just entered - when/how do you choose whether you're doing 50 or 100 km?
i'm wimping out and doing the 50!
You choose on the day.
I entered for the first time last year but had to drop out due to knee injury. I'm thinking that was probably a portent for not doing it again 🙂 And I've sold my CX bike. And I'm not clicking on that link 🙂
Honk!
100k this year. Probably.
Will be missing it this year unfortunately; will be busy involved with a certain European Championship just down the road in FoD the following weekend.
As Pete says, you can choose what distance you do on the hoof but,whatever you do, do [b]not[/b] miss out on the cake!!
Honk! Riding under LVIS - Performance cycles, 100k.
I'm in
Back to marshalling this year..
Just make you lot suffer 
is there the tea and cake stall 1/2 way round
If my butler agrees to do the map reading I'll do it. Otherwise not.
Seriously I have just started to wear glasses for reading, but if I look up whilst wearing them everything is a blur. I want to do it, but having a pair of reading glasses around my neck would be a pain.
Snowed last time I did it.
If my butler agrees to do the map reading I'll do it. Otherwise not.
Seriously I have just started to wear glasses for reading, but if I look up whilst wearing them everything is a blur. I want to do it, but having a pair of reading glasses around my neck would be a pain.
Snowed last time I did it.
You really don't need a map, I used one last year on a map board, threw it away half way round, there are so many riders it's hard to go wrong.
Yes there is cake half way around
KINGTUT
I found myself alone a lot of the time when I did it. I'll ring my mates Monday see if I can get one to do it again with me.
...there are so many riders it's hard to go wrong.
Problem is, half of them are lost too 🙄
Fair enough oldgit, there were a couple of times I referred to the map but could have got around without it.
Problem is, half of them are lost too
Indeed, even with the use of a map I was still unsure I had done the correct (100k) route when I got to the cake stop, I had to get confirmation from a Marshall.
Hmm.... The week after Tour of Flanders - should be warmed up.
Quite tempted to try it on the CX bike
Quite tempted to try it on the CX bike
A very popular choice, the course is perfect for a CX bike.
Honk.
the course is perfect for a CX bike.
Unless it's been dry for weeks beforehand and the ruts are baked hard, as it was the last time I rode it (on the CX bike). In which case you'll really be wishing for some suspension, or at least fatter tyres when riding over lots of the fields. I'll be making the choice between the CX and the FS depending on what the weather's been like this time!
Disagree aracer. There are some sections that are pretty shaky on a cross bike but they're short enough that you can endure them without any real issue ( loose grip on the bars! ) and the cross bike is just so much quicker on the road and more enjoyable on the offroad that it's an easy choice for me
Just had a email from John, the event is half full already!!
So if you wnat to enter get your skates on.
I'm in. Done it loads of times but missed last year due to man flu 😥
Also got the form this morning for the Bucks off roader. But I'm going to miss the Rough Ride this year due to a clash with twin daughters' 21st (could be locked in the dog house if I mess up on that one)
clubber - did you actually ride it on a CX bike when it was very dry - was 2007 I think (or maybe 2006)? In a normal year you're right, but that had long stretches which were a real pain (and much slower on the CX bike than a FS). Not like I'm that slow on the road on the FS given lockout and fast tyres.
i rode it on a CX the year it was very dry and bumpy (and more than a few other years as well on both a CX and MTB), it was so jarring that it rattled my front-mech off which has never happened before, the bumpy bits really weren't that bad, more of a fun challenge to be honest, the trick is just to go faster and skim along the tops, well, in theory, certainly not worth dragging a full-suss around 100k for
in again after missing last years due to lurgy
Just entered. Will be my first ever HONC!
Not doing it this year clubber?
HONC!! Am in again - looking forward to it!
Will the route be available on gpx, tcx, or tracklogs?
The route will be available in Tracklogs format on the
honc web site.
Usually not posted until a few days before the event.
filling up fast - 686!
i heard talk last year that they try to do a more CXish route one year, then alternate with a more MTBish one the next. And that last year was the former (lots of black stuff) so maybe more singletrack this time?
I know it started out as a CX event, but there were lots more MTB last year (admittedly I saw mostly MTB because the CX bikes had shot off up the trails and weren't seen again!)
Psling, myself and Sofaking are doing it in fact I think all the Knights are!! SSEC will have to take a break for a day.
May even do a BBQ the night before again this year;-)
Don't follow me if you get lost I tend to ride my own version cutting out some road and slapping in some real cheeky bits :p
"cutting out some road and slapping in some real cheeky bits" - that's my approach as a local too...causes lots of confusion !
HONC this year will be my third time, great day out 😉
I'm in kingtut - well I'll actually have to see nearer the time whether I actually fo it as it's ssec the weekend after and I may well be away with work too.
Anyway, yes have cxed it in those super-bumpy conditions. It wasn't easy but I still think the cx is better overall.
I'm HONC'ing 100k for the 2nd time. Let's hope i don't get lost this time (along with 5 others and no map) and get laughed at by Mr Niche
Toot toot I'm in. Though 2 years of hardly riding and a dodgy back will see me struggle to do the 50k
Interested in having a focus to get me out on cold mornings/evenings- just how hard is it?- 50k that is!
