Totally forgot I'd signed up for this and have eaten pasties and cake all year and ridden the bike about 3 times.
Got the route and not quite sure how I'll fare, comparing it to my last decent mtb ride end of Nov last year 61k in the peak with 1900m of climbing in just under 6hrs moving time.
There's a lot more road in the HONC route its 98k with 1400m of climbing - wondering if I can get round it in less than 8 hours. 50k wouldn't be a problem but that just feels like cheating.!
Anybody else gonna be at the back of the pack with me???
If its not wet / muddy its very easy. Its not really off road mountain biking, more a nice ride on back lanes and some easy bridleways.
Pump up your tyres and you will find it fine.
Just don't bother if its been raining, the Cotswold mud is horrible.
As Trimix says, it's all dependant on the weather. If the trails are dry and hard and the winds not blowing on the day it will be great.
What Trimix said. I did my first one in horrendous conditions and despite finishing within 15 minutes of the 'winner' it took over 6 hours. People were still coming in from the 100k well after 9 hours.
I did it once many, many (20ish?) years ago on a fine day. It was a lovely country ride with plenty of time for food and drink stops and all done by very early afternoon. The only thing that marred the day was all the people trying to tell me how hard it had been the previous year in knee deep mud 🙂
Roughly how much road is there?
The amount of road varies by year, I think it's generally about 40% of the total distance. There are some pretty solid climbs and if it's muddy and windy it can be a very tough ride. This will be the first one I've missed for a few years 🙁
"Roughly how much road is there? "
The guy who creates the route each year posts on here from time to time so hopefully he will be along to confirm.
But I am fairly sure he once told me the amount of road is never more than 60% and never leas than 40%.
Just looking quickly at it on bike hike it looks like about 85% marked as path on the google map. Obviously some of this will be on rutted paths etc I haven't bothered to check the OS map yet to see what exactly the breakdown is. I'd guess it's probably about 1/2 and 1/2 from looking at the first few k's.
Looks like it'll be a cracking day out if the sun shines though!
When the weather/conditions are nice it's one of the most enjoyable bike events I've ridden.
When it's not...
(Actually I get a perverse pleasure out of that too but...)
Managed to get an entry in thin year planning on doing the 100k so not bike fit at the moment, planning on having a play tomorrow on some on the route.
Nice and easy. Just take your time and no issues. There isn't much climbing.
Nick, I've got a 1 month old and haven't ridden since New Years day. Ill be happy to just finish the 50k
It's much the same course as three years ago, which was fairly fast and not too taxing. The last climb over Cleeve is tough if the wind is wrong however. It's certainly the easiest start you can get our of Winchcombe because it's a smooth untarmaced road effectively. There is a lot of road this year, the muddiest bit will be the run down to the Warren about 10/15 miles in.
I was going to ride the bits you are allowed to tomorrow so will report back if anyone is interested. It has been raining a lot here so some bits will be claggy, but not like 2 years ago which was hell!
Iain
Ian yes please it'll be my first time, did the madorc last year which was fun
I think the madorc is harder but that's only from reports of friends that rode it - more single track. The cool thing about the honc is 1350 other people in a mass start, pretty amazing 🙂
Given the amount of road, what's the etiquette?
Lycra or baggies?... 😆
I did the long Madorc last year, that was a tough event. Mainly due to the extra 10k + I had to ride when getting lost due to the lack of markers. It completely psyched me out. Will still do it again this year mind!
Did it last year for the first time. Trails were dry and really enjoyed it. However i remember think as i was riding that i bet its a mre in the wet due to being across alot of exposed farmers fields. Anyhow, im in again this year but must admit if the forecast is bad i might skip it.
This year's route is a 70/30 split, so would favour a cx bike this year
Graham, what's the going like? Sticky, or dryish?
Really looking forward to this - either cx bike or Peregrine monster cross depending on the weather.
Its not a 'great' ride on a mountain bike, more a 'nice' ride. On a CX bike its probably much more enjoyable.
I haven't looked at the weeks weather yet, but conditions where ok over the last week. Very much wait and see at the moment.
Have you guys had any info from the organisers ?
I'm apparently in but not heard anything since entering and paying.
The final email should be going out this weekend, so between now and Monday.
Had the event email in the week, ive forwarded it to you. Is anyone staying at the campsite Brooklands Farm Saturday ??
Got your email, thanks.
Next slight issue is I note you need your confirmation email to register at the start.
Don't think I ever had a confirmation email !
If the weather's horrible, dropping down to the 50k isn't a bad idea. You get the option usually between 1/3 and 2/3s of the way round to take the shorter route.
Lots of people ride cyclocross bikes. If it's muddy stay away from full suspension bikes with limited mud clearance. Did it on a Remedy on a wet year and regretted it. Sofa suspension on the road and the tyre scraping mud off on the rear triangle off road.
Is a really great event though. Old school XC riding, like it used to be before trail centres were invented. 😉
Update. Massively impressed.
Sent an email 20 minutes ago to the organiser, since when I have had a phone call and my original entry confirmation resent.
(computer meltdown recently meant I lost saved files)
Thanks again.
