Event Details
Club: | Lakeland Lanequests |
Event Name: | Lakeland Bike O - Conder Green |
Date: | 11/06/13 |
Format: | Bike O |
Mapping: | Ordnance Survey |
Time Limit: | 2 hours |
National League: | - |
League: | Lakeland Bike O 2013 (Round 2 of 6) |
Electronic Punch: | No |
Event Report
Lakeland Lanequest 2013 event 2
Tom Gibbs continued his winning ways, taking the second event of the Lakeland Lanequest series and once again the only rider to visit all 30 controls inside the 2 hour time limit on a course south of Lancaster.
Organisers Martin Oglesby and Rod Carter had devised an almost flat course, for the 107 competitors, around Cockerham Moss. Gibbs rode 38 miles, to complete the course and get back to the finish at the Stork, Conder Green.
Behind Gibbs (302 points) were Trevor Smith (282) and David Heffernan (280). Gibbs and Heffernan both had gear change problems and were grateful there were few hills to contend with.
The women’s open class was very close. Anne Plant (236), the victor this week, over Jo Cleary (235) and Lisa Whetter (234). All three had incurred penalty points for being over time. In Cleary’s case, a near ten minute over-run was punished with 35 penalties, allowing Plant’s careful route planning the win over Cleary’s speed.
Jack & James Smith (258) led the generation teams for the second week, ahead of Gary & George Thomason (230) and Jane Jones & Jackie Gregory & Annie Jo Gregory (168).
In adult pairs, the flatter course suited the tandem of Mike & Rachel Toyn (260), with Bruce Attwood & Sally Ward (240) second and Gareth Roscoe & James Morgan (234) third.
Tom Gibbs felt the flat course would not play to his strengths (“What are his weaknesses?”, I hear you ask).
“Got the map and was a little dismayed (but not surprised) to see a really flat course. Knew this would not play to my strengths (hills) and would be a bit of a leveler, as I think it's harder to get a differential on the flat. Total distance looked like about 60km. I planned to leave 1 to the end as it was about a 4 min out and back.
Planned to do the loop north to start with and then down the east side of the map to try and break up the headwind. Due to my front mech overshifting last week, I'd altered it a bit and found that it wouldn't get into the big ring. Got to 2 and manually put it in the big ring then just rode in that all the way around - at least with a flat course this was possible.
No real big issues apart from overshooting a few due to undergrowth hiding Fingerposts or me misjudging distance. 22 was on the Car park sign not a fingerpost which would have been good to know, but didn't really cost me.
All the controls around 15 and 25 took a while and I thought it would be touch and go when I was around 29 and 30. However some tailwind and extra effort meant that I felt pretty comfortable by 9. In the end got back with 1min and 2 seconds to spare - so good timing!
Total distance was 61.7km (38.6miles) and 118m of climb, which I think equates to 122mins. Route taken 2-3-6-8-7-10-12-13-17-15-11-19-18-24-27-25-28-29-30-26-22-20-23-21-16-14-9-5-4-1
Unlike Dave, I very much prefer the hillier routes - in fact most of the time I'd feel that Lanequests avoid the big climbs (like Gamswell last week) and I'd like to see more hills please!”
David Heffernan commented:
“Another very well planned and organised event. Controls were all spot on. Organisation ran smoothly as usual.
My planned route yesterday was
2 3 6 8 7 10 12 13 17 15 11 19 18 24 27 25 28 29 30 26 22 20 23 21 16 14 9 5 4 1
Looking at Tom's Strava upload (http://app.strava.com/activities/59785160) it seems that he had the same idea. However, he had the legs and lungs to make it happen!
I actually made a mistake coming out of 15 and went straight to Forton and missed 11. Rather poor consider how many years I spent cycling around those roads when I lived in Lancaster. At that point I discovered that my gear shifter would not downshift. I spent a fair bit of time trying to "persuade" it, but eventually gave up. I loosened the cable on the rear mech and re-tightened it in the 14 sprocket and spent the rest of the ride stuck there! So that cost me a couple of minutes I suppose.
When I got towards the end I elected to miss 16 thinking I was short of time. I then cleared the rest with around 2 minutes spare. So possibly I could have gone for 16 and been maybe 3 minutes over for a couple more points. Anyway, 280 was a decent save considering my mechanical troubles.
