Exmoor Explorer - Sunday 8th August 2010

[Jamie AP]

Having received a very welcoming response from the organiser (see below), I have entered the Exmoor Explorer.
Sounds like a good course, 25 or 35 miles (both distances start the same so you can decide which to complete during the ride). Camping is available on the Saturday evening for £2.00

Anyone fancy joining me?

You may not know this, but for many, many years we had a strapline to go with our event "Unicyles Free of Charge". We have never had an entry, until now. I think when the rest of the organizers hear about this they'll be delighted. You will more than likely be asked to go to the front of the pack on the start line for a photo call - if that's OK.

[Rob Northcott]

Sounds quite cool, and pretty local for me, although I hadn't heard of it before. I really ought to do it... I'll see how that weekend's looking.
(I'm not following you around, honest!)

Rob

[Jamie AP]

(I'm not following you around, honest!)

I was hoping you would be interested, being in your neck of the woods.
J

[Rob Northcott]

Looks like I can get away that day, so I'll put in an entry later. Do I need to tell them I'm a unicyclist or just fill in the normal entry form?

From looking at the pictures and route from a couple of years ago it looks like there's probably a fair amount of easy stuff and roads - I think it's going to be quite hard to decide what wheel to ride - almost looks like a coker route. Presumably you'll be on the 26, so it would make sense if I use mine as well - at least it's bullet proof. With the coker I'll probably have to walk some of the rockier stuff and steeper climbs.

Were you thinking about us racing each other or sticking as a pair for moral support etc? I think we're quite evenly matched for speed.

Rob

[Jamie AP]

That's Great Rob. I would send them an e mail (address on the contact page) and explain that you are riding with me on a MUni, see what he says.

I'm not too interested in racing for competition myself. Riding together would be nice, I do enjoy riding with other MUni's and it does not happen much, but I don't mind if you want to go with your 29 or Coker.

Jamie

[Rob Northcott]

OK, my entry's in. So there will be at least two of us. I reckon the longer route should be well possible if we press on a bit, specially if there's a good amount of easier stuff, which it looks like there will be. I'll probably use the 26 so we can stay together and chat along the way - otherwise I'll be disappearing off on the easy bits, which won't be very sociable! It's not a race after all - seems to be organised more like an audax.

Rob

[Rob Northcott]

Hmmm. I sent an email to the organisers letting them know I was another unicyclist and got a bit of a strange reply. Sounds like they'll let me in (although it's not very clear) but they don't want any more of us. Oh well, thought it was another unicycle-friendly event :/

Rob

[Jamie AP]

Oh well, thought it was another unicycle-friendly event

Hi Rob, this sounds strange, not the impression I got at all. I think something is going on with entry, they let me in with no charge but I think they are now worried that they are going to get floods of MUni's also expecting free entry, and I guess that is what they mean about no more of us?

[Jamie AP]

I reckon the longer route should be well possible if we press on a bit, specially if there's a good amount of easier stuff, which it looks like there will be

This is what I was thinking too.

[Rob Northcott]

Hi Rob, this sounds strange, not the impression I got at all. I think something is going on with entry, they let me in with no charge but I think they are now worried that they are going to get floods of MUni's also expecting free entry, and I guess that is what they mean about no more of us?

It is odd. I wasn't expecting free entry (I just paid up online like a normal rider), but I suppose that could be what he's worried about. He seemed worried about what the other organisers will think when they find out he's let unicycles in.

He actually sent me two emails, the first one sounding like he thought I was you, which was the one along the lines of "don't tell anybody else or we'll be swamped with unicycles and the other organisers won't be happy". He then realised I waas a different person and sent another one saying "ignore that, didn't realise you were a different person" - so I'm not sure what the position is now. I replied to his second email saying I wasn't expecting free entry, but it sounds like he's not encouraging us to invite more unicyclists. If more people are interested then I think we should check first to clarify the situation.

Rob

[Jamie AP]

Okay, thanks for the update Rob, I'll e mail him for clarification later.

[Rob Northcott]

I've sent you a PM with the details of the emails.

[Jamie AP]

Okay, just had confirmation from the organiser. They are quite happy to have more MUni riders, they were simply confused, thinking everyone would be expecting free entry. So if anyone else wants to join Rob and myself, just enter online as standard.

Jamie

[Rob Northcott]

How's your knee doing Jamie? Reckon you're going to be OK in time?

Hopefully we should be getting the route details quite soon...

Rob

[Jamie AP]

Hi Rob, I think I'm going to have to drop out of this one , I feel bad as I got you involved. My knee is getting better but I've not ridden off road since our welsh ride, just a few times on the road into work. I think it would be foolish to do such a long ride off-road, I don't want to go back to square-one with my knee again. It's a real shame as it should be a great event, I hope you have fun.

[Rob Northcott]

Bummer. I'll be doing it anyway - would've been nice to have somebody to ride with though... could become a bit of a solitary experience unless I can keep up with some of the bikes. I'll just have to sprint it like a loon Should be easy, right?

Rob

[lowlight]

I'm keen to ride, although have a couple of obstacles. I may need to pinch Jamie's entry as it say's its full on the website. Also need to arrange some transport as I don't run a car at the moment.

Dan

[Rob Northcott]

Hi Dan... I'm sure they wouldn't mind swapping the entry if you let them know. I don't think I'm really up for a round trip to Southampton to pick you up though - sorry.

Since Jamie's not going to make it I've got more of a wheel choice dilemma. We were planning on sticking together and chatting along the way, so I was going to use my 26" to match his - which also had the advantage of being completely bombproof. But now I'm feeling inclined to take the 29er and really go for it - it'll be a fair but quicker than the 26 on the easy bits and I think it'll be worth a bit of nursing through any extra muddy or rocky sections for that extra speed. I've given the Racing Ralph an extra dose of Stan's milk to give it a fighting chance!

Rob

[Jamie AP]

Hi Dan

I'll send the organisers an e mail now to let them know I cannot attend and that you will contact them with your details to take my place. I hope you both have fun!

Jamie

[lowlight]

Thanks Jamie,

OK, I will see tomorow whether I can get use of a car, the train connections were not great.

I would use a 29er with 150mm cranks because i'm training for a big 29er ride and i've lost my 140mm cranks . Very sad, there seems to be a shortage of 140mm crank options atm, for square taper anyway.

Dan