Severn Across 400k 24/Apr/10 - from Chalf St P

[L CC]

I don't suppose anyone knows if the route passes any outdoor pig units? I may be under movement restrictions by the weekend

[The Seldom Killer]

There's a pig farm just near Foxley but can be avoided if you stick on the main road to Malmesbury.

[L CC]

Thanks. We should get an all clear or otherwise Friday, but it may not be till Monday and I don't want to be responsible for spreading classical swine fever across the length and breadth of England.

[The Seldom Killer]

How large is your area of exclusion? You could always get a faster rider to text you if the route passes close to a pig farm albeit it would be difficult to determine if any alternates avoided them as well.

[vistaed]

With much disappointment I've decided to give this ride a miss this weekend   Instead I'm going to enjoy a much earning rest and beer with my wife on Friday eve, a lay in on Saturday morning followed by a weekend of turning myself inside out chasing local triathletes on the fixie   The 400km will have to be a DIY number over the bank holiday. Enjoy.

[Chris S]

Definitely a DNS now. Family weekend in the offing. Have fun folks.

[simonp]

Definitely a DNS now. Family weekend in the offing. Have fun folks.

And there I was thinking my lurgy was going to let you catch up a bit the weekend. 

boab, I advise you not to ride either. 

(srsly, good luck with it, it's a nice ride)

[simonp]

Chris - you could of course ride the Brevet Cymru instead?  It's not that much harder really.

[Chris S]

Chris - you could of course ride the Brevet Cymru instead?  It's not that much harder really.

Nah - I was considering a DIY 700 

[L CC]

boab, I advise you not to ride either. 

(srsly, good luck with it, it's a nice ride)

Sorry. Pig lurgy discovered to be (relatively) minor so I'm allowed to travel, all packed, bike fettled and ready to go.

and only a wee bit scared. It's a long way, and this time, there's hills!

[simonp]

boab, I advise you not to ride either. 

(srsly, good luck with it, it's a nice ride)

Sorry. Pig lurgy discovered to be (relatively) minor so I'm allowed to travel, all packed, bike fettled and ready to go.

and only a wee bit scared. It's a long way, and this time, there's hills!

Of the three 400s I've done, it's the easiest. Nice flat run to oxford to build up a time cushion too.  In 2008 I rode with a fast group and we had the wind on our side, got to the first control about 5 minutes after it opened. 

[kcass]

Try telling her that on the way up to the Somerset Monument!

[simonp]

Try telling her that on the way up to the Somerset Monument!

I found yat rock harder tbh.

[Weirdy Biker]

Try telling her that on the way up to the Somerset Monument!

I found yat rock harder tbh.

Don't forget the 10% climb in the last stretch.  If it catches you unawares, you will walk.

[dasmoth]

I fear I may be walking -- or at least hobbling -- that one anyway.

[Greenbank]

It's a nice walk if you've got the time. I did the second half of the ride with arabella. We had a lovely walk up Yat Rock, Somerset Monument and that final git up past Wooburn.

I also hated the treelined climb up through Medmenham and Danesfield shortly before Marlow. I remember going down that climb on one ride (can't remember which) and thinking 'ooh, i wouldn't like to have to climb up this on a ride' before I saw the SA400 route.

[Redlight]

all this talk of climbing is beginning to worry me 

I was hoping for a nice flat day out

[L CC]

Me too!

[simonp]

Don't mention the Cotswolds!

[dasmoth]

I mentioned Yat Rock once, but I think I got away with it.

[Greenbank]

It's about the same climbing as doing the Upper Thames twice.

The second half is flatter than the first half.

You'll be fine...

[Swarm_Catcher]

Of the three 400s I've done, it's the easiest.

But which 400s have you done?

[Paul D]

I can't think of a tougher 400k than one that involved no hills whatsoever. That would not only be mindnumbingly dull, but would involve no chances whatsoever to get out of the saddle and give parts not yet fully evolved to carry the weight of a human being the odd rest from that task.   This ride sounds perfect in the hills-to-break-up-the-flat stakes.

Ask me again for my opinion of hills at the end of the Wu'ze next weekend.

[Weirdy Biker]

On average, it's a flat ride.

[L CC]

The sun will shine, I'm probably going to ride with Jane and there's nothing major wind-wise. It's going to be lovely, and you boys are just trying to scare me. Stop it! The most I'll have to worry about is avoiding the temptation of sitting outside pubs in the sun...