Author Topic: Old Roads and Drove Roads 200, 20/08/2016 (Read 25271 times)

iddu · « **on:** 15 December, 2015, 10:05:52 pm »

Hurrah - SPTA Newsletter up, so (subject to hall/the bang boyz changing their minds), let's go for 20th Aug...

http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/16-290/

backchatter: https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=88622

freeflow · « **Reply #1 on:** 16 December, 2015, 08:05:06 am »

I'm in. Hopefully a bit drier next year.

menthel · « **Reply #2 on:** 17 December, 2015, 11:47:16 am »

Entered. Hopefully there will not be any injury based issues this year to stop me Audaxing. Looks like it will be one for the Fratello Disc and its 30mm Strada Biancas!

iddu · « **Reply #3 on:** 01 February, 2016, 10:52:24 am »

Mmm, thank you for the puff piece

Moar vittles at breakfast then..

red_riviera · « **Reply #4 on:** 01 February, 2016, 09:28:40 pm »

Looks great, I'm in!

Clemo · « **Reply #5 on:** 01 February, 2016, 09:39:36 pm »

Ride this folks its ace

cotteredcrank · « **Reply #6 on:** 10 February, 2016, 02:23:27 pm »

Quote from: Clemo on 01 February, 2016, 09:39:36 pm

Ride this folks its ace

+1

LiamFitz · « **Reply #7 on:** 12 February, 2016, 09:32:35 pm »

This was easily one of the best rides i did last year. Shite weather, a serous off that totalled my iPhone and multiple visits from the P-fairy...

But amazing views of the gunnery ranges on Salisbury Plain, astonishing Imber and a beautiful run along the ridgeway.

If you haven't signed up yet get a move on!

Liam

menthel · « **Reply #8 on:** 21 February, 2016, 04:13:15 pm »

Going to need somewhere to stay the night before. Any recommendations for places that are bike friendly?

menthel · « **Reply #9 on:** 22 February, 2016, 11:13:00 pm »

Some idiot got his sparsholts confused. Now I realise it's the one in Oxfordshire...

So places to stay? Also, would anyone be heading up from my neck of the woods? I am trying to avoid taking the car for an extended period so as not to upset the wife and someone to get there with by whatever means would be good!

NeilH · « **Reply #10 on:** 23 February, 2016, 11:02:42 am »

http://www.courthill.org.uk/ would be worth investigation - independent hostel. I've not stayed there, but I've used the Cafe when hiking in the area, and it seems nice.

Last year when I did Old Roads and Drove Roads I treated myself to an over the night stay before at the pub in Sparsholt (the Star Inn). It's very upmarket, pricey, and I looked my bike up to a fence outside, rather than enquiring about storage (it's not the kind of place where you take a bike into the room).

menthel · « **Reply #11 on:** 23 February, 2016, 12:02:39 pm »

Thanks- I think I am too old for bunk houses, I like a little bit of luxury!

I will have a look at the pub and also scan Air BnB etc for smaller places.

andyoxon · « **Reply #12 on:** 23 February, 2016, 12:19:25 pm »

Quote from: menthel on 23 February, 2016, 12:02:39 pm

Thanks- I think I am too old for bunk houses, I like a little bit of luxury!

I will have a look at the pub and also scan Air BnB etc for smaller places.

Didcot (Milton interchange) Premier Inn - may be some saver/flex deals available... Think ~10-15mls away.

menthel · « **Reply #13 on:** 23 February, 2016, 12:53:48 pm »

Thanks! Looks possible, as well as a couple of B&Bs- one is nice and close so I will probably go for that!

iddu · « **Reply #14 on:** 23 February, 2016, 01:26:35 pm »

Quote from: menthel on 23 February, 2016, 12:53:48 pm

Thanks! Looks possible, as well as a couple of B&Bs- one is nice and close so I will probably go for that!

There are a few WarmShowers hosts that side of the ~~riff-raff border~~ Ridgeway

menthel · « **Reply #15 on:** 23 February, 2016, 01:32:37 pm »

Thanks- have found somewhere nice looking in East Chellow for a reasonable rate. Looks none too far away for Didcot and the station so that I can probably train it there and back from Paddington.

Edit- sorry if I seem all keen but this is probably my only substantial "me" time for the year. A little bit of P&Q is sometimes required...

