Author Topic: Rural South 300 (Read 16130 times)

diced_tread · « **on:** 20 May, 2014, 10:21:54 pm »

It’s been rested for a few years, but I thought I’d highlight that the Rural South 300 will be running again this July. A fine ride around the Downs of Hampshire, Sussex and Surrey.

Entries are now open

More info at: https://sites.google.com/site/thamesvalleyaudax/events-in-the-thames-valley-area/rural-south

Clunk Click · « **Reply #1 on:** 04 June, 2014, 08:30:24 pm »

Ooooh yes, July 26th. I've not done this ride but have heard tell that it is well worth doing. I need a 300 under my belt so it's in the diary

It's good to have the choice, but at the same time it's a bit of a shame it clashes with the Up The Downs and Down The Ups 200 and 100s - both good days out in themselves. I've ridden both of those in recent years though so am looking forward to trying out the Rural South instead.

bikey-mikey · « **Reply #2 on:** 05 June, 2014, 09:26:30 pm »

On my calendar - I'm a sucker for rides I've not done before !!

PAC · « **Reply #3 on:** 06 June, 2014, 08:55:38 pm »

Quote from: bikey-mikey on 05 June, 2014, 09:26:30 pm

On my calendar - I'm a sucker for rides I've not done before !!

This one's a great ride, so good to see it back. I just need to remember to go at your pace across the South Downs section

bikey-mikey · « **Reply #4 on:** 06 June, 2014, 09:05:25 pm »

Quote from: PAC on 06 June, 2014, 08:55:38 pm

Quote from: bikey-mikey on 05 June, 2014, 09:26:30 pm
On my calendar - I'm a sucker for rides I've not done before !!
This one's a great ride, so good to see it back. I just need to remember to go at your pace across the South Downs section

Yes, you deserve a good rest!!

arabella · « **Reply #5 on:** 07 May, 2015, 05:24:43 pm »

was thinking about entering this year's edition, on 27th June, seeing as how it was my first ever 300 and I've wanted to do it again ever since.

can anyone reccommend a camp site near the HQ. Turning up and caming in the HQ carpark is probably not a good idea as someone will want to park on top of my tent, or similar.

veloboy · « **Reply #6 on:** 07 May, 2015, 08:33:38 pm »

The Rural South is a great ride - it was my second Audax in 1998. It started off dry, then rain gradually enveloped the whole of the ride. Flints abound, I had many punctures, and ran out of tubes! I remember patching tubes under a rain cape on the side of the lanes (the patch didn't stick really well!).
I remember getting onto a groupeto, with Ian H and Jack Eason and eventually ruled into the finish at the hall. Trouble was, I had just missed the last train back to London. And the hall had to close. Someone suggested, 'just keep riding east, you'll arrive in London by daylight' - and that's what I had to do! I remember a kebab stand on the outskirts of Heathrow; then a puncture on Shaftesbury Ave in the West End (not fun) - - but I did eventually get home in Hackney (where i was living at the time) just before sunrise!
Still, I'll probably do this again, as later years were a truly great ride with generally very good weather!
Very much recommended!

marcusjb · « **Reply #7 on:** 07 May, 2015, 08:40:37 pm »

I am signed on for this one, it has such a good reputation with the ~~old gits~~ more experienced riders.

I don't think I can train it for the start time, so I will ride I guess. Might even ride back and see if I can find that kebab van.

αdαmsκι · « **Reply #8 on:** 07 May, 2015, 08:48:03 pm »

I have read a few excellent reviews of this ride and so entered last night. I dunno about camping, but I've booked a room in the Reading M4 eastbound Travelodge for the Friday night for £28. Hopefully I won't miss the final train back to London on the Saturday evening!

Hot Flatus · « **Reply #9 on:** 07 May, 2015, 10:47:40 pm »

For something that goes so close to London it is a great route. I really liked it, nothing spectacular, just a flowing, rolling ride.

JonB · « **Reply #10 on:** 08 May, 2015, 08:40:36 am »

I rode this last year on a very hot day. It was one of my rides of the year as pointed out above some great countryside and lovely rolling hills. At the most southerly point there are great views over Portsmouth. All the villages seemed to have cricket matches on! Controls are all good (the one in some kind of childrens' adventure centre was a bit ropey). It was hillier than I expected but that was largely my naivety in conflating no AAA points with flatness. I will try and do it again but it's a very early start from Bristol and a long drive home at the end.

Simon_A · « **Reply #11 on:** 14 May, 2015, 02:22:32 pm »

I've just entered + will be ECE'ing to 400k as my first attempt at the distance. Primarily a 95km out-leg to Wantage, topped up with the (probably very slow) ride straight home. Fingers crossed

Quote from: arabella on 07 May, 2015, 05:24:43 pm

can anyone reccommend a camp site near the HQ. Turning up and caming in the HQ carpark is probably not a good idea as someone will want to park on top of my tent, or similar.

Not much camping in this area generally, except by co-incidence at Wellington Country Park only a couple of miles down the road, see http://www.wellington-country-park.co.uk/camping-and-caravanning/ I haven't been to the park in years & have never camped there so can't comment on the site either way I'm afraid. However I'd assume it's very family orientated, thus busy until ~9PM when the little darlings are shoved off to bed so Mum & Dad can hit the plonk

arabella · « **Reply #12 on:** 20 May, 2015, 11:22:43 am »

and fate has intervened again so I won't be joining you. Away workwise during the week so can't be away also at the weekend.

