The Beacon Message Board

BEACON’S BRECONS 300 Club Runs Sunday 29th May

A date to note for your diary:

An extraordinary club run(s) will take place Whitsun Bank Holiday Sunday. The proposal has already received popular support amongst potential riders.

The club run group will initially be limited to 12 fully paid-up Beacon RCC members but could be expanded subject to somebody volunteering to lead a second group, for a possible B Run pace. The numbers within the groups will be limited to 12 to avoid congestion at cafes and delays en-route, a lesson learnt from the Weston Run of two years ago.

Good one, Phil - count me in! Massages with this one?

I'm in.

oh go on then...

count me in.

Here are the suggested audaxes. Riding one or two would be an advantage as a means of gaining kilometres in your legs:

5th March. Mad March Hare sportive. A good seasonal starter.

19th March. 200km. 'New Cheltenham Flyer', Andoversford. Not easy but not ridiculously hard either. Within the means of most.
'
2nd April. 200km. 'The Cambrian', Leominster. A tough ride with lots of climbing. Almost equivalent to 300km. Some A run members are already opting to enter this event. Not good in poor weather.

23rd April. 200km. 'Three Counties Revisited', Droitwich. Bumpy ride but well within the abilities of most. Event not yet published. A 'basic' small scale event.

8th May. 200km. 'Castleton Classic', Shenstone. A challenging ride topped and tailed by easy bits.

Enter at: http://www.aukweb.net/events/

Okay, Phil count me (sort of) in.

What I'm inclined to do is start and finish from home and intercept you at Stourport or Great Witley. That will save me getting up at an ungodly hour and avoid the need for car assistance. It will also mean that if I find the pace too hot to handle, I can make my own way back from one of the midpoint cafés. If I am able to keep up, I'll peel off around Worcester on the way back. I'll then probably end up doing 25-50km less than the rest of you.

My participation will depend on the family not deciding to go to Holland at half term (which has been discussed but left undecided).

After twisting my own arm i'm in. (Could lead a second group if required)

I'm in

ballintrane wrote:After twisting my own arm i'm in. (Could lead a second group if required)

Cheers, Paul

Hi Phil
Yes please me and Ben
Thanks Craig

Is this similar to the Weston in terms of 16mph pace and a 6am start ?

dweben wrote:Is this similar to the Weston in terms of 16mph pace and a 6am start ?

Wait and see. I anticipate A and B groups riding within the conservative speeds stated in club run guidelines. Anything faster and people will crash and burn.

It is not as flat as Weston, so the undulations and the climb out of Builth will slow groups down.

It is too early to say, but I would suggest a departure at 6am. If we have more than one A or more than one B group, then cafes will need to be staggered. Racing is not to be encouraged.

Sigh.......

Go on then.

I'm in...

I'm in

Im up for it

Oh bollxxxks if them lot are doing it I supposed I better do it 😭

matthew wrote:Oh bollxxxks if them lot are doing it I supposed I better do it 😭

You won't hear the last of it otherwise

keith wrote:

matthew wrote:Oh bollxxxks if them lot are doing it I supposed I better do it 😭

You won't hear the last of it otherwise

I kno that's why I've said yes

I'm in too!

Go on then if I must...

How do you envisage the groups working, Phil? If all groups use the same cafés, you will still get overcrowding (certainly at the first one) unless a) there are big speed differences between the groups and/or b) the groups set off with significant gaps between them. In either/both of those eventualities, will the slower/later group(s) be able to get round in the daylight?

George wrote:How do you envisage the groups working, Phil? If all groups use the same cafés, you will still get overcrowding (certainly at the first one) unless a) there are big speed differences between the groups and/or b) the groups set off with significant gaps between them. In either/both of those eventualities, will the slower/later group(s) be able to get round in the daylight?

In terms of daylight, people should be prepared to take lights and to possibly return in the dark.

The BIG problem with the Weston run was the size of the group which consisted of 23 people - some of whom turned up unannounced but were equally welcomed. Frequent loo stops, minor mechanicals and the time to process riders through feedstops compounded significant delays. It took 18 hours to complete the ride which far in excess of what would normally be expected on a 300km ride. A fit solo audaxer would complete this in 12. Hence the requirement for smaller groups.