CrazyEnglishTriathlete · « **Reply #16 on:** 18 June, 2016, 03:19:19 pm »

I'm in. Part of my replanned season to try to resurrect my SR after overambitious failures at 400 and 600. Have been looking at this since Iddu set it up, but always had other commitments until this year.

inappropriate_bike · « **Reply #17 on:** 20 July, 2016, 10:47:26 am »

I'm also signed up for this

A quick public service announcement for those coming from London, return tickets to Didcot Parkway are currently £25 and there are still bike spaces available... unless I took the last ones!

I've booked the 5:17am train from Paddington to Didcot which gets in at 6:07am. Then it's a gentle 13 mile ride from Didcot to Sparsholt in time for a 7:30am start.

More tricky is the return journey since GWR have a mandatory cycle reservation policy and reservations can only be made up to 2 hours before departure.

I've booked on the 7:30pm train (arr. London 8:15pm) assuming a 10 hour 200, 1 hour return to Didcot, and 1 hour contingency. But I'll have the GWR number to hand and if everything goes completely foxtrot oscar the 4 hour ride from Didcot to London is very pretty and usually wind-assisted.

menthel · « **Reply #18 on:** 21 July, 2016, 02:42:16 pm »

Missing this now- I am unfit and the car that would have got me there got written off when our road flooded. Hopefully next year...

Diesel · « **Reply #19 on:** 31 July, 2016, 08:02:55 pm »

I've entered. Looks like a great event and interesting route.

Rod Marton · « **Reply #20 on:** 01 August, 2016, 08:48:49 am »

I'm in too. An event I've meant to ride in previous years but never had the weekend free.

And, for inappropriate_bike, don't worry about too much about GWRs bike policy. All that has happened is that the number of bikes on the train has plummeted since its introduction, and official policy is now to allow unreserved bikes on if there is space -- and there almost certainly will be space. And the staff at Didcot are very helpful.

If the worst comes to the worst the stopping trains are still unreserved... but it will be a slow trip back.

HK · « **Reply #21 on:** 01 August, 2016, 01:51:53 pm »

I'm just about to hit the entry button on this. Been distracted pedalling three wheels for 400km. Super excited as we have ruff stuff fellowship meets AUK. Audax Oz has a lot of such rides, they call them mixed terrain. So very polite!!!

Have booked B&B close to the start for night before plus train. So if anyone fancies meeting up for dinner I'm in. HK

Ps the bike butler has fettled the Condor in readiness for this!

SoreTween · « **Reply #22 on:** 01 August, 2016, 10:17:08 pm »

Wishing enormously I could do this, I love the area and mix of terrains. How terrible would this be for:

BN: An audax noob
GN: With good sense of direction and map skills
BN: Never done an imperial century
GN: Has done metric centuries on consecutive days fully loaded
BN: Never worked out how to use the route capabilities of his Garmin 500
GN: Appropriate steed and reasonable selection of gear
BN: Who would be challenged by the speed even at full value given the 1940m of up
GN: Not too proud in the slightest should he need to bail at Warminster (unlikely) or Melksham (might be the sensible thing with the ride from Swinedon to HQ to be tackled.)

PaulF · « **Reply #23 on:** 01 August, 2016, 10:28:23 pm »

Quote from: HK on 01 August, 2016, 01:51:53 pm

I'm just about to hit the entry button on this. Been distracted pedalling three wheels for 400km. Super excited as we have ruff stuff fellowship meets AUK. Audax Oz has a lot of such rides, they call them mixed terrain. So very polite!!!

GHave booked B&B close to the start for night before plus train. So if anyone fancies meeting up for dinner I'm in. HK

Ps the bike butler has fettled the Condor in readiness for this!

Not sure how close you'll be but if you're in Sparsholt itself the only option for dinner is The Star which you may need to book for in advance. It's a nice pub but a bit pricey!

inappropriate_bike · « **Reply #24 on:** 01 August, 2016, 10:47:19 pm »

Quote from: Rod Marton on 01 August, 2016, 08:48:49 am

And, for inappropriate_bike, don't worry about too much about GWRs bike policy. All that has happened is that the number of bikes on the train has plummeted since its introduction, and official policy is now to allow unreserved bikes on if there is space -- and there almost certainly will be space. And the staff at Didcot are very helpful.

Thanks! That is great news.