Author Topic: Old Roads & Drove Roads 200, NOW 18/08/18 (Read 7418 times)

iddu · « **on:** 27 January, 2018, 11:44:21 am »

Bah, miserable gits - they're being restrictive on access windows again, hey ho...

Nevermind, ride on - http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/18-290/

Saddle up

freeflow · « **Reply #1 on:** 27 January, 2018, 01:21:10 pm »

I'm in.

Hot Flatus · « **Reply #2 on:** 27 January, 2018, 03:59:43 pm »

Bugger. Not able to make it (again)

One of the most original 200k rides going.

andyoxon · « **Reply #3 on:** 27 January, 2018, 05:18:48 pm »

I'm interested in doing this again - rode in 2014; was very good. ORDR must surely win a prize for control content.

SoreTween · « **Reply #4 on:** 27 January, 2018, 07:16:41 pm »

The buggers, bank holiday weekend again :-(

CrazyEnglishTriathlete · « **Reply #5 on:** 27 January, 2018, 08:02:56 pm »

Walking in the Swiss Alps that weekend otherwise would do this

HK · « **Reply #6 on:** 05 February, 2018, 02:20:08 pm »

Rode this 2016. Fantastic day out. Hopefully another edition this year. Note to self check calendar.

zakalwe · « **Reply #7 on:** 05 February, 2018, 03:58:39 pm »

Quote from: HK on 05 February, 2018, 02:20:08 pm

Rode this 2016. Fantastic day out. Hopefully another edition this year. Note to self check calendar.

Flipping windy that year, though! 2017 was better

freeflow · « **Reply #8 on:** 05 February, 2018, 05:11:45 pm »

2017 was unusual because it didn't rain!!!!

Clemo · « **Reply #9 on:** 05 February, 2018, 08:01:30 pm »

I'm in

I blame the hordes of minions brought into the area by those blimmin buses, it was quiet until they started doing their sight seeing trips.

Edit: I bloomin love this ride, it was even dusty going across the plain last year

iddu · « **Reply #10 on:** 22 March, 2018, 02:12:19 pm »

Grrrr - You bastards...

Possible change of date - TBA.

iddu · « **Reply #11 on:** 22 March, 2018, 09:43:03 pm »

OK...

Due to change of access dates for Imber Plain this has now moved from 25/08 to 18/08/18

Hot Flatus · « **Reply #12 on:** 23 March, 2018, 04:50:03 am »

Hooray I can make this date

SoreTween · « **Reply #13 on:** 11 May, 2018, 02:48:31 pm »

I'm in, Mr Bond will be too as soon as I've finished having another argument with PayPal.

BobScarle · « **Reply #14 on:** 11 May, 2018, 03:37:13 pm »

I'm in. Wanted to visit Imber for some time.

JohnL · « **Reply #15 on:** 07 August, 2018, 07:02:59 pm »

This looks rather interesting... how much rough stuff is there? And will I be ok on 28mm with not a lot of clearance?

John

phydaux · « **Reply #16 on:** 09 August, 2018, 07:10:30 pm »

Quote from: JohnL on 07 August, 2018, 07:02:59 pm

how much rough stuff is there? And will I be ok on 28mm with not a lot of clearance?

Well, it depends how you define 'rough stuff'. There are about 30k of roads that are technically not surfaced, but they are perfectly navigable on a bike with 25mm or 28mm tires. Plenty of pics in this thread https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=82212.50 When I attempted it, I was on 25mm, and got two vistations, one of which was my own fault for hitting a pothole too fast. That was not the only reason I DNF'd, but it didn't help. This time I am planning to do it with 28mm tires. Top Tip: make sure you go to the right start point. Starting far too late was my principle reason for abandoning before reaching Imber.

Clemo · « **Reply #17 on:** 09 August, 2018, 07:25:50 pm »

Quote from: JohnL on 07 August, 2018, 07:02:59 pm

This looks rather interesting... how much rough stuff is there? And will I be ok on 28mm with not a lot of clearance?

