Event idea

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Discussion

snobetter

Original Poster:

1,145 posts

145 months

Tuesday 21st November 2017
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Had an idea for an event I don't know of being done before, I'm prepared for the list of previous events though...

I read about how "Everesting" was becoming more popular, went to the official website and saw if I took my local big hill on Dartmoor times, plus descents and breaks was looking at about 20 hours.

Anyway, long story short, idea is "someone" organiszes a closed road event on a decent hill (5-7% 750'+ climbing?) provides data logging, food, camping etc. People can attempt to Everest, just see how much climbing they can do in 12 or 24 hours, overall winner, team event, similar to these race track events like at Silverstone.

I thought it could be popular, I'd do it, but I'm not going to organize it...


louiebaby

10,651 posts

190 months

Tuesday 21st November 2017
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I'm not far from Dartmoor, so I'd probably have a crack at it too. Sign me up. (Which hill and route are you thinking about?)

Now you just need a clever name...

Dannbodge

2,160 posts

120 months

Tuesday 21st November 2017
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I'd be up for that.
Sounds like a good laugh and you'd be a hell of a lot fitter at the end

snobetter

Original Poster:

1,145 posts

145 months

Tuesday 21st November 2017
quotequote all
louiebaby said:
I'm not far from Dartmoor, so I'd probably have a crack at it too. Sign me up. (Which hill and route are you thinking about?)

Now you just need a clever name...
Think you missed the part where I said I wouldn’t organise it...

I was going off BT - Haytor, don’t think you’d get that road closed though.

For name, piggyback an event “Ride Everest”?

louiebaby

10,651 posts

190 months

Tuesday 21st November 2017
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snobetter said:
Think you missed the part where I said I wouldn’t organise it...

I was going off BT - Haytor, don’t think you’d get that road closed though.

For name, piggyback an event “Ride Everest”?
Not organise it? hehe Whoever smelt it, dealt it.

Yeah, you'll never get that road closed. My favourite to ride is basically Tavistock to Princetown, but you'll never get that closed either.

snobetter

Original Poster:

1,145 posts

145 months

Friday 16th November 2018
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Bump for attention of Gruffy who I believe may be doing just this, some interest here if you do.

louiebaby

10,651 posts

190 months

Friday 16th November 2018
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snobetter said:
Bump for attention of Gruffy who I believe may be doing just this, some interest here if you do.
I had a look for Gruffy based posts, but didn't spot any.

What's going on?

snobetter

Original Poster:

1,145 posts

145 months

Friday 16th November 2018
quotequote all
louiebaby said:
snobetter said:
Bump for attention of Gruffy who I believe may be doing just this, some interest here if you do.
I had a look for Gruffy based posts, but didn't spot any.

What's going on?
On his social media appears he / his club are looking to do an everesting event, near London though... as I know you're near me.

Gruffy

7,212 posts

258 months

Friday 16th November 2018
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Cheers for the heads-up. It’s at the embryonic stage but I’m working with Cancer Research UK to put on an ‘Everesting’ event in a remarkably similar format that what you’ve described.

At this stage I see it as a duration-based event that can be run as a team relay or a solo effort. The first choice for venue would be a hit with PHers too; the Prescott Hill Climb course! Approaches are being made at the moment so nothing is confirmed yet. If anybody knows of other strong contenders please chip in.

This would certainly be an event open to all.

Daveyraveygravey

2,018 posts

183 months

Friday 16th November 2018
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Is the road/bridleway in Denbies Vinyard suitable? I think it's private, think the surface is good too. Not sure if it's enough climbing for this, and maybe not wide enough for lots of folk to go up and down round the clock though.
I'd be interested in a team event. I have to say from my experience of Everesting, speed was the last thing on my mind!

Gruffy

7,212 posts

258 months

Friday 16th November 2018
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Pablo also proposed Denbies. It’s a strong contender.

Daveyraveygravey

2,018 posts

183 months

Saturday 17th November 2018
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Bo Peep or Firle Beacon could work? Not private roads so maybe harder to get them closed, but dead ends at the top and not many houses on the way up. More of a challenge in terms of gradient, and quite wide I think.

Just looked on Instagram and there is or was a car hill climb up Bo Peep, so there is a precedent. I guess that event wouldn't close the hill for 12 or 24 hours though.

