Team Lumox and early Arrow planning

lummox

ˈlʌməks/

noun

N. AMER.informal

1. 1.

   a clumsy, stupid person.

   "watch it, you great lummox!"

Didn’t spend a great deal of time cycling this week. However, spent much time preparing for an epic event in Easter. This event being the Easter Arrow to York, a 400k team event. The rules for this event are quite bizarre, as presented below (stolen from the YACF website):

1.   TEAMS of 3 to 5 riders [Tandems counting as one unit].

2. DISTANCES/ TIMES Minimum of 360 kms in 24 hours, though you are strongly advised to plan a higher mileage. At the finish, distances of 15% above or 20% below the one stated before you set off, cannot be validated .

3.ROUTES must be the shortest distance between control points, calculated in kms, from OS AUTOROUTE or similar maps. The itinerary cannot use the same stretch or road twice. In the event of a diversion {roadworks or the like} , a stamp must be obtained at the furthest point. Routes can be circular and in any direction but eventually heading for YORK.

4. DISQUALIFICATION will result for the failure to have night time good lighting or the acceptance of help from anyone outside the team or from an undeclared support car. Teams who need this support must declare the number of the vehicle and the location(s) of contact.

5. PROCEDURE FOR ENTRY : forward to the organiser the proposed route. The captain will receive back a copy of the itinerary with possibly suggested modifications . Riders to complete the standard AUK entry forms.

6. DEPARTURE: each rider is to write on the card places and times agreed with the organiser. Team may leave any time between Thursday PM and Saturday noon.

7.CONTROLS : A stamp, receipt or ATM print-out with time of passage must be obtained and the start time and place adhered to.

8. ON THE ROAD: no deviation from the chosen route except in an emergency. Riders must carry their own card. Passing time at the controls must be written besides the stamps obtained .

9.   22ND HOUR: of the ride; the team must obtain  a stamp etc and write on the card the nearest point reached, wherever it may be.

10.   A MINIMUM DISTANCE :  of 25 kms MUST separate the place traversed between the hours of 22 & 24.

11.   ARRIVAL. A stamp is to be obtained at the nearest place reached at or after the 24th hour.     This does not have to be YORK. Add the place , time & distance covered.

12.   VALIDATION;  will be awarded to a team of 3 riders [minimum} who complete an identical distance. Lone riders who comply with the regs may claim AUK but not ACP validation

13.    ENTRY FEE  of £10 per team is to be sent to the organiser [cheques payable to him please.

Well, I have a full complement of team members. These are myself, Chris, Jamie, Andy and Ron. The team is temporarily named ‘The Long Distance Lumax’s’. My wife felt that 'Team Klutz' was more appropriate. Chris suggested 'un-cool and the Gang' - who was he calling 'un-cool'?! Chris might have to forfeit his place… Have devised a route stretching for 422k. I planned the controls and Chris converted this into a nice GPX (TCX) file. The route is clearly presented below:

Provisional Easter Arrow Route, 422k

Look how wonderfully flat the hilliness profile is:

Tough middle section, ha!

The route starts from my home village Studley and picks up part of the LEL route that I cycled last year (along with Jamie and Andy - this was used as bait to get them to join my team). From Pocklington it’s just a relatively short stretch to reach York, the arrivee.

Oh, and the entry fee was £12.

Managed to get out and spin my legs twice in the week. The first occasion was on my single-speed where I cycled the first 26k of our York Arrow route before heading home in an almost random style. Only 26k in and am very pleased with the route thus far. I might cycle the first 100k and return back as a DIY 200. My last cycle was a single-speed MTB jaunt following a mostly urban route. Nice.

So what are the scores, George Dawes?! Cycled less than 100k this week. My yearly total now stands at 586k.