New London Edinburgh London website
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DanialWebb
May 5, 2012, 3:25:05 AM5/5/12
to randon
Hello everyone
For those of you thinking about making a trip over the United Kingdom
in 2013, we've just launched the new London Edinburgh London website.
http://www.londonedinburghlondon.com
We've details of the new route, including the start in central London.
Entries open 5 January 2013, but there's plenty on the site already to
help you plan.
See you next year!
Danial
For those of you thinking about making a trip over the United Kingdom
in 2013, we've just launched the new London Edinburgh London website.
http://www.londonedinburghlondon.com
We've details of the new route, including the start in central London.
Entries open 5 January 2013, but there's plenty on the site already to
help you plan.
See you next year!
Danial
Jim House
May 5, 2012, 9:13:50 AM5/5/12
to DanialWebb, randon
OK - who is in the RUSA jersey on the web site home page?
I know that in the information hand out for LEL given out at PBP there was a
photo of a Fixies rider who is from Tennessee - but I do not recall his
name.
RUSA must be the desired audience for this ride...
This is on my list for next year to try to make happen - any others planning
on going next year?
Jim House
Maumee, OH
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I know that in the information hand out for LEL given out at PBP there was a
photo of a Fixies rider who is from Tennessee - but I do not recall his
name.
RUSA must be the desired audience for this ride...
This is on my list for next year to try to make happen - any others planning
on going next year?
Jim House
Maumee, OH
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
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George Swain
May 5, 2012, 11:47:00 PM5/5/12
to ran...@googlegroups.com
I rode LEL in 2009 and it was about as much fun and agony as I'd ever had on a bike. The route is challenging and beautiful and, for riders from the USA, a bit otherworldly. The support could not be more gracious nor the volunteers more pleasant. It was also really exciting to ride in such an international field. As a point of comparison, there were 5000 riders in PBP, there were 600 riders in LEL. All food and sleep arrangements are covered by the modest entry. It really is almost too good to be true. How else could you afford to spend 4 days in Britain for $250? I highly recommend this event and plan to ride again in 2013. There were only 13 of us from the USA in 2009. Seems like we could do better next time around.
Paul Rozelle
May 7, 2012, 1:21:11 PM5/7/12
to ran...@googlegroups.com
On Saturday, May 5, 2012 9:13:50 AM UTC-4, Jim House wrote:
OK - who is in the RUSA jersey on the web site home page?
Looks like Spencer Klassen of St. Joe, MO.
See y'all in London. Been looking forward to this for years.
Paul ROZELLE
RUSA# 2955
Susan Otcenas
May 7, 2012, 5:32:20 PM5/7/12
to randon
>>This is on my list for next year to try to make happen - any others
planning on going next year?
I'm seriously considering it.
planning on going next year?
I found Ken Bonner's spreadsheet with the finishing results. 413
finishers, 23 women, only one female American finisher.
Any other American women thinking about giving it a go?
From experienced LEL riders, I'd be curious to hear some opinions on how
this route compares in difficulty to PBP.
Susan
***********************************************
Susan Otcenas
Team Estrogen, Inc.
www.TeamEstrogen.com
877-310-4592
***********************************************
Follow our TE fan page on Facebook!
Look for "teamestrogen.com"
***********************************************
William Watts
May 8, 2012, 12:30:15 PM5/8/12
to randon
I tried to do LEL in 2009, but lost may way on the back from Dalkeith
(Edinburgh), lost more time than I could make up, and had to take a
train back to London. By contrast, I succeeded at PBP in 2011. I
think this says more about me than it does about the two rides, but I
there are some differences worth noting.
When I tried LEL in 2009, I was absolutely new to randonneuring, and
had completed only one 200K and one 300K in my life. I didn't know
what I was doing. I laminated something like 16 pages of cue sheets,
and tried to lash them to my handlesbars with zip ties. They were
blown apart by the wind, and got wet when it rained. I had trouble
with my lighting system. Navigation was extrenmely difficult. I had
a GPS, but no track for the route, and no way to keep it charged
beyond the 17-hour battery life. Then, as I was approaching
Edinburgh, and on my way back, there was a terrible storm, pouring
sheets of rain for hours, and the low temperature was around 40
degrees. Then, when the weather finally broke, I found that I had
missed a turn, and was 30 miles off route, lacking the time needed to
get back on route.
