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timmjackson
Joined: 05 Dec 2008
Posts: 32
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 Posted Sun Nov 1, 2009 1:51 pm |
hi all
anyone else doing this on the 13 Dec organised by epic events
cheers Tim ps it is in the Lakes
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andrewJohnson
Joined: 08 Sep 2009
Posts: 54
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Posted Sun Nov 1, 2009 6:12 pm |
Can you enter on the day? It was one I was looking at but the weather may be risky..
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cumbriamike
Joined: 04 Nov 2007
Posts: 53
Location: Penrith
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Posted Sun Nov 1, 2009 9:32 pm |
| Quote: | | Can you enter on the day? |
Entry Info on The Christmas Cracker
Maximum Number of Participants : 400
christmas cracker entries 334 Records
Hope this answers your question Andrew.
I have done this sportive for the last two years and being in December and in the Lake District, its been a challenge both for the organisers and entrants.
2007 was very cold but slightly warmer than the sub zero temperatures on the days before and after the event ( -9 on the Monday morning!) so it went ahead with 60 or so taking part and’ enjoying' the scenic route. Never has a warm Christmas pudding and several cups of tea tasted so good.
2008 not so lucky this time as Cumbria was locked in an icy grip and the event was postponed until 1st February 2008 and in my opinion, changing the start to Grasmere from Cartmel Fell (a very remote place) was a masterstroke.
1st February was of course still cold, but after coping with the joys of ice on Red Bank ( a challenging little climb only a mile from the start) it was a good day all round with Christmas puds in February a novelty at the finish - still edible, they get better with age.
Incidentally on the 2nd of February the whole country was hit by blizzards!
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Philip S
Joined: 03 Sep 2007
Posts: 286
Location: Edinburgh
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 4:18 pm |
I'm doing it, with my entry carried forward from last year's freeze off seeing as I couldn't do the rescheduled date...
I've not ridden the complete route, but apart from Red Bank out of Grasmere, I think I've covered most of the roads on various Lake District trips. Given the change of start point, Red Bank will be interesting, seeing as we hit that without much of a warm up, but I'm kind of glad we'll get to Gummers How with only 30-odd miles rather than 65 miles in our legs... That climb just seems to go on and on and...
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milleman
Joined: 05 Nov 2009
Posts: 2
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 6:08 pm |
Gummers how?, are you sure thats on the route-have just signed up and didn't recall seeing it.
It is a bugger of a hill mind!
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Philip S
Joined: 03 Sep 2007
Posts: 286
Location: Edinburgh
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Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 5:18 pm |
Just checked the route and you're right - they must have changed it after last year to reduce the risk of the route being iced off (it was particularly icy over Cartmel Fell way on the intended day of the event). Seems we now go down to Flookburgh instead:
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2518937
Can't work out whether I'm happy or disappointed with that.  It does, however, mean that the ride I did up Gummers How during the summer as a bit of route prep for this was a waste of time - although it was good for my ego. 
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Variance
Joined: 12 Nov 2009
Posts: 3
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Posted Thu Nov 12, 2009 4:12 pm |
Myself and the Mrs are doing this and am looking forward to my 1st mass paticipant event.
Just how tricky is that 1st climb? Think its called Red Bank
Event is now full, with over 400 riders!
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Solis
Joined: 06 Mar 2009
Posts: 26
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Posted Fri Nov 13, 2009 2:40 pm |
[quote="Just how tricky is that 1st climb? Think its called Red Bank
Event is now full, with over 400 riders![/quote]
Its not a climb on the scale of Hardknott, Wrynose or even Honister etc as it is only short, however it is pretty steep and I suspect can be hard work if its wet, icy, leaf strewn etc or more likely being December in the Lakes all three
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Higs
Joined: 05 Dec 2004
Posts: 97
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Posted Mon Nov 16, 2009 9:16 am |
I'm doing this one too.
I've not been out on my road bike since the beginning of September so I'm hoping my MTB miles will see me OK.
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Dr M
Joined: 12 Feb 2005
Posts: 113
Location:
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Posted Mon Nov 16, 2009 12:42 pm |
anyone know how much climbing is in it this year? I think it was about 2000m last time, but if the course ha changed quite a bit not sure what the new figure is..
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Variance
Joined: 12 Nov 2009
Posts: 3
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Posted Tue Nov 17, 2009 10:00 am |
Im not sure but I hope not too much. I know it still doesnt take in any of the "major" passes tho
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Humph
Joined: 25 Apr 2009
Posts: 13
Location: Warrington
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Posted Tue Nov 17, 2009 12:44 pm |
Gang of us from work entered for this after missing out on last years re-arranged event.
This newer route not as hilly but according to our memory map profile there's still over 1700m of climbing.
Stars with Red Bank after only a mile or so with 3 other approx 120m climbs along the way.
As you'd expect in the Lakes there's no 'flat' sections, rolling all the way.
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Variance
Joined: 12 Nov 2009
Posts: 3
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Posted Tue Nov 17, 2009 3:30 pm |
Sounds challenging without being a killer, what goes up..........................
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rhnb
Joined: 08 May 2006
Posts: 233
Location: Swarthmoor, Cumbria.
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