John

https://youtu.be/9YCWVvgmraA taken a couple of years ago.

freeflow · « **Reply #18 on:** 10 August, 2018, 02:11:36 pm »

I've done this ride four times on a combination of Continue four seasons and, more recently, Vittoria Hypers. I've had two punctures. One due to glass on the road and the second a rusty nail on the track coming out of Imber.v

I enjoy the off road stuff for the variety it provides. So much so that last year I varied the end of the route to follow the Ridgeway all the way back to Sparsholt. I'll happily admit that the last 5 km was type 2 fun due to the greenlaning ruts and the dark.

JohnL · « **Reply #19 on:** 10 August, 2018, 05:23:46 pm »

I’m in! Looking forward to this, should be something a little different...

John

PaulF · « **Reply #20 on:** 10 August, 2018, 05:29:58 pm »

Quote from: freeflow on 10 August, 2018, 02:11:36 pm

.....

I enjoy the off road stuff for the variety it provides. So much so that last year I varied the end of the route to follow the Ridgeway all the way back to Sparsholt. I'll happily admit that the last 5 km was type 2 fun due to the greenlaning ruts and the dark.

Just be aware that the Ridgeway and the descent to Sparsholt aren’t in such good condition as they were last year...

jiberjaber · « **Reply #21 on:** 10 August, 2018, 05:34:14 pm »

Quote from: PaulF on 10 August, 2018, 05:29:58 pm

Quote from: freeflow on 10 August, 2018, 02:11:36 pm

.....

I enjoy the off road stuff for the variety it provides. So much so that last year I varied the end of the route to follow the Ridgeway all the way back to Sparsholt. I'll happily admit that the last 5 km was type 2 fun due to the greenlaning ruts and the dark.

Just be aware that the Ridgeway and the descent to Sparsholt aren’t in such good condition as they were last year...

Keen to know a bit more about this (slightly OT) I'm planning to use the ridgeway accessing it from East Hendred and then riding along to Chiseldon on my route down to Dorset.

PaulF · « **Reply #22 on:** 10 August, 2018, 05:57:11 pm »

Quote from: jiberjaber on 10 August, 2018, 05:34:14 pm

Quote from: PaulF on 10 August, 2018, 05:29:58 pm
Quote from: freeflow on 10 August, 2018, 02:11:36 pm

.....

I enjoy the off road stuff for the variety it provides. So much so that last year I varied the end of the route to follow the Ridgeway all the way back to Sparsholt. I'll happily admit that the last 5 km was type 2 fun due to the greenlaning ruts and the dark.

Just be aware that the Ridgeway and the descent to Sparsholt aren’t in such good condition as they were last year...

Keen to know a bit more about this (slightly OT) I'm planning to use the ridgeway accessing it from East Hendred and then riding along to Chiseldon on my route down to Dorset.

I’m smack in the middle of that section!

The road up from Hendred to the Ridgeway’s OK, potholed and eroded in places but fine. Next section is rutted, but not badly. West of Blowingstone it’s more chalky which is challenging in the wet. As you get towards Whitehorse Hill there’s a badly rutted descent that can be avoided if you take the path to the left but you need to know to look for the entry into it.

After that it’s pretty good as far as Wayland’s Smithy but I can’t help beyond there as I rarely go that far West.

Only caveat is that I ride up there on a mountain bike, but should be fine with narrower tyres. Let me know if I can help more

jiberjaber · « **Reply #23 on:** 10 August, 2018, 06:10:50 pm »

Smashing - Thanks Paul.

I'll be on 35mm minimum with 46/30, 11-34 and I'm travelling quite light, so should be OK I would expect.
I'm quite impressed with the google street view coverage along there.

If its a quagmire, I may need to think again about rerouting but sounds as though it should be OK, chalk path sounds similar to South Downs so familiar with the surface.

PaulF · « **Reply #24 on:** 10 August, 2018, 06:48:39 pm »

Gears! This be singlespeed country

. Rarely a quagmire on the Ridgeway itself, if it is you’ll probably have bigger problems on your journey!