13th Hills and Mills Saturday 25th January 2020 09.00

[Mad Jack]

Results submitted etc, well done to everyone that completed the pre Mad Jacks JSM training event  lots of talk of PBP, usually riders that complete these are successful with that

Oh and don't forget, Anton Brown is running (his version/ not original route) the Venta 305Km which was on loan to Dave Hudson (his version/ not original route) which was (in name only) my original version- An Adventure to Venta 305 back in 1997 (the wet one) and 1999 (the hot one), 95 entered if my memory serves me correct! 3 am start back in the day and rolled under the South Downs to Ditchling and beyond joining the A272 at Buckbarn, then roll to East Meon, Winchester outskirts- Easton etc then back to Cocking and Pyecombe..     See the Venta thread for more details...

[Mad Jack]

Thanks for all your entries so far there's around twenty places left for this years event with a closing date of the 15th, so don't delay enter today 

www.aukweb.net/events/detail/20-77/

[mmmmartin]

  twenty places left for this years event with a closing date of the 15th

www.aukweb.net/events/detail/20-77/

Looks like it'll fill up again, as usual. See you in Mayfield.

[mmmmartin]

Am hoping the weather is better than tonight.......

[Mad Jack]

Am hoping the weather is better than tonight.......

Good weather for shaking out any dead wood from the trees and hedges 
Nearly sold out and the last chance to enter, closes tonight at 23.59 

[Mad Jack]

Route checked and route sheet updated today, please note-

Due to the constant rain (some accounts of 17 inches nr Eastbourne since October).
Some of the lanes are awash with gravel & mud from the fields run off.

There are also hidden potholes disguised as puddles in some areas, you have been warned.
If in doubt dismount and walk there are only a few areas like the top of Argos hill
from 36.00km and the descent down Post Mill Lane at 36.79km to the T.

There are however some new surfaces, which are a joy to ride.

Road closure sign at 11.93km on White Horse Rd, but this will not effect the L at 12.10km Churches Green Lane.

There's a sign missing @ 14.36 km but your going Left and following the road. ( $ did say Woods Corner).

Old cuckoo trail Bridge has been removed at 42.65km, but they have left the buttresses.

There's a massive pothole hidden in a puddle between 57.77 km and the INFO at 58.67 km, so avoid the right hand side of the lane on this section just before the INFO!

Route sheet has been updated.

Everything else is OK as of today, a final route check may happen over the weekend. 

Please make sure you refer to the route sheet for info locations and fill in the answers in the brevet card if riding solely
with GPX / GPS, sorry if you present you brevet at the finish to us with no info answers filled in,
your brevet will not be validated so no brevet!

If your intension is to ECE this event (yes please do), please ensure you arrive at the start in good time, we will be rolling on to Mayfield
and packed up by 09.00, if you are late starting then you will miss the first secret control!     

[mmmmartin]

Has this filled up, as it usually does?

[Mad Jack]

Has this filled up, as it usually does?

A good entry of 72 with a few spare cards left, PM me if you want to ride (on a first come first served basis).

There's a few addition observations to take note of-

Re: 57.77 km to Info at 58.67 km, there are three potholes along this section, two on the left hand side and as mentioned one large one just by the sign on the right hand side, I have reported this to East Sussex Highways so It is logged on their website, hopefully they will be along to repair this, I did see a team out Nr Mayfield on Friday so lets hope they do so.

63.08 km on the B2188 (Black Hil), there are numerous pot holes along here on the descent, mainly at the car parks along to 67.20 and the right turn up Hubbards Hill so please be aware!
 

71.11 1st exit at MRAB mind the pothole on the left as you turn be aware! Also Under the rail bridge further down on this section in Jarvis Brook, which is uneven so easy does it through here.

Please ride as you would normally ride along roads with potholes.

[Mad Jack]

Final notes on the route up to the 1st INFO-

Also see previous notes above.

07.07 km to 0922 Trolliloes lane- numerous pot holes, surface water and a flooded section in the dip by the bridge/ stream but this is only shallow. Take it easy through this section.

09.22 km L $ Iwood lane (by Pylon) this section is uneven with gravel and potholes, take it easy along this section to 11.93km

11.93km R @T- the Road Closed sign has moved to before this Junction on the left, No problem as the next instruction- L turn on Churches Green lane is not affected.

13.18km keep R no $ - there's some potholes lurking up to the Tri 13.75 km and a large pothole as you have turned R @ the Tri on Padgham Lane. Again be aware!

14.35km L @ Tri $ Woods Corner -there's a brand new sign gone in, mind the potholes up to the L @T along to 15.02 KM

17.84 L @ T INFO, mind the first section just beyond the brow and start of descent there's a pot hole lurking there.

Again please ride as you normally do on a non event where pot holes are present, not all potholes, uneven surfaces, gravel etc are noted on the route sheet or in these notes. Be aware!

All cards have been sorted and are ready to hand out in the morning, please bring a pen/ pencil for the six info control that must be filled in.

Please be along early as we intend to roll @ 09.00 to the Mayfield control etc.

These notes will be available to read at the start, please check your name and number and mention these to the brevet card team.

Weather is-https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2647048 (other providers also supply this).

Tea and coffee etc will be available from 08.00, see all of you that have entered then 
 

[mmmmartin]

I think I'm not alone in thinking that the number of potholes on this route - and on roads in the south-east in general - that have been allowed to appear is
A) large, and
B) an absolute bluddy scandal.

[Martin]

I think I'm not alone in thinking that the number of potholes on this route - and on roads in the south-east in general - that have been allowed to appear is
A) large, and
B) an absolute bluddy scandal.

not especially, this route along with many others (including mine even in summer) has always suffered from them. Good lights and careful / slow as required riding in a group will be fine

[grimpeur du sudocrem]

Thanks all for a thoroughly enjoyable and tough ride, great to see so many orgs helping out or riding as well.

And many thanks too to the Pink Cabbage in Mayfield for cheerfully feeding us on the way out and the way back too 

[Martin]

+1 for tough! I hadn't done Hubbards Hill on this event before but knew what to expect having foolishly reversed Meridian Hills a few years ago 

Very nice café at Mayfield 

Thanks MJ Anton Lurcio and Phixie 

[rob]

I enjoyed that as I start doing some lumpy stuff again.  Couldn’t really hang around as I had to be in the Midlands this evening.  Thanks to the team for organising.

Ride 2 of GdS done.  Roll on Mad Jacks.

[Mad Jack]

Well done to all that finished and to those that started.

Good to see the old faces too 

I have a few queries that I need riders to respond to before I can submit the results to AUK, please check your emails.

Full report to follow.

Thanks team for your sterling work, Anton on tea and parking duty's thanks for covering for Martin (hope your ankle gets better).

Thanks Chris for stamping in Mayfield and Richard at the finish.

The Pink Cabbage is superb and the smell of imported coffee was amazing, the hot food is superb, thanks to the lovely Lucy and all the girls for looking after us 

[Mad Jack]

Results submitted to AUK 

76 Entered, 62 on the road (1 pre rode), 13 DNS, 7 DNF or opted for non validation. 4 ECE'd & one never made it to the start in time (27mins late)
One tandem made good time and finished strong.

Weather was OK but misty and cooler later but on the + side of the temperature scale and not like the preceding week! 

Thanks again to the team, see you in a few weeks for Mad Jack's.. 

[DavV]

Thanks Andy, Chris, Anton and Richard for a superbly and thoughtfully organised ride. The amount of pre-ride route checking was really helpful and well worth it.