We are in so that defo means the SSEC plans will have to wait for that day 😀
I see the queen of britain and prince phillip are in too
It's not hard really. Certainly not the 50k. I managed the 100 last year at the least fit I've ever been (baby related lack of riding time). I was pretty knackered at the end and admittedly the conditions were a lot easier than most years. If you're really struggling on the 100, you can easily change to the 50k route at halfway making it 75k ish.
I'm in at number 750 - will be my third time and might go for the 100km route this year.
2 more here , put some chicken on the BBQ for us Don 😆
put some chicken on the BBQ for us
It'll be bring your own again mate! I'm not stupid enough to have an open house party the night before a 100km ride without a bring your own policy!
Camping spot available to anyone I know!
i heard talk last year that they try to do a more CXish route one year, then alternate with a more MTBish one the next. And that last year was the former (lots of black stuff) so maybe more singletrack this time?
Noop, depends on what I plan, (as much off road as I can fit in) 😀
Don't follow me if you get lost I tend to ride my own version cutting out some road and slapping in some real cheeky bits :p
tut tut, slap wrist..
honk....
northen mincer contingent reporting for duty
Oh bgger, I cracked. Number 860 and I expect that'll be my finishing position, at best.
Hmm.... The week after Tour of Flanders - should be warmed up.
Oh god, I want to HONC, but will I be able to ride a bike a week after 250km over the Belgian bergs and cobbles?
It really is filling up fast:- Allocated Entry Number 947
As for the routes, the ones I've done in the past have been very CX suitable , but this will be the first year I'll have the CX bike 🙂
honk.... too
Me too
No 870 and looking forward to the 100k 😀
Ayatollahofniche - Premier Memberput some chicken on the BBQ for us
It'll be bring your own again mate! I'm not stupid enough to have an open house party the night before a 100km ride without a bring your own policy!
Camping spot available to anyone I know!
Can I put in a request for the guest room in the west wing of 'tollah castle please. 😉
I'm in, got in early, number 3. First 100k event this year as part of my kielder 100 training, can't wait.
This year my ride number 47 matches my age. I sense good fortune coming my way... 😆
1030 places out of 1200 gone already- this'll be full today I guess.
Honk - 4th year in a row for me. May go the 100k this year...dependent on conditions.
In at 1044
No. 817 here. I'll be riding my Salsa Chili con Crosso cx bike wearing Las Vegas Institute of Sport kit. Hopefully the 100k but as I'm the least fit I've been in about 10 years the 50k is an option if I havn't got my arse into gear fitness-wise. Done it twice before (not the hard-baked year) and agree a cx bike is ideal for 95% of the course.
I'm in - 2nd time in the last three years.
See you there 🙂
No. 817 here. I'll be riding my Salsa Chili con Crosso cx bike wearing Las Vegas Institute of Sport kit. Hopefully the 100k but as I'm the least fit I've been in about 10 years the 50k is an option if I havn't got my arse into gear fitness-wise. Done it twice before (not the hard-baked year) and agree a cx bike is ideal for 95% of the course.
You will ride the 100K 👿
'Splosion, No you can have the East as another attentionwhore has the west!
87 left now!
Honk, honk.
No. 546.
IMO, the only route worth doing is 100k on a cross bike.
It is just so much more fun!
Ayatollahofniche - Premier Member'Splosion, No you can have the East as another attentionwhore has the west!
Right then we'll have an attention off to see who goes where. 😀
I'm in.
Will probably ride my hardtail.
I'm in as a first-timer. Could be the perfect justification for a 'cross bike!
How are you working out the number of entries?
Thanks for starting this thread - would have missed it otherwise (though I suppose without the thread it might not have filled quite so fast!) Fortunately I decided for once to pull my finger out and enter something rather than think about it for a few days.
No worries.
Click on the link and look at the bottom of the page to see how ny have entered so far.
[url= https://www.entrycentral.com/index.php?raceID=100199 ]Entry page[/url]
Well we will be outside then ! 🙂
40 left! Wow! Can't believe it's sold so fast!
All gone by midnight??
Looks like a good chance!
So graham, you organise this, don't you? Why has it suddenly become so popular? I've been doing it since 1998 (the year of absolutely horrendous conditions) and it was easy enough to get in then even EoL and much the same right up to 2004 or so. What changed? Popularity of mtb enduro events? CX bikes?
17 left!
16 in as many minutes.
1190, just made it! Ta to Mr 5mil for noticing this thread earlier. He's after a day looking at the old school trains I reckon 🙂
4 places left!
I might buy them up just to tout them 🙂
Sold out!
I didn't enjoy the route last year.. I understand they have a lot of riders to get round but there was a bit too much road / edges of fields. The last descent was my favourite but i was stuck behind someone literally doing about 4mph who wouldnt move over :/.
However i did enjoy the west drayton off road sportive for something of the same length and will probs do that again this year.
Clubber,
No idea why the event has become so popular, and other enduro type
events.
.Duncan - were you expecting it to be like other mtb enduros? The whole point is that it isn't and that it does take in lots of road and edge of fields!