High Rouleurs Society - The Journey
Moderators: Bearbonesnorm, Taylor, Chew
High Rouleurs Society - The Journey
Looking out of the window at the pouring rain today, I fear this year's Everesting "season" may be over for this year (or at least for entries of the off road variety).
So, I turned my attention to the HRS Journey challenge. Details here, but in summary: 400 km minimum distance, 10,000 metres minimum ascent, 36 hours maximum time to complete, sleeping in a hedge is allowed Only three people in the UK have logged a qualifying ride
I've plotted a route around the bestest bits of Wales and come up with a 495 km ride, with 10,500 metres of ascent. If the weather isn't too minging this weekend, I'm going to give it a bash. It's the kind of ride that instills a sort of fear in me, a bit like Bwlch-y-groes Everesting did. I've never ridden that far in one go before, nor done that much climbing in one hit but it's mostly tarmac, so it'll be OK, right?
Not expecting anyone to join me, but thought I'd toss it out there and see what you all thought
So, I turned my attention to the HRS Journey challenge. Details here, but in summary: 400 km minimum distance, 10,000 metres minimum ascent, 36 hours maximum time to complete, sleeping in a hedge is allowed Only three people in the UK have logged a qualifying ride
I've plotted a route around the bestest bits of Wales and come up with a 495 km ride, with 10,500 metres of ascent. If the weather isn't too minging this weekend, I'm going to give it a bash. It's the kind of ride that instills a sort of fear in me, a bit like Bwlch-y-groes Everesting did. I've never ridden that far in one go before, nor done that much climbing in one hit but it's mostly tarmac, so it'll be OK, right?
Not expecting anyone to join me, but thought I'd toss it out there and see what you all thought
Re: High Rouleurs Society - The Journey
Stunned silence...
Sounds horrendous to be honest! Have fun...?!
Sounds horrendous to be honest! Have fun...?!
- Bearbonesnorm
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Re: High Rouleurs Society - The Journey
That looks completely stupid ... I like it. Good luck
BTW, what are the Hells500 jerseys made of? $155 - are they a Mink / Merino blend?
BTW, what are the Hells500 jerseys made of? $155 - are they a Mink / Merino blend?
May the bridges you burn light your way
Re: High Rouleurs Society - The Journey
Lol, thanks.
Hells 500 jerseys are made from a super light fabric, weighs hardly anything so you can complete your Everesting attempts faster*
*Not really, but they're priced in AUS $, so not as painful as it seems (and I got a free pair of socks)
Hells 500 jerseys are made from a super light fabric, weighs hardly anything so you can complete your Everesting attempts faster*
*Not really, but they're priced in AUS $, so not as painful as it seems (and I got a free pair of socks)
- whitestone
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Re: High Rouleurs Society - The Journey
Where's the "gulp" emoticon when you need it?
Good luck and hope the weather's kind to you.
Good luck and hope the weather's kind to you.
Better weight than wisdom, a traveller cannot carry
- voodoo_simon
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Re: High Rouleurs Society - The Journey
WTF
I'll say that again! WTF....
Hats off to even thinking of a ride like that! Have you a map of the route to view? Guessing you'll be passing by every forum members house west of the border!
I'll say that again! WTF....
Hats off to even thinking of a ride like that! Have you a map of the route to view? Guessing you'll be passing by every forum members house west of the border!
Re: High Rouleurs Society - The Journey
Thought I might have a chance at having cracked this one years ago but alas none of my 600k audaxes have more than 8500m climbing in them (most completed around 36 hours total with a few hours kip though).
A friend of mine did this http://www.aukweb.net/perms/detail/CB33/ once upon a time in a fair bit less than 60 hours. I'll see if he has a gpx file for it, 36 hours of it should qualify for distance and might for ascent.
Best of luck Ian. If you enjoy it there's plenty more ideas on the audax UK page linked above.
A friend of mine did this http://www.aukweb.net/perms/detail/CB33/ once upon a time in a fair bit less than 60 hours. I'll see if he has a gpx file for it, 36 hours of it should qualify for distance and might for ascent.
Best of luck Ian. If you enjoy it there's plenty more ideas on the audax UK page linked above.
Re: High Rouleurs Society - The Journey
Nutter
I've done 300k in one hit (although a bit flatter), so 400k won't be an issue for you. Just keep eating, eating, eating......
Trying to think of routes that have that kind of climbing in that distance, but even the short Audax rarely go over 25m/km
I've done 300k in one hit (although a bit flatter), so 400k won't be an issue for you. Just keep eating, eating, eating......
Trying to think of routes that have that kind of climbing in that distance, but even the short Audax rarely go over 25m/km
Re: High Rouleurs Society - The Journey
Cheers - went down about as well as I thought it would
I think I spend too much time on my own, and my perspective on things gets skewed after a while...
I think I spend too much time on my own, and my perspective on things gets skewed after a while...
Last edited by Ian on Mon Oct 17, 2016 8:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: High Rouleurs Society - The Journey
Sounds good! I thought this would be do-able stringing some of the Marple Grimpeurs together. Plenty of options to refuel and fairly easy to avoid major roads at peak times.
