Upper Thames 200km - 4th Nov 2023

[Peat]

With PBP (and summer?) in the mirrors, it's time to look forward a new season of gritty winter 200's. Why not join us for the seasonal mix of weather and fireworks!

**New HQ for 2023** The event departe/arivee has moved ~3 miles north to Crowmarsh Gifford (Wallingford). Village Hall facilities with plentiful hard-standing parking in the adjacent business park.

ENTER HERE: https://www.audax.uk/event-details/10368-upper_thames

Discussion from the previous runnings here: https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=33455.550

[CrazyEnglishTriathlete]

I'm in.  Always a pleasant event with good controls.  Will probably ride to the start and try to live up to my promise of riding over Streatley Hill on the way home.

[Wycombewheeler]

riding over Streatley Hill on the way home.

I regretted riding to the start when I had to go up Britwell hill on the way home, but Streatley...?

[CrazyEnglishTriathlete]

riding over Streatley Hill on the way home.

I regretted riding to the start when I had to go up Britwell hill on the way home, but Streatley...?

Having been sampling most of the hills on the Chilterns and eastern Berkshire downs to vary my once-a-week commute back from Oxford, Britwell is a beast, probably because it is dead straight and so the steep section punches above its weight.

[trundle]

Booked 

Second time lucky for me - I had last minute logistics issues last year, and couldn't start.

Not sure which bike to bring - quite fancy gears for a change!

[toontra]

Booked 

Not sure which bike to bring - quite fancy gears for a change!

There's a noticeable climb early on.  Yet again I don't ride fixed so not sure if this would be an issue.

[trundle]

Booked 

Not sure which bike to bring - quite fancy gears for a change!

There's a noticeable climb early on.  Yet again I don't ride fixed so not sure if this would be an issue.

In truth, it's more about salt on the road: If it's salty, I'll bring the cheap-and-cheerful alloy bike with cheap groupset. If not, I'll take steel fixed and walk up the steep stuff!

[CrazyEnglishTriathlete]

Assuming there aren't too many changes with the new start, there is a sharp climb 10%+ out of Well Place which is <10k from the start.  There are no nasty climbs in the rest of the route - I've found the wind to have a bigger impact.

[De Sisti]

Assuming there aren't too many changes with the new start, there is a sharp climb 10%+ out of Well Place which is <10k from the start.  There are no nasty climbs in the rest of the route - I've found the wind to have a bigger impact.

From my previous experiences, I'd agree.

[Peat]

Short climb close to the start (Cox's Lane) to get the blood flowing then a gently rolling and scenic 3 km to rejoin the previous route just in time for the more significant climb out of Well Place (Berins Hill).

We're getting close to our max entries threshold now, so will likely be closing entries in the next week. 

[Peat]

**ENTRIES CLOSED**

We're full!

[tonyh]

Brilliant event, way beyond me now, but glad I got round two or three times. Autumn and Audaxing at their very best! Have good rides and good days everyone.

[De Sisti]

Bugger! A lot of rain is forecast to fall on Saturday. It'll be a wet day's riding.

[trundle]

The joys of autumn weather - who knows what we will come across this Saturday!

I'll pack the rain cape...

[CrazyEnglishTriathlete]

It seems to be like every ride I've planned over the last week or so.  The closer I get to the date the more rain is predicted to fall.  I do remember an edition of the Poor Student where there was a substantial 'canal' section including a R at Triangle no useful road markings which, as all three roads at the triangle were underwater.

[trundle]

I know it's going to be very wet in the morning - but I'm really looking forward to this.

Often the rides in sporting weather have the best camaraderie - and spawn stories that get taller and more dramatic at each telling.

Plus I get to test some waterproof socks - I give them 10km until they are full of water from the top

See you all tomorrow 

[Genosse Brymbo]

I've decided to DNS.  I don't really want my feet to get wet again after I scraped the skin off the backs of my ankles when walking the 6 miles into Reading on a sodden track yesterday.

I'd like to draw starters' attention to a potential hazard in the early tree-covered section of Cox's lane (about 1.2 km into the ride, just after you turn left off the A4074).  That section is narrow and can be quite skanky after it has rained and I expect riders to be bunched so early into the route.  I was planning on letting everybody get away before me rather than be compromised in my road positioning and unable to avoid fairy-beckoning gravel and fallen bits of tree.

[toontra]

Also be aware that rain-swept lanes will likely harbour flint.  2 years ago I racked up a record (for me) 4 punctures in the first 30 miles on this event.

[Peat]

48 brave souls departed HQ this morning. First few through the 1st control already.

Massive drop out rate this year, understandably.

[De Sisti]

Also be aware that rain-swept lanes will likely harbour flint.  2 years ago I racked up a record (for me) 4 punctures in the first 30 miles on this event.

↑This↑, and the probability of driving to the event on roads & lanes knee-deep in rainwater made me decide to be a DNS.

[CrazyEnglishTriathlete]

Puncture 4km into the event.  Two more immediately afterwards, so there was obviously a flint or a thorn somewhere in the tyre that my cold hands couldnt find, so walked to Goring to be rescued bythe big white taxi of shame.  These things happen.

[CrazyEnglishTriathlete]

Puncture 4km into the event.  Two more immediately afterwards, so there was obviously a flint or a thorn somewhere in the tyre that my cold hands couldnt find, so walked to Goring to be rescued bythe big white taxi of shame.  These things happen.

Found the blighter.  Little flint embedded in the tyre just to the point where it would puncture an inflated tube but stayed in the tyre carcass when the tube was deflated.  Took several minutes of searching in the garage to find it.

[P.P.]

A DNF for me today too. Completely my own fault for being improperly dressed for the conditions.

Once I'd got wet, I got cold pretty quickly. I tried stopping in Henley and getting a pair of washing up gloves to try and dry out and warm up my fingers, which worked for a while and improved things a bit. But boots full of dirty flood water weren't helping matters either. So when I spotted the sign on the way out of Watlington saying it was only 4 miles back to the start, that was game over, and there was no way I was convincing myself to carry on.

A massive chapeau to all those that carried on and made it round, your certainly made of stronger stuff than me.

[JasGill]

Pushed on, persevered and completed the ride yesterday even though the conditions were atrocious for most of the day. Met a few familiar faces and enjoyed the route. Many thanks to the organisers.

[dave d]

My 7th time at this and as good as always, (but a bit wetter than ususal).  A plus point of the weather seemed to be generally quieter roads than usual?  The usual mix of one third up and down the Chilterns, one third the slog to Chippy and one third nice roads back to the finish.  Came out of Waterperry cafe to find tyre had gone flat while inside - no idea what caused it but that meant a delay which I think meant that we missed some biblical downpours later on that others talked about.  Lots of fireworks on the way back and people leaving one show meant we hit 'rush hour' in Watlington at the end.  Many thanks to Vicky and all the team involved.