I will open this thread with a treat. A Winter recce ride of the Flyer Perm!
The R Churn was well over the normal banks and I soon realised my big problem would be the low sun, creating strong reflections and glare from the myriad of roadside puddles. The R Coln at Fairford was full but contained as was the Thames at Lechlade; flooded in the fields but contained, so only the sun to contend with. As well as confirming the VH in Uffington, I bought ripe bananas for a break. On and up to the Ridgeway for the drop to Lambourn; river flowing well as it is often a dry river bed! After the next climb to the Berkshire Downs, I took another feed at my fav spot (great for snowdrops later) near Membury. I was using my bottom 28x28 regularly; and again out of Ramsbury. I love the run to Burbage, following rail and canal. On Thurs I can join the Soup kitchen (they are my Control for the Calendar event) at the Church Hall but today is Sat, so it is the garage for a break/Control. I chose the main road to Pewsey and decent road to Alton, again to miss the farm-style lanes. But that did not prevent a front P******e in Wilcot, caused by a tiny flint embedded in the top surface. 10mins daylight lost! This traverse to Lacock is another favourite, with a White Horse and chasing the canal to the TR $ BISHOPS CANNINGS. I realised a super sunset was developing and I might catch it around Bowden Hill. I missed the sun but the setting colours were respectable. Dropping to Lacock, the Shop was refusing customers at 1655, though clearly showing open hours to 1700. Standards! I took on more food and prepared for the dark. By Tetbury the chill was uncomfortable and later, I sensed crisp crunching in the verges. I changed gloves and was just warm enough. Final break in Tetbury and phone home with an ETA. I took 14% Bubbs Hill with due caution, as there is a pub at the bottom and no clear run out. Then the last 28x28 climb to the A435 to Seven Springs and fast descent to Charlton Kings for a 12hr total. Apart from the wall to wall sunshine, quiet roads and superb landscape views, the big memory is to the blinding glare (riding the Perm AC, rather than C, would have sorted but I needed to call into Uffington PO) and the later chill; just aspects of Winter riding.
Conditions in March can only be warmer and, hopefully, drier than 2013. But the 2 brilliant Uffington and Burbage Controls will be up to warming and feeding you. I will include an optional routing through Pewsey as a bad weather possible. And in Tetbury, the 150km riders will pass Veleton in Tetbury, a café that also does bikes. The new 200 (for 2014) finish avoids Bubbs Hill and A436 climb to ‘TR @ Park Corner $ DAGLINGWORTH’ and use the ‘in reverse’ Corker route to gain the Whiteway and a quiet return. The 150 will also have a Corker variation to avoid the A436 Chatcombe Pitch/Pegglesworth Hill climb from Seven Springs.
Hopefully, it will be a day for the shades.
