Author Topic: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09  (Read 9103 times)

Chris N

Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« on: 04 December, 2008, 09:57:29 am »
Entry opens on 1st January.  Who's going?

Hell Of The North Cotswolds

bikenerd

Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #1 on: 04 December, 2008, 10:58:08 am »
Entry opens on 1st January.  Who's going?

Hell Of The North Cotswolds

Me!  I had an entry two years ago but didn't realise it was on a Sunday (doh!) so couldn't do it as there are no trains from Oxford->Winchcombe before 9am on a Sunday.  Last year I did the Harlequin Hack audax instead but this year, for the first year in 4, the audax and HONC are on different days. :thumbsup:

I'll need to get a B&B for the 4th April.  Any recommendations?

blackpuddinonnabike

Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #2 on: 04 December, 2008, 05:30:08 pm »
My brother and I are planning on doing this.

Dave

Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #3 on: 04 December, 2008, 09:45:37 pm »
Hmm. May have to give it another go. The last time I did it the weather and route were fantastic (though the year before it nearly got snowed off...)

Si

Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #4 on: 05 December, 2008, 12:35:43 pm »
Thinking of giving it a miss this year.  Very nice route, well organised, etc but too many people for my tastes.  I'd rather have a pootle in a small group or alone.

Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #5 on: 05 December, 2008, 04:25:21 pm »
My two regular riding companions and I are planning on riding it next year. We failed to enter this year as all the entries were filled by the 12th of January.

We've ridden the event several times before and find it's best to let the rabble start off first, rather than end up walking up the first few tracks blocked by a mass of cyclists who can't climb hills.
I don't want to grow old gracefully. I want to grow old disgracefully.

Chris N

Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #6 on: 01 January, 2009, 12:52:20 pm »
Got mine: no. 198 :thumbsup:

Dave

Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #7 on: 01 January, 2009, 12:59:59 pm »
Hmm. I appear to be #203.

See you there, weather permitting...

Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #8 on: 01 January, 2009, 03:03:16 pm »
Got mine  :thumbsup:

Number 76.
I don't want to grow old gracefully. I want to grow old disgracefully.

annie

Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #9 on: 01 January, 2009, 04:08:10 pm »
Is this likely to require a MTB?

Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #10 on: 01 January, 2009, 04:19:27 pm »
Is this likely to require a MTB?

Actually a cyclo cross bike is, in my view, the ideal option.

If fairly dry, a road bike with some cross tyres and low gears would do the job.

At the front it's a pretty competative event, but further back it's a great day out.

Chris N

Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #11 on: 06 January, 2009, 11:44:10 am »
It's full already. :o

Quote
All 1100 places for HONC 2009 have now been taken and the Reserve List is full. We regret we cannot accept any further entries for this year´s event.

Annie, I'll be on my roadrat with cyclocross tyres - I don't think you'll need a MTB.

Si

Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #12 on: 06 January, 2009, 01:39:20 pm »
Ru88ell did it on slicks the year before last and didn't have any problems.

Although the year before that ice tyres would have been useful in the afternoon  ;)

And the year before that (I think or possibly the one before that?) the mud got pretty bad with plenty of crashes near the end.

It all depends on the weather.

Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #13 on: 22 January, 2009, 11:52:04 pm »

Number 580 ...what have I let myself into?   :o


....Im riding with Ru88ell's "mob" be interesting to see if he packs a spare set of wheels with slicks this year  ;)

vistaed

  • Real name: James
    • Everyday stories
Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #14 on: 05 February, 2009, 10:31:26 am »
Number 780, on my trusty roadrat.
after hardship comes ease -
 www.strava.com/athletes/188220

Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #15 on: 02 March, 2009, 06:42:01 pm »
Is there somebody who wants to ride this event and isn't entered?

PM me for some good news.
I don't want to grow old gracefully. I want to grow old disgracefully.

Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #16 on: 02 March, 2009, 08:55:43 pm »
Entry sorted now.
I don't want to grow old gracefully. I want to grow old disgracefully.

Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #17 on: 02 March, 2009, 09:18:07 pm »
Fankyew   :thumbsup:

Dave

Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #18 on: 29 March, 2009, 04:28:27 pm »
Arse. I've just read the "letter" that got emailed out last week.

It says "...bring your email entry confirmation to register on the day".

Which, of course, I don't appear to have saved or printed out.

Sigh. Muppet ::-)

Anyone got any (helpful) suggestions?

Chris N

Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #19 on: 29 March, 2009, 05:31:50 pm »
Contact Entry Central and see if they've still got the records?

Need to order some tyres, swap sprockets, change handlebars and whip off the mudguards for next weekend.

vistaed

  • Real name: James
    • Everyday stories
Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #20 on: 30 March, 2009, 11:56:03 am »
A question for those who have done this before. Is there food/water out on the course at the controls?
after hardship comes ease -
 www.strava.com/athletes/188220

Si

Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #21 on: 30 March, 2009, 12:57:36 pm »
A question for those who have done this before. Is there food/water out on the course at the controls?

Free refreshments at more or less halfway...water, banananas, cake, etc

plus a few pubs and shops on route but not that many

vistaed

  • Real name: James
    • Everyday stories
Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #22 on: 31 March, 2009, 10:47:12 am »
Cheers Bodger. And will I have to carry my bike at any point? I'm trying to make sure I carry enough water but don't want to use a water bottle. I'm looking forward to this, it' been a while since I've ridden a long way off road on the roadrat  :D
after hardship comes ease -
 www.strava.com/athletes/188220

Si

Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #23 on: 31 March, 2009, 01:18:50 pm »
Don't think that I ever had to carry the bike. You might find that you might have to push for a bit on the first hill because everyone in front of you has decided to push too and have speard out across the track because they've decided that if they can't ride up it then they are going to make jolly sure that no one else gets the chance.

Dave

Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #24 on: 31 March, 2009, 06:27:56 pm »
John Taylor, the very nice organiser bloke, who clearly should be doing far more important things than helping out muppets like me, has sorted me out with a new confirmation email.

Which means, ulp, I'd better turn up.

(Planet-X Kaffenback, Citroen Berlingo, no idea what I'm wearing, though there may be a YACF buff on the go if you want to make sure you avoid me...).

Do I want to check the weather forecast? Or will I just depress myself?