This was the 15th running of this local Charity event; The Houghton Trail Event. which consists of various cycling events a trail run and a fun run all in aid of local charites. This would be the third outing for me. As expected it was muddy in all the usual places, and rather muddy at that due to the rain in the last few days. Approximately 400 people took part in the various events being held. The 32km Cycle route was the first away, and it took just under two hours to navigate the course with a couple of stops along the way. As ever the organisation and volunteer marshals were brillant. The unchanged route takes in two of the local climbs, Bucksholt Road climb out of Broughton which is rather sharp and steep, and the longer climb of Church Lane out of Longstock. It also uses the Test way between Horsebridge and Leckford which gives the riders some respite. The weather was grey and rather windy which always seemed to be a headwind.... Photographys of the day are recored very kindly here - Jim Pascoe Photography
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So the annualish trip to Swinley Forest was made today, a typical April day - sunny with the occasion sharp rain burst, which only impacted the last 5 minutes of my time there. Completed a couple of laps of the Blue Trail, but with variations in both, first loop added a couple of sections of the Red Trail, and the second loop avoided some of the more boring climbing bits of the Blue Trail. So in total just over 20kms was completed.
A glouriously sunny morning saw a ride out to Broughton via Spitfire lane and the back via the Wallops and Amport and Monxton. 40km in just over two hours. Early morning ride out to Hampshire Gate via the Hungerford lane (which is a combination of country lane and bridleways.) So cover 30km in one hour and forty minutes, not bad considering the amount of mud we met along the way. The advantage of the route I took is that it's pretty much constant climbing to Hampshire gate, and then a nice long descent into Clanville as the reward for the earlier effort.
So the annual running of the Houghton Trail Event is at the end of April. It's a great local event and has the bonus of being close enough to cycle to the start from the Front Door. Signed up and ready to go....Early morning ride out to Stockbridge along the muddy bridleways around the Clatfords and onto the Test Way to Stockbridge and then back via Red Rice. The Mud was increasingly sloppy in places, not a surprise due to the amount of rain we have had in the last week. The Geax Gato Mud tyres as always were up to the job.
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January 2023
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