LEL2017 ride watching

[anonymous-user]

So, as the LEL 2017 goes within 3 miles of my door, I went out to have a look at a few of the riders going past

Was hoping to have seen PH's very own Gruffy, but missed him in the time I had available - I saw a couple of riders that had left the Thirsk check within 20 minutes of him

They were looking rather tired, but most still raised a smile for a round of applause.

[Janosh]

I've been following a friend from my club and he must be approaching you and the check point at Thirsk as we speak.... stupendous effort by any standards and he's a way behind Gruffy

From what I can gather, Gruffy doesn't (need) sleep, ever.

[AyBee]

What number is Gruffy? Got a clubmate doing it and he seems to have left Thirsk about 2 hours ago.

[Janosh]

AyBee said:

What number is Gruffy? Got a clubmate doing it and he seems to have left Thirsk about 2 hours ago.

A14

[anonymous-user]

The beautiful august weather has done for gruffy

https://twitter.com/darrenfranks/status/8925952917...

[Janosh]

Wow - must have been tough, my mate DNF'd at Thirsk as well.

Will be interesting to the % of finishers...

Edited by Janosh on Wednesday 2nd August 10:06

[anonymous-user]

Gruffy didn't pack! He rested up and got going again.

https://twitter.com/darrenfranks/status/8927123637...

[Janosh]

Chapeau Gruffy, unbelievable effort

[anonymous-user]

Came back from a ride out today along part of the LEL route around castle Howard

Only saw 1 rider and he seemed in good spirits spinning along steadily, nice and smoothly. He was hoping to make Louth tonight and then aim to finish tomorrow

[CoolC]

Went out late last night the cheer Gruffy through Horncastle, but got timings wrong and missed him.

[anonymous-user]

from the tracking, it looks as though Gruffy made it last night at 23.51, still with 9 hours 33 minutes in hand

Chapeau indeed

[Mark83]

Coincidentally I was reading this thread on the train into work this morning and I saw a competitor looking rather broken at the side of the road in Kings Cross trying to find his way to Debden. He said the weather got the better of him and he jumped on the train from Thirsk to Kings Cross.

[nammynake]

Wow that was tough. I'll post up a report when I've recovered. Think I finished with about 8 hours in hand l. Provisional 34% DNF.

[JEA1K]

I have seen a stream of riders coming and going from Pocklington where they're using a school as a control point most of the week. Generally they have looked pretty miserable, which I can understand with the sort of effort required in those conditions. It must have been one of the windiest weeks on record ... since last Thursday its been relentless.

[nammynake]

Through Lincolnshire and The Fens was so so tough. BBC said 23 mph wind (head/cross) with gusts to 40 mph. I can't recall a tougher ride.

[JEA1K]

nammynake said:

Through Lincolnshire and The Fens was so so tough. BBC said 23 mph wind (head/cross) with gusts to 40 mph. I can't recall a tougher ride.

I can imagine ... well, no, I can't actually

Serious respect for even attempting it ... such endurance just isn't my thing, I am far too mentally weak. Anything over 120 miles and all dialogue ceases and I start to hallucinate about arriving home, a hot bath and food.

Looking forward to reading the report

[JEA1K]

Oh and I've just remembered, I saw a guy riding on Wednesday night towards the control point at Pocklington on a Brompton.

[gazza285]

My mate bailed out seventy miles from London, he was leaking quite badly from both ends, made a mess of his bib shorts...

[Janosh]

nammynake said:

Through Lincolnshire and The Fens was so so tough. BBC said 23 mph wind (head/cross) with gusts to 40 mph. I can't recall a tougher ride.

Amazing effort. My mates who bailed at Thirsk are very accomplished cyclists, I'm in awe of the riders that pushed on and finished.

[anonymous-user]

Chris Herbert, 2nd place finisher, smoker, has posted a blog update about the ride

https://brbrn.wordpress.com/2017/08/07/london-edin...