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
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.