Mad March - A River too Far - 15th March

[CrazyEnglishTriathlete]

Heading off for this at the weekend.  Anyone else going?

[Hot Flatus]

Yes. Doing the 200k.

Also doing a 200k the day before, so will be looking to scrape round rather than whizz round.

[CrazyEnglishTriathlete]

Last train back to Basingstoke is at 8:39pm so I can't be full value.  Have put the tribars back on the Enigma machine on the assumption that there will be headwinds on the first leg and hopefully get blown over Exmoor.  Was off the bike for 5 weeks (climbing in Scotland, various storms and a lurgy) but survived the club run on Sunday so plan to almost get round in daylight.

[Hot Flatus]

Yeah...should have a decent tailwind after the first 50k. All the way to the turn to ascend the Quantocks. After that...

The Horrorrrrr


But you'll easily make it back for your train.

[CrazyEnglishTriathlete]

.I've been up Crowcombe once, on my light bike with a 29" gear.  Am very glad the Enigma has disk brakes and 28mm tyres.

[Ian H]

In days of old I managed 58mph down towards Crowcombe.  I can't get to 50 nowadays.  Caution rules.

[Hot Flatus]

Not so much the descent, but cresting the top into a fucking frontal crosswind.  Ian wont remember it, but we both experienced this once on the C&Q 200 that came before this ride.

[Ajax Bay]

I'm in. HF can nurse me round again.

[Ian H]

...Ian wont remember it...

Oi!

I'll see you on Sunday.

[Hot Flatus]

I'm in. HF can nurse me round again.

I'm unlikely to appear, John. All things considered, battering myself with 2x200k with the ensuing fatigue and weakened immune system doesnt seem like such a bright idea.

[Ajax Bay]

Sorry about that. I recall you using the 'I did the Flyer yesterday' line ('Gosh' I thought) and only after a massive meal in Tiverton did you feel like cracking on.

[Hot Flatus]

Yeah. I dont think I've ever done the Exeter 200 without having done a 200 the day before.

I've got a slight sore throat. Kids have been off school, and I've got to keep one off til Tuesday because he has a persistent cough and had a temperature.

Audax is important, yes, but not that important. 

[CrazyEnglishTriathlete]

Weather forecast is a little damp for the morning.  Will drive down instead of taking the train as the South West Rail services back to Basingstoke and Waterloo tend to be like fridges.

[vorsprung]

I was out riding in Devon today (not on the event)- the rain at 8:30 to 9:30 was very heavy.
Where I was riding there was plenty of flooding

[Ian H]

The Clyst had filled the ford just outside Broadclyst.  It was knee-deep. 

[CrazyEnglishTriathlete]

The Clyst had filled the ford just outside Broadclyst.  It was knee-deep.

For those fans of Cressida Cowell's "How to train your dragon" novels (not the films vaguely based on the same characters) you will recognise that we were on the Viking training course "Canoeing with Bicycles".

It was rather damp at times but that didn't detract from enjoying a challenging route and great organisation.