I am in and not training enough ! Any tips on course and bike set up etc ?
I met a North Cotswold virgin once .... I know what you mean about hellish 😛
Its a gentle 5 hr ish ride in the country side. No training needed as long as you can peddle for that long. Nothing technical or hour long climbs. Just a nice day out on your bike.
Agree with the Sweede, it borders on being boring, best to get in a group and chat away whilst taking in the scenery.
The last leg is definately the best bit as you are up highest get good views and a nice fun descent 🙂
My HONC training will consist of getting bladdered at wokboys party the night before.
I did the 50k in 2005 with bugger all riding beforehand. I found it really hard. Though the hills aren't terribly long or steep they really got to me. It was also blumin windy. I remember climbing one hill and watching riders at the top moving off along the ridge and being desperate to get there. When I did it was actually worse than the climb! There was a descent not far after and I even had to pedal to keep up some speed.
I'd advise narrow tyres as there are lots of road/lane and no real MTB offroad to it. CX bike is probably the ideal bike if not a HT or rigid with as I said, pretty narrow tyres. Possibly a knobbly front and full slick rear depending what you have.
Hope this helps. Don't think the other posts are that helpful as they seem to assume that everyone is a fit cycling god. Or at least godlet.
just watch the first climb 500 plus riders bunched together with 300 getting off in the middle of the path with no warning , and the guy with
his camle back in a wooden box on the back of his bike 😆
1961Bikie - Member
Possibly a knobbly front and full slick rear depending what you have.
The year I did it some bits were like the Somme, good luck with a full slick rear.
I was amazed at the conditions in 2005. Up here in Stoke the trails/fields were like bogs. When I got to the Cotswolds I couldn't believe how dry all the farm tracks/fields were. I put it down to the geology of the area. There was only one stretch of track about 500m long that was muddy. And not heavy sticky mud. Thin, slippy slurry.
Narrow knobblies would be optimum unless you can get info from the area as to trail conditions. Realistically maybe I was a little optimistic about the slick this year. With all of the snow I doubt even the Cotswolds will have dried out.
My HONC training will consist of getting bladdered at wokboys party the night before.
ditto
did it once & its as dull as dish water.
road road road & more road field field road road finish .
My HONC training will consist of getting bladdered at wokboys party the night before.ditto
Ditto, oh hang on a minute its my party 😉
You're not allowed to get too p1ssed or you won't be up to doing us all a big fryup in the morning. 😉
Chris,
All you need to do is stay in ahead of me 😆