Border Castles 13.09.2014

[Under the arches]

Anyone in for this.

Not looking forward to Star Hill again  .

This was my first 200k'er last year, and will be the first 200k'er audax this year

[Paul Rainbow]

Im in 

Looking forward to this excellent route!

Sure there will be a group of us riding out from Bristol and ECEing to a 300km if anyones interested… Usual meeting point at the Welly

[Bairdy]

I love this ride, but not sure I can make it yet.
Might have to enter and worry about it later.

No ECE for me, the 200 is so perfectly formed I think the extra 100km might be detrimental to the integrity of the organisers original vision.

(_{That's a beauty, I'll use that again....and again}  )

[peterr56]

I'm in, will give me 3 AAA points to get me over 20! Will ride from home so see you after Tockington

[jamesld8]

Thinking about it---any info about a routesheet / .gpx file ? The link to wyecycles doesn`t seem have any info about these

[Banjo]

Im still mulling this one over .Not sure if I am up to a triple AA 200 at the moment after not doing much lately but think I will probably give it a go..
Hope Nik isnt hoping to get home early
Would also appreciate a link to the route gpx or something to have a look at if someone could oblige.

[Under the arches]

I know its a triple A'er but it isnt too bad. There are some really nice flat sections from Ross to Leominster, but then starts getting hilly from Grosmont.

And then the horror that is Star Hill 

The a nice run down from Devauden.

[adam w]

also interested in the .gpx. Can anyone verify if the .gpx above remains valid?

[Hot Flatus]

Bump

Need a gpx too

[adam w]

I've made this one, all the controls match the route sheet and the .tcx includes the controls and info controls if you want garmin alerts

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/5947509

[NigelS]

Has anyone had a routesheet for this year's event? Adam's gpx matches my track from last year apart from a short section between Madley and Ewyas Harold.

[adam w]

Here it is, Nic the organiser sent it round Aug 20th

https://www.dropbox.com/s/r24tgu5pxdsaz21/Border%20Castles%202014%20b%20%281%29.pdf?dl=0


Also, Nigel you were correct, there was a mistake between Madley and Ewyas Harold, now corrected

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/5947509

[NigelS]

Thanks Adam. I must have missed or deleted Nic's email somehow.

This is always a great ride: see you on Saturday!

[Tewdric]

Sadly I'll be at the Usk show with the family, otherwise I'd have been in like a shot.  It's a cracking route!

[Hot Flatus]

What a brilliant route. Quite fast too in bits, good balance of lumpiness and flat.

Had a great day out. Had great company all day and met JohnB, Nigel S and Peter 56. Cyclofabrica towed us all round at a steady pace, thanks Paul!

[JonB]

I had a really good day, enjoyed it much more than last year (I didn't get lost!).  Good company all the way around and managed to hold the pace of the big group led by cyclofabrica on the 3rd section but cracked toward Grosmont, took it easy on the last section as I knew this was the lumpiest. 

Good to meet Flatus and NigelS and it was nice to ride out with ACB to and from Bristol and through much of the ride.

Thanks to Nik for organising.

[Banjo]

Great route , enjoyed the day despite my fitness being at an all time low at the moment. got back with minutes to spare

Complete novice error didnt eat enough in the morning and almost bonked just short of Croft Castle.Then had a fairy visit with just a mile or so to go. Big meal with cake and custard as well set me up for a more enjoyable second half.

Being a full value rider i needed my lights on the Raglan to Chepstow bit. luckilly had remembered them as that road really is black at night. Star hill defeated me and had to walk some of it.

On the plus side I didnt get any cramps which tbh I thought I would.

Would like to visit the Angel pub again one day with enough time for a pint and to savour the atmosphere.
Thank you Nik for another great ride.

[Paul Rainbow]

Yes really good fun yesterday    Never ridden an event with such a large group riding together virtually the whole day!

Very sociable day out and although the weather did not quite give us the views we might have had it still remains one of my favourite 200kms

Thanks to Nik & Jen for another great event    And too many names to mention providing company and banter all day!

few pics...

[Under the arches]

Great ride, despite Gary garmin giving up the ghost whilst I was tucking into my baked spud and beans. Never mind i thought good job I have the back up battery pack. This worked ok until it kept beeping. Then we found out that we were off course. 

So I plugged Grosmont in and we were ok for a bit then it felt wrong so we stopped. Then I had a sense of hoomer by pass and was told to sit down!   

So we went back the way we came and bumped into a group by Madley, saying what happened to you lot, you left before us. We then discovered we did about 13miles extra! But we followed a bloke who's name I forget, with a beautiful hand built bike. Sorry mate but thanks for guiding us back!

Plus I was annoyed as I had come with enough for a week away let alone a day  then the saddle bag came unhitched and stuck in the back wheel causing me to skid about 30 yards by  the school dropping into Chepstow. Still we got into the 3tuns T about a 1915, slower than my first stab at this last year. A great day out, but harder than I remember. Plus I only stopped 3times up Star hill, instead of 8 like last year.   

[adam w]

my first long ride with my new toy the power meter! learnt loads about pacing on the ride, although it took a fair amount of willpower to resist joining the main bunch climbing the first hill. Once the bunch calmed down I caught back up and had a great run to the end, although interrupted by a punc**** in Yarpole