I sorted all this out in time for PBP. The qualifying requiirements
forced me to train better. I bought a handlebar bag with a proper
sleeve for the cue sheets. I got an E-werk charger so that my GPS
would be charged as I rode. I got an Edelux light, which proved much
more reliable than the E6 I had before. And I just knew a lot more
about surviving a long randonnee.
Having said this, then, I would make these poiints:
1. Navigation on LEL is far, far more difficult than on PBP. With
only 600 riders, as opposed to 5000 on PBP, you are less likely to be
around a string of riders who will show you the correct route.
2. By comparison to Britain, the roads of Brittainy are straight and
predictable. British conventions for naming roads are very different
than our own, and, most often, instead of following a named road, you
are told to follow a road going to a certain town. If you don't know
where that town is, it can be quite baffling. I did ride one night
with a Brit who had an instinctive understanding of the roads that was
completely inaccessible to me. So when I try LEL again in 2013, I
will consider a good GPS track necessary for my success.
3. The weather in Scotland can be really, really tough, and it can
change very quickly. I tend to think of Britain as a land of gentle
rain, sort of like Portland, but that image did not match up with what
I found in Scotland. I was one of those who rode through the storm
betwen Loudeac and Brest, but I would say that the weather in Scotland
was exponentially worse than anything I experienced in Brittany.
4. A couple of the early controls had minimal and unpalatable food,
but in general, the standard of food was very high. Unlike PBP, you
don't have to pay for anything on LEL--showers, cots, food and drink
are all covered by the entry price. It looks like the organizers are
determined to raise the standards evern higher this time around. If
they do, it will be fabulous. One difficulty I had was that I could
not find a bed on the night of the very bad storm, and ended up
sleeping on four metal chairs pushed together. It looks like there
will be many more beds availalbe in 2013--including some in
Edinburgh---and that will be a very good thiing indeed.
5. While there are many fewer people on LEL, the mix and the
congeniality are comparable. I rode with and talked to Russian,
French, German and Swedish riders on LEL, and I didn't generally have
to reach into my grade-school French to do so, as I did on PBP.
6. There were some glitches in the organization of LEL last time.
For example, registering for the event was very chaotic and took
forever. All of the publicity I have seen suggests to me a
determination to be more organized and efficient than last time
around.
All in all, I think it is a fabulous ride, and that more Americans
should participate. And I have some business to settle there in 2013.
Bill Watts
RUSA #5365
(Edinburgh), lost more time than I could make up, and had to take a
train back to London. By contrast, I succeeded at PBP in 2011. I
think this says more about me than it does about the two rides, but I
there are some differences worth noting.
When I tried LEL in 2009, I was absolutely new to randonneuring, and
had completed only one 200K and one 300K in my life. I didn't know
what I was doing. I laminated something like 16 pages of cue sheets,
and tried to lash them to my handlesbars with zip ties. They were
blown apart by the wind, and got wet when it rained. I had trouble
with my lighting system. Navigation was extrenmely difficult. I had
a GPS, but no track for the route, and no way to keep it charged
beyond the 17-hour battery life. Then, as I was approaching
Edinburgh, and on my way back, there was a terrible storm, pouring
sheets of rain for hours, and the low temperature was around 40
degrees. Then, when the weather finally broke, I found that I had
missed a turn, and was 30 miles off route, lacking the time needed to
get back on route.
I sorted all this out in time for PBP. The qualifying requiirements
forced me to train better. I bought a handlebar bag with a proper
sleeve for the cue sheets. I got an E-werk charger so that my GPS
would be charged as I rode. I got an Edelux light, which proved much
more reliable than the E6 I had before. And I just knew a lot more
about surviving a long randonnee.