Any of the following can be considered as possibilities for two or three stops along the journey. There are no large capacity venues on route.

Tenbury Coop - 55km
Shobdon Airfield or Village Shop - 79km
Presteigne Coffee Shop or Village Shop - 88km
Builth - few cafes and plenty of shops - 124km
Brecon - plenty of cafes, (eg including a Coffee#1). - 151km
Tal-y-bont - one good cyclist's cafe and shop - 162km
Abergavenny - multiple cafes and shops (eg Waitrose) - 186km
Ross (late by this time) - multiple cafes and shops - 224km
Powick or Worcester (very late by this time) - 24hr garage - 272km

Excluding pubs, it is long haul from Ross to the next feedstop.

I shall talk this through the details with the Paul and Phil first, on how divide up the riders into groups, speeds, cafe stops and departure times. It is all very tentative at the moment.

For my group, I would plan a major feedstop at either Tal-y-bont or Brecon with additional stops at shops. I would plan a cafe stop at Ross if reached prior to 4pm.

Phil, I wasn't questioning the wisdom of / reasons for dividing into groups. I was just wondering how you anticipated organising things. For example, will a fast group set off 30 minutes ahead of a slow group, so that they are st least 45 minutes ahead by the first café? Or will the groups set off at much closer intervals, but stop at different places? Or do you have some other strategy in mind?

George wrote:Phil, I wasn't questioning the wisdom of / reasons for dividing into groups. I was just wondering how you anticipated organising things. For example, will a fast group set off 30 minutes ahead of a slow group, so that they are st least 45 minutes ahead by the first café? Or will the groups set off at much closer intervals, but stop at different places? Or do you have some other strategy in mind?

As mentioned above, I shall discuss any strategy with the other group leaders before making any decision.

May as well add my name then so hopefully we might have a decent 'B' representation

love to do this and something to train for up to then

If there's room I'd like to come along please.

One for the possible list please, need to check dates.

In anticipation of this momentous Club ride, I shall be leading some longer B Runs weather permitting, during March & April.

This should serve as good training for the actual day, so keep an eye out on the Club runs listings.

Casting my eye down the list of going / possibles, looks like we might be in for quite an influx of new / returning members this year! Great initiative Philip

For anyone seeking an early start at packing in the miles, Phil R and I will be entering the following February 200km event.

http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/16-180/

..assuming I remain free of toddler illness or frost.

Do I need to confirm on this thread? Mrs Draper has just green lighted all my proposed cycling dates for the year

Toby, it is only indicative interest at this stage. I will ask for commitments during May to ensure we have enough and appropriately sized groups.

Is there room for one more please. I need to help Alan W get around

Lee D wrote:Is there room for one more please. I need to help Alan W get around

Hello Lee, of course and providing you are a paid up Beacon member.

Lee D wrote:Is there room for one more please. I need to help Alan W get around

Sure thing Lee.....

Philip Whiteman wrote:

Lee D wrote:Is there room for one more please. I need to help Alan W get around

Hello Lee, of course and providing you are a paid up Beacon member.

I'm a paid up member, may regret saying the Alan bit

As long as he keeps that rack on I'm bringing a bungee cord

Good stuff, but why didn't you do it in February to take advantage of the weather?

I'd come but I have a prior engagement...

Hi Pete, if any room could you put me down as a maybe, pending confirmation in May

Thanks

NeilL wrote: if any room could you put me down as a maybe, pending confirmation in May

Thanks

Hi Neil. Everything is only provisional at the moment. Plenty of people will remove or add their names over coming weeks. Consider yourself on the list.

Everyone on this list will be contacted in early May via their e-mail address as registered on the Beacon membership list. This message will ask everyone to confirm their intent.

FAO POTENTIAL PARTICIPANTS.

Hopefully, ,many of you are building your endurance levels for this ride. I have yet to start but I have various 200km audaxes in my diary. Longer than normal club runs are also planned. Nick Shenton, for example, has one to Ludlow. During April or early May, I will probably lead a club run to Carding Mill Valley.

