Advanced Working Towards

saphena

IBAUK Webmaster
Staff member
Premier Member
IBA Member
#1
I quite fancy having a go at a European End to End but two things stand in my way:- I'm quite old now and, always a lightweight, I'm out of practice.

I have a crude plan in mind, essentially three successive SaddleSores, but haven't carried out any detailed planning at all. A sensible-sounding first step is to ride a SS to see if I can still do it. I made a crude plan, home to Perth (Scotland) and back but not enough miles so home, Exeter, Perth and back, 1100 miles. I decided to do it on Thursday when other bits of my life were quiet, leaving "when I get up".

Despite it being November, well before sunrise, I decided that summer gloves and summer buff would be fine. I corrected that mistake at Exeter.

Riding north, I figured that, if I got to Perth in daylight or not long after, I'd be fine to ride back home arriving between midnight and 2am.

Obviously that didn't work out because Scotland is further north than England, d'uh, and the sun sets earlier up there. I've always found it depressing to be riding west into Wales or north into Scotland when it's already cold and dark, knowing that I'm only doing it in order to turn round and ride back again when it'll be even colder and darker.

My age is no longer measured by counting trips around the sun, it's measured by the number of times I use the phrase "I don't care". When I reached Hamilton (Scotland) an hour after dark with 60 miles left to go, I don't care won the argument and I found a comfortable bed for the night.

On Friday I rode home from Hamilton (Perth just isn't that exciting) with my odo reporting trip mileage of 1025.

So lessons learned:- PLAN THE RIDE!

My first thought when I called the ride was "I'm too old and useless for this, time to do other things, crochet perhaps" but on reflection I realised that I'd simply neglected the planning.

I should have trimmed the route properly. I only needed to reach Hamilton, not Perth. I should have paid attention to actual, local, sunset time and timed my departure to fit in better. I should also have reminded myself about the "I don't like" part of after dark. Riding home in the dark is a completely different matter, I have excellent lights and riding home is always faster and easier than riding away.

I haven't yet decided whether or not the End to End is on but my next SaddleSore will be planned in much greater detail.
 

HACKLE

Well-Known Member
#2
Those that can see their weaknesses, will succeed when they persevere. An old HACKLE proverb. Remember, plan the ride, ride the plan. Looking forward to reading your ride report for finishing this ride. Cheers.
 

Firstpeke

Well-Known Member
#3
Well done Bob..... I am sure there are quite a few of us who have done similar!

I really cut back this year and have struggled to find the time to even get out for a ride....

Next year, well, we'll see...... although a tour in the USA is being hatched with a friend in Tennessee......
 

DangerDarren

Well-Known Member
#4
Lot of good lessons in there Bob, so thanks for sharing if nothing else. I imagine on the EE2E the fact that you'll be on less familar roads, and mostly warmer will make it a bit easier :confused:.
Darren.
 

Firstpeke

Well-Known Member
#5
I should have mentioned that I did attempt the EE2E but my body would not co-operate and the attempt ended at Stockholm on the southbound journey....

Many things contributed to the failure of the attempt, not the least was the weather northbound being superb, with average temperatures in the 30's Centigrade every day for twelve days....
After setting off my body clock got thrown a double six because it never got dark as I rode down through Norway, Finland and Sweden.... I knew it would be like that, but the reality was quite strange!

Although it rained in northern Sweden in Biblical proportions for a relatively short distance, it was another contributing factor.

I made it to my overnight stop, but already knew it was over... temperatures in Europe were in the high 30's and even low 40's and so, I was done, there was no way I would be able to cover another 2,500+ miles.

Did my age play a part, well maybe as I was in my mid sixties back then and knew it was going to be my one and only attempt at this.
After getting home and discussing the tour with others it was thought I may have suffered from heat exhaustion, despite hydrating and knowing I wasn't dehydrated, the constant heat was wearing.

I know I can still do UK rides, maybe even the NEWS 48 hour one, which I still hope to do, but whilst planning is important, even more important is knowing when to knock it off!

Personally I have set myself a target of hitting the Mile Eater Gold in the next couple of years if I can, I only need five more rides, which includes 2 Gold or Insanity level ones.....

If I manage that I will be happy to have done so!

Respect to all those who are able to keep riding and who can manage to do so safely and attain the higher levels of the Mile Eater programme, but my best recommendation would be, start sooner...... which of course is harder for those who are still in full time work!

YEMV...