Having said this, then, I would make these poiints:
1. Navigation on LEL is far, far more difficult than on PBP. With
only 600 riders, as opposed to 5000 on PBP, you are less likely to be
around a string of riders who will show you the correct route.
2. By comparison to Britain, the roads of Brittainy are straight and
predictable. British conventions for naming roads are very different
than our own, and, most often, instead of following a named road, you
are told to follow a road going to a certain town. If you don't know
where that town is, it can be quite baffling. I did ride one night
with a Brit who had an instinctive understanding of the roads that was
completely inaccessible to me. So when I try LEL again in 2013, I
will consider a good GPS track necessary for my success.
3. The weather in Scotland can be really, really tough, and it can
change very quickly. I tend to think of Britain as a land of gentle
rain, sort of like Portland, but that image did not match up with what
I found in Scotland. I was one of those who rode through the storm
betwen Loudeac and Brest, but I would say that the weather in Scotland
was exponentially worse than anything I experienced in Brittany.
4. A couple of the early controls had minimal and unpalatable food,
but in general, the standard of food was very high. Unlike PBP, you
don't have to pay for anything on LEL--showers, cots, food and drink
are all covered by the entry price. It looks like the organizers are
determined to raise the standards evern higher this time around. If
they do, it will be fabulous. One difficulty I had was that I could
not find a bed on the night of the very bad storm, and ended up
sleeping on four metal chairs pushed together. It looks like there
will be many more beds availalbe in 2013--including some in
Edinburgh---and that will be a very good thiing indeed.
5. While there are many fewer people on LEL, the mix and the
congeniality are comparable. I rode with and talked to Russian,
French, German and Swedish riders on LEL, and I didn't generally have
to reach into my grade-school French to do so, as I did on PBP.
6. There were some glitches in the organization of LEL last time.
For example, registering for the event was very chaotic and took
forever. All of the publicity I have seen suggests to me a
determination to be more organized and efficient than last time
around.
All in all, I think it is a fabulous ride, and that more Americans
should participate. And I have some business to settle there in 2013.
Bill Watts
RUSA #5365
Ian Hennessey
May 8, 2012, 4:42:49 PM5/8/12
to ran...@googlegroups.com
There's also an LEL Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/270220425749/ Where you can discuss
British weather in greater detail (and other stuff, of course).
The general consensus is that, excepting the horrendous weather of last
time, LEL is easier than PBP. The majority of the route is flatter, and
the extra 200km distance means that you have a lower minimum speed limit.
Ian Hennessey
Audax UK
On 08/05/2012 17:30, William Watts wrote:
> I tried to do LEL in 2009, but lost may way on the back from Dalkeith
> (Edinburgh), lost more time than I could make up, and had to take a
> train back to London. By contrast, I succeeded at PBP in 2011. I
> think this says more about me than it does about the two rides, but I
> there are some differences worth noting...
>
>
https://www.facebook.com/groups/270220425749/ Where you can discuss
British weather in greater detail (and other stuff, of course).
The general consensus is that, excepting the horrendous weather of last
time, LEL is easier than PBP. The majority of the route is flatter, and
the extra 200km distance means that you have a lower minimum speed limit.
Ian Hennessey
Audax UK
On 08/05/2012 17:30, William Watts wrote:
> I tried to do LEL in 2009, but lost may way on the back from Dalkeith
> (Edinburgh), lost more time than I could make up, and had to take a
> train back to London. By contrast, I succeeded at PBP in 2011. I
> think this says more about me than it does about the two rides, but I
>
>
DanialWebb
May 8, 2012, 7:38:48 PM5/8/12
to randon
Absolutely. You can finish LEL riding under 300km a day. Plus, we've
set it up so there's plenty of control space for people who want to
break it down like that.
The terrain's varied, and there are only four or five proper gaspers.
