What a great day out on the bike – read Dave’s brilliant report of the test ride on Cyclosport…and weep in sympathy (not laughter Dave, no never) at the alarming loo incident…
It was my comeback ride after 5 weeks of limping around feeling sorry for myself, but the real hero must be Christian – his longest ride by a good 20 miles and barely a flat bit in sight. Nice one 
Can’t make 24th May mate, but have a good one!
This is a tricky one as the Gran Fondo climbs are better suited to Marmotte prep – more steep ones on the Devil Ride ;( Is that fair?
There’s been quite a reaction on the sportive forums from those who had entered the GFC with a number of riders planning to ride the route unofficially, starting at 8am from Bala although I’m not clear on exactly how many.
Are you planning to do the full route?
Sounds like a good idea, i would be happy to ride devil or gfc route just to get along one in. What does everyone else fancy?
8am in Bala!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The things you need are miles and metres climbed – the overall height gain at the DR is the same as GFC with similar distance, so I suspect they are equally suitable for Marmotte training.
I will NOT be there
Honestly not sure that the climbs at GFC are better Marmotte prep – nothing in the UK is anything like the Glandon/Galibier/Alpe
The DR recce will be the full 106 miles…
Just realised that sounded a bit grumpy :-O Didn’t mean it to be…just know I will struggle with a 5.30am alarm call on a Sunday after working late on the Saturday :-/
BTW – if any of you Marmotteers fancy a big ride near the big day we could always go for a recce two weeks before – although that probably clashes with something else!
Phil,
Can I be as bold to suggest 21st June as I don’t fancy the Dave Lloyd event. 2 weeks before La Marmotte and I’d love to ride the route as can’t do Devil sportive as imbetween Marmotte and Etape so helping out at that one 
Unfortunately can’t do Gran Fondo or recce, daughters birthday and working lates
Phil Victor Meldrew Weaver !! Yes it has got a ring to it
Hi Phil,
I’m up for it, good to get a long ride in the legs
Will you do the full route?
Either GFC or Devil for me. If the GFC route is going to be full of people ‘unofficially’ riding the course then I think I’d rather the Devil, but I’m in for either.
Gutted…. can’t make that Sunday, used my tokens up with the road races either side. Also away on the 21st of June – not so gutted….i may not be the best climber on the team but i am an elite sunbather!!
I can also testify that there is nothing climb wise that compare to the length etc of anything in Italy or France so it will be a case of metres climbed when training. I rode a similar 100 mile ride with Weave with a stop off at the West End Cafe a few years ago before the Grand Fondo Campagnolo and it was a great training ride.
I agree – I think it’s a case of clocking up some quality hours in the pain cave
)
Not sure I can do 21st June either, but my diary get complicated around that time anyway, so I’ll come along if I can. Let’s hope the weather’s nicer this time (memories of Greek on his own sheltering from the storm in a phone box because there was no room left in the bus shelter
Still dont know how start a new one so have tagged onto this BLOG, for those interested, it`s the South Staffs and Shropshier RR league tonight, starting from Admaston village hall, ( north west edge of Telford, post code on event website SSSCCRRL ) this is a handicap event, so all cat`s elidgible ( Gharlie, Matt, Dave`s, Graham, Simon etc ) for those of you who missed the Birmingham City Crits and the “Hammond” experiance, unlike Simon and Ewen, you get a second chance cos he rode last week and will probably be there tonight, and, oh yeah rumour has it that he`s bringing along team mate Dan Fleeman for support………..so any EPIC RT me up to the challenge of helping Ewen out ????
last sentence should read….so any EPIC RT member !!…………..sorry guys, bad schooling
Gary – what time you heading up there? If I can get up there early enough (got to wait for Mrs to bring car home) I could be tempted – probably get my arse kicked but what the hell.
Going back to the DR Recce – I don’t mind about the date being either 24th May or 21st June cos I probably won’t go all the way over to Bala for 8am either – just offering options
We still have the Dragon Ride on the 14th June as prep for the Marmotte and I am tempted to team up with Mr Georgi at the Dragon 2 day on the 20th – 21st June.
So just let me know the date and I will be there.
Hey Dave, to think you’ve wasted all that time and money going to Sportives and putting longs rides in to prep for the Alps when all you had to do was go up and down Ankerdine Hill a gazillion times
Is anyone still interested in riding the Devel Ride Recce this Sunday? – preferably someone who knows the route which I think has changed.
If so let me know because I only have 6 weeks to La Marmotte and I need to put the miles in so it’s either the DR recce or the Gran Fondo route this Sunday – does anyone fancy that?
I have left this Sunday open for a long ride and am happy to ride either GFC route or Devil.
With Phil wimping out with his dislocated hip (rolls eyes and tuts)
it looks like the GFC could be on as no one else knows the route like Captain Scarlett.