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Re: High Rouleurs Society - The Journey
Other than "Hells Bells", I'm not sure what to add. 400km with half that ascent would be tough enough.
- Dave Barter
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Re: High Rouleurs Society - The Journey
I know of someone else planning an attempt not too far from here...and it's not me.
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Re: High Rouleurs Society - The Journey
Is "here" Wales, or Swindon
- Dave Barter
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Re: High Rouleurs Society - The Journey
Here is the forum.Ian wrote:Is "here" Wales, or Swindon
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- Bearbonesnorm
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Re: High Rouleurs Society - The Journey
Does this mean that this is now officially a 'race'?
May the bridges you burn light your way
Re: High Rouleurs Society - The Journey
Only if we're starting at my house at 6:00 am on Saturday morningBearbonesnorm wrote:Does this mean that this is now officially a 'race'?
The thing with this challenge as opposed to an Everesting, is it isn't a race to a specific climb, but literally a journey or exploration into something entirely personal - for me a route I've devised myself that (I think) will push me further than anything I've done previously.
Re: High Rouleurs Society - The Journey
Ian - this is slightly silly
It really will be "Journey" on many levels - good luck.
It really will be "Journey" on many levels - good luck.
Re: High Rouleurs Society - The Journey
Good luck with this endeavour Ian, I'm looking forward to the write up already
Re: High Rouleurs Society - The Journey
Good luck ian! Although...
Hmm. 400km. 10,000m. 36 hours.
Two laps of this years bb200 surely the way to go there...
That said it didn't occur to me to start a second lap the other weekend. Maybe road is the way after all. An off road one would be nails!
Hmm
*goes away to look at maps...*
Hmm. 400km. 10,000m. 36 hours.
Two laps of this years bb200 surely the way to go there...
That said it didn't occur to me to start a second lap the other weekend. Maybe road is the way after all. An off road one would be nails!
Hmm
*goes away to look at maps...*
Re: High Rouleurs Society - The Journey
Good luck with this Ian. We're expecting big things now!
Re: High Rouleurs Society - The Journey
Thanks - I realise that creating such a post is rather committing; that is partly the point.
Well, the forecast is looking OK, so preparation for departure for Saturday is under way; iPod charged, GPX uploaded, Spotwalla page configured, new batteries in the SPOT, bottom bracket bearings serviced, lights charged, route sheet prepared, you get the idea; the list goes on!
I don't doubt an off road version is possible, but it would require a very carefully crafted route, and it'd be nice not to repeat the same loop. There's also the issue of ride-ability - i.e. no pushing allowed. You need a big gravel loop, rather than technical off road (and gorse and tussocks)
For my road loop, I only repeat one climb once (the mountain road from Mach to Dylife), doing a figure of eight type route. It was quite tricky to get the requisite 10,000 metres of climbing in "only" 400km, due to the distance between key road passes/ summit points.
Well, the forecast is looking OK, so preparation for departure for Saturday is under way; iPod charged, GPX uploaded, Spotwalla page configured, new batteries in the SPOT, bottom bracket bearings serviced, lights charged, route sheet prepared, you get the idea; the list goes on!
Now this is silly I got round in just under 17 hours. Pretty sure a second go would have taken more than 19 hours...ianfitz wrote:Good luck ian! Although...
Hmm. 400km. 10,000m. 36 hours.
Two laps of this years bb200 surely the way to go there...
That said it didn't occur to me to start a second lap the other weekend. Maybe road is the way after all. An off road one would be nails!
Hmm
*goes away to look at maps...*
I don't doubt an off road version is possible, but it would require a very carefully crafted route, and it'd be nice not to repeat the same loop. There's also the issue of ride-ability - i.e. no pushing allowed. You need a big gravel loop, rather than technical off road (and gorse and tussocks)
For my road loop, I only repeat one climb once (the mountain road from Mach to Dylife), doing a figure of eight type route. It was quite tricky to get the requisite 10,000 metres of climbing in "only" 400km, due to the distance between key road passes/ summit points.
Last edited by Ian on Wed Oct 19, 2016 9:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: High Rouleurs Society - The Journey
Because it's a really bad idea is exactly why it appeals. But you know that
Re: High Rouleurs Society - The Journey
Top notch endeavour Mr Barrington...
Mad, but top notch...
Si
Mad, but top notch...
Si
Re: High Rouleurs Society - The Journey
So what Stu needs to do for next year is have a BB200 with tussocks and all the usual trimmings, and a more rideable 400km route with 10,000m of climbing and a special badge for a sub 36 hour finishianfitz wrote:Because it's a really bad idea is exactly why it appeals. But you know that
- Dave Barter
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Re: High Rouleurs Society - The Journey
The first is guaranteed as I'm not missing it next year.Ian wrote:So what Stu needs to do for next year is have a BB200 with tussocks and all the usual trimmings, and a more rideable 400km route with 10,000m of climbing and a special badge for a sub 36 hour finishianfitz wrote:Because it's a really bad idea is exactly why it appeals. But you know that
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