R4pha500

[redefined_cycles]

Anyone on it the Ra pha500 challenge this year. I'm hoping a loop from Bristol - Oxford - Cambridge - Northampton and back to Bristol. Fairly flat.

Just double thinking about how to keep the sleeping kit dry without taking shelter (other than a Hunka XL bivy; PHD bag and a Thermarest Neo mat) as I may need to sleep out for more than a night. Will have finished a nightshift so that needs some extra sleep to fix me right!

Anyone else on it this year

[ton]

me and Mrs T will be having a half hearted attempt. 40 miles short last year while on a Dales tour.
riding from home this year, with plenty cafes and pubs planned.

[Johnallan]

I've no plans to target the 500km this year, but if the weather looks reasonable and the stars align, I'm not against the idea

[Leerowe76]

Always a good challenge to get you out and about instead of in front of the telebox eating all day, so will more than likely have a pop at it and see how far I get

[redefined_cycles]

Right then. Currently qriting from a Travelodge in Bristol, I'm going for it in the morning (God Willing). It'll be for Human Aid charity for Gazza relief so the stress will be worth it. Trying to go light enough to be safe so a few tiny gear choices below.

Carbon road bike as it's got discs and the winter ride on the Indy Fab with a front harness means I scuffed the gear cables a little. Hydraulic discs will hopefully help tomorrow.

Route is called the 313 Sahaba ride (they were some of the closest friends of our prophet Muhammad Sallallahu-alayhi-wasallaam and supported him when he and his followers had been getting the worst abuse). They were known as the Badr sahaba as they fought against the ones that had bene abusing them for the previous 10 years or so. Bristol - Oxford - Cambridge - Northampton - Gloucester and back to Bristol.

With my mate Faruq the Audaxer so I do hope I don't slow him too much. Waterproof (brand spanking new) Apidura frame bag with charging cables and powerbanks. Pump and a collapsible bag. Some medihoney type cream to save from sores and a few other odds n ends. Highlights being the waterproof trousers and...

The Phantom Rab 94g waterproof jacket https://rab.equipment/uk/phantom-pull-on (thanks ATK). Lets hope I don't kick myself for not bringing the 3 layer hardshell but the Rab is descirbed as 20, 000 HH and all day protection

Got the spd pedals back on so I can click in and get some extra distance easier. Merino liner insoles and some cheap Halfords neoprene overshoes. Shoes being the leaking winter Shimano mw whatevers!!

Tools in the saddlepack as well as a spare few zip ties and a Voile strap for tying up duties. Prayer times, hopefully at the Masjids I've added to the route, so it might give some valuable respite and a nice cosy place to pray

[Dave Barter]

Good luck but please level that saddle Shaf!

[redefined_cycles]

Good luck but please level that saddle Shaf!

Thanks Dave. I always run it slightly nose down. One of Mike Hall vids explaining how he sets up and keeps nose down. Seems to relieve pressure. Seems to work for me too (but, might be in the head ).

[Verena]

Good luck Shaf, it's going to be a windy one!!

[Bearlegged]

it's going to be a windy one!!

I'd.be tempted to get a train to Penzance, then ride to Norwich.

[Verena]

it's going to be a windy one!!

I'd.be tempted to get a train to Penzance, then ride to Norwich.

[riderdown]

Thanks Dave. I always run it slightly nose down. One of Mike Hall vids explaining how he sets up and keeps nose down.

It suits Pogacar as well

[Dave Barter]

Thanks Dave. I always run it slightly nose down. One of Mike Hall vids explaining how he sets up and keeps nose down.

It suits Pogacar as well

I feel it forces more weight onto the arms. But each to their own

[whitestone]

Thanks Dave. I always run it slightly nose down. One of Mike Hall vids explaining how he sets up and keeps nose down.

It suits Pogacar as well

I feel it forces more weight onto the arms. But each to their own

There was an article about saddle angle in, I think, The Guardian where British Cycling had looked at saddle sores in the Olympic squad. They concluded that cyclists should not shave their pubic hair as it acts as a natural transport mechanism for sweat and that angling the nose of the saddle down by up to 9 degrees reduces pressure on the pubic bone.

Edit:
Now I'm back at home and can do a search, here's the article - https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/ ... ore-medals. I remember posting the link on STW during a similar discussion and one of the comments was: "Uh, that's talking about women"
/Edit

When I was getting into long MTB rides I tried lots of different adjustments to the bike to reduce/remove hand numbness. The one that worked was tilting the saddle nose down. I think I have it at about 5deg. It works so well that I can swap stems, bars without affecting the benefits of the saddle setting.

My theory for off-road riding is that the saddle is no longer knocking against the sensitive areas so you don’t then overgrip on the bars which then leads to numbness in the hands.

[redefined_cycles]

Thanks Dave. I always run it slightly nose down. One of Mike Hall vids explaining how he sets up and keeps nose down.

It suits Pogacar as well

I feel it forces more weight onto the arms. But each to their own

Dave. Maybe you're right and I may find a middle ground. After bout 250 miles in the outside pads of my hands were bruised so badly. Verging on an unstageable pressure sore (where the damage is so bad internally but the outside skin is still intact) but I stopped putting weight on them pads after that and just about got the blood ciculation back.