You'd have to organise the turning areas some how, especially the one at the bottom. A lot of people flying back down, the competitive juices surging, you need to funnel them through a braking and turning zone which will have to be wider than the road itself. It could be chaos with people just slamming the brakes on at the last moment trying to do a 180

Edited by Daveyraveygravey on Saturday 17th November 10:22

millen

688 posts

85 months

Saturday 17th November 2018
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Dorking CC run the "Denbies Duels" most autumns, so the management should be accustomed to facilitating occasional events. Obviously the gates will have to be kept open and walkers/ dog walkers 'discouraged', and there's no lighting. And they won't be able to run the tourist 'train' (towed by landrover) that day. That said, the tarmac is good for a private road and views over to Box Hill seriously good.

Staple Lane, used as a closed road for the annual Shere Hill Climb, could also be good. It's wider, well surfaced, and light on traffic.

Gruffy

7,212 posts

258 months

Saturday 17th November 2018
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Firle and Denbies have also both been mentioned a couple of times, so they sound like great options. I looked into the Denbies Duels, which were cancelled this year due to low participation. I'm sure with a format tweak and a change of season this needn't be a bad omen. Having DorkingCC to advise on logistics would be a great help. Denbies is now plan B.

millen

688 posts

85 months

Saturday 17th November 2018
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Happy to put you in touch with the Dorking CC Chair. Yes, he was disappointed to have to cancel the Duels this autumn as most years they get better support, especially from neighboring clubs. IIRC a group from DCC attempted a mass Everesting a couple of years ago - they were doing well but eventually forced to scratch due to constant heavy downpours throughout the night. My memory fades as to whether they were using Denbies or Box Hill. Anyway, I'd expect DCC should be able to help with support if it goes ahead as there's a good volunteer ethic.

By the by, I read in the local press that Denbies are opening a small 17-bed hotel on site. And don't forget that Denbies hosted a well-received PH Sunday Service earlier this year.

Gruffy

7,212 posts

258 months

Sunday 18th November 2018
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Please do. Sounds like a solid fit.

millen

688 posts

85 months

Sunday 18th November 2018
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I cycled up Denbies today. The vehicle gates being closed gave an opportunity to soak in the views - this was from half way up the hill. Just remembered (as I'm no longer a runner smile ) that Denbies this year started hosting a regular Saturday morning 5km Parkrun - another positive sign http://www.parkrun.org.uk/molevalley/course/


yellowjack

17,065 posts

165 months

Sunday 18th November 2018
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Denbies host a lot of events.

There are the Bacchus and Santa running events, and they also hosted a big race-day event for the 2012 Olympic Road Race, with big screens in front of the main building, lots of bike trade stands, a mass exodus down to the A24 to watch the riders pass by "live" then we all trooped back to the big screens to see the finish "on the telly".

It makes good business sense for them to welcome runners and riders onto the estate because it fills their tills when participants/spectators/families pile into the restaurant/cafe afterwards.

As far as other possible venues go? Aren't there one or two hills on the 100 Greatest Climbs lists that are effectively closed roads anyway? I don't know any myself, but I'm sure one or two only go up to a transmitter mast or radar station and back down, with no through traffic anyway. Would they be easier to get closed to traffic? I think Box Hill is technically a private road too, although I'm not sure the NT would want to close it for an Everesting event, as it might cause a drop in takings at the top of the hill rather than driving an increase...


...sorry if I'm doing my thinking "out loud".

yellowjack

17,065 posts

165 months

Sunday 18th November 2018
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I also wondered about Swain’s Lane.

It's a one-way road so exempt from the Everesting rule about ascending and descending on the same slope. So you'd legitimately be permitted to ride loops, which might not require closing the road at all? But then the loops might take too big a chunk of time to return to the start?

I love the idea of something like this, but I'm well off the required fitness levels to complete such a feat anytime soon. And I'm far too slow up hills too, even when I am fit, so I'd be finished too long after the other riders, and would probably be collected by the broom wagon after missing the event cut-off time.

louiebaby

10,651 posts

190 months

Monday 19th November 2018
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Interested in the mass Everesting...

Is the Prescott Hill Climb long enough? How many repeats would we need?