AUK rides with night starts

davek

I've put my name down for a 300km AUK ride in April with a 3am start time.

Has anyone here got any experience of this kind of ride? What do you do
about getting to the start at that time of night? I don't really fancy
driving over in the middle of the night (it's about 50 miles away), even
assuming my wife would let me have the car. And I haven't even begun to
consider how I'll get home again afterwards...

(I've also asked about this on the AUK yahoogroup but just wondering if
anyone not on that group has any useful thoughts.)

ta,

d.

Tony Raven

davek wrote:
> I've put my name down for a 300km AUK ride in April with a 3am start time.
>
> Has anyone here got any experience of this kind of ride? What do you do
> about getting to the start at that time of night? I don't really fancy
> driving over in the middle of the night (it's about 50 miles away), even
> assuming my wife would let me have the car. And I haven't even begun to
> consider how I'll get home again afterwards...
>
> (I've also asked about this on the AUK yahoogroup but just wondering if
> anyone not on that group has any useful thoughts.)
>

When I did one with a 4am start I went there the night before and had an
early night. Got up 30 mins before the start - everything was prepared
and ready the night before - got on the bike and set off. Its easier
than getting up at 1:00 in the morning and driving. I had a place I
could doss down but a cheap hotel room or sleep in the car might do it.
At the end you might appreciate a hot bath and nap before going home
rather than driving straight away especially as it will probably be
early evening by the time you finish.

Good luck

Tony

MartinM

davek wrote:
> I've put my name down for a 300km AUK ride in April with a 3am start
time.
>
> Has anyone here got any experience of this kind of ride? What do you
do
> about getting to the start at that time of night? I don't really
fancy
> driving over in the middle of the night (it's about 50 miles away),
even
> assuming my wife would let me have the car. And I haven't even begun
to
> consider how I'll get home again afterwards...
>
> (I've also asked about this on the AUK yahoogroup but just wondering
if
> anyone not on that group has any useful thoughts.)

Dave, I did one of those a couple of years ago , had about 1 hr sleep
as we had to drive for half an hour to get to the start. It would be
better if you could sleep in the car for a few hours before. I would
not do a 0300 start 300 again, there are many with later morning starts
but you have to travel for them. As regards driving back, I was half
asleep but worried in case my driver nodded off, a good rule is to not
drive back from anything 300 and above; it may involve a bit of extra
cost/effort but better than having a prang on the way back. Hope this
helps, enjoy the ride ;-)

davek

Tony Raven wrote:
> I had a place I
> could doss down

That would be ideal.

> but a cheap hotel room or sleep in the car might do it.

Hm, not sure about sleeping in the car. I've done that before and it
tends to leave you sore and stiff when you wake up. Cheap hotel sounds
like the most practical option - B&B or YH would not be so practical for
late night comings and goings.

> At the end you might appreciate a hot bath and nap before going home
> rather than driving straight away especially as it will probably be
> early evening by the time you finish.

Indeed. Probably more like late evening, in fact, at the pace I ride. I
think I would have to bank on two nights away from home.

> Good luck

Cheers.

d.

davek

MartinM wrote:
> I would
> not do a 0300 start 300 again, there are many with later morning starts
> but you have to travel for them.

Yeah, I'm thinking about perhaps doing the Denmead 300 instead, which is
the following week and starts at 8am. If I did that, I would definitely
travel down the day before and stay the night. And given that it would
be the middle of the night by the time I finished, staying a second
night would be a good bet.

Hmm, and mid-April isn't too early in the year to consider camping either...

> As regards driving back, I was half
> asleep but worried in case my driver nodded off, a good rule is to not
> drive back from anything 300 and above;

After having to make a couple of coffee stops when driving back from the
Surrey Hills 100 last autumn, I'd be extremely reluctant to consider
driving back after a 300.

> Hope this
> helps, enjoy the ride ;-)

Yes, and thanks.

d.

davek

MartinM wrote:
> I would
> not do a 0300 start 300 again, there are many with later morning starts
> but you have to travel for them.

Yeah, I'm thinking about perhaps doing the Denmead 300 instead, which is
the following week and starts at 8am. If I did that, I would definitely
travel down the day before and stay the night. And given that it would
be the middle of the night by the time I finished, staying a second
night would be a good bet.

Hmm, and mid-April isn't too early in the year to consider camping either...

> As regards driving back, I was half
> asleep but worried in case my driver nodded off, a good rule is to not
> drive back from anything 300 and above;

After having to make a couple of coffee stops when driving back from the
Surrey Hills 100 last autumn, I'd be extremely reluctant to consider
driving back after a 300.

> Hope this
> helps, enjoy the ride ;-)

Yes, and thanks.

d.

Tony Raven

davek wrote:
>
> Hm, not sure about sleeping in the car. I've done that before and it
> tends to leave you sore and stiff when you wake up. Cheap hotel sounds
> like the most practical option - B&B or YH would not be so practical for
> late night comings and goings.
>

Travelodge, Sleep Inn and the other cheapie chains are pretty good for
being able to come and go at odd hours.

Tony

Tony Raven

davek wrote:
>
> Hmm, and mid-April isn't too early in the year to consider camping
> either...
>

I thought about camping but I decided to go for a proper bed after the
ride and I'm really pleased I did.

Tony

MartinM

I'm planning on doing the Elenith 300, goes from Kidderminster out to
Wales, very hilly (2 points) but an 0700 start. It is apparently one of
the classic rides, but maybe not the best for a first 300. I think
camping is OK at Denmead although I have always used the train down to
Havant.

what is the AUK yahoo group?

davek

MartinM wrote:
> what is the AUK yahoo group?

It's the email discussion group for AUK. It has a homepage at
<URL:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/audax/>

Most of the discussion is fairly technical and a lot of it is related to
AUK committee business. But also a good place to ask general questions
about AUK stuff - many of the members are AUK veterans of many years
standing.

d.

MartinM

thanks ;-)

JohnB

Tony Raven wrote:

> Travelodge, Sleep Inn and the other cheapie chains are pretty good for
> being able to come and go at odd hours.

As is a plastic sheet and a sleeping bag flung over a hedge, which was
always my option for such events.

John B

Helen Deborah Vecht

davek <swangulstoke@hotmail.com>typed


> I've put my name down for a 300km AUK ride in April with a 3am start time.

> Has anyone here got any experience of this kind of ride? What do you do
> about getting to the start at that time of night?

Yes but mine started from Mildenhall, where I already had my tent pitched ;-)

> I don't really fancy
> driving over in the middle of the night (it's about 50 miles away), even
> assuming my wife would let me have the car. And I haven't even begun to
> consider how I'll get home again afterwards...

High budget answer is to book two nights in nearby Travelodge type
hotel. Arrive in early evening.
Get some kip before ride and some afterwards.

If you can find another AUK to share a room with you, you'll reduce
expenses...

--
Helen D. Vecht: helenvecht@zetnet.co.uk
Edgware.