Entries for the event open tomorrow morning (30th June).
We are limiting the number of entries to 600 riders, if further
Covid restrictions are not put in place then an additional
400 places will become available in August.

Damn, I’m due at a wedding that weekend. (I’m best man so will probably make the cut even if numbers are reduced)

Is the 2022 event still going to run at the normal time?

Got mine this morning, looks like tickets are still available

I can’t see anywhere on the website to enter?

Top right corner of the home page – there is a small (Click Here) entrycentral link. Its a bit obscure

Or you could just go to the entrycentral/honc website

Cheers Wilko…..entered! First event/race since 2011/2012. I used to be reasonably quick back then, not so much these days I’d imagine!

Never actually done HONC before, I’m thinking my flat bar gravel bike will be the way to go? Other option is a Trance 29er.

Just under 500 places gone already.

@ayjaydoubleyou we are looking at changing the date of the event
going forward, latter in the spring when then weather is more settled.

Flat bar gravel bike would probably be the better option out of those two especially if you’re eyeing a fast time.

Entry central is open again for a few more entiresentrycentral.com/honc

Just a bump to ask who else is going? I’m down for the long one on my cross bike again. Looking forward to a nice day out. Last time I was all push push for a fast time. This time I’m just going to enjoy the views and experience. I’ll be on a pink Crockett with Lauf forks.

I will be there hopefully doing the long one.
Taking it nice and easy.
Unfortunately the Fairlight I was gonna use has been written off after going into a boot last week!
Will be using my last remaining bike a titanium hardtail.
Max.

I will be there on my black Scandal 29. Looking forward to a great day out although I will miss the mass start and police escort through town.

I’ll be in the yellow vest at the top of the first climb 🙂

If anyone fancies a fast-ist pace for the 100k then there are a few of us setting of about 8.20/8.30am. I’ll be in orange/black Cotswold Cycles Trek kit on a black Supercaliber. There’s four or five of us at present and suspect we will split a bit but plan to aim at 4-4.5 hours for the 100k, although with my form this year I suspect I will be going slower than normal 🙂

I rode the second half yesterday and it’s pretty lumpy, the last climb out of Cleeve will be brutal and lots of opportunity to go the wrong way so take care of the gpx file.

plan to aim at 4-4.5 hours for the 100k

You know it’s a reliabilty ride, right? Max speed is 23km/h or 4.5 hours for the 100k. Go faster and you’ve failed 😉

I rode the second half yesterday and it’s pretty lumpy, the last climb out of Cleeve will be brutal and lots of opportunity to go the wrong way so take care of the gpx file.

It will be signed by Sunday. The two GPX files I’ve seen differ in the route on Cleeve Common, so it may not be as brutal as you’re expecting.

Yes, very true about the reliability ride, but if you’ve got a number on…..

The issue with the routing was one right hand turn on a fast descent to the lowest point, you can’t focus on the Garmin easily before you overshoot and usually the pesky kids move the signs on Cleeve before I get there!

The route splits on Cleeve, with the 100k dropping down from 3 sisters and looping round past the golf club house. While the 50k heads from 3 sisters towards up to the lone tree.

Well hopefully I won’t see anyone and can ride a little faster than 12.5kmph whilst I bimble round at the back.

oh and Please shut the gates.

Thanks Graham, I hadn’t looked at the 50k route.

Heads up, anyone heading to the event from the south and planing to come through Cheltenham.
It is the half marathon this week end and it may affect your route due to road closures.
Half marathon route.

Hi can anyone share the gpx files? I live in winchcombe and curious where it goes.
Thanks

I hope every one had a grand day the weather couldn’t have been better.
But must say it was bloody cold standing there at the top of the first climb even with wearing 4 layers of clothing.

Cracking day out as always and huge thanks for all who put it on.

One thing , who was doing the event photos ?

Graham – thanks, really good event, marshalling was great and signage perfect. Really nice course thrown in as well although that climb out of Cleeve at the end of the 100k was horrible!

Kinetics Studios
linky to gallary
upload currently in progress.

Really enjoyed it. Thought that the last few descents were quite tasty and the final one did for my rear tyre so I had to limp the last 3/4 mile to the end. I stuck a few pics and write up in the ‘weekend photos’ thread. Big thanks to organisers and all the marshalls. I was in the bright blue and yellow Gateway Racing kit. Oh and the bread pudding was delicious.

BITD (early 90s when I last did one) you could complete the HONC on what we’d now call a gravel bike or even a road bike with narrow cross tyres on. Is that still possible?

BITD (early 90s when I last did one) you could complete the HONC on what we’d now call a gravel bike or even a road bike with narrow cross tyres on. Is that still possible?

First people back are usually on cross bikes, and plenty of gravel bikes around this year. It’s rougher, but perfectly possible.

The only sub four hour ride ever posted for the 100k was on a full suspension XC mountain bike, three hours 52 mins if I remember rightly.

The only sub four hour ride ever posted for the 100k was on a full suspension XC mountain bike, three hours 52 mins if I remember rightly.

This is the fastest I am aware of, I know a few in the just over 4hour bracket.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1496599726#37412816919

As the regular first half tailender for the last 5? years I tend to be out for 3.5 to 4hours just to get to Guiting…..

Yes, correct. My team mate Marc. He also did a four hour dead the year before, both on Trek Top Fuel’s.

We recce’d the route on the Wednesday but unfortunately he became ill on Saturday and had to miss it, he was one of the group I mentioned earlier that were going to try and ride together for a bit for a fast-ish lap, I did a 4.20 and Johann (Another in the group) did a 4.11.

It would be nice to try for a few more people next year to get a bit of company as we split up very quickly.

short video