Author Topic: Blowingstone - White Horse - 17th May 2015 (Read 2915 times)

jochta · « **on:** 10 March, 2015, 10:56:51 am »

Plug for the second running of the revived Blowingstone 107km audax this May. Starting in Uffington, taking in the infamous Blowingstone and Spring Hills, beautiful downland scenery, café control in Marlborough and stacks of refreshments at the end.

Slightly altered route this year avoiding the two off-road sections and going via Shrivenham rather than through Coate Water Country Park. This will give bonus views of the White Horse as featured on the club shirts of the organisers CTC Wantage.

See http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/15-588/ for more details and entry.

See http://ridewithgps.com/routes/6933493 for the route.

Cheers

John

Malmesbury Monk · « **Reply #1 on:** 11 March, 2015, 02:00:04 pm »

I rather enjoyed riding through Coate Water Country Park last year. I even stopped to take some photographs of the miniature railway.

I'll make sure I look out for the bonus views of the White Horse this time.

jochta · « **Reply #2 on:** 11 March, 2015, 03:21:20 pm »

Quote from: Malmesbury Monk on 11 March, 2015, 02:00:04 pm

I rather enjoyed riding through Coate Water Country Park last year. I even stopped to take some photographs of the miniature railway.

I'll make sure I look out for the bonus views of the White Horse this time.

It's an audax so you could still go through the country park

In fact it would be pretty easy to drop down to it using last year's route and rejoin the route near Liddington. The extra distance wouldn't be too great either!

John

PaulF · « **Reply #3 on:** 11 March, 2015, 05:56:10 pm »

Just entered and put in the calendar so I shouldn't be double booked this year

steveh · « **Reply #4 on:** 12 March, 2015, 10:57:14 pm »

I'm in

hazychris · « **Reply #5 on:** 15 April, 2015, 11:53:12 pm »

So that's at least 4 interruptions from coffee and cake consumption in Marlborough, as I'll be manning the control

For those who've not visited before, it's an absolute peach of a route, and last year's catering success has set a very high bar, which will be beaten this year. Looking forward to it!

Banjo · « **Reply #6 on:** 16 April, 2015, 10:37:58 pm »

Quote from: hazychris on 15 April, 2015, 11:53:12 pm

So that's at least 4 interruptions from coffee and cake consumption in Marlborough, as I'll be manning the control

For those who've not visited before, it's an absolute peach of a route, and last year's catering success has set a very high bar, which will be beaten this year. Looking forward to it!

Make that 5 interruptions to your cake fest

Just got to choose between my heavy but comfy steel tourer and my lighter but slightly less comfy ally road bike.

JBB · « **Reply #7 on:** 17 April, 2015, 02:48:56 pm »

I think I'll have a go at this, I need to get started again after an enforced layoff and this looks a good route despite the climbing straight after the start!

hazychris · « **Reply #8 on:** 19 April, 2015, 06:40:13 pm »

Quote from: JBB on 17 April, 2015, 02:48:56 pm

looks a good route despite the climbing straight after the start!

If it makes you feel any better, there's other climbing elsewhere too!

JBB · « **Reply #9 on:** 19 April, 2015, 10:11:51 pm »

Quote from: hazychris on 19 April, 2015, 06:40:13 pm

Quote from: JBB on 17 April, 2015, 02:48:56 pm
looks a good route despite the climbing straight after the start!

If it makes you feel any better, there's other climbing elsewhere too!

I had noticed! However I take a while to warm up so a climb soon after the start is always guaranteed to make me struggle...

Julia

hazychris · « **Reply #10 on:** 20 April, 2015, 08:25:23 pm »

Quote from: JBB on 19 April, 2015, 10:11:51 pm

I had noticed! However I take a while to warm up so a climb soon after the start is always guaranteed to make me struggle...

The good news is that there's a brief 12% warmup just before Blowingstone itself. You get a good 1.5km of flat before it heads skywards, so I don't know what you're grumbling about

Cheers,
Chris

JBB · « **Reply #11 on:** 20 April, 2015, 08:43:55 pm »

Grumbling! Moi ? Just expecting a slow start. 1.5k is hardly a warmup for a slow starter like me I'm sure I'll enjoy it all the same.

