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06 Sep 03 - 11:29 AM (#1013909) Subject: BS: Important-please read. From: Eric the Viking My foolhardy chum Skipjack is booked to do a charity fund raising event. The fool is attempting to cycle from Zeebrugge to Rotterdam in one day. A distance of just under 100 miles to raise money for a hospice in Hull. He is going to have to go some to complete it. We know as Myself,Mrs V and the young raiders did three quarters of that journey ourselves this summer going the opposite direction. He is likely to face strong winds in the face and possibly rain. He and a friend (he has one other as well as me)will start cycling on Saturday 20th September at about 08.30, and hopefully reach the Europort at Rotterdam before the departure time of 21.00hrs that evening. He would not ask for himself, and doesn't know I'm putting this thread up, but if you feel you can support his efforts for a worthwhile cause in any way, financially (by sponsorship)or by giving him your best wishes, please do so. If you are in any of the areas. Hull, Zeebrugge,Breskens, Vlissingen or along the Westerschelder dam etc. Give him a wave as he goes by. Thankyou. Eric |
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06 Sep 03 - 11:49 AM (#1013922) Subject: RE: BS: Important-please read. From: Allan C. I daresay Skipjack has far more friends than that! Godspeed and blessings for this endeavor. |
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06 Sep 03 - 12:22 PM (#1013946) Subject: RE: BS: Important-please read. From: Rapparee If he makes a wrong turn and ends up in Idaho, cycling along the Portneuf River, I'll even buy him a beer. But in the meantime, the best to him and I hope he makes it! Hospice is important and one of my favorite endeavors. |
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06 Sep 03 - 12:31 PM (#1013949) Subject: RE: BS: Important-please read. From: Morticia Where can we send money to? That's the best support I can think of. |
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06 Sep 03 - 05:26 PM (#1014026) Subject: RE: BS: Important-please read. From: Eric the Viking You can send money to Skipjack himself-I'll get him to send pm's to anyone who want's to help. Thanks Morty. |
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06 Sep 03 - 10:47 PM (#1014125) Subject: RE: BS: Important-please read. From: open mike if you send by pay pal it will be quickest. |
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06 Sep 03 - 11:03 PM (#1014131) Subject: RE: BS: Important-please read. From: GUEST He is going to have to go some to complete it He'll have to average 8 miles an hour. Harsh indeed. and possibly rain Gosh, he's really putting himself though the ringer, isn't he? |
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07 Sep 03 - 03:47 PM (#1014466) Subject: RE: BS: Important-please read. From: Eric the Viking Oh guest, you've obviously got some experience of this, thrall us all with your knowledge. |
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07 Sep 03 - 04:31 PM (#1014494) Subject: RE: BS: Important-please read. From: Oaklet Eric - don't worry, someone's anus appears to have broken loose and is posting with gay abandon. |
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07 Sep 03 - 04:48 PM (#1014502) Subject: RE: BS: Important-please read. From: Bassic 100 miles is Hull to Leeds and back in a day! or Halfway to London!!Any pyrotechnic assistance being employed on this one Skip? :-) Seriously, VERY good luck to you mate, here`s hoping for a following wind and watch out for them Belgian cobbles!! By the way, if you are thinking of putting a cushion on your saddle to stop your bum getting sore..... dont bother cos they fall of!! |
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07 Sep 03 - 04:52 PM (#1014503) Subject: RE: BS: Important-please read. From: Eric the Viking For the civilised, and pleasant amongst us. I perhaps over simplified the task.The cycle route is not as straight forward as it would seem. From Zeebrugge (the port) they have to pick up the cycle route, not clearly identified in Belgium, then head either along the coast or direct inland, navigating as they ride (at a faster pace than guest leads you to believe)They have to head for Breskens, the only crossing place and catch the ferry there to Vlissingen(a 20 min break from cycling-but could be a bit longer if they have just missed one) They then have to pick up the track to Middelburg, cycle along the canal path until then.From there they have to pick up the route that leads them to Breezand Then across the dam.This dam stretches along the North sea to protect Zeeland. If the wind is in your face as you cycle, it can be relentless and cut your speed dramatically. If it's raining hard (as it can do) then you face a long grey ride, loosing heat and energy.They will cross onto the island of Noord Beveland and cycle on top of the dam to the island of Schouwen-Duiverland, then inland to Browersdam. Then on top of the sea wall to Goeree-Overflakke.Back inland to Haringvlietdam, back onto the dam to the island of Voorne, up to Brielle, Rozenburg and the europort. As