Hardest circuit?

[Pocket Rocket]

Quick question, which of the circuits currently used for ERRL events do you think is the most physically demanding and why?

[ChrisB]

The one used by Lea Valley that climbs Great Baddow is pretty tough, but that's also to do with the distance as well.

[Cyclo]

The Crest RR is a goodie. Helped by awful conditions this year and the long ride back to the changies.

[ChrisB]

Which circuit is that? Thurlow? Yes, that's tough, lots of small climbs to wear you down.

[Cyclo]

No its actually the circuit that takes in the hill at Littlebury over the M11. It starts almost opposite Audley End House in Wenders Ambo. The race runs over 100km and I think I'm right in saying that less than 20 of us finished it this year. I was so cold I couldn't get into my car (which was back in Ugley) and when I did I sat with the heating on for 30 mins before taking my kit off. No doubt I'll be back for more next year.

[Pocket Rocket]

Was that the Crest?, I was one of the many non finishers in that race and it was bloody cold :oops:

[ChrisB]

Ah yes, the same one they use for the Shaftesbury - only that's in the summer, so it's a lot warmer. Must be the Eddy Taylor that uses Thurlow - another early season one.

[Andy B]

Yes Baddow is hard but I find that very often the riders don't go that hard up it - probably frightened of blowing.

BTW the way, did you know that there is as much climbing in the Baddow race as climbing the Col de Stelvio!

Littlebury circuit is probably just as hard but again it is not always the hill that sorts out the riders - it the drag up through Littlebury Green village (after the crossroads) where the attacks usually succeed.

[ChrisB]

Nah, everyone always crawls up Baddow trying to spot Jimmy Greaves' house! :lol:

[racyrich]

Flat races are the hardest, given some wind and determined riders. No rest. I'm sure anyone who did the Wadley will agree.

[ChrisB]

The Wadley is always hard because it's so early in the season - some riders will be flying. But the wind does make things tough, yes!

[Sam the Eagle]

I know this has been dormant for some time but only just seen the thread.

My opinion for what it is worth - now defunct Barley/Barkway used by Herts Wheelers on one occasion I think. At least 4 climbs, a long drag, nasty decent and near flat wide open and exposed section. Gutted that with the Herts Police withdrawl of support this one fell by the wayside. :twisted:

[Alan Lawrence]

..at the moment training in the gym and doing a head-to-head with Gary Baker is harder then any race that I have done all year ! :shock:

10 Km bike, 2.5 Km row and 2.5 Km run all one after the other and pulse average 178 BPM ! :shock:

[racyrich]

Fair play to anyone who trains like that then. Personally my training involves getting to the new teashop at Stock as fast as possible and rating their scones. And serving girlies :D

[TimW]

Does the fact that there have been a few races in the last couple of years in Herts (e.g. Ron Gray at Kimpton) mean that we might see some more races round this circuit? It's one of my favourites too and, compared to many of the old Herts circuits, very safe, traffic free and easy to marshall.

Tim.

I know this has been dormant for some time but only just seen the thread.

My opinion for what it is worth - now defunct Barley/Barkway used by Herts Wheelers on one occasion I think. At least 4 climbs, a long drag, nasty decent and near flat wide open and exposed section. Gutted that with the Herts Police withdrawl of support this one fell by the wayside. :twisted:

[ChrisB]

Tim,

The Whitwell circuit was used for a few races this year, I heard shocking reports of a lack of marshals for one of the promotions. Whatever happened to risk assesment?

[TimW]

I raced the Ron Gray last year and, after a fashion, this year too. They were the almost over-promoted in order to prove to the police that we could hold races without them. Excellent promotions. Loads of marshalls. The only down side was the distance which resulted in a half-full field both times - 95km. Honestly?!?!


Tim,

The Whitwell circuit was used for a few races this year, I heard shocking reports of a lack of marshals for one of the promotions. Whatever happened to risk assesment?

[ChrisB]

It was the Whitewebbs one. They didn't come to the AGM - probably afraid of the lynching they'd have got! Neil Lewis reckoned they'd made £600 profit from the promotion. :shock:

[Boxter Boy]

Barley Barkway for sure i remember the shoeing i got after 9 laps a few years ago with baker, hammond etc.

Havent sat on a bike since april......

Currently interval training with Stella and Shiraz...................!

[speedyshaun]

I remember watching the end of that race, after being spat out early, Gary B had been dargged from his car and beaten up the day before, looked like he had done a few rounds with Tyson but still got 2nd or 3rd in a class field. Barley Barkway or that Lea Valley cicuit are pretty tough.

[Whippet]

Not a current circuit but one I remember as being hard, the Great Chishill circuit which climbed to Barley from the A505 then carried on climbing across to Great Chishill. Was only used once or twice because it did a mile or so in Hertfordshire and the police didn't like it. Rode the event held there which was won by Andy Hardy the year before he unfortunately died. I seem to remember that it was a cold April day, strong winds and sleet at times.

[Sam the Eagle]

Not far from the Barley course is another toughy - Therfield. Kelshall. THe NL Divis used it a couple of times in the late 90s when the Cannon and Harrods boys made life a misery for us 'also rans'. Have bad memories of chasing back on through traffic on the A505 just to get back in time to climb the Kelshall Hill again - not a monster hill but relentless and exposed.

