Lovely day here now.
2 degrees, with some snow on the tops, but holy cow…
…WHAT AN EPIC DAY!!!
Stunning sun, dry roads, courteous drivers.
AND THAT COURSE
Ignoring the bit from the lake to Bolton, then the bit out of Bolton, the rest of it is SUPERB.
The A666 is stupendous - I was doing over 50kmh for ~150W, with winter training wheels and full winter kit.
The bit back to Bolton (I only went to Regents Road, where you come onto Chorley New Road after the 30km from the lake) from the Chorley sign at the top of Winter Hill is mental - you literally don’t need to pedal for miles - like 10 miles.
Three laps of that is going to hurt - tempted to put a 34/50 on now, had the 39/53 today and probably wouldn’t want that by lap three.
More thoughts coming up…
3 Likes
Posted this on IMJ (who have actually been really helpful on cafe recommendations, parking and stuff…maybe the IMUK specific one is a bit more sensible?)
Well…THAT WAS EPIC!
Rode out from mine and did a loop.
Thoughts having now ridden it and not driving, starting from The Flash;
Well, I got on at Leigh retail park A579.
It’s roughshod, but not potholed.
Just be careful on recces if you’re not confident with traffic, there’s also a lot of road detritus to watch out for.
Oh - it’s all uphill to Chorley New Road, which is a bummer.
The left turn at Lostock station to Regent Road is sharp.
Chorley New Road is pure TT bars time - I loved it.
Through Bolton isn’t good - there are roadworks round the car park (bin alley) and the town hall bit is closed off (I hopped onto the footpath - naughty!)
It’s then a little downhill to Argos, where it’s then pretty much uphill ALL THE WAY to Rivington Pike/Winter Hill. When you arrive at the Chorley (Rivington) sign, where the footpath is and a lay-by opposite, it’s all downhill hammer time TT bars to Bolton (I left at Regent Road) it’s about 20km of pure bliss.
Oh!!! The first climb out of Bolton to Red Lane is the hardest on the route by far - the rest are just short and drags.
Practise descending on the bullhorns and get used to going fast on the TT bars and it should be a fantastic course.
I am now super hyped after riding it - it’s a proper good (hard) course, so you’ll feel you’ve achieved something.
Can’t wait for another recce next month now.
4 Likes
Great Work Shakespeare !
So big question …
12/7/20 … how long?
Please don’t give us the… “ it’s never crossed my mind show”
It’s certainly faster …!
You mean how fast?
I’d struggle to break 6 hours on current weight and fitness 
If last years course was harder, then it makes the times all the more impressive.
However, in saying that, it is 20km of “downhill” from the top of Rivington Pike/Winter Hill into Bolton, so that is plenty of time to get stretched and ready to run.
I’ll drive out next month and do two loops from The Flash.
It took me 2hrs and one second to do the 49.44km loop today…that is without the 30km from The Flash, which is all uphill 
So judging by today, about 7 hours for the bike.
Only 18 people went sub 6…
On a windless, dry, but not too hot day…
That is just silly!
You ll be way faster than 7hours…
What’s this mi and ft stuff?
5 Likes
No idea…
I thought strava would be in kms…!?
Maybe you can change it?
I’m as old school as they come but even I’m metric
I’d seen that…there’s a few “loop” segments on Strava.
NONE of which start at the actual loop (which I’d say is where I got onto Chorley New Road today)
Next time I do it, I’m going to turn left there (like on race day) then swing round where we would on race day, too
I’ll see you out there…
Firefighters 2 up on Sunday I’ll be going the opposite way up sheephouse steepside…!
Zerotaperhero but see how we go …!
Well done on your hero day !
1 Like
Is that the cycle event that there are signs up everywhere about?
I’m guessing so…
rivington school up sheephouse then long descent turn LEFT at the black dog down to the motorway back through wheelton …anglesark home
The run is a shocker… mixed terrain/ mud/ huge hill at the start !
It’s pretty dire but great fun…!
Road bike or tri bike Poet 
2 Likes
Gravel
1 Like
TRI!!!
You’d be a fool to do it on a roadie if you’ve the choice.
Some SwissStop Yellow’s (or disc brakes) and you’ll be reet in the wet 
I can average 12.5mph for a 2hour bike ride. Due to family reasons I can only ride a bike twice a month. I think I might drop £450 on doing an ironman. What are your thoughts @Poet
1 Like
He says he was fairly relaxed …!
Until you know how hard he went it’s impossible to say if he’s wasting his hard earned or he’s the next Rohan Dennis.
You ll be getting banned …
Again !
1 Like
Poets too busy to reply… he’s off ‘encouraging people’… 
2 Likes