Rode about 55miles of the route today (the legal stuff!), and the route is holding up well, a couple of muddy bits - the first one about 18 miles in (just east of Snowshill) on the bit through the trees and then down the valley to the Warren, that was horrible! The other bit that was a struggle for traction was with about 10 miles to go where you turn left of the road and go straight up the bridleway - just out of Sevenhampton.
The route looks like a good compromise for the weather, it had been raining all night and most of the day, so considering this it should be a good day out.
See you there!
Iain we did the same today, lots of road. That bit under the trees was bloody awful. we did some slightly off piste bits and it was wheel clogging muddy. Otherwise a pleasant route, cx bike would be so much quicker round. Felt like I needed slicks for 3/4 of the route
Hi RussyH, that's what I thought, thunder burt on the rear for definite, not sure about the front yet - will depend on weather this week. I think I'm getting too old to get battered on a cx bike round the course these days! But it would be the quickest way.
Been thinking about tyres this evening, I have nothing super fast rolling for my 650b looked at thunder berts, but would love some advice on very fast rolling 650b tyres.
The first propper climb I found tough going today, just kept going and going! So not nike fit at the moment, But it should spread the field a bit!
Would Thunder Burts be a nightmare in the muddy sections? Not used them before but got one for the rear if things dry up!
Russy, Schwalbe Thunder Burt EVO Snakeskin - very fast, Racing Ralph, still fast but likely to clog a bit if muddy., Rocket Ron's are a good compromise for the front if muddy. Wiggle have deals on on some tyres just now, otherwise try Bike-discount.de, their prices are great just now with the way the Euro is. Play safe and only go for the Snakeskin EVO Tubless easy version. Hope this helps a bit, there are also lots of other good tyres from Maxxis and Conti but Schwalbe are a good place to start.
Ps have a look at http://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com
Wish I was doing it.
But I'll raise your "horrible Cotswolds mud" with my far worse Chilterns mud!!
70/30
Not for me this year, anyone need my entry? email in profile
Emailed re entry.
Gloucestershire trails update.
Admittedly I'm 25 miles from Winchcombe however still on top of the Cotswolds with similar weather
Two hot and dry days have dried up the trails well.
Still that greasy top layer of mud in the damp spots but improving by the hour.
Weather forecast between now and Sunday warm and practically dry, so it's looking positive.
Any updates on conditions from anyone local?
Ralphs and Burts fitted so hoping it is nice and dry.
It's been dry and sunny for the last two days so trails improving all the time. Very little thick mud last night but far from being dusty.
Forecast for the next two days is dry, just a tiny bit of rain Saturday morning.
It looks like conditions will be good, probably a bit windy on the exposed sections.
Just put two Thunder Burt's on tonight.....that's sure to make it rain 🙂
don't worry, I've just realised the tyres on my cx bike are so worn they are practically slick... it's gonna rain.
Having looked at the GPX for this year its mostly flippin roads, so stick some fast rolling rubber on.
Yeah but the roads are fast so you spend less time on them 🙂
It really is a bit of a road-fest this year. After spending ages posting wanted ads and finally getting one transferred into my name, I'm actually going to bunk off the HoNC. Going for an epic off-piste ride in FoD instead to take advantage of the great weather, brilliant dry trails and an all-day riding window!
I am struggling to get the 100 mile gpx loaded onto my Garmin 500. In the past I have just put the gpx file into the 'new files' folder and the Garmin has recognised it with no issues - any thoughts?
Dont know why so much road this year, thought last year was bad enough.
I am struggling to get the 100 mile gpx loaded onto my Garmin 500. In the past I have just put the gpx file into the 'new files' folder and the Garmin has recognised it with no issues - any thoughts?
Won't take a GPX file. Upload it to bike hike, save it again as a TCX then put that in the new files folder.
I actually quite like the fact it's a lot of road cos i'm so out of shape the idea of 70k on road is much more appealing!
Drat, converted the higher geared fixed gear Karate Monkey to lower geared SS last night. Oh well let the spinning commence......short one for me then.
Its basically a Sportive....bring your road bike.
Dont know why so much road this year, thought last year was bad enough.
Last year was a 50/50 split, but having to negotiate permission from a lot of new land owners, for this year we took the easy option and re used an existing route.
A couple of years ago the route comprised of 65% off-road, that was the year of the stick mud, and the CXs complaining that there wasn't enough road sections.
I am struggling to get the 100 mile gpx loaded onto my Garmin 500. In the past I have just put the gpx file into the 'new files' folder and the Garmin has recognised it with no issues - any thoughts?
Won't take a GPX file. Upload it to bike hike, save it again as a TCX then put that in the new files folder.I actually quite like the fact it's a lot of road cos i'm so out of shape the idea of 70k on road is much more appealing!
My 810 did, but called it "Track" in the courses list which confused me.
I am driving up from Swansea for this - is it still worth the effort if is mostly a road ride 🙁
It'll be a lovely ride around the Cotswolds on what looks to be a nice day with ideal riding conditions. As long as you don't go there expecting an off-road singletrack experience you'll enjoy it.