Enjoy.
(Wellington campsite apparently priced to include free entry to the park as well)

jochta · « **Reply #13 on:** 20 May, 2015, 12:18:48 pm »

Entered. This will be my first 300.

αdαmsκι · « **Reply #14 on:** 23 June, 2015, 09:27:41 pm »

I've split the gpx track that is on www.tinyurl.com/rural-south in half (well, at Cosham which is 100 km into the route) and reduced the number of trackpoints. If anyone wants to grab the files they can be obtained from bikehike:

Part 1
Part 2

mattc · « **Reply #15 on:** 23 June, 2015, 11:18:01 pm »

In. A great ride if you like village cricket!

Probably riding with club newbie Chris (who posted on f***b*** about this). If he doesnt tear off he will have a lovely day (and look a lot fresher than me at the finish

marcusjb · « **Reply #16 on:** 23 June, 2015, 11:22:21 pm »

Looking forward to this now after a couple of very stressful weeks.

Been to see my man at the Bike Whisperer today to be prodded and poked and (hopefully) sorted from the position that broke me on my 600.

Staying overnight in reading on Friday and then aiming for last trains home to london. If I don't succeed, then I have another 50-60km to get to bed (or rock up at a travelodge and see if they will give me a bed for the night)

jochta · « **Reply #17 on:** 24 June, 2015, 01:45:50 pm »

I'm quite excited at the prospect of my first 300 and the forecast looks pretty decent as well

I've created routes for the five sections on Ride with GPS if anyone is interested...

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/8549364
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/8549373
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/8549382
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/8549690
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/8549692

You can download GPX/TCX as required.

Bus Shelter Bertie · « **Reply #18 on:** 24 June, 2015, 03:46:10 pm »

Excellent job Mr. Jochta, INFO controls as well - I've nabbed a copy, ta very much.

jochta · « **Reply #19 on:** 24 June, 2015, 05:25:00 pm »

Quote from: Bus Shelter Bertie on 24 June, 2015, 03:46:10 pm

Excellent job Mr. Jochta, INFO controls as well - I've nabbed a copy, ta very much.

No probs. Don't blame me if you get lost though

I've set the info controls a little bit before them as an aide memoir. I'll be using the route sheet as well BTW.

Simon_A · « **Reply #20 on:** 25 June, 2015, 09:32:55 am »

Apologies if everyone knew this but the routesheet was updated on 21/6 per:

https://sites.google.com/site/thamesvalleyaudax/events-in-the-thames-valley-area/rural-south
I rode the route last Friday. Based on this I've now uploaded an updated routesheet, with a few edits and corrections, so please ensure that you use this one on the day.

Cross-checking seems to show the only changes are at - 11.6km / 21.2km / 37.2km / 109.8km / 135.6km. Of course please check yourself, but in my view they are all minor except 37.2km as it refers to the Info Control.

Finally the route from 287km (-100m) to 289.5km can be replaced by NCN 23 as per the early part of the Anorak's Delight Perm (reversed). It's possibly a bit fiddly but does miss out the big A33 roundabout at 288.3km which is pretty busy & fast.

Looking forward to it all

jochta · « **Reply #21 on:** 25 June, 2015, 11:45:01 am »

Quote from: Simon_A on 25 June, 2015, 09:32:55 am

Apologies if everyone knew this but the routesheet was updated on 21/6 per:

https://sites.google.com/site/thamesvalleyaudax/events-in-the-thames-valley-area/rural-south
I rode the route last Friday. Based on this I've now uploaded an updated routesheet, with a few edits and corrections, so please ensure that you use this one on the day.

Cross-checking seems to show the only changes are at - 11.6km / 21.2km / 37.2km / 109.8km / 135.6km. Of course please check yourself, but in my view they are all minor except 37.2km as it refers to the Info Control.

Finally the route from 287km (-100m) to 289.5km can be replaced by NCN 23 as per the early part of the Anorak's Delight Perm (reversed). It's possibly a bit fiddly but does miss out the big A33 roundabout at 288.3km which is pretty busy & fast.

Looking forward to it all

Well spotted. None of the changes make any differences to the Ride with GPS routes I created as far as I can see.

αdαmsκι · « **Reply #22 on:** 25 June, 2015, 06:31:03 pm »

Fingers crossed Weather Bagel have got things right: http://www.weatherbagel.com/f/3aa737cc-0eeb-4966-9b34-8a80a0502e5e

bikey-mikey · « **Reply #23 on:** 26 June, 2015, 09:40:22 am »

I am just about to do my packing, and I normally do a last minute weather check to give me some sort of idea what to take.

Just checked the various controls' weather forecasts on the Met Office site, and all is looking good.

Highs of 22 degrees around Elstead mid afternoon, no less, and predominantly less than 5% chance of rain anywhere on course

I apologise in advance to everyone for my 'red kneed spider' look, following yesterdays ride in the sun in shorts !!

veloboy · « **Reply #24 on:** 26 June, 2015, 01:17:08 pm »

The weather is looking very good tomorrow! 22 degrees, westerly 10mph wind.

I'll be rocking up 30min late, as the first fast train from London gets into Reading at 05:52, so should be down to Beech Hill by 06:30. Guess it will be a game of catching up the field!