guest(with his obvious knowledge) states, nothing to it really. Except; navigation is not like on a motorway, you have to find a route sign, these often disappear,and it is easy at speed to cycle past them, most but not all cycle routes are pretty clearly signposted. You cannot cycle on many of the roads, and have to stick to the cycle paths.Most of the cycle routes lead you through the small towns, time is lost navigating these, you cross over and under roads, take what seems a pointless detour, just to get from one side of a road to another.You get slower cyclists and tourists, slowing you up and making mistakes in front of you!Then you have to find food and drinks, and on that open route-not much in the way of cover for the toilet. You could easily get a puncture-more time It won't be as easy as it seems. It will be hard work, time driven and the deadline must be met (or the fery goes without them!)Of course, if the sun is shining, the wind is behind you, then life is a lot easier. Wish them well, help them out. |
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07 Sep 03 - 07:43 PM (#1014586) Subject: RE: BS: Important-please read. From: Sorcha Both my huzzbands are insane. Don't know which one is worse....good luck honey! |
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08 Sep 03 - 06:35 PM (#1015011) Subject: RE: BS: Important-please read. From: Skipjack K8 Err, how embarrassing! I wasn't going to mention it here, and much to Eric's despair, my position on this is pretty close to Guest's!I'll see it his way when I've got an arse like a Rhesus monkey a third of the way into Holland, as he has done this route and knows the pitfalls well. We are riding for Dove House hospice in Hull, and I'm hoping to get sponsorship into £four figures, but I'll report back here after the event. If anyone wants to stump up a few bob for Dove House, please send a PM for details. But best wishes are worth as much as a tailwind, so thank you, Eric and all. |
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10 Sep 03 - 03:15 PM (#1016434) Subject: RE: Important-please read(Skipjack cycle fundraiser) From: Eric the Viking The long range forecast is for slight showers, and wind from the Southwest. Talk about lucky !!!!! |
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10 Sep 03 - 07:38 PM (#1016568) Subject: RE: Important-please read(Skipjack cycle fundraiser) From: Peter K (Fionn) Certainly the choice of direction gives the best chance of a favouring wind, which (if it happens) will make a huge difference to Skipjack's state of mind! Just to put guest back in his box and demoralise skipjack, the estaimate of 8mph assumes more than 12 hours of riding time. That's tough whatever speed you're doing. More likely the gallant fellow will take food and comfort breaks, pushing his required average to 10-12 miles an hour. If he and finish up averaging nearer 12-15 miles an hour. And if he's not familiar with that route described by Eric, he's quite likely to wander off course, given that an hour at least will be done in darkness. So 2-15mph is going to make him feel more comfortable about getting on that ferry (less comfortable in every other sense). Having been there - well 962 miles from Land's End to John o'Groats in 11 days - I think Skipjack's effort is well worth 5p a mile. (Am I really the first to put my hand in my pocket?) Of course, Skipjack won't have the crippling haul out of Lyme Regis, Harston Pass, the roller-coaster A68 up to the Scottish border, and the phenomenal climbs twixt Braemar and Tomintoul. But also he will have sod-all shelter from the wind, if it does happen to kick up from the wrong direction. |
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10 Sep 03 - 07:43 PM (#1016569) Subject: RE: Important-please read(Skipjack cycle fundraiser) From: Peter K (Fionn) Meant to press "preview" and save others the trouble of unscrambling all that. Oh well.... And I think it could be Hartside Pass. Anyway, the one near Alston. |
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11 Sep 03 - 02:54 AM (#1016732) Subject: RE: Important-please read(Skipjack cycle fundraise From: Wilfried Schaum For more advice about cycling in England and the Netherlands ask our most experienced whistling friend MudGuard (we know him well). Godspeed to you, Skip! Wilfried |
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11 Sep 03 - 03:17 AM (#1016737) Subject: RE: Important-please read(Skipjack cycle fundraise From: MudGuard Good luck, Skipjack! May the wind come from behind, may the sun shine on you (without being to hot), may your tires not go flat, may your drinking water be enough, ... Fionn, the pass near Alston is Hartsill Pass (at least it had that name a month ago when I cycled across it) Wilfried, I am not experienced in whistling ;-) |
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11 Sep 03 - 03:43 AM (#1016749) Subject: RE: Important-please read(Skipjack cycle fundraiser) From: mooman Good luck Greg! I think you mean an arse like a baboon rather than a rhesus monkey... Richard |