I was thinking it would be 50/50 at least, I wasn't expecting single track but not so much road and more tracks and bridleways etc. I can ride roads at home. I think the organiser should have said in advance if it was going to be such a high proportion of road - I actually feel a bit cheated!
Yes Nipper it is. A great day out in lovely countryside.
It is not and has never been a MTB event. It is not a singletrack fest.
Conditions on the second part of the long route are dry, the main issue will be the wind.
OK, so what about the first half?
It'll be a lovely ride around the Cotswolds on what looks to be a nice day with ideal riding conditions. As long as you don't go there expecting an off-road singletrack experience you'll enjoy it.
Hmm. With this and 40mph gusts can i be bothered to get up at 5am tomorrow?
If I lived a bit closer i'd take a punt but given the amount of road this year its not worth the drive up from S.Wales for me - will look forward to the Afan Avenger instead.
So how did everyone do today? The wind was fairly brutal at times, thought my legs were going to break in the second half on some of those climbs!
Did the 100km route in 4 hrs 16 mins which I'm pleased with having been aiming at 5 hours - a bit sore now and just about to open the beer...
Ps if anyone here borrowed my multitool from me about 20 miles in then give me a shout and I'll send my address, apologies for not stopping but did not want to lose the group.
Cheers
Iain
two comments,
SHUT THE F***ING GATES!
hope the guy with the broken wrist got back ok.
100k in 5.59, was aiming for 6.30 so fairly happy for a first go, probably well behind most on here though!
The wind was horrible on the second half, did the first 60k in just over 3 hours and was feeling quite pleased, then the wind and the last climbs killed me!
Hope all enjoyed, great day out in the sun and thanks to all who helped organise 🙂
Great day- amazed that people on here think it's an 'off-road ride' and get indignant when it involves 50-70km of road depending. As others have said you spend less time on the road...
Really well run event as normal. Good day and the wind certainly made things more interesting!
Disappointed with the length of the road sections this year 🙁
Really enjoyed it today (apart from the wind on a few sections). What i like about this event is the variety of folk and bikes that take part. Managing not to miss the cake stop this year was a bonus..!
mrmo - Membertwo comments,
SHUT THE F***ING GATES!
hope the guy with the broken wrist got back ok.
+1 on shutting the gates - one of my jobs for the day was making sure they were closed on part of the route and they mostly weren't.
The guy with the broken wrist was taken off by St John's Ambulance (with the police taking care of his bike!), so I guess he got to where he needed to go.
Too much road, interesting wind, otherwise pretty good.....
A good day out.
Dry,but the wind was a killer!
The last few miles I was hurting with cramp!
Enjoyed it though,really!
yeah, was quite roady, but on the plus side that helped me get a time of 4:55 for the 100km. The wind across the moor at the end was brutal, had the front wheel lifting off the ground at points and a guy in front of me got clean blown off his bike just before it!
Woke up this morning with a stomach bug, but went for it. Decided on the shorter route glad I did as in the state I was in I would t of made it. I didn't bother changing tyres but wish I did. Wind killed me. Enjoyable day.
Russyh - did the stomach bug contribute to the wind?
Ouch . That hurt alot. I have done some tough rides ( SDW / Dyfi ) and today seemed right up there. I put this downto the 4kg of lard I have amassed over winter which has to go. Although 82kg probably helped keep the wheels in contatc with ground some of the time.
Pedalling downhill with your chin on the stem trying to maintain some decent momentum was unusual.
5hrs 16mins, which I think is the same s last year .
It really is a tourtoise and hare event , with the cx bikes and mtb's leap frogging each other throughout.Alot od CX punctures though. I ran Ralphs 29 x 2.25 at 40psi and seemed to roll OK.
The wind climbing up to the masts across the grass at the end nearly did for me. I was on the verge of a proper tantrum . But the push up the hill at the end was a bonus, found some new legs and stormed the last km and nearly had a huge crash with a belted galloway .
How can it be a 5hr headwind , and a 15min tail wind ?
Good organising , good foodage , signs need to be 50% bigger . and next year can we have a majority off road course please.
Pete , I did spot you. I was on my way home and you were just riding into Winchcombe.
Pete grunted past me on first climb. Missed you Singletrackmind 🙁
Missed you too Andy .
and next year can we have a majority off road course please.
And it will rain and there will be mud of apocalyptic proportion. And there will much wailing and gnashing of teeth . And the multitude will clamour, oh why was there so much off road, why did we have to toil across muddy fields and lanes.
Next years route is already being formulated, its just a case of joining up the dots, it may be a 70/30 mix 60/40 or even 50/50, you will have to wait and see..
Enjoyed my first HONC.
Only downer was the initial climb. I was foolishly slack getting too the line and ended up stuck in the slowest queue for the first 8km. People were riding four abreast at the same speed; a speed so slow that I and some others could barely maintain.
Not sure what the solution is, but on the Dyfi, the slower riders are a bit more aware of what is going on around them and slower riders are happy to make space for faster riders to pass.
Apart from that, good event! Do they publish a leaderboard, or is that too racey?