Anyone doing the Bucks Off Road Sportive this weekend?

Can’t wait myself – first full days riding this year 🙂

Yep…the 121km monster. Its going to pretty tough but the trails are dry which will help.

Its going to be a cracker!

Might do the 100. Will see after tomorrow as riding 100K then. Will be riding a cx bike if I do.

I’m doing the 100km. Not man enough for the 121 🙂

Looking forward to it too! 🙂

I’ll be riding with an Eric Cantona look-a-like who’ll probably be wearing a Manchester United top.

Please say hello as you sail past me.

I’m afraid I don’t quite understand greasystain…..

1) I will be riding with someone who looks just like Eric Cantona.

2) By coincidence he is a MU fan and wears MU tops when cycling.

3) Please say hello when you ride past me.

The extra 21km over the 100km is pretty tough. While not steep it consists largely of two neverending hills! I was thinking about riding it SS but I think its too tough.

Anyone thinking of riding the BORS on Sunday should make sure they get there with plenty of time to register. We’ve had record pre-entries and there is a rider cap at 400.

If the recent Southern XC and Black Park Races we’ve organised are anything to go by we will get good numbers on the day.

Riding the 121 (hopefully!) here too. Can’t wait!

It rained here heavily this morning but nice and sunny now. Plenty of time to dry off completely.

If one is still feeling strong after the 100km is it possible to carry on to the 121km finish?

Oh, Cantona not Cantina.

JamesP – by early, how early do you think before the limit is reached?

aP – really hard to know. We’ll try not to turn anyone away. I would say 8am will likely get you a place. The start is at 9am which would give you a chance to faff around, use the facilities etc. If you are doing the 121km I would aim to leave as close to 9am as possible. Its a long day in the saddle 🙂 You can download an entry form below which will speed things up.

http://www.bucksoffroadsportive.co.uk/downloads/BORSEntry2009.pdf

greasystain – yes but let them know when you get to the finish line so they can record your time in the right category.

JamesP – thanks, I’ve already printed off the entry form + the route map and route card. Hopefully see people there.

It should be well sign posted but it is worth taking the map and card as sometimes thoughtless locals mess with the signs 🙁

Say hi if you see me. I’ll be in a WDMBC black and yellow jersey riding a GT Zaskar Carbon Team. The Catlike helmet and bright orange oakley radars usually make me easy to spot 🙂

Can I get some idea of time-in-the saddle as I’ve not ridden that far in one go!
I just about manage the full distance Meridas, which I do in about 6.5 – 7hrs.
I have not booked in for this ride and was thinking it through, that was all.
I’ve been playing on a 29er all this year and get some clicking of the L knee at about 3.5hrs, and the 26er needs its indexing looking at, so am I man, or am I mouse?
Thanks

I would say it is comparable with full distance Merida. The weather has been kind to us so there shouldn’t be much (if any) mud. I would still reckon on over 6hrs for most on the 100km and more for 121km. These are guidelines only and I am sure there are some people here who can do it quicker (and slower) 😉

I’m targeting 7hrs for the 121km. If you were struggling there is a route split at 67km. Give it a go 🙂

Sorry not to be doing it this year (busted ribs Did I mention them?)

Ti29er it’s fine well marked route that even I can follow, but the thing I like most is that it’s a fully rideable route. Don’t be fooled by the ‘close to the M25’ thing as some people have, I’ve seen guys go flying off only to see them again hours later totally cream crackered.
Sit back and enjoy getting a good 100k under your belt.

Still tempted myself……but…..must…..resist.

Hi,
Anyone know where abouts this goes? I am plannig to go out on sunday aroud the Fingest/Turville area.. Will I swamped by lots of other riders in that area?

Hills aren’t massively long on the route, but there is a relentless amount of them, and they tend to be of the short-sharp variety. You’ll know you’ve done it, if you see what I mean.

If you rode NE from Fingest towards Wendover and Great Missenden you might get caught up in the festivities.

Map here: http://www.bucksoffroadsportive.co.uk/downloads/Routes/BORS2009-100km&121kmMap.pdf

Why not come over and ride it? There’s a 30km and 70km version too!! And you get a t-shirt for finishing.

Some feedback on the course:

“Bone dry today whilst marking out ,its going to be fast, and bumpy in some places but with the Bluebells out very pretty, having gone round a lot of the route over the last week I know why people rate this ride so much better than the HONC, there is some great single track out there”

My local training ride starts around marker 42 near Denham over from the A412.
The blue bells will be in abundance around 40 I imagine.
Can’t make the ride as I have a client meeting in C London at 10:00 which I can’t change.
Have fun without me
Tim

weatherWeather:

Am tempted..
Will discuss with my riding partner and we’ll see, but I’m not too sure we can get there for 8am to sign on in time!

But cheers for the offer!

As I mentioned, we don’t want to turn anyone away so I am sure if you get there a bit later you’ll be OK. If you are doing one of the shorter routes its not so important to leave at 9am either.

Did I mention there is free energy drinks and energy bars!

Its going to be a blinder 🙂

I’ll come by later from maybe 13:00-ish, somewhere near the badger’s set on section 42 – along the return section on Shires Way – and take some pictures. I may as well make myself useful!
Tim

Cool. If I see you I’ll say hi.

This is the link
I am not the accredited photographer.
I have i.d’ed 2x locations on the last 5km bridleway run-in to the finish where I’ll take pictures.
I’ll be, on my bike to facilitate some ability to make locations so you’ll no doubt recognise me. I’ll be wearing a carnation in my lapel just to help out.
Tim
Picture link

Nice picture Tim

Very nice photos Tim.

Great ride today! Fantastic weather – lovely course – friendly atmosphere!

Bit too much hanging around at the start, but it was worth the wait. Very enjoyable.

The pictures are now live.
Hope there’s something for 50% of the almost 400 riders to enjoy!
Tim

What a cracking event. Wonderful route and the dry conditions made it a fun and relatively fast ride (well, as fast as a singlespeed goes anyway). Seemed to miss a couple of the arrows on the run in adding a few unwelcome km’s, but overall it was well marked and lots of fun. For me the riding’s a lot more interesting than the HONC, although maybe not quite as scenic, and I’m keen to do it again next year.

I booked into he 121k but when I realised it was going to take me 8hours I took the 100k split, great days riding, pretty tired today.

Straightliner, was you on a white On One rigid with flat pedals? Was the only SS I saw, and was chatting for a while..

Imanaged to miss a marker and added a few K’s on myself..

Are there any results due to come out at all?

Unfortunately that wasn’t me, I was on a black On One Scandal plodding along. I did see a few guys on cyclocross bikes and their comment was that those hard packed bridleways were pretty bumpy [due in part to the horses hoofprints having dried out].

Full respect to anyone riding that on a rigid bike – I think the body would have taken quite a pounding.

Oh dear. That was the hardest day on the bike I’ve had for a very, very long time. Looking back on, a large chunk of the problem was pretty m,uch failing to eat anything nutritious all day Saturday, but I think I was well on the way to bonking before I got to Denham, and I just kept on getting worse until I clocked what was wrong, and ate everything I could lay my hands on. After which I was just tired, knackered and weak.

If it hadn’t been for the excellent route, glorious scenery, stunning bluebells, gorgeous weather, dry dusty trails and friendly people it would have been utterly bleak and ghastly.

🙂

I hope you didnt drag your utility bike around there!!!

Good on you straightliner! That was a serious effort on a singlespeed. Did you do the whole lot?

A great day, thoroughly enjoyed it.