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Day out to see the Tour of Britain

mr_poll's picture
on Thu, 20/08/2015 - 13:16

I have a day off to see the ToB - and weather permitting I fancy a ride into the trough to see them there - anyone fancy coming along? Be great to get a group of us flying the HMCC flag with the ToB in the North West.

After Ste D's recce ride I think the best point to see them will be the climb out of Earby however that is miles away (if the weather is crap then I might drive to there) but if I am cycling then the next place is Slaidburn. There is a good cafe there so should be able to get some food and drink whilst we wait. Also some good chance for photo's as they approach and then nip up the short climb rather than watch them whizz by on the flat. 

Done a quick route plan and looks like about 65km/40miles out (from Ring O'Bells) and obv the same back - due to come past Slaidburn at 1 so probably need to leave 9:30 - 10 esp if we have a social bimble.

 

Let me know if you fancy this or have thopughts on the above and I will firm up details next week. 

  

 

 

 

mr_poll's picture

Possible route for the Tour of Britain if you fancy it (and the weather plays ball). Looking at 80 mile round trip - will be run at a very steady pace, stronger riders will do long turns at the front esp on the way back.

From Facebook we have 6 - 8 interested. Will post timings etc closer to the time

mr_poll's picture

Help if I posted the link!!

https://www.strava.com/routes/3132695

 

mr_poll's picture

If everyone is fine for Slaidburn then we need to be rolling out from Ring of Bells at 9:30 - that gives us a gentle 2 and half hours to Slaidburn (plus room for the odd mech). Slaidburn at 12 - coffee and cake - riders should come through between 1 and 1:30 (ITV go live at 1pm so we might sneak on TV!). Then back between 3:30 and 4 (if pace allows). This is a social ride so pace will suit a social ride for all abilities.

Dave Atkinson will be riding to the Ring of Bells pub from the shop at 9:15 sharp.

D N A's picture

As Neil's posted, I'll be riding from the shop, meeting at 09:10 for a prompt 09:15 depart if anyone wants to meet there first. 

I'm bad and that's good. I will never be good and that's not bad. There's no one I'd rather be, than me. (Wreck-It Ralph, 2012)

mr_poll's picture

Another epic day for HMCC – following yesterday's inaugural road race 14 of us (and an interloper from Southport CC) headed for stage 2 of the Tour of Britain to watch the pro's do their stuff. Meeting at the Ring o' Bells we set off towards Eccleston over the moss. Chat seemed to focus on the RR and more importantly Howie's celebrations at the Bier Shoppe yesterday afternoon – a fact that would raise it's head a few times during. 

As we left Eccleston we headed to Midge Hall hitting a section of road that has recently had 10 tonnes of tyre shredding chips dumped on it – luckily we escaped any punctures...for now. With the speed kept a strong B pace we soon made it to Preston where we hit light after light, or as a friendly driver called it Preston the City of Traffic Lights. However we soon got free of the centre and Kevin Murphy and I led us out towards Chipping, Kevin looking slightly unnerved by being outside on a actual bike rather in on his Wattbike. As we sped through Chipping we joined the course and immediately saw many other riders from other clubs who had set up early outside the many pubs. We turned off the course to take a back route to Dunsop Bridge, which included a number of testing little climbs, this splintered the group so a brief stop to regroup was needed. 

Before long we were back on the course and speeding through Dunsop Bridge getting cheers from the crowds there. Slaidburn was chosen for a few reasons, when we rode Ste Depport's ToB ride I knew it had a decent cafe, and there was a small climb there and hopefully would be fairly quiet. Everything went to plan regarding timings however it seemed many people had the same the thoughts and the place was busy. As we queued up I took a look at Howie and it was plain his 11 pints were having an adverse effect, to be honest he looked as if he might have a coronary, so I took pity and bought him a sausage bap. Which seemed to sort him out as there was talk of him jumping into Dan Monaghan's van (who had joined us to get some shots of the race) and taking an easier way home – total respect, he didn't bail and even clocked a century! 

We all scoffed down some much needed grub and then headed onto the small climb to find our spot. The progress of the race had been slow but after a 30 minute wait a two man break including Alex Dowsett and Pete Williams soon appeared, followed three minutes later by the peloton. Cue lots of cheering, shouting and general chaos, however within 10 minutes it was all over and time to get back on the bikes. 

We headed back through the trough back towards Chipping – it became apparent that the hilly 40 odd miles out had taken their toll and the group kept splitting. Orders sent to Dave and Kevin to hold a “STEADY” pace. We navigating around Chipping and seemed to heading for Jeffries Hill – I was initially sure I hadn't plotted a route over this brute but as scenery became more and more familiar I was really doubting myself. Luckily we turned right at the last moment, otherwise I think the group may have strung me up. However this distraction had other ramifications, within 10 minutes we suddenly realised we had lost Gary Lyon who had cramped up and dropped off somewhere. We sent two off to find him, and after 20 minutes all three returned and we got back on the road. From here the road slowly descends from Longridge to Preston and we made good time back to Preston. Here Gary pulled off to find refuge and get a lift home. 

As we turned onto Blackpool Road Alan punctured, this was very poorly timed as we pulled over in front of a house that wouldn't have been out of place in Benefit's Street. Three guys were sat outside the front in their fold up chairs obviously taking in the sights of the main road into Preston. One of these guys decided to befriend us and even though we didn't have Chinook's stopwatch with us this had to be one of the quickest inner tube changes this year. Over the few minutes it took to change we were joined but others of the estate including some 9 year old kids who, whilst Alan used a pump to get some air in the tyre, made some reference to a hand job. With Alan tyres registering about 70psi we decided enough was enough and escaped before the Deliverance banjos started up. 

We fought our way down New Hall Lane at school kicking out time and before long headed towards Higher Walton and then Bamber Bridge and Lostock Hall. Once out of suburbia we hit the backroads to Midge Hall – here we lost out interloper from Southport who decided to head to the A59 and TT it home. DNA Dave and Paul Hargraves took the lead duties now and the hammer was down. The speed was up around 34kph and we sped through Midge Hall, I directed us away from chipping hell and across to Bretherton and Croston. My earlier stints on the front and Dave and Paul's pace was really biting, I made it down Syd Brook Lane and with relief turned back to Eccleston leaving the rest to fight their way home. 

Some stats:

 

140km

892m of climbing

1 lost Lyon

Lots of banter

Average speed 27.5kph

1 hammer (damaged by Dave A and Paul H)

 

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