Glad you had fun Bruce

I on the other hand had a bigger nightmare than last year! Got lost in a big way (signage was even worse than last year, which is saying something) having been told that the GPX routes were inaccurate on the start line, so follow the signs instead (if you could see them). To top it off, seatclamp on my CX bike gave up (uselessly flimsy bit of kit that came on the bike!) and I had to ride most of the route with my knees round my ears.

Ended up doing about 62km somehow, in about 4hrs, including a good long stop to calm myself down before throwing my bike in the hedge! Still, the sun was shining… Once I calmed down I actually had a nice pootle home.

Shame as last year I was just over 3hrs for the 50 in much softer conditions, and with 3 flat tyres! Reckoned I could have been on for a 2 1/2 hr 50 today… Hey ho!

Despite the mandatory bottleneck on the first climb (and sadly..the first descent) I thought it was great.

Just the 50k for me, but I didn’t feel short changed. Route was (mostly) dry, and brilliant blue skies all around with even the appearance of dust on a few of the trails! Thanks to all the organisers and marshalls.

Got a little lost after the feed stop and did 60 k instead of 50 but stunning day and every one was friendly
I blame myself for not keeping track of where I was going , they did give out a Map and it is more like an audax event

Thanks to all who put in a top event

Great time had here as well. I have never seen so many broken chains. Indeed I have never seen a broken chain until today. Must have be 10 easy.
Not mine. All went as it should. Now why did I carry 3 tubes?

Really enjoyed it today, superb weather. Did anyone else miss the feed station or was just me? I think I took a wrong turn just before Guiting Power but it couldn’t have been that wrong as I don’t remember thinking ‘oh I’m lost’

Just a PSA, If you see a gate that is open with a yellow sign attached that says shut the gate, SHUT THE F**KING GATE!!!!!

Well , I saw DrP at the start. Wobbly legs my ar$e , off like a rocket as per usual . Saw a chap in a bad way just before the first climb , collar bone i think , not a good start.
Overdressed for the amazing sunshine and warm temps but got settled in to a steady pace eventually , alkthough the yo -yo effect of having alot of cx bikes made some descents annoying slow.
Road sections not too painful on RR / Vert combo, glad to have lock outs though.
Signs, hmm I missed a few and got a helpfull yell off some GPX equipped riders. They were well placed , just half as big as they need to be.
6hrs 20 for the 100k, no punctures or mechanicals, but for some reason my balls now ache, which is a problem when you have to drive 120 miles afters.

3hrs exactly to feed stop , and a welcome cup of tea. If you rode on a SC 5010 solo in orange , that was me you were chatting to.

Really enjoyed it
4.46 for the 100k on a cross bike for me
Going to take the MTB next time though as some of those descents were a big sketchy 🙂

Lovely day out. 5.22 100k on an old fashioned 26er HT here. Had a dark moment with about 20m to go and over those fields with horses hoof prints rattling the shit out of me.

On the red wine now, restoring nitrates…

There was more road than ever though wasn’t there this year? I think its my 6th HONC and it did seem more tarmac than I recall. Several long off road favorites missing this year.

It seems more orientated than ever at family riders and non competitive people or is that just me? The walking on the first climb was shocking; a) walking and b) not getting out of the way of people trying to ride. The countryside and cake was awesome though.

My Garmin measured the 100 at 93.1km. Any other recordings?

Just you,i would suggest that mtbers are getting less fit and less competitive in general, i was just out for a bimble and got caught up at one point, What i noticed, apart from leaving the gates open!!!!!!! was the ability spread. Looked like some were in for a VERY long day!

It was just over 100km, if you got 93 km you missed a bit out.

Definitely not lots of road, it’s a reliability ride not a mtb marathon!!

To those on full sus bikes, if the cx’s get in your way next year try it on ridged bike or a cx bike :).

Fair point but I was near the front. I guess people get bunched up after being on a wider road for a mile.

A thoroughly enjoyable morning in the countryside. I have to admit the weather probably did influence me a bit. As for walking the first climb, it was a nice time to say hello to others. Only did the 50k this year as it was my first event and to be honest, I’d have quite happily stayed at 25k and just demolished the cake 🙂
Many thanks to the people of Winchcombe!

That’s where it started to go wrong for me Peter. Head down, chasing someone down through the Ford, only he missed the sign and I followed him! D’oh!

I’m not that quick, I just know where to fight my battles. Events like HONC suit me as they’re quite a mix, no severely steep climbing, technical enough to make a bit of time up in some places and road sections where I can smash out 20+mph on the cross bike when needed…

Just seen that I averaged 52km/h on the 2km long section from Roel Gate towards Guiting, joint fastest on the day… Makes me feel slightly better at least!

Next year, a CX bike with a Triple chainset and an 11-36 cassette for sure… With my 36/46 and 11-36 I struggled up a couple of climbs (got out the saddle when I had to, but then the back tyre span up) and would like to be able to spin a little more at the bottom end. But then also I was spinning out 46/11 cracking 40mph at times…

Great day out, got the whole family round today, I took my 12 year old with me and we completed the 50k in just over 4 hours with mum and eldest in at 3 and a half. I thought the signage was good and organisation worked well.

Pleased the kids are on holiday today as they are knackered!

Definitely a few proud dad moments yesterday and more enjoyable than chasing a good time on the 100k on my own!

My mate Graeme did his collarbone! I decided to spend the day riding dusty trails in the FoD instead, but feel a bit bad now as it was his first HONC and I was going to show him round.

HONC Photos

I don’t understand or agree with all the criticism of the signs or course. The organisers sent GPX files in advance, they gave everyone a coloured OS map, put hundreds of signs out, and had lots of marshalls.

What more can they do?

I used the GPX file, and apart from one section which we were told about in the briefing, it was correct.

Another HONC under my belt, 7th time out for me and first time I did any more than the 50 km route! First half of the 50 & second half of the 100.
Lots of friendly banter from the other riders. Definitely caught the sun yesterday as well!
Can’t say I had any problems with either the GPX file or the signs, except where they seemed to be missing in Lower Slaughter.
Thanks to the organisers for another great event. 😀