Showed my mate (rondo around the year + LEL finisher) and he just regarded it as bruising. But then he also told me to 'just let it [bum] go numb' when we were trying to make progress/speed

[redefined_cycles]

Good luck Shaf, it's going to be a windy one!!

It was too. Gave us a steady tailwind on the way to (Zi's excellent eatery at) Northampton and we must've been holding about 16 to 19mph without much thought. Way back and similar lanes had us at about 12mph. I did'nt feel it too much cos my mate was up front doing the graft. I only knew about the head/tail winds cos he kept me updated on the angle of the howl

[redefined_cycles]

2 Masjids 313 miles for Palestine

In 5 brief paragraphs I'll try do a writeup so you'll not get too bored. Biggest highlight is probably when I've left the hotel and told the reception person that the soap and shower gel was out, but I only realised aftwr I'd got in. She looked at me indifferently with an 'oh, right' without even a hint of an attempt at an apology. Contemplated on that and then realised it must have been my thick yellow R*pha hat.

Raised over £2500 (and counting, thanks Faruq) for the much needed relief amidst the bombing in Palestine so was well worth it. Added some raw honey to my raw behind after the shower and it stung. In my eyes that's a win-win as it'll do a good job at quick healing. Highlight of the sores being when my audax-specialist mate told me to just let my 'bum, go numb'. I could just imagine the pain I might have in the coming days so I continued to take 'pressure relief stands'.

Started at about 0900 and the route was based around a 500km audax route. I just changed the wording to 313 Epic Sahaba as they (the companions of the prophet Muhammed Sallallahu-alayhi-wasallaam who took part in the Battle of Badr, where everyone thought they'd be annihilated) were the ones that suffered the most at the grassroots of the prophetic journey of our Muhammad (PBUH).

Timing for the official route was 35 hours and 36 minutes. We got back in 37 hours so not too far off. He spoke to me about Rondo around the Year. Though all that official stuff has always left me confused in the audax settings. I may give a 200 miler per month a go. After Cambridge and a 'good munch' and 150 miles in the legs we turned back for home. That's when some of the dozies came and I got told off (and rightly so) for not slowing down after telling my mate I was wanting to snooze.

I did have a snooze with eyes half closed and riding on the straights on clear roads at about 0300. But I dare not tell him at the time and filled that in when were (almost) home dry. Sleeping (for the 'dozies' which must be an audax official term) was about 5 mins - him, 0 mins - on a park bench at 0200. Then another better sleep where we both had a bench each and he even popped on his primaloft jacket, at about 0500. I got another 45 mins and even slept on my back pocket banana - him 0 mins again and told me I was out like a light snoring away. After that another 25 minutes for both of came when we made it to a masjid just in time for pre-dusk prayers.

The chap that told us the bikes were fine was very accommodating and we managed a good freshen up, ablution and prayers in peace. With the sleep to top it off. After that the main climbs came either side of Northampton. I know in paragraph 6 now, sorry. Despite trying to make it back for abut 1900 we finally got home for about 2200. Trench foot nursed and washed quickly we had the most lovely food and Faruqs friends house (Anser) and I had to decline early as the eating comp had got the better of me.

https://humanaid.org/f/gaza-1000-8307







Him pretending to be asleep just minutes before I had a decent 5 minutes of snoring sat next to him.


Food at Cambridge Zi's. Food!! What food...


Nice people at CoOp just minutes before they closed at 2000. In the nick of time shopping and I made a little top tube bag food concoction. Of butter shortcakes and cashews.


The ther masjid that gave us respite for doing the prayers in relative ease. Almost got told off for the bikes as it was a very tight ablution area but once the imam knew we were nt there for camping and just for a quick prayer, we were good!

THE END for now Alhamdulillah

[Dave Barter]

Well done Shaf and looking at the forecast I think you timed it right

[Lazarus]

Chapeau for the ride and cause

[redefined_cycles]

Thanks you lot

[jameso]

Well done.. that's a big ride and I know too well what the wind's been like NE of Bristol area recently, haven't been out in it anywhere near that long though!

[redefined_cycles]

Well done.. that's a big ride and I know too well what the wind's been like NE of Bristol area recently, haven't been out in it anywhere near that long though!

Didn't notice too much. Just sat in his wheel and pedalled Still can't believe I've actually done it in one go. Remember seeing the vid of our resident Matt last year or the year before explaining what/where he was riding it in a loop and thought... blimey (well, I actually thought, "SubhanAllah") that's even possible.

Thanks very much James. Maybe the TNR is becoming more and more an option the older I get.

[jameso]

TNR? You'd be fine there, no problem. Be great to see you out there.

[fatbikephil]

Good effort Shaff (I did 130k ) - bet your glad you are not out in this lot!

[redefined_cycles]

Phil... I'm definitely glad I'm not out there anymore. £3k raised and counting so well worth the effort. Thighs haven't been in this much ache since I did my first few 80 milers on the road bike years ago

130k. You'll be done in no time mate

[riderdown]

feel it forces more weight onto the arms. But each to their own

Peak Torque has a theory that the slight tilt down was to put him a better position for the long climbs as it reduced pressure on the front of the saddle. Hand pressure would be different as they have a very low front anyway

Copying TDF pros is a mugs game as they are extreme in ability and resources