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11 Sep 03 - 10:51 AM (#1016956) Subject: RE: Important-please read(Skipjack cycle fundraiser) From: EtV@work He's hoping for a change of arse-I am told that it is already like a baboon or Mandril |
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16 Sep 03 - 02:50 PM (#1020071) Subject: RE: Important-please read(Skipjack cycle fundraiser) From: Letty Weather's good today, hope it stays that way! All the best for the tour, Letty |
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16 Sep 03 - 07:52 PM (#1020290) Subject: RE: Important-please read(Skipjack cycle fundraiser) From: GUEST,Skipjack K8 Thanks, Letty, love. Will report back after. |
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18 Sep 03 - 04:46 PM (#1021687) Subject: RE: Important-please read(Skipjack cycle fundraiser) From: Eric the Viking So, tommorow is set-off day. Wish him luck, he has a fair wind, good weather and the blessing of Odin. Have a great ride mate, enjoy the glorious countryside and coast line. You are not carrying that accordian on yer back are you? Now that would have made a ride. I see "guest" has little to say on the subject!!!! |
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19 Sep 03 - 12:13 PM (#1021895) Subject: RE: Important-please read(Skipjack cycle fundraiser) From: Eric the Viking Skipjack; patial report due tommorow (Saturday) as he's doing his ride.So watch this space.Hull caters will be able to read all about it in the local papers. |
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20 Sep 03 - 02:33 PM (#1022238) Subject: RE: Important-please read(Skipjack cycle fundraiser) From: Eric the Viking Well, he made it with hours to spare. Fine weather and good conditions. He'll probably tell you more.Thanks for your support. |
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21 Sep 03 - 02:02 PM (#1022546) Subject: RE: Important-please read(Skipjack cycle fundraiser) From: Skipjack K8 Well, we did it. 100.5 miles! With deviation, hesitation, but definitely no chance of repetition. We kicked off at Dove House in Hull, under leaden skies and humid air, with reports of rain in Leeds and sun in Holland. There was a good turn out from the fundraising department as we did pictures for Hull Daily Mail. My running rig is a Claude Butler Milano 18 gear Campag on Mavic Open rims. What we used to call a racer in the days when Sturmey Archer stalked the earth. And apart from a tiny bag that sits beneath the saddle, containing two inner tubes and enough puncture patches to mend a leaky dyke, that was all I took. Simon, my riding partner, had a small handlebar bag and a bum bag, but what he didn't produce from those two, we didn't need. He even produced a gentleman's shaving kit, complete with brush, shaving cream and razor. Now that's class. It was a surprising five miles from Dove House to the ferry, but that journey and the crossing were unremarkable. A quick plug now for P&O Ferries, who are good mates with Dove House, and gave us free passage, Port Out, Starboard Home. Because he's a clever chap like that, Simon had produced iron-on transfers, so we wore matching tour shirts, and blagged £10 for our charity from a Lancastrian biker who was on his way to Belgium to do 175mph or something. Anyway, the morning greeted us with fog, and as we had sacrificed lights, things didn't look too good. However, as we docked just after sunrise, a beautiful autumnal morning unfolded as we picked our way through unbeautiful Zeebrugge. Things looked up a bit in Knokke Heist, where we found a magnificent prom to cycle down. The buildings gave way, but the prom didn't, so on we went. Then the problem that bedevilled us a couple more times cropped up. We effectively rode to the end of a long peninsula, to find that a marshy estuary wound inland behind the dunes in the direction we had just come. So we picked our way round the sandy paths on the edge and made our way inland. Half-inch wide tyres and sand are not natural partners, and progress was slow, and psychologically unnerving as time was racing away, and we hadn't even covered ten miles yet. We eventually found a sign for Retranchement, which our map told us was a town in Holland, and we were still in appallingly signed Belgium. We took this path, rough as it was, and somewhere along it, we entered Holland. Suddenly, the unrivalled Dutch cycle path and cycle sign system was disclosed to us. Breskens 17km, the very fellow we were looking for. We fairly blasted off at this point, as we had badly dented our timetable in Belgium, and now we had both signs and cyclepaths. Also, we knew the ferry across the Wester Schelde, from Breskens to Vlissingen, leaves at ten to and twenty past the hour, and if we 'cranked the big ring' we could just catch the 10.20am boat. We averaged 21mph over the next 12 miles, and just made the cut-off. There were about 50 people on the boat, about 20 bikes, but no cars on the twin decked ferry. We then made very slow progress through the old town of Flushing, which was nice to look at, but the insidious time pressure made us impatient to get on. Also, to get our mileage up to the magic 100, we had set on a route round the western seaboard of the first of the four headlands that made up our