Yesterday, a number of Beacon members rode the Mad March Hare sportive. In a fortnight, Phil Richards and I have entered the Cheltenham Flyer audax. This weekend, Alan Weaver will be riding 150km Over the Malverns from Droitwich. Another recommended ride is the Castleton Classic audax on 8th May. Some people have already decided to ride the Cambrian Classic on 2nd April.

Please don't set off on this 300 unless you have some resilience already built into your legs.

In early May, I will contact the 40 or so registered Beacon RCC members via e-mail, to ask for a confirmation. We will then split the riders into groups, probably on an A&B run basis.

BEACON'S BRECONS 300.
Potential Prep rides within the next few weeks:
17.4.16. 100 in 7.75h club run to Cardin Mill Valley
23.4.16. Three Counties Revisited Audax http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/16-974/
1.5.16 100 in 8 club run to Much Wenlock
7.5.16 Four Rivers Audax (tough!) http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/16-156/
8.5.16 Castleton Classic Audax (slightly tough) http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/16-126/
https://www.facebook.com/events/1668884203385980/


The full list of members interested in the Beacon Brecons can be found at http://www.beaconrcc.org.uk/message_boa ... 9640#59640

An e-mail about the event has been sent to all fully paid Beacon members that expressed an interest in the Beacon's Brecons 300.

If you are not a member of the Beacon and wish to join the ride, please join the club or renew your subs at: http://www.beaconrcc.org.uk/joining/index.html

CHANGE OF ROUTE

Due a shortage of suitable feed stops on the route via Builth, the route is now revised to increase cafe availability and reduces the amount of severe climbing.

The new route is undulating with notable clumps near (i) Leysters; (ii) Talgarth area; (iii) and a steeply graded but lovely road between Abergavenny and Monmouth. Between Monmouth and Symonds Yat, the route uses a compact ballast cycle track beside the River Wye in the Forest of Dean. The return from Newent is a gentle and pleasant homeward bound section.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/13209182

A roads are used to Hay. These are not generally not very busy and will quiet early on a Sunday morning.

We won't be entering Brecon town, but can divert for cafes by adding 6km

I would suggest two cafe stops with shop stops as necessary.

-Leominster Coop 61km
-Hay on Wye cafes 112km
- Talgarth Cafe in Mill. 120km
-Tal-y-bont cafe/shop or pub 130km
- Short diversion into Crickhowell for two cafes. 140km
-Abergavenny Coffee#1. 159km in pedestrian high street
-Monmouth Coffee#1 or other cafes. 184km
-Symonds Yat Saracens Head Pub. 193km
-Newent Costcutter. 217km
-Upton Upon Severn Coop Supermarket. (closes 10pm) 242km

MILES IN YOUR LEGS RIDE.

Trevor Richards and Phil Richards (the twin brothers), and I will be entering the Four Rivers 200km audax. The route is topographically more challenging than the 300km Beacon's Brecons but it will provide a good test for the legs on a fairly tough audax.

The Four Rivers Audax from Wem http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/16-156/ on Saturday 4th May.

BEACON'S BRECONS ROUTE UPDATE

The route is now updated. It is now flatter and the map shows cafes and food stop availability. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/13209182

WEATHER FORECAST

It is clearly to early to suggest accuracy but here is the forecast based on data sourced from the Metoffice.

High Pressure
Min overnight temp: 7C
Max day temp: 22C
Light winds.
No rain.

IF the weather turns out to contain persistent rain and/or strong winds then the ride will be postponed to the Saturday of the following weekend.

Hi Philip,

I wonder if I it is still possible to join the 300k ride on Sunday with the B group? There are two groups, right?

Please let me know if there are certain requirements.

Leonie

LeonieB wrote:Hi Philip,

I wonder if I it is still possible to join the 300k ride on Sunday with the B group? There are two groups, right?

Please let me know if there are certain requirements.

Leonie

Hello Leonie, should be fine providing you are fully paid up member. If not, go the joining page and just follow the directions. http://www.beaconrcc.org.uk/joining/index.html

Details can be found at: http://www.beaconrcc.org.uk/message_boa ... php?t=7653