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The front 4 are making good progress through Wales already. Conditions must be helping, but still impressive.
Oooo this looks like fun!!
When did they start?
No worries, found it- 30th July. Sheesh, 750km in three days, that is impressive!
Seriously impressive. I rode the SDW in under 12 hours, but couldn’t cycle for a week after😄 these “machines” just keep eating up the miles!
Tony Marvin - 68 years….I hope that I’m still cycling when I’m 68
They're passing close to where I live so might give them a cheer if i'm not busy. There's some horrible climbs coming up when they get to the Peak District. Up Chapel Gate after 1080km no thanks...
The guy in front - Donnacha Cassidy- has only stopped for 1 hour since the start on 10am Saturday morning!!!
He must be in a right state by now, I hope he's safe
I don’t think the estimated stopped time is right. Donnacha appears to have stopped every night for around 4 hours or so.
Almost at 1000 km now, that's some going! Could he finish in under a week? (I assume not as it will get a bit slower going along the Pennines)
I don’t think the estimated stopped time is right. Donnacha appears to have stopped every night for around 4 hours or so
That makes more sense
There's some twists on that route to get in more off-road, that's for sure.
Looks like Donnacha Cassidy has been caught and passed
How on earth do you manage to shovel in enough calories for something like this?!?!
One of my Strava mates from up here is on this, but at a leisurely (ha!) pace.
I’m off on a 615km jaunt on the gravel bike this weekend. These guys are making me look lazy 🤣
Events like this are a 10% bike riding and 90% eating challenge.
Events like this are a 10% bike riding and 90% eating challenge.
I wonder how much cake will they inhale at Fremington?
Looks like Donnacha Cassidy has been caught and passed
What are the rules around riding solo and unsupported? The two Christchurch lads have been pretty much together whenever I've looked. Presumably drafting isn't allowed.
EDIT: Just looked again and predictably, there's a decent gap now!
I wondered about that, the rules say "There is to be no drafting when riding with others", nothing that says they can't ride together otherwise.
I’d imagine there’s little benefit to drafting on terrain like they are riding over.
It wouldn’t be possible to enforce such a rule anyway. Just hope the riders respect and abide by it
Just noticed there’s a chap that lives right near me in Chapel-en-le-Frith. Looks like he’s heading towards home but that’s only about 5km off route. Wonder how that stacks up against the rules? Unless he’s heading to the shop for some resupplies. Must be tempting for a nice warm shower at home… Although getting back out there afterwards would be tough!
Events like this are a 10% bike riding and 90% eating challenge.
I've just been reading up about it. Apparently the body is unable to absorb calories at the rate you burn them on events like this! So you have a 7,000 calorie per day deficit, no matter how much cake you stuff down you gob
https://ridefar.info/rider/strategy/food/
You can train your body to tolerate increased calories but you’ve got to be smart with the types of food you eat. It’s very easy to develop stomach issues leading to no appetite no matter how much you need to eat.
Also ultra endurance athletes are extremely efficient. It’s possible to go a looong way on relatively little food (providing the intensity is low enough).
Just over 210km left for the lead rider to cover now. I'm assuming he'll do an all-nighter to stay ahead. Could be finished by this time tomorrow, or possibly even earlier?
I can't believe how quickly they've smashed through that!!
Looks like Joseph Nation played a very canny game, good one him. I was wondering if Donnacha Cassidy went too fast too soon, he's fallen back to 3rd now. Amazing effort either way, so much true grit!
@shermer75 I've been dot watching with keen interest, but I don't really understand the tactics. In what way did Joe N play a canny game?
He, Rufus and Donnacha seem to be in a different league.
Possibly rode more within himself, keeping something in reserve, so that when they finally caught Donnacha, he was able to pull away from both of them. May have had some psychological benefit from riding with Rufus most of the way. Probably helped to keep a steadier pace and make better decisions about when to rest/refuel.
Possibly rode more within himself, keeping something in reserve,...May have had some psychological benefit from riding with Rufus most of the way. Probably helped to keep a steadier pace and make better decisions about when to rest/refue
That's what I thought