There's a very high scenery to effort ratio. Yad Moss and the Beeftub
are the star climbs, and both have brilliant descents on the other
side. In either direction in the case of Yad Moss. The Humber Bridge
is very scenic if you cross during the day; south of the bridge, at
320km on the way out, most of the route is flat. The last 50km are
slow; but it's a price worth paying to stay clear of London traffic.
Allow an hour longer than you might think for the last leg.
If you like randonneuring, you probably 'like' weather. In that sense,
LEL is never dull. You could be roasted in the sun, or be rained on
pitilessly. In July you'll probably get a bit of both, followed by
lots of warm, cloudy weather. We won't have much of an idea until a
few days before. All part of the fun; bring waterproofs.
Danial Webb
London Edinburgh London
On May 8, 9:42 pm, Ian Hennessey <i...@awliscombe.co.uk> wrote:
> There's also an LEL Facebook group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/270220425749/Where you can discuss
set it up so there's plenty of control space for people who want to
break it down like that.
The terrain's varied, and there are only four or five proper gaspers.
There's a very high scenery to effort ratio. Yad Moss and the Beeftub
are the star climbs, and both have brilliant descents on the other
side. In either direction in the case of Yad Moss. The Humber Bridge
is very scenic if you cross during the day; south of the bridge, at
320km on the way out, most of the route is flat. The last 50km are
slow; but it's a price worth paying to stay clear of London traffic.
Allow an hour longer than you might think for the last leg.
If you like randonneuring, you probably 'like' weather. In that sense,
LEL is never dull. You could be roasted in the sun, or be rained on
pitilessly. In July you'll probably get a bit of both, followed by
lots of warm, cloudy weather. We won't have much of an idea until a
few days before. All part of the fun; bring waterproofs.
Danial Webb
London Edinburgh London
On May 8, 9:42 pm, Ian Hennessey <i...@awliscombe.co.uk> wrote:
> There's also an LEL Facebook group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/270220425749/Where you can discuss
DanialWebb
May 10, 2012, 2:38:41 PM5/10/12
to randon
David Buzzee has suggested I write a little about waterproof clothing
for inclement British weather.
What you decide to buy and bring will depend a lot on what sort of
climate you are used to. So rather than list appropriate garments,
here are a few pointers.
- Although LEL might be wet, it could still be rather warm. Lots of
layers will work better than a single piece of kit.
- If it's showery, it's often best to just take the hit and not stop
to get kit out. You'll dry out faster that way.
- The temperature is likely to drop quite a lot when it gets dark.
- The one piece of kit I would recommend you consider are rainlegs
(http://www.rainlegs.com). These are waterproof chaps. They're also
good as an extra layer if it's cold.
Hope this helps.
Danial
for inclement British weather.
What you decide to buy and bring will depend a lot on what sort of
climate you are used to. So rather than list appropriate garments,
here are a few pointers.
- Although LEL might be wet, it could still be rather warm. Lots of
layers will work better than a single piece of kit.
- If it's showery, it's often best to just take the hit and not stop
to get kit out. You'll dry out faster that way.
- The temperature is likely to drop quite a lot when it gets dark.
- The one piece of kit I would recommend you consider are rainlegs
(http://www.rainlegs.com). These are waterproof chaps. They're also
good as an extra layer if it's cold.
Hope this helps.
Danial
Ian Hennessey
May 10, 2012, 3:16:38 PM5/10/12
to ran...@googlegroups.com
Those from the Southern states may not think so. I recall coming across
a Tennessee rider wearing everything he owned on what I thought was a
warm evening. In fact here he is (in the middle):-
http://www.aukweb.net/resources/gallery/photo/59/
Ian Hennessey
Audax UK
On 10/05/2012 19:38, DanialWebb wrote:
> ...Although LEL might be wet, it could still be rather warm...
a Tennessee rider wearing everything he owned on what I thought was a
warm evening. In fact here he is (in the middle):-
http://www.aukweb.net/resources/gallery/photo/59/
Ian Hennessey
Audax UK
On 10/05/2012 19:38, DanialWebb wrote:
> ...Although LEL might be wet, it could still be rather warm...
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