshall, "how far mate", "8 miles all downhill" , the previous two sets of marshalls had told me 9 and 10 miles.. anyway top gear again, set off pedalling full speed, what a descent just as the sun was setting.

got in at 7.15, 9.75 hours since starting from which i reckon i rode for all but 15-20 mins and i reckon including the detours, riding from hammersmith to the start and riding to the tube i did 100 miles give or take a bit.

what should have been one of the most amazing days mountain biking of my life was blighted by a crappy organisation. having to wait 40 minutes for a number was shocking (after warming up), to be given a map and not told the route had been diverted or about the red ribbons was unbelievable. i though it was under sign posted/marshalled and whenever i asked for help/directions, no one could help, the support vehicle(s) had different maps to the riders, most marshall couldnt point out where i was on the map and had wrong or no information on distances left. i though this was poor considering people at the back were desperately trying to conserve energy/drinks/food just to get to the finish.

a fantastic ride but shockingly organised, that said the downhill at the end and that rooty descent will keep me grinning for months and hopefully the anger at the bhf will subside.

roll on d2d Very Happy