As i’m passing through the Ludlow area on Sunday morning I could give someone a lift as long as they don’t mind waiting for me in Bala (I have my lights) and know CPR
It looks like the roster so far is Si, Greg, you Charl and me – any other takers? it won’t be a rip up but it is 200km although you could bail at Bala lake and miss out the final 25km.
Sorry guys, off to Cornwall for the week from Saturday, so have a good un – fingers crossed for the weather eh?
If anyone still fancies the recce on Sunday I will be able to provide a map, but probably won’t be there to lead the ride
Alternatively, we could go for late June as I have an unexpected gap in my race schedule around then…and at a time when I hope to be building some steady miles once more!
Phil as you know I’m in but just confirming
Just to let you know, I’m still alive, managed to get the Addict under the radar and into under house room without detection
D Day has been postponed until another day ha ha
Who is going to ride the Devil recce this Sunday (21st)? Plan is to gently take in 77 miles of the route at a socialable pace so pretty much open to all who enjoy sheep er spotting and riding a bike.
Pencilled in so far me, Phil, Dave L, and er that’s it. Come on Marmotters get some miles in!!!! You know you want to….
What? Socialable is a word, it’s slightly faster than sociable and slower than Ward speed! Hehe Ward speed, get it, like Simon – oh suit yourselves
Sorry guys. Not going to be around as Ian and me are riding the highland challenge with my dad at a slowciable pace. That’s even slower than sociable, get it! Oh my god, it’s catching!
Can’t make it either I’m afraid, as I’m racing the SPIUK Sratford RR on Sunday.
Morro won’t be there either as he’s in Turkey for two weeks. (rumours that he’s doing his National Service out there are unsubstantiated and not in any way funny
.)
Weather forecast (FWIW) is very good (21 deg, sunny, 2mph wind) for Sunday so rumour has it that Linesy mey be coming out to play
Gotta say fella’s great company
Phil you are being modest, as usual you were flying up the climbs, which after 5 weeks off the bike with the injuries you’ve had, was, well sickening for us big’uns 
Chris Lines had a good ride certainly considering he’s not that keen on the climbs but made the most of the descents
My brother and I had a great time, the route is awesome
As for Christian, well he did (excuse the pun)an Epic ride. He rode excellently, I bet he slept well Sunday night ha ha He even tried under-hand tactics, roughing me up before the final sprint for the Brecon sign
Forgot to mention, How do you get 4 Epic riders to smile at the camera, at the same time ??
Shout “Dislocated Hips” of course ha ha
It worked though 
Sorry to have missed this one—haven`t kept up to date on blogsite; anyone besides me doing teh 3C challenge in two weeks??
Hey James, there is a large group doing La Marmotte, so we wont be there. Have a good one though
Let us know what the 3C’s is like when you are done, Cheers 
Good luck with Marmotte !! 3C sounds quite a serious challenge from my reading of it, 120 miles and 3800m quoted by organisers; I`ll let you guys know what it`s really like
James
3 Counties Challenge —report as promised
Well it was very tough, 124 miles and 11 000ft on GPS, fortunately weather was good albeit warm. A route of four quarters, broken by excellent feedstops at 30 / 60 / 90 miles with sandwiches, bananas, tea and juice and water (gel bars and energy sachets were given at start so ALL got them!)
First 30 miles were quite easy, about 2000ft climbing as route went out through Arnside to the coast and then back via rolling lanes over Hutton roof and up via Barbondale to the beautiful cobbled streets of Dent.
Then it got very hard….4000 ft climbing in next 30 miles taking in the Coal Rd from Dent Station (1:4 sections , 1000ft straight up for 2 miles) and a rapid descent down to Hawes…then Buttertubs, again with 1:4 to 1:5 sections on a mile of continuous climbing
but a fabulous descent down to Thwaite. Birkside was next biggie, but in contrast except for a couple of short sharp 1:5 / 1:6 bits it was a long steady climb with another tremendous 3 mile descent. This section really took its toll on me, and I took quite a long breather at 60 mile control Soulby. Rolling roads for 15 miles were quite a struggle, 1/2 mile sections on 1:10 / 1:12 weren`t too easy, however a much easier 15 miles followed into the northern Lakes thro` beautiful stone villages.
An easy 10 miles around the shores of Ullswater followed with Kirkstone Pass now in view; didn`t look too hard, but it was , very hard, sections of 1:5 , and lots of 1:6/ 1:7 climbing for over a mile without letup, gaining 800 ft in the process. The descent was probably the best of the day, 4 miles downhill, no cars ahead (they couldn`t get past me)topping out at 45 mph; abit of busy Lakes A road and then finally some very quiet country lanes for ten miles back in, no further climbing of any seriousness!
Surprisingly very few entered, only 350 for whole event and just over 100 for the full distance, so no big chaingangs forming, mostly solo riding. 9 1/2 hours with 1 hour foodstops…..recommended event , James