Reliability Rides.

[Andrew G]

Well Catford are certainly getting in quick.

[url=http://www.londoncyclesport.com/news/article/mps/UAN/3434/v/1/sp/]Hell of Ashdown[/url] on Sunday 27th January 2008.

Reading the info these Reliability Rides have certainly changed over the last couple of years. Pre-entry, they'll be issuing timing chips next. All down to the increase in Sportive activity I suppose, but it would be a shame if it ended up squeezing out some of the traditional reliability riders for full fields of racers in training.

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

and what's happened to the entry fee???/ only used to be a couple of quid

[huw williams]

"a shame if it ended up squeezing out some of the traditional reliability riders for full fields of racers in training"

I refer the honorable gentleman to last year's reports from Catford/Old Ports events on this very forum and suggest that the traditional reliability trials have already gone to hell in a handcart.

I'm already losing sleep worrying what 2008's are going to be like after going through the ringer so often in this year's

[adrian]

HotA 2007 was the most pain I've been in on a bike all year.

[Andrew G]

I know what you're saying Huw and they make good speed training for racers, but there should still be a space for the more traditional type of reliability rider.

I meant I thought it would be a pity to squeeze out fellow cyclists if numbers have to start getting limited etc etc. We're all supposed to be from the same bums on saddles fraternity and I don't think it does any favours to anyone if you end up with infighting.

Re the price Paul - I'm happy to pay £10 and have a fully signed route, rather than £2 and get a route card and have to keep stopping to check where to go, so think it's a fair charge. The first ones I did I probably spent as much time trying to work out which way I was supposed to be heading in as actually riding.

Is this the one that was a tad wet, I rode through a monsoon from Penshurst over Ashdown.

[huw williams]

No that was the OPs - the catford was nice and sunny

[Mike I]

[quote]gone to hell in a handcart

[carl f]

Rode the sydenham wheelers this year at breakneck speed trying to hang on to the back of some very fast guys in case i got dropped in deepest kent/sussex becouse of not having a clue where i was
Think i averaged 21.5ish mph over 67 hilly miles in deepest winter
The route card was to soggy and mashed up to follow anyway

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

Not sure what the difference is between a sportive and a reliabilty trial?

I know that reliability's have an upper speed limit - anything else?

[huw williams]

Traditionally reliabilities were ridden at pre-determined set speeds and without route signage - intensed to test your 'reliability' in getting round a set route within a given time and normally offering three group starts at slow, medium and fast paces

As Andrew suggests the three big ones which start from Knockholt and Halstead have been hijacked by racers out for early season training these days - Agisko/Viner had a team car, spare wheels on the top, the whole nine yards 2 years ago and last year Glade CC were practicing team tactics for the early season races. Consequently upper speed limits are a thing of the past, riders start pretty much when they like and are vying to get back first at whatever speed is possible in the conditions.

More like a sportive if you include route marking which the Catford certainly does.

Weather has also played a part in shaping the rides - 5 years ago I remember starting in the snow and a crash on the ice on the fiorst bend broiught 15 riders down even though we were only doing 10mph - you couldn't do anything but ride steady in those conditions.

In recent years mild weather has lasted right up to the final of the three reliability trials so the speeds have been higher