It was kind of weird riding around stuck on the 14. My front shifting was play up too (chain did not want to drop onto little ring) so it was really hard work accelerating away from the controls. Of course, once I got up to speed then it was just fine because the route was so flat.
Mapmyride measured my route as 35 miles with a measly 338ft climb. That's 111 by formula. I think the route for them all is 3 miles longer for a score of 120 by formula.
It was an interesting event in terms of planning. But in the end I suspect most of the heavy scorers did pretty much the same route. The tricky bits were the in/out choices at 16/20/21/23, and which order to take the two groups around 15 and 25. Taking the Glasson Dock loop at the end allowed you to take the shortcut on the Lune cycleway to control 1, hoping of course that the surface didn't tear up your tyres too much. Other than that it seemed pretty obvious what to do.
I really enjoyed a flat LQ for once. I do like riding the hills, but it's a different challenge on the flat. I wish we had more of these flatter events.
My main lesson is to come equipped with a bike that works!!”
Mike Toyn found the flatter course suited his and Rachel’s tandem:
“It was a great event for the tandem. Once it was up to speed it just stayed there. Mind you I don’t like riding on the flat, I find it hard to get in the right headspace to sustain the right level of effort. I guess I am so used to riding on hills where you have the summit as a visual way to help you gauge the amount of effort required.
Rachel and I headed south to make the most of the flat roads and did it in an anticlockwise direction. We did all the controls to the south of the map and found we had enough time for the ones around Glasson as well on our return. It was only as we freewheeled down to the traffic lights at Glasson what we realized that it was the first time we had been able to freewheel all event! We covered 34 miles in total. Apart from passing one control that was in a hedge we were pleased with our navigation and came in with a minute to spare, there is no way that we could have got another checkpoint so were really pleased with our 260.”
Co-organiser Rod Carter responded:
“Some fair comments. I actually enjoy/encourage/like the fact that the lanequest events are so diverse in their terrain and character. Can't please all people all of the time. Having read the reports from the Lowick event I thought it might be nice to include a report from the lower end of the field point of view. A kind of beginners guide. Or how I acheived a rubbish result at lanequest”.
Yes, Rod I agree it would be nice to hear the thoughts of a wider spectrum of riders. I often think the route choice for those aiming for less than about 25 controls is much harder than it is for the faster riders. If anyone wants to email me their thoughts by Friday lunchtime after the event, I should be able to include them in the web report. Email address is: chris.stevens@clearystevens.co.uk
Martin Oglesby, co-organiser endorsed Rod’s comments:
“I concur with Rod re; having some variety in the character of the events, and visiting new places. A few people commented how they enjoyed the change.
Whilst we adopt a "formula'" in an attempt to ensure the events provide a consistent challenge, where ideally the winner just gets all checkpoints in two hours minimum, the constraints of defining the route with thirty evenly spread points and the road network available does limit the organiser.
We should also remember "The philosophy of Lakeland Lanequest is to provide fun and challenging cycle-orienteering events which are designed to be very inclusive and aimed at all abilities, on all styles of bikes, all ages and families". i.e. Events aren't just designed for the Elite riders.
Again, as Rod comments, it would be nice to see a report from someone in the lower end of the field.
One creditable performance was debutant 10 year old Georgina Cotton competing in the Generation class with her dad (also a first timer), who scored 150 points. If we want to encourage new people in the sport this is who we need to appeal to.
The event seemed to be very well received, and I only heard positive comment.
I was very pleased with the way The Stork looked after us (including printing extra entry forms when we ran out)”.
Finally, here’s the view of Georgie Cotton aged 10:
“We met at the Stork pub on Tuesday 11th June to do the Lanequest. We signed on very quickly and I was excited because I had already seen some competitors on the drive up. The colourful map was very clear and easy for me to read. This was the first time I have entered a competition with my dad and I really enjoyed the challenge of visiting as many points on the map as possible. I had the job of punching the score card. We got back to the Stork with just minutes to spare which was very exciting. I was tired and glad that after the first hour we were making our way back. The lady at the Stork was really nice and made me some freshly made chips which were yummy! I am hoping to bring my brother and my mum next time”.
Lakeland Lanequest now has a a Facebook Group - if you are a facebook user go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/533101300084139/
The intention is to provide information for upcoming events; bulletins, car parking arrangements, lost & found, etc...