My mate rode the loop…
The other ones probably still going…
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This has always been my understanding.
Not closed is a race like the Lakesman where you have traffic with you going in the same direction some of the time - and the only reason I wouldn’t do that race again.
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Jesus …
This guy went 6:16 for the bike at Bolton last year…
Glad it’s changed…
OMG, how do you sit in front of Zwift for 4 hours!
I wish…
That’s not me…
Jesus I couldn’t hold that for anywhere near that time …!?
Family guy, job, kids, coach…
Today was his day to train… had to be done
It’s rough out there pal!!
good mental training…I do 4hr Zwift sessions fairly regularly… makes the real world seem a LOT easier! 
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What he said…
My mate the “big J” did the alpe thing x9!!!
9:24 total
He was walking around the next day like it never happened…!
Mental prep…!
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Walked the dog up there and did a loop of the course today (in the car)
Worst things are;
Parked cars and main roads for a recce
Road surfaces
Best things are;
The A673 is pure TT mode from Rivington back to Bolton.
THE VIEWS😎
And where the climbs? Whilst there’s a lot of climbing, there’s nothing too bad, but three laps of that is going to be tough!!!
Thoughts
————
The road from Pennington Flash to the A579 is diabolical.
The A58 junction to the A6 is horrific.
But once you’re on Chew Moor Lane, it’s okay.
The left hand turn onto Regent Road at Lostock rail station is a hard one, with a decent rise to the A673, where you’ve 5 miles of boredom ahead…
…until you get into Bolton town centre.
The road of out of Bolton is also horrendous, Where you climb out of Bolton through council estate until you get to Harwood Road.
Harwood road rough surface, also Harwood road descent isn’t great - Good views of Manchester though!
Chapel street is a gradual climb, with Peel Tower (Ramsbottom) to your right.
A676 warrants a special mention for a terrible road surface.
Bolton Road descent is awful from Walves Reservoir junction.
Climb from Chapeltown after the sharp right up High Street is stunning - open moors and great views with a nice descent to the A666, with a mini kicker onto it.
A666 all the way to Longworth Road is rapid.
Egerton road descent (after Delph) isn’t good.
Rivington Road, just after Church Street off A675, is fantastic.
Sheep house Lane descent is rough as a badgers, but should be okay without the traffic on race day.
A673 after Rivington into Bolton is about 5 miles of pure TT mode.
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Two friends have very different opinions…
One rode it today, Ste Walton and another guy last week…
It’s certainly not slower than 2019… but how much easier remains to be seen…
I didn’t think the road from the flash to the loop start was that bad… there all bad…
No one even noticed the cobbler but in the town centre…
That’s when you know it’s rough as duck
I couldn’t do the town centre part; a few of the roads were closed and they’re buses/taxis or bikes only.
It’s flat and cobbled, so that’s all I need to know.
Harwood Road down to Chapel Street was also closed to traffic (near Tottington), but seems like a nice descent.
Like @Chriswim has said, there are no real climbs, just a lot of climbing.
The maximum gradient is only 9%, which doesn’t go on for long at all.
By lap three, it’ll just be the culmination of it all.
I glimpsed into Queens Park in Bolton, which looks hilly! Wondered if the run goes through that…
One hill to speak of in the park… winding … not sure of gradient but enough on the last lap…
Lots of support there…!
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Yes the run goes through the park which is great support. 4 lap run, first 3 laps I gladly went up the hill without really thinking about it. 4th lap I didn’t even think I could walk up it.
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So. That’s not me then? #crestfallen
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So…with thoughts turning to race day, to those who have done this before:
Would I be able to drive up to Leigh/Atherton on Sunday morning, drop my car off and get my mate to give me a lift to the Flash easily enough?
After the race, I guess my bag from The Flash will be in Bolton, as will my bike…but my in-laws can then give me a lift back to The Flash to get my car?
Or…am I best just ditching my car at Morrisons/Decathlon in Bolton and getting the shuttle bus?
When I did it there was limited parking at the flash, I think the main option was actually to park where the buses dropped people off and walk over with them. Also depends on road closure times as well.
I’d say the best bet is the bus, but it’s an early start.
Others may disagree, I think it was 2016 the last time I went there.
One important tip, take it easy going out of the flash car park, there’s a lot of speed bumps and plenty of people lost their nutrition and spares going out, in order to save about 5 seconds.
Jeff
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Also, what’s the 5.3 out and back bit down Chorley New Road like?
having driven it, it’s a bit, erm…but better than a certain regatta lake in Nottingham 
The 4.8km Queens Park and Bolton town bit look quite good, actually. from the photos of support.
Cheers @jeffb - I’m going to park there and do the first bit and a loop one day…just waiting for it not to be snowing!!!
The town centre council car parks were all free all day Saturday and Sunday last year too if that’s any use?
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Chorley New Road is reported here as one of the most potholed roads in Bolton. So probably not great 
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