Julia

Quote from: hazychris on 20 April, 2015, 08:25:23 pm

Quote from: JBB on 19 April, 2015, 10:11:51 pm
I had noticed! However I take a while to warm up so a climb soon after the start is always guaranteed to make me struggle...
The good news is that there's a brief 12% warmup just before Blowingstone itself. You get a good 1.5km of flat before it heads skywards, so I don't know what you're grumbling about

Cheers,
Chris

PaulF · « **Reply #12 on:** 20 April, 2015, 09:44:02 pm »

You can always take the long way to Kingstone Lisle via Baulking if you need a warm up and a slightly gentler first climb?

andyoxon · « **Reply #13 on:** 06 May, 2015, 10:13:10 pm »

I'm in.

Some pics of the 2014 ride

jochta · « **Reply #14 on:** 09 May, 2015, 12:05:24 pm »

We've currently got exactly the same number of entries as there were finishers last year! Still time to enter online and we will be accepting entries on the line.

Homemade cakes are on order

John

jochta · « **Reply #15 on:** 13 May, 2015, 12:16:20 am »

A late surge of entries means we only have a limited number of cards left so if you're thinking of entering and haven't done so yet then do it online ASAP to avoid possible on the line disappointment.

Cheers

John

JBB · « **Reply #16 on:** 15 May, 2015, 06:57:46 pm »

Quote from: jochta on 13 May, 2015, 12:16:20 am

A late surge of entries means we only have a limited number of cards left so if you're thinking of entering and haven't done so yet then do it online ASAP to avoid possible on the line disappointment.

Cheers

John

I'm in. Looking forward to this (I think

)

PaulF · « **Reply #17 on:** 17 May, 2015, 04:49:42 pm »

Great day out - thanks to all the organisers!

Banjo · « **Reply #18 on:** 17 May, 2015, 07:28:09 pm »

Fantastic day out .A few challenging hills but even a slowcoach like me had an hour to spare at the finish. Mostly rolling terrain on smooth roads pretty villages and scenic views. I only spotted one white horse (there may have been more

)

Mountain of cake and sandwiches at the hall rounded the day off nicely. Will defo do this one again if I can.

andyoxon · « **Reply #19 on:** 17 May, 2015, 09:01:34 pm »

Yes, thanks John, Nick and all the team; excellent day!

P1020425 by ao, on Flickr

On the way to Ramsbury...

P1020426 by ao, on Flickr

Shrivenham - Uffington does give some of the best views of the White Horse...

P1020433 by ao, on Flickr

jochta · « **Reply #20 on:** 18 May, 2015, 11:27:12 am »

Thanks for everyone who rode and made it another successful event!

All the photos from the day can be found here...

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/vlsppkjx1dv7h8p/AABc9zCZ22cW93oTl-68tOb-a?dl=0

...feel free to find yourself and use as you wish

John

andyoxon · « **Reply #21 on:** 18 May, 2015, 02:12:22 pm »

Thanks John.

Here's some time lapse of the first section of the ride: Start to Lambourn. (2.5min; Best set to 720p)
https://youtu.be/ZAs3wi0w_o4

As you might imagine there was a fair bit of lateral wobbling going on up Blowingstone hill...

(ps. quality improved...)

PaulF · « **Reply #22 on:** 18 May, 2015, 02:17:21 pm »

Quote from: andyoxon on 18 May, 2015, 02:12:22 pm

Thanks John.

Here's my time lapse of the first section of the ride: Start to Lambourn. (Best set to 720p)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9OJacl_st8

As you might imagine there was a fair bit of lateral wobbling going on up Blowingstone hill...

(ps may take this down and upgrade quality at some point)

Wow! Think that must be the fastest I've ever been up Blowingstone!

andyoxon · « **Reply #23 on:** 18 May, 2015, 08:54:53 pm »

Quote from: PaulF on 18 May, 2015, 02:17:21 pm

Wow! Think that must be the fastest I've ever been up Blowingstone!

I've just discovered youtube has a speed setting, so it can be made less frenetic...

jochta · « **Reply #24 on:** 19 May, 2015, 09:13:49 am »

Quote from: andyoxon on 18 May, 2015, 08:54:53 pm

Quote from: PaulF on 18 May, 2015, 02:17:21 pm
Wow! Think that must be the fastest I've ever been up Blowingstone!

I've just discovered youtube has a speed setting, so it can be made less frenetic...

We've been playing spot the rider/photographer on the full speed version