Author Topic: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09  (Read 9104 times)

vistaed

  • Real name: James
    • Everyday stories
Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #25 on: 01 April, 2009, 11:15:44 am »
I'll keep an eye open for you Dave. I'm on a Cotic roadrat with silly red brake pads and red hubs and trying to beat everyone to the first hill.
after hardship comes ease -
 www.strava.com/athletes/188220

Ilpompino

Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #26 on: 01 April, 2009, 08:21:52 pm »
All sorted here, both bikes looking SUPER  8)

See you on Saturday

Andy

Contact Entry Central and see if they've still got the records?

Need to order some tyres, swap sprockets, change handlebars and whip off the mudguards for next weekend.

Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #27 on: 01 April, 2009, 09:28:58 pm »
Might need to leave those mudguards on  ;)

Chris N

Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #28 on: 01 April, 2009, 09:40:18 pm »
Looking a bit damp, isn't it?  I shan't bother giving it a clean first.

Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #29 on: 01 April, 2009, 09:42:58 pm »
I've dug the crosser out, replaced the disc pads, greased the headset, and checked everything else over.  Will be bunging crud catchers on for the big day.  :thumbsup:

vistaed

  • Real name: James
    • Everyday stories
Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #30 on: 03 April, 2009, 10:56:41 am »
No mud catching devices for me, more mud more fun!
after hardship comes ease -
 www.strava.com/athletes/188220

Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #31 on: 03 April, 2009, 05:10:54 pm »
I'll know to push you off into it then  ;D

no97trap

Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #32 on: 03 April, 2009, 10:06:33 pm »
Looking forward to catching up with y'all. I'll be with a gang (13) of Stourbug riders (mostly female) all wearing red and black. Dunedin is in our gang.

vistaed

  • Real name: James
    • Everyday stories
Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #33 on: 05 April, 2009, 08:43:35 pm »
The HONC, first time for me. I rode it on the Roadrat with 35mm tires, next time I will use more rubber, I punctured twice, and wiped out twice! I now have a hole in my knee for the first time in about 10 years.  Despite the punctures, the spills and the multiple wrong turns I manged to get home at 2.15pm. Bread pudding at the food station was good.  ;D

It was a great ride and one I will do again next year. :thumbsup:
after hardship comes ease -
 www.strava.com/athletes/188220

Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #34 on: 05 April, 2009, 09:28:38 pm »
Wasn't quite sure what was left in the tank after yesterday's 200k and a really bad night's sleep, so planned to set off hard and see how far I got round the 100k course before fading but made the mistake of not being on the front of the start line, and spent the first hour fighting my way through the chaos. Was a bit of a PITA to be honest.  The uphills were blocked with panting mtb riders wobbling all over the place.

Eventually managed to get past hundreds and hundreds of people into a bit of open space.  Up front the wheat had seperated from the chaff and everyone was in small groups moving at the same speed. It was good.  Full-on insane madness.

Taking my crosser proved to be a very bad choice though... fat aluminium tubes and no suspension :o  Got so shaken on some of the fast rutted downhills that I actually couldn't see. Wish I had taken the MTB.  Started to get fed up with hooning past the mtb'ers on the uphills only to have them shoot past me on the descents thanks to their full-sus, with me vibrating so much I could hear my brain slapping against the sides of my skull. 

Got to the 50k point after 2h 30, nice cup of tea and a Bakewell tart. Decided I'd had enough of being vibrated and also recognised that my (and others) fatigue levels might lead to a nasty high speed spill, so headed off on an impromptu tour of the villages of the North Cotswolds on my own.... had a lovely time, topped off by a lovely fit young lady on a white carbon Trek stopping to talk to me as I was studying a map on the way back to Winchcombe 

A good day out, but if I do it again I'll take the MTB, make sure I'm in the front of the other 1099 riders at the start line and not do a 200k the day before.

Definitely a good event though.

Chris N

Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #35 on: 05 April, 2009, 09:34:01 pm »
I really enjoyed that - set off right at the very back of the group, leaving the start at about 9.15.  Slow going up to the top of the first hill, but a pretty good way to warm up (and make sure my brakes were working).  Started to enjoy it after clearing the big groups of riders - some fairly challenging climbs and nice fast descents.  Bit of a silly grin on my chops on the bridleways around Cleeve Hill - not had that much fun on a bke for a long time!

Agree about needing fatter tyres - I'm going to have to get some 40 or 42mm tyres for the 'rat next time I try something like that.

Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #36 on: 05 April, 2009, 09:37:46 pm »
Hats off to doing it on fixed... I wouldn't have  :o

Chris N

Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #37 on: 05 April, 2009, 09:40:13 pm »
It was good - 57" worked really well.  Only walked two climbs, once where I got caught up in a bunch and once where I got bounced into the side of rut.  Wrists a bit achey now.

Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #38 on: 05 April, 2009, 09:47:55 pm »
Apart from the climbs, I spent all the ride on the drops to try and minimise the impact

Chris N

Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #39 on: 05 April, 2009, 09:51:41 pm »
I'm going to go back to Midge bars on the 'rat - looks like it'll be staying in off-road mode for a while. :D

Ilpompino

Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #40 on: 05 April, 2009, 10:11:01 pm »
Have to agree with Chris (thanks for your company), it was a great day but quite tough on the Pompino.

Must congratulate the wife as she doesn't ride off road at all and did really well today, her Marin Point may never be the same again. :-)

Pomp will be going back to road trim for the summer.

Andy

Re: Hell of the North Cotswolds - 05/04/09
« Reply #41 on: 05 April, 2009, 10:15:47 pm »
Nice day out. I was even given a HONC polo shirt after the event for just standing around at a couple of road junctions (and putting pen to several hundred cards).  ;)