Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => Audax => Topic started by: Colinf on 04 April, 2019, 10:10:19 pm

Title: Hard boiled 300
Post by: Colinf on 04 April, 2019, 10:10:19 pm
Im riding the hard boiled 300 next weekend, can anyone help me out with a GPX file for it ??
Title: Re: Hard boiled 300
Post by: GPS on 05 April, 2019, 09:09:06 am
This page might do the trick http://www.wessexsr.org.uk/HB2019.HTML

Although, as with any ride, I'd always recommend that you double check the gpx against the routesheet of course.
Title: Re: Hard boiled 300
Post by: Colinf on 05 April, 2019, 09:22:22 am
Great..Many thanks..
Title: Re: Hard boiled 300
Post by: vorsprung on 05 April, 2019, 02:25:13 pm
Double check the GPX against sanity

I just looked and they are still going the mad route from Churchinford to Axminister

When you control at Churchinford, go back the way you've come, go R on the B3170, R on the A303, L at Stockland Hill (sp Stockland), follow that road for a long time and then L on the A35 for Axminister

Stockland Hill is the nicest road you are likely to ride on

The official Hard Boiled route isn't - the phrase "lunar landscape" or "roads that are like off road" spring to mind

I reckon that would save you 30m at least and you'd have fresher legs
Title: Re: Hard boiled 300
Post by: Colinf on 05 April, 2019, 02:28:41 pm
Thanks for the info, i will have look when I'm home later.
Title: Re: Hard boiled 300
Post by: andyp on 05 April, 2019, 08:01:42 pm
Double check the GPX against sanity

I just looked and they are still going the mad route from Churchinford to Axminister

When you control at Churchinford, go back the way you've come, go R on the B3170, R on the A303, L at Stockland Hill (sp Stockland), follow that road for a long time and then L on the A35 for Axminister

Stockland Hill is the nicest road you are likely to ride on

The official Hard Boiled route isn't - the phrase "lunar landscape" or "roads that are like off road" spring to mind

I reckon that would save you 30m at least and you'd have fresher legs

Still a fan of the Wessex ExperienceTM I see /s ...A303!?! A35???  :facepalm: Don't listen to him, come with us and enjoy the experience, the challenge, the floods, the mud: Churchinford to Axminster is Pure Cycling Joy On A Lane... first time I did it there was a bit where I thought 'if I wasn't riding with the organiser, I'd have been sure I'd taken a wrong turn onto a farm track to nowhere' - how often can you say that? :) I'm off to route check at 02:00. Can't wait. Not sane, but happy  :thumbsup:.

All being well, my tracker will be dropping dots on a map every 10 minutes here: http://bit.ly/2R5Z395
Title: Re: Hard boiled 300
Post by: vorsprung on 07 April, 2019, 11:57:33 am

Still a fan of the Wessex ExperienceTM I see /s ...A303!?! A35???  :facepalm: Don't listen to him, come with us and enjoy the experience, the challenge, the floods, the mud: Churchinford to Axminster is Pure Cycling Joy On A Lane... first time I did it there was a bit where I thought 'if I wasn't riding with the organiser, I'd have been sure I'd taken a wrong turn onto a farm track to nowhere' - how often can you say that? :) I'm off to route check at 02:00. Can't wait. Not sane, but happy  :thumbsup:.

All being well, my tracker will be dropping dots on a map every 10 minutes here: http://bit.ly/2R5Z395

Andyp you are the greatest, you are so enthusiastic, so happy
We must meet up again, pm me what rides you are doing this year
Title: Re: Hard boiled 300
Post by: GPS on 07 April, 2019, 07:22:45 pm
Well, I can’t wait ... I’ll be at Poole station next Saturday at 2am - with mudguards  ;)

Who else ?
Title: Re: Hard boiled 300
Post by: postie on 07 April, 2019, 09:36:13 pm
Yes in again, this will be my 10th double this year!!!!
Title: Re: Hard boiled 300
Post by: andyp on 08 April, 2019, 11:03:11 am
Route check ride was wonderful - for me, how Ian did it in the rain on Friday, I'm not sure: that must've been HARD... totally different 24 hours later.

