Polka dot challenge gran fondo

[Alan M]

Is anyone doing this on 4th June? I am registered and there is a 500 field which is now closed. The 100 mile route includes 8 major climbs ? Cat & Fiddle (7 miles), Long Hill (3 miles), Chinley Head (1 ½ miles), Chunal Head (1 mile), Snake Pass (3 miles), Winnats Pass (1 mile at 25%), Axe Edge (2 ½ miles), Gun Hill (1 ½ miles). I wonder if I will be up to it after this weekend in wales?

Alan

[David Lombari]

mmmmm........yes I'm doing it, though I was in blissful ignorance until you reminded me of the details Alan. Better to say 'I'm starting it' rather than 'I'm doing it'!

[Alan M]

I reckon you'll be OK Dave - Sean it is at http://www.polkadotchallenge.co.uk/
there is a pdf of the course profile which reminds me of sharks teeth!

Cheers

[Brian Nolan]

I am going to this one Alan.. Going to head up there early on Saturday morning.. I have booked 2 nights at a place called Spring Cottage which is 5 mins away from the community centre in Woodford - ( £38 a night - 0161 485 1037 ), if you have not booked anything already..
good luck this w/end - will look forward to reading the write ups ...

Go Addiscombe !

[Alan M]

Great Brian - hopefully I'll be sufficiently recovered for it - I have also booked at the same place so will drive up some time saturday - let me know if you want to share transport.

Cheers

Alan

[Brian Nolan]

Hi Alan,

re the transport to the Polka Dot, I will be going down to Plymouth on the monday after it so I need to take my car. I don't use a rack , just take the front wheel off and cover the back seat . Might get two in there at a push if you needed a lift but couldn't get you back..

well done with the Cymru ride, esp with those punctures !

[Alan M]

I'll see you there Brian - I need to get back reasonably early on Monday so will take my car - but thanks for the offer - I will look at the route a little nearer the moment of truth as I think it is easy to over-hype it - but I have bought a new pump today and will definitely carry 2 tubes and I am changing back to my winter tyres. Hopefully I'll have an uninterrupted ride - the other thing I learned was that I got the hunger knock towards the end - and drunk 5 cups of tea on my return so I think I need to attend to the fuelling during the ride as well as before - otherwise, let's hope for some good weather.

Cheers

Alan

[Brian Nolan]

We will have to hook up at the bb/guest house later...
I have changed from Pro Race to Pro Grip - the extra puncture resistance and wet weather grip compensates for the slightly heavier weight. I was glad off them when the roads were awash in the Dales.. The last thing I wanted in the last 20 -30 miles when I was freezing was a puncture.. I must say that I did ask someone earlier on if they were ok when stopped at the side of the road but I did pass someone in the last 15 miles and just thought of my own survival...
see ya,

[Alan M]

Well - I have given in and looked at the profile which looks interesting to say the least.

http://www.polkadotchallenge.co.uk/pdfs ... rofile.pdf

Weather seems to be perking up a bit though.

Cheers

Alan

[Alan M]

Looking through the start sheet I can see the following ACC


Paul Blackburn
Tamar Collis
Matthew Day
David Lombari
Alan Malarkey
Brian Nolan
Graham Oliver

Jackie Morgan-Smith is also listed as Kingston Pheonix but I think she is still recovering from a fall. - so maybe worth alll making contact at the end and in passing throughout for mutual support - I will probably aim for a start around 8.15 - this seems to give an opportunity to catch up to a few slower groups and latch on for a rest and pick up faster chains as they come through before shelling me of the back on the hills!

[David Lombari]

See you at the start Alan.

[Paul Blackburn]

I'm not going to be able to make the Polka Dot on Sunday (mainly due to work commitments on Monday - I don't think that driving back on the Sunday is sensible after 100+ miles of tough terrain).

Good luck to those that are riding the event.