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So who's going from here? So I know who to wave to as they go past me !
I'm in green 4 start pen I think
Waves. Red 5 here, 7:25 departure. Look out for the tall guy with a beard on a matt black Sensa.
Red 5 for me too! White & green Cannondale.
Purple 1, second to last wave to go. I'll be on a Ritchey Logic, looking like I can't really be arsed, because I can't. If it hadn't cost me £70 to enter and £50 for a hotel room, I'd be staying at home.
Green 4 here as well. Will be a few Stourbridge CC and Stourbridge Velo guys on a black and white Scott.
Haze is in our group as well.
Uncle buck I'll look out for you and haze. I'm covered in tattoos and got a bright yellow and black cervelo. So I should stand out a bit
I appear to be in Red 2 which I can only assume is an accident and that I must have put down some quick predicted time on the entry form by mistake!
Dogsby
I'm trying to work out where I can park before they close all the roads off!
Snow Hill station car park is not a bad option, it won’t get cut off and is 5 mins from the start.
*waves at Buck*
Red 5 leaving at 7.20 too. There’s 4 of us from Hitchin Nomads.
Green 6 here, looks like i’ll be needing my “lantern rouge”. Dark blue Mason and once it warms up, Cookie Monster top to be uncovered.
I'm not looking forward to the ten mile uphill section
Yeah, miles 80-95 look pretty lumpy. Was the same last time.
Green 5 - not looking forward to the 30 min pen-wait in the cold....what to do about layers without having to carry stuff as run hot once I'm cycling....?
what to do about layers without having to carry stuff as run hot once I’m cycling….?
Arm warmers/gilet, then they go in a back pocket when you're up to temp.
Forecast is saying sunny but only 4-5 degrees at 7am Sunday morning. Might have to put a string vest on.
Red 1 with (I think) all the rest of the charity riders supporting the Alzheimers Society. We'll wave as you fly past us.
My mother was one of the smartest people I've ever met. She was a graduate in Natural Sciences (Physics) from Cambridge. She brought up three children and had a successful career as a teacher and then as a Registrar for the John Lewis Partnership. I never knew her to be afraid of anything - except one thing. She used to say, and I don't think she was entirely joking, that if she ever 'lost her marbles' we should get one of her grandchildren who was still under the age of criminal responsibility to see her off with a pillow. Well, her grandchidren are grown up, so it's too late for that and instead we support her as best she can as she slowly slips away. The woman who programmed her ZX81 and Spectrum in assembly language just because it was interesting now struggles to remember how a TV remote works. The woman who regularly completed the Times crossword is now content with a 30 piece jigsaw. We are just lucky that, unlike many with Alzheimers, she seems content.
So, when my niece suggested I might like to ride Velo Birmingham and West Midlands in 2019, I thought I'd try to raise some money for the Alzheimer’s Society. They provide information and support, fund research and create lasting change for people affected by dementia. With our rapidly ageing population this is vital work. Please give generously!
Donations at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/petefranklin much appreciated.
I'm in Red 2, 7-10 start. Londonderry House car park is only £5-50 for 12 hours if you pre book and only a couple of minutes from start line.
Onewheelgood I've made a small donation. Would have liked to do more but I'm a bit skint this month!
@big yim - thank you very much!
I’m not looking forward to the ten mile uphill section
I'm local, the climbs aren't too bad/long. Probably the worst bit is the climb to Atherstone, before Coventry around mile 15, but your legs will be fresh. The climb out of Coventry to Corley Moor is more of a prolonged drag with a couple of kicks. Can't help after mile 70 - they're new roads to me. The good news is there's very little wind, it's been very windy round here until recently.
Yeah, there you go chap, good work for a good cause.
It looks like it kicks up till the end about mile 67. Hard to really get a good sense of the hills from an elevation chart.
Bit of a preview here From Ribble on the route.
Good luck everyone for the morning! If you see me give me a wave
In pen Red 3 with most of our club, cannon Hill cc, look out for a fat lad on a grey cube with the word stumpy on his number ... say hi as you pass me 🙂 ... wouldnt worry about the hills , nothing too serious out this way
Purple 2 - the last in line.
Red day of the living Cycology top and a black & white Genesis. And a 16st rider. It’s all muscle honest.
Good luck veloers! Will be somewhere near Bartley Green reservoir, about 90 miles, late in the afternoon - if anyone needs a tube or tools or air or anything, I'll keep an eye on here. Some nasty stingers in the last few miles but nothing that goes on for too long - enjoy! 🙂
Yeah, miles 80-95 look pretty lumpy. Was the same last time
The Holloway at approx 85 miles is a particularly nasty thing from the organisers!
I did the 42 (105km including the ride to Brum and back from Cov), which I "won" (although my colleague doing 100m rode at a similar pace!).
Slightly disappointed not be doing the 100m. Hope everyone had a good ride. Lovely weather for it! I was really impressed with the sheer number of marshalls and logistics involved with the road closures etc.
Hope everyone enjoyed the music, singing, cheers and crap dancing at the top of the little lump by Shirley train station?
Im a little bit hoarse at the moment!
Cracking morning out. 5 and a half hours, nice route and good people around too. It seemed much better organised than the first one too.
2 points of note:
1, I hope the person involved at the accident at around mile 25 was OK, it looked horrible.
2, the climb up to The Holloway at 85 is miles was not only a touch nasty at that stage but was also a ropey area.
But bar that I was great fun, really enjoyed it.
@lunge - do you know what happened re. 1? My Dad said he heard sirens...
Definitely ambulance, and the air ambulance was around as well. Not sure what happens, just hope they’re not too badly injured.
We got caught behind it, didn’t see anything myself but I’m told there was a fair bit of blood on the road...it was on a decent and a fairly rough surface, hope whoever is okay.