The roads on the section mentioned above have been largely repaired, so there's gravel, but more than one survivable line around the corners. :thumbsup: and the descent into Axminster has been resurfaced, which made it more relaxed than usual.

bluebells starting to come out, primroses everywhere, and even an orchid on the road to Shave Cross.
Title: Re: Hard boiled 300
Post by: GPS on 08 April, 2019, 12:38:48 pm
Yes in again, this will be my 10th double this year!!!!

10 doubles !!  Impressive  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Hard boiled 300
Post by: ian_h on 08 April, 2019, 01:47:09 pm
Route check ride was wonderful - for me, how Ian did it in the rain on Friday, I'm not sure: that must've been HARD... totally different 24 hours later.

It was hard, type II fun. My shoes _still_ haven't completely dried out! Between andyp and myself we have two photos of the same piece of road just before Axminster less than 24 hours apart. In my photo its flooded almost bottom bracket deep. In his, it's bone dry.

Overall the route's in good condition (for a Wessex ride) and with a benign forecast at the moment, I reckon it'll be a superb day out. Might even be worth packing sunscreen ( @GPS ;) )
Title: Re: Hard boiled 300
Post by: GPS on 09 April, 2019, 09:23:05 am
Thanks for the reminder Ian !
Title: Re: Hard boiled 300
Post by: Krad on 09 April, 2019, 05:45:46 pm
Be my first hard boiled any tips?
Title: Re: Hard boiled 300
Post by: Bernster on 09 April, 2019, 05:52:23 pm
It's a ride of 2 halves - expect things to get difficult shortly before Axminster and for about 70k after!
Title: Re: Hard boiled 300
Post by: postie on 09 April, 2019, 06:02:21 pm
Don't bother bringing low gears- you won't need them!!   :demon:
Title: Re: Hard boiled 300
Post by: psyclist on 09 April, 2019, 06:57:18 pm
It'll be cold at the start, but it gets much colder in the interior before the sun makes an appearance.
Title: Re: Hard boiled 300
Post by: marcusjb on 09 April, 2019, 09:36:51 pm
It's a ride of 2 halves - expect things to get difficult shortly before Axminster and for about 70k after!

Yep. If you are close to the wire at Axminster, you are in trouble. It is about the most spiky 80km on any ride. Add an hour or more onto your normal mental calculations for ‘it will take me X to ride this last 100km’.

It is an amazing ride.

Title: Re: Hard boiled 300
Post by: andyp on 10 April, 2019, 08:57:40 am
Be my first hard boiled any tips?

Don't waste any time at all at the Amesbury control, that first stage is deceptively easy - you'll need all the time in hand later.
The sunrise as you go over Salisbury plain can be amazing, but it's behind you so don't forget to look back
Give yourself a point every time you recognise an intersection with another Wessex ride
If you're running short of time as you approach Axminster, you can stop at Costa at the top of the hill after the level crossing, and get a receipt. The station Café closes promptly, and it's slightly off route.

hope you have a good one!
Title: Re: Hard boiled 300
Post by: Krad on 10 April, 2019, 10:31:09 am
Thanks for the tips.  :thumbsup:

So Axminster I can just get a receipt from any shop etc? And I need to leave there no later that 3pm to give me time to get back to Pool?
Title: Re: Hard boiled 300
Post by: psyclist on 10 April, 2019, 11:39:33 am
So Axminster I can just get a receipt from any shop etc? And I need to leave there no later that 3pm to give me time to get back to Pool?

Any receipt from Axminster would be fine. The Station Cafe is good as there is plenty of space to park bikes, service is reasonably quick (in my experience), and you'll be amongst other riders you will no doubt have seen on the road thus far.

The guidance is that leaving Axminster by 3pm should allow sufficient time to get back to Poole. This guidance is no doubt made as there are a succession of hills in the next 70km or so which will slow you down, which others have advised up above.

