gRVOL 2016
Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2016 5:09 pm
First there was the RVOL - Ronde van Oost Lancashire. An event my good friend Alan put together to ride on the day of The Ronde van Vlaanderen taking in the best of the cobbles he knew about as well as some brutal climbs. It was always a precursor to a few beers and some shouting at cyclists on the TV. Fun times.
In 2013 he stopped doing it as - lots of people turned up (ace) it was never an official event (hmmm) there were crashes and people grumbling about who ran it (bad). He walked away and a few of us still rode it when we could on the day it is supposed to be run. The first Sunday of April - Flanders Day.
I've spoke with Alan - claimed his original idea as my own - then changed it from a road event to "a thing that probably shouldn't be done on road tyres, but hey, you're vaguely exciting so I'm sure you can but I wouldn't if I were you" thing.
As that wasn't a snappy name I changed it to gRVOL - gravel Ronde Van Oost Lancashire.
April 3rd - meet at the front of the Old Gate in Hebden Bridge (http://www.oldgatehebden.co.uk/) to roll out at 9am. I'll post a link to the GPX and Route Map before the week before the gathering.
Usual self supported rules apply (http://selfsupporteduk.net/) apply except for drafting - do that all you like - it won't help on a 30% cobbled climb anyway. As ever, this is not a race, sanctioned event, or anything other than a suggested route to take - enjoy the scenery - maybe even take a picture of a lamb. There are no prizes, no timed sections, nothing - just you and your bike.
Afterwards, beers in the Old Gate.
ps - I really wouldn't take road tyres, but I would take tyres that roll well on road.