[Whippet]

Not far from the Barley course is another toughy - Therfield. Kelshall. THe NL Divis used it a couple of times in the late 90s when the Cannon and Harrods boys made life a misery for us 'also rans'. Have bad memories of chasing back on through traffic on the A505 just to get back in time to climb the Kelshall Hill again - not a monster hill but relentless and exposed.

I remember that race, think that I got dropped after 2 laps and then was lapped. Not my best result but I had been ill before hand. Might have been better not to race, but then most of us are slightly crazy anyway.

[Underz]

are details of the circuits posted anywhere?

[ChrisB]

There used to be an archive of Essex division courses on one of the club webpages, but I haven't seen it for ages...

[Whippet]

There used to be an archive of Essex division courses on one of the club webpages, but I haven't seen it for ages...

Here it is, thanks to The Bish.

http://www.shaftesbury-cc.fsnet.co.uk/bcf/bcf_homepage.html?bcf_maps

[bettyswollocks]

Eastway :wink:

[Gary Baker]

Hi.

Will let you all know what I think is the hardest course this season as I have just been granted a 2nd cat from the BC so I can now join the boy's club each week.

Wadley is the hardest I think at this point.

Gaz Baker

[Andy B]

Hi.

Will let you all know what I think is the hardest course this season as I have just been granted a 2nd cat from the BC so I can now join the boy's club each week.

Wadley is the hardest I think at this point.

Gaz Baker

Are you taking the pi$$? :?

[ChrisB]

Perhaps Gary's just been catching up on other threads in this forum? 8)

[Andy B]

Hi.

Will let you all know what I think is the hardest course this season as I have just been granted a 2nd cat from the BC so I can now join the boy's club each week.

Wadley is the hardest I think at this point.

Gaz Baker

OK let me make myself a bit clearer - are you taking the pi$$ :?:

[speedyshaun]

Sounds like a good idea to me, wonder if they will let me drop down too! might try being a 3rd cat then i can race every week, and ill be able to do a race without trying to find out where Gary's hid his slipstream.

[Gary Baker]

I don't take the pi$$ is that any clearer.

[PNuT]

I don't take the pi$$ is that any clearer.

im always real serious too

[Andy B]

Hi.

Will let you all know what I think is the hardest course this season as I have just been granted a 2nd cat from the BC so I can now join the boy's club each week.

Wadley is the hardest I think at this point.

Gaz Baker

OK let me make myself a bit clearer - are you taking the pi$$ :?:

So BC have given you a 2nd cat license. Why?

So how many points did you get last year?

[dds11]

According to the BC website: 266 as an Elite in 2004

Also according to the BC website:
Elite rankings for 2005:
Gary Baker Angliasport 0

[PNuT]

i cant believe anyone would be daft enuff to believe him :shock:

[fatoldguy]

Joking or not if Gary's a second cat this year I don't see it as a problem, you may not get as many results at the weekend but just think how well your be going on the mid week chain gang after a weekend of motor pacing behing GB.

Getting back to the topic of "hardest course" any with a hill in would be my rely! so thats most of them.

Any chance of bringing back the Tour of the Fens, now thats a race for lads who have a thing about red wine and pringles! Although now I think about it theres that little bridge you have to go over just before you get to the Fens, might be a struggle that!

[Andy B]

Joking or not if Gary's a second cat this year I don't see it as a problem, you may not get as many results at the weekend but just think how well your be going on the mid week chain gang after a weekend of motor pacing behing GB.

Getting back to the topic of "hardest course" any with a hill in would be my rely! so thats most of them.

Any chance of bringing back the Tour of the Fens, now thats a race for lads who have a thing about red wine and pringles! Although now I think about it theres that little bridge you have to go over just before you get to the Fens, might be a struggle that!

Bring back Dengie!

[ChrisB]

Tour of the Fens was never easy, because of that wind! I think that'll have gone forever, because we upset the police so much the last time it was run - they were sat behind the bunch with their sirens on for a couple of miles trying to stop the race before we actually pulled up, with practically the whole field in the right-hand gutter on an A-road in the crosswind...

[fatoldguy]

Nah it was never that hard as you were too busy scraping to get to the fen road to realise that you were riding at 30's and that your legs were hurting, but thats what made it so much fun, that and putting the little guys in the gutter.

Still I did find it hard the year Glen Holmes won it and lapped the chase group, which had John Tanner in it, on the 3-4 mile finishing circuit.

I guess the nearest thing we could get is something on one of the Harleston 2 day circuits, that had a few gutters.

[racyrich]

The Rennrad used to run a Spring Classic RR. In 1988 it was the week before the Essex GP and up at Holt. In 1989 it was Whit Monday and at Harleston, but not on either of the 2 day circuits.
I also rode a Tour of Norfolk one year (1990?) that started north of Norwich and went up to Holt then left and did one enormous loop back to some campus west side of Norwich. Had to make your own way back to your car.
Other nice races were at Haddenham and Somersham, and the CCB at Wicklewood.
GB probably knows more details as he doubtless won them all at some time or another!

[TimW]

they were sat behind the bunch with their sirens on for a couple of miles trying to stop the race before we actually pulled up

No, not their sirens - they were just tooting their regular car horn like impatient motorists and frustrated commissaires. As soon as they put their siren on everyone pulled over.