journey. This policy took us down narrow winding paths through the conifer forests inside the dunes, and beautiful as the scenery was, we still couldn't get our speed up. We seemed to crawl to Zouteland, and then Westkapelle, but as we eventually got to the most westerly point of the islands, the paths gave way to a splendid cycle motorway, and we blasted northeast to Domburg, again breaching 20mph. We then crossed our first dam, with the enormous structure of the Roompot Sluice in the distance. To stop storm surges, the Dutch have erected truly massive slides powered by extremely tall hydraulic rams, which are used if the combination of a westerly storm and a spring high tide coincide. Again, the cycle motorway was as wide as the vehicular one, and we powered on, now at a slightly more fatigued 19mph. Our journey across the Oosterschelde was punctuated by a strange sight. We crossed the finishing line of a recumbent bicycle race, or rowing bikes, as the Dutch call them. Lots of Johnny Foreigner types in Lycra suits, being interviewed by TV personalities, so no doubt we were in the midst of the doyens of the recumbent world. Fearing we could learn no names to drop, we pressed on. When we had made it over the second sluice, we fancied rural idyll, so cut across the middle of the next island, through the delightful town of Haamstede, still making good time. At 50 miles, and 1pm the pressure was off, as we had made up for the slow start, so the enjoyment was that much greater. Just after Ellemeet, we picked up the cycle path for the next dam, and finally cycle signs for Rotterdam, 95km. We had decided to press on to within striking distance for Europoort before we refuelled, as on our shakedown run to Mablethorpe the weekend before we'd had a lot more grub than the half-time orange, and paid for it. We then crossed two more magnificent dams and rode onto the third main island, and closed on Oudorp. The cyclepaths conveniently skirted the slow town centres, and we still made good time across this island, and up onto our last dam, with the fine sight of Hellevoetsluis, our luncheon destination, to the northeast. We came dangerously close to being taken at this point, as we folded in behind a serious cyclist. We hadn't been overtaken all day, and wanted to keep our mantle, so we hyperventilated up the banking onto the dam, and slid past our competition whilst having an animated conversation. We really burnt along that dam, with our friend on our back wheel, but just as we made the north bank, and the island that would terminate our journey, we put the hammer down to 24mph, and pulled away from matey. We kept up this blistering pace until he was no longer in sight, and only came off the low bars when we passed the Hellevoetsluis town sign. We found a small restaurant on the headland, between two canals in the town, and had a delicious savoury pancake with blackstrap molasses, and cold lemonade. I was dressed in black shirt and shorts, which probably wasn't the best for a day that topped out in the late 20Cs, but I didn't suffer in the cycling breeze. It was a bit painful in the seat region climbing back into the saddle after 85 miles, and as it was only 4.30pm, we had time to pootle along, so we chose the scenic route, round the coast of Voorne, the island that Europoort sits on. I had surveyed the land to the south of Europoort in June, when the BCFTA study tour took us to the top of the massive imported soya silos there, and it looked to be a wasteland. How wrong that impression was, as the sandy lanes and undulating terrain of dams and polders, softened by woods and hedges, was as beautiful as we had yet seen. We skirted Rockanje, had a quick detour over the dunes to a mini beach resort that the Dutch seem to do so well, then onto Oostvoorne. The miles were ticking by now, 95 plus, and we took a left in a leafy village lane, and headed for the sea. Then the enormity of industrial Holland unfolded, storage tanks and generator windmills as far as the eye could see. It was at this point we felt in danger of not hitting the magic ton, as Europoort was signed as being only 3km. We pressed on regardless, but as this waterland exists in thin ribbons, we had to strike east for a couple of miles before we could cross onto the ribbon of land that serves as the ferry terminal, and then, as the gigantic Pride of Hull came into view a mile distant, we were relieved to have clocked 99.5 miles! So it feels a bit of con to claim this was a challenge, as we had a beautiful day, a gentle following breeze, didn't get lost, didn't have any punctures, caught the Schelde ferry with zero margin, had the privilege of seeing such beautiful coast and country and didn't even end up with saddle sores (that was the generous palmfull of Vaseline on the wishbone). On the other hand, any number of those variables could've conspired against us, so it was a genuine challenge, but with the fortune of a good cause smiling on us. |
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21 Sep 03 - 09:01 PM (#1022764) Subject: RE: Important-please read(Skipjack cycle fundraiser) From: SINSULL Congratulations, Skipjack. Tour de France next year??? |
