Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => Audax => Topic started by: bikenerd on 03 April, 2008, 11:48:35 am

Title: Harlequin Hack 100km, near Oxford, 13th April
Post by: bikenerd on 03 April, 2008, 11:48:35 am: I'll be doing this ride. Anyone else fancy it? It starts in Northmoor which is just to the west of Oxford.
It's a rather easy 100km with lots of delicious cake. Exceptionally suitable for fixies. Route is roughly Oxford->Chipping Norton->Uffington->Oxford.
Getting to the start is an approximately 13km cycle from Oxford station. I can meet people there if they need a guide.
Title: Re: Harlequin Hack 100km, near Oxford, 13th April
Post by: daveb on 03 April, 2008, 04:59:06 pm: I'm tempted. Do you know if on-the-line entries are permitted?
Title: Re: Harlequin Hack 100km, near Oxford, 13th April
Post by: bikenerd on 03 April, 2008, 05:24:51 pm: Quote from: daveb on 03 April, 2008, 04:59:06 pm
I'm tempted. Do you know if on-the-line entries are permitted?
I don't, I'm afraid. The calendar doesn't explicitly say online entries are not allowed.
Best to check with the organiser.
I must remember to buy some stamps to actually send my entry or I'll end up attempting on-the-line. :(
Title: Re: Harlequin Hack 100km, near Oxford, 13th April
Post by: JBB on 12 April, 2008, 09:45:18 pm: I'm in - should be packing not typing!

Julia
Title: Re: Harlequin Hack 100km, near Oxford, 13th April
Post by: mattc on 13 April, 2008, 06:57:08 pm: I'm 50/50. Pros - near home(ish), great cake at WI hall in Uffington, option to pack after said cake and ride straight home.
Cons: making a decision, and doing the paperwork.

EDIT:
Oops, for some reason I thought this was next week! Doesn't time fly ...

Was fun had? Better weather than 2006, IIRC
Title: Re: Harlequin Hack 100km, near Oxford, 13th April
Post by: bikenerd on 15 April, 2008, 12:27:01 pm: Quote from: mattc on 13 April, 2008, 06:57:08 pm
Was fun had? Better weather than 2006, IIRC

A good, if surprisingly difficult day. I last did it in 2006 as my first Audax and remember it being rather easy. Maybe this year my lack of performance was down to the half a bottle of wine I drank the night before (oops) or the fact that, on the 2nd section, I was out on my own and actually had to pedal downhill.
However, the weather held off, I only got caught in a couple of short hail showers, the food was as excellent as I remembered it to be, the scenery around Chipping Norton and Uffington is beautiful and I managed to tag along with the West Oxon CTCers for the final stretch, making it a lot easier and helping me get in under 6 hours. I was hoping to get in under 5 though - must ride my bike more!
I rode to and from the start from Oxford so in grand total the mileage for the day was a gnats whiskers short of 160km, so I'm going to claim my first Imperial century of the year. Hurrah! :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Harlequin Hack 100km, near Oxford, 13th April
Post by: JBB on 15 April, 2008, 12:50:22 pm: I enjoyed it. Went round at the back with the organiser on fixed and did the domestique bit for 2 other members of the host club who are both somewhat older than I am. Stopped for a picnic at Curdridge (home made pork pie - utterly suberb). Got rained/hailed on once after Chipping Norton but otherwise dry. A real contrast to last year when I got sun-burned legs! A lot slower but I wasn't rushing :)