[Closed] riding the HONC?

I did it with a Larsen on the back last year, and a knobblier tyre on the front. It was fine on the road and helped me get up some fairly stiff off-road climbs. Stop being a big girl.

How can Mike not be a big girl when that's exactly what he is 😉

[i]the end section last year was a rock-filled gully that a lot of people were walking down[/i]

It's the same finish this year, which will be interesting on my crosser (in a mildy pant-filling way)...

clubber - Member

How can Mike not be a big girl when that's exactly what he is

sigh.

I have now drawn the conclusion that the Larsens are draggy on the road

Utter rubbish. I have some 2.5 dual ply 42a supertacky Highrollers you can borrow if you'd prefer?

it was brilliant on a cross bike last year - went into it much too fast and was convinced that I was either going to endo or pinch flat (or both...) but somehow didn't 🙂 Excellent end to it though.

What happened to the old bit near the end of the course where you went down the gully (where the photographer was) with the sharp right uphill?

too and the end section last year was a rock-filled gully that a lot of people were walking down.

Postlip! a rock-filled gully, hardly. River bed yes..

[i]What happened to the old bit near the end of the course where you went down the gully (where the photographer was) with the sharp right uphill? [/i]

That's in this year too (although it's been 'sanitised' quite heavily, so it's a lot tamer)

[i]Postlip! a rock-filled gully, hardly[/i]

It probably feels like one on a crosser 🙂

the end section last year was a rock-filled gully that a lot of people were walking down

this one?

[img] [/img]

I don't recall many rocks, a few rain channels to hop and it was very very fast, but I'd not have called it rocky. Not that I could see straight by that point.

(what a lovely pic that chap sheldon takes eh?)

Ohh that looks nadgery, I'm feeling the fear.

That's in this year too (although it's been 'sanitised' quite heavily, so it's a lot tamer)

Glad to hear - I recall Cross Bike riders crying after that section a few years ago 🙂

[i]Ohh that looks nadgery, I'm feeling the fear[/i]

It's considerably nadgerier further down. And up for that matter.

Postlip! a rock-filled gully, hardly. River bed yes..

What are you, a geography teacher? 😉

leather elbow patches on his long sleeve wool jersey, I'll bet 😉

Yes, Clubber, and as an engineer you wear a filthy boiler suit, a nicotine-stained 'tache, and a pencil behind your ear. Actually, the last one might be true, I can't see up that far.

I can confirm that you're entirely correct, MrA 😉

So from reading through this thread my bike choice should be:
CX - For the most fun although if it stays dry I will be thrown about a bit and at some point I may cry?
5" full suss trail bike with fast rolling tyres - fast but perhaps a bit boring.

I'm favouring CX over 50K as long as I don't pich flat on every off road descent:
What tyres did you use on the CX? I'm using 35mm Speedkings and I'm not sure how they will hold up on fast rutted stuff.

I'm on 35mm speedkings too c_d. I was on 35mm twisters last year and they were fine. No pinches even smashing into stuff when knackered. Just pump them up nice and hard.

35mm speed kings for me too

I had a SK on the front last year and made the mistake of having a Bonty CX tyre on the rear which pinch flatted on Condicote Lane, ripping a hole in the sidewall which lead to four other punctures...

... just as the hail started as I recall clubber ...

Yep... perfect timing 🙄

Clubber, have you got an elevation profile of this years route?

So much stressing, so little time eh Mike?

Nope not stressedjust like to have an idea of the climbing, what will be will be..

I like to focus on the cake. That makes it all seem worthwhile 😉

CX it is then (and I need to take a tyre boot)
cheers

What are you, a geography teacher?

Total elevation on the 100k this year is 1695m, 958m on the 50k route.

I'll probably be on the Solly drop-bar 29er fixed dinglespeed running 700x40 Schwalbe Land Cruisers. Becca will be on the Solly 29er with Conti Twister 42c tyres.

Can't wait 🙂

SSP

CX if it's wet, MTB if it's dry. All your internal organs will get jumbled up on a CX bike if it's bone dry (I know, I'm still trying to get my liver back where it belongs).

On the other hand, if it's rock solid, then a cross bike is so much faster. I managed to keep up with Barrie Clarke a few years back. I'm quick, but not that quick, so I have to put it down to the fact that he was on a full susser, and I was on a cross bike.

I still can't decide myself...

100km here for me as well.... I'll be on my cx(ish) bike as well 🙄

It's a 100km or nothing as I'm travelling from Aberystwyth for this, and setting off at 5.30am is not something I'm looking forward to !! 😯

didn't i catch you up that year? 🙂 (ok so you got lost but...)