We finished in 4hrs 49 which included the above and a quick stop to top up bottles, really enjoyed the closed roads.
just read a report from a club mate who was there about punctures x2 at 10km to go due to drawing pins on the road?
2, the climb up to The Holloway at 85 is miles was not only a touch nasty at that stage but was also a ropey area
That's your incentive not to stop and walk
I heard the air ambulance was called to him/her. The bike was smashed in half. Pretty scary stuff.
Managed to get round in 5.27 which isn't too bad formy first velo. Especially with a lost tool bag with my car keys in that I had to go back for and try and find. And a puncture just after Coventry cobbles.
We watched for a bit just after the reservoir, quite a nice atmospgere and immpressive seeing that many people on bikes. Still shocking how much grief the marshals copped from idiot motorists, is there any place (or point) to report reg numbers and post pictures?
Really enjoyed that. 6h25m riding, 6h51m including stoppages (mostly related to crash mentioned above). Organisation and marshalling was much improved over last time.
To those who came out and cheered/sang/encouraged - thank you, it’s amazing the difference it makes.
Word on local Facebook group says a marshal has a broken pelvis and possibly broken ribs when a car drove through them this mornibg near Rubery. 🙁
@pondo - that's horrific.
Another one (filmed) https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/impatient-driver-invades-velo-2019-16263921.amp
Hope those are the exceptions.
To be honest I was pleasantly surprised at how understanding most motorists were (unfortunately the Midlands does have its hardcore cyclist-haters).
I understand their frustration about having to follow a diversion but it's not like there hasn't been a massive local media campaign or signs to warn people.
++ Thanks for everyone cheering / shouting / singing/ high 5'ing!
Got stuck behind the first incident for a good long time. The marshals were issuing instructions not to look.
Other than that 6:31 which is ok given that I started at the back and was having to work my way past people all day. Easy on the flat wide sections but narrow climbs actually dropped to stationary at times.
The bag drop was useless. I stayed over and wanted to drop a bag in the morning. Thank you Premier Inn for sorting me (and a lot of others) out.
The course vehicles, the transit vans and minibuses were a liability - forcing their way through and stopping in really poor places.
The scooters and motorcycles were far better behaved.
Overall though, an enjoyable day. Spectators excellent (may need a new hand after high-fiving umpteen kids), weather good, route very reasonable.
On train back to York now.
Unfortunately there were several cars driving through the closed sections near me. Two cars they thought were driving through legitimately (cat emergency apparently), then three more who were just complete butmunches. One stopped to have an argument with someone who asked them to put their hazards on.
Quite enjoyed the Audi TT that had driven onto the closed roads complaining to a marshal that someone had scratched his car. Good luck.
@LeeW - haha I can imagine that "but .. but .. I must rush my cat to the vet". It's funny how car-dependent some people are. Their lives would collapse if they lost their license (and incredibly that is considered when sentences are dished out).
Cracking day out, very well organised, weather perfect, every one who spectated/cheered was appreciated - the atmosphere was great! Really enjoyed it. Saw the aftermath of a few crashes, hopefully everyone will be ok.
Only improvement I would suggest would be more variety at the food stops. Could’ve murdered someone for a sandwich at mile 86!!
Hearing some awful news regarding the guy who was airlifted off, hope it’s just rumours...
According to the BBC you lot are all horse killing bar stewards
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-48247437
Checking Strava I was peaking at over 40mph on the descents.
I try to look after my bike, give other riders room, look ahead etc, but it’s no guarantee - there but for grace, if you know what I mean.
My boys and wife were very happy to see me home tonight (not worried just happy and not related to this crash), but my thoughts go out to the people who were waiting at home for this individual.
According to the BBC you lot are all horse killing bar stewards
There’s a different perspective on this from some riders who were at the crossing point. They said that as soon as the vet said who they were and why they needed to cross they were let through. I suspect there’s a little more to this story than is currently being told.
@lunge @peteimpreza - even reading it sounded weird due to timings. My guess is (sadly) horse was already in a desparate situation haemorrhaging blood and owner is blaming cyclists out of frustration and upset.
A great event - far too cold at the start & too warm at the end - hard to get it right given the rise in temp during the morning. Did it in 5hrs 7mins - with only a brief roadside toilet stop. Was planning a service stop at 66mi but felt OK & still had drink. The organisation was good & roadside support excellent - although I did see the odd confrontation from drivers trying to enter the course. The Tour of Cambridge is the next challenge - which is far more serious......
Terribly sad about the chap that died. And, for that matter, the horse and foal.
I got in at 5:59:45, 5:56 for the actual 100 (moving time, yeah, bite me 🙂 ). 6:14 all in, with a couple of pee-stops and a water refill at the 65 mile pit stop. Really pleased with that, I had nothing more to give at the end.
Really enjoyed the route, organisation was, well, fine, but the event 'villages' were a bit underwhelming, especially at the end. To be fair, I didn't even see it, but my mate who finished before me said there was nothing in it, nowhere to get food and no bike store. Seems a bit rubbish.
All in all though, a good day out
Didn’t see the incident in question but I did see marshals letting cars through at lots of points when it was safe to do so.
Word on local Facebook group says a marshal has a broken pelvis and possibly broken ribs when a car drove through them this mornibg near Rubery
I saw a taxi passenger throw a drinks can at a Marshall because they wouldn't let the taxi onto the road with the cyclists.
yeah didn’t really notice much at the end, was more interested in having a pint tbh, there was a good atmosphere in that plaza thing by the bull ring.but the event ‘villages’ were a bit underwhelming, especially at the end.
The Tour of Cambridge is the next challenge – which is far more serious……
Why do you say it is more serious? I am signed up for TOC and haven't really done much training eeeek!