For your first Hard Boiled, I think you'll be getting generally good weather, so enjoy  :)
Title: Re: Hard boiled 300
Post by: andyp on 10 April, 2019, 07:32:22 pm
And I need to leave there no later that 3pm to give me time to get back to Pool?
it is possible to leave later than 3 and get back for sure, so if you are later, don't panic, just ride: it's just the hills are so steep there's not much you can do to speed up: your speed is what it is... so it's best not to leave later, because if you miscalculate, unless you're real strong, you're a bit screwed ;-). It's an epic and awesome last section! ...and the bluebells and primroses are great this year.
Title: Re: Hard boiled 300
Post by: Krad on 11 April, 2019, 09:58:12 am
And I need to leave there no later that 3pm to give me time to get back to Pool?
it is possible to leave later than 3 and get back for sure, so if you are later, don't panic, just ride: it's just the hills are so steep there's not much you can do to speed up: your speed is what it is... so it's best not to leave later, because if you miscalculate, unless you're real strong, you're a bit screwed ;-). It's an epic and awesome last section! ...and the bluebells and primroses are great this year.

Thanks for the advise. Will aim to bag as much time as possible with out burning out  :thumbsup: Sort of looking forward to finding out how hard the hills are. Only thing i can think close would be the B842 going to Cambeltown.  Street View  (https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@55.7555296,-5.3957366,3a,75y,234.12h,87.87t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sENsgD_R1rZpKxNhv2cyfgg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)

Title: Re: Hard boiled 300
Post by: Colinf on 11 April, 2019, 10:33:32 pm
Any suggestions as to where to park the car in or around the area ??
Title: Re: Hard boiled 300
Post by: Bernster on 12 April, 2019, 11:01:06 am
We parked in Hamworthy opposite the park last year - seemed to be plenty of unrestricted street parking there, and only a short ride to the station. Someone else who knows the area better may be able to suggest a more optimal spot.
Title: Re: Hard boiled 300
Post by: andyp on 13 April, 2019, 08:43:18 am
GPS is carrying the GPS tracker ...dots flying along the map here: http://bit.ly/2R5Z395
Title: Re: Hard boiled 300
Post by: peter simplex on 04 February, 2020, 12:05:50 am
ATM,  looks like no trains out from Poole towards London all weekend 4/5 April 2020. You can arrive but you can't leave.  I don't have time or inclination  for an overnight, then ride to Southampton for a train on Sunday.  Another time....
Title: Re: Hard boiled 300
Post by: parkysouthlondon on 05 February, 2020, 10:37:53 pm
ATM,  looks like no trains out from Poole towards London all weekend 4/5 April 2020. You can arrive but you can't leave.  I don't have time or inclination  for an overnight, then ride to Southampton for a train on Sunday.  Another time....
Best option is to ride the Dorset Coast 200 on the Sunday. A perfect weekend of cycling.
Title: Re: Hard boiled 300
Post by: peter simplex on 06 February, 2020, 05:44:06 pm
ATM,  looks like no trains out from Poole towards London all weekend 4/5 April 2020. You can arrive but you can't leave.  I don't have time or inclination  for an overnight, then ride to Southampton for a train on Sunday.  Another time....
Best option is to ride the Dorset Coast 200 on the Sunday. A perfect weekend of cycling.
And if you race round the Dorset Coast, there's an 18.18 train waiting for you, the only one between Poole and Southampton all weekend for some strange reason. 
Title: Re: Hard boiled 300
Post by: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 07 February, 2020, 02:00:46 pm
ATM,  looks like no trains out from Poole towards London all weekend 4/5 April 2020. You can arrive but you can't leave.  I don't have time or inclination  for an overnight, then ride to Southampton for a train on Sunday.  Another time....
Best option is to ride the Dorset Coast 200 on the Sunday. A perfect weekend of cycling.
And if you race round the Dorset Coast, there's an 18.18 train waiting for you, the only one between Poole and Southampton all weekend for some strange reason.

There are ongoing problems at Eastleigh because of a freight train derailment at Eastleigh last week.  Network Rail are going to take months to fix it. 
Title: Re: Hard boiled 300
Post by: Colinf on 07 February, 2020, 06:26:51 pm
Im just about to send off my entry for this, i have also entered the Dorset coast on the Sunday. I will be driving down to Poole from High Wycombe  in my Van,  I am  staying in the Poole Travel lodge on the Saturday evening then driving back Sunday evening. As the trains are going to be a problem over the weekend i have space in the van of anyone wants a lift..
Title: Re: Hard boiled 300
Post by: rob on 07 February, 2020, 08:44:11 pm
Must get organised for this.  If you have a running other half like me it is the Bournemouth half on the Sunday.