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21 Sep 03 - 09:17 PM (#1022775) Subject: RE: Important-please read(Skipjack cycle fundraiser) From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull Heloo, skipack-you shoild buy a motorbike, and go faster then. anyway, stick me down for a tenner sponscer ship money. Its a good cause= anyway, my dad dyed of cancer 5 yeers ago, and the cancer nurse said he colud going to dove house, but he diyed first, so dident go. but we heard its really nice there, you can play bingo, and do trips, and loads of stuff like that, you can do loads of stuff there, not like hospitas, [only thing you can do in hospital, is watch telly and dye] hopsitals are rubbish, but hospisses are pretty good, you can do loads of stuff there.johhn ps =anyway=put me doen for tenner sponser money, because is good cause, and if any more peoplle licks to give moiney, then just send it to sjkiack 9 and see pm for his aaddreess, anfd he send it to them.john |
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21 Sep 03 - 09:20 PM (#1022777) Subject: RE: Important-please read(Skipjack cycle fundraiser) From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull heloo, how do you spell sponcer? anywat, this is music, site not spellingf site, so it doesent matter.john |
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21 Sep 03 - 09:33 PM (#1022789) Subject: RE: Important-please read(Skipjack cycle fundraiser) From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull anyway=I had a motorbiken before, and crashednit! it phandle bars , put a hole in my belly, and I said " oh , shit, my guts is hanging out"[ I saw some white stuff, like worms];, ] but, it was not my gut's, it was just my fat. at that time, i Haf to go to hospical, but the doctors was rubish, they was just bothered about my hed, but, i told them " my guts is hanging out, you stupif dotctors!", and put me in a big magnet machine, and look at my hed, they stupif, this is wehen i reelise how studip doctors are, [i tell tyhem i got belly ache, and my guts falling out], ang still they look at my hed!, stupif! then he notice my hole in my belly, and stich it up, and saying stupid things like " how this happened then?" thats wenh i knew that doctors are stupifd. doctors are rubbish.john |
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21 Sep 03 - 09:37 PM (#1022793) Subject: RE: Important-please read(Skipjack cycle fundraiser) From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull ps, i still got the scares from this, so i can proove it.john |
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22 Sep 03 - 07:44 AM (#1022961) Subject: RE: Important-please read(Skipjack cycle fundraiser) From: Noreen Well done, Skip, and thanks for the great report. Sounds like a wonderful day! So you were eating a pancake with bacon & molasses when you texted me? :0) Yummm. |
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23 Sep 03 - 05:22 AM (#1023395) Subject: RE: Important-please read(Skipjack cycle fundraiser) From: smallpiper well done those men! |
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24 Sep 03 - 02:42 AM (#1024136) Subject: RE: Important-please read(Skipjack cycle fundraiser) From: mouldy I suppose I owe you money now! Well done. I daresay you will be standing up for a while now, eh? Andrea |
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24 Sep 03 - 08:50 AM (#1024287) Subject: RE: Important-please read(Skipjack cycle fundraiser) From: GUEST,Skipjack K8 Sadly not, Andrea. Some clown knocked me off my beloved bike last night, trashed it, and it took three hours in casualty to confirm he hadn't trashed me. I was riding through Hull city centre just after 6pm, and matey crossed over into a right turning, and ended up with me on his bonnet, and then in a heap in front of the car. Luckily, he is insured, but I don't think he realises how much these pedigree bikes cost. I dunno, first Deany, now me! |
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24 Sep 03 - 03:57 PM (#1024516) Subject: RE: Important-please read(Skipjack cycle fundraiser) From: Noreen OWWW!Get some arnica for the bruises, skippy. Hugs when you're ready... |
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25 Sep 03 - 02:40 AM (#1024711) Subject: RE: Important-please read(Skipjack cycle fundraiser) From: mouldy Well you were stiff enough LIMBWISE last night. How are you after your trek to Essex today? Good job Eric was driving last night so that you could anaesthetise yourself. Andrea |
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24 Oct 03 - 08:16 AM (#1040953) Subject: RE: Important-please read(Skipjack cycle fundraiser) From: GUEST,Skipjack K8 Heloo9 I've just got round to doing my accounts, and it appears that I have bankrolled £935 for Dove House. Add to that just shy of £400 from my mate Simon, and we've got a respectable four figure sum togetehr. All Mudcatters that donated put gagging orders on being exposed as donors, but I had my fingers crossed behind my back when I extracted serious wonga from Mouldy and PloughFlyer, so regard those good people as saints amongst us. Thank you for your attention. |