First cycle ride after the South Downs Challenge, messed about on the bridleways around the Wallops. On particularly nice bridleway, had had the Hawthorn hedges on both sides trimmed, unfortunately the trimmings had not been removed so we picked up a slow puncture. Fortunately as it was a slow puncture I was able to make it home with a quick top up of air. 30 Kilometres in 1 Hour 46 Minutes.
Over the following week the front tyre also succumbed to a thorn which was no doubt picked up at the same time, but it proved to be a much slower puncture.
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Arrived at Chilcomb Sports Ground just before the official start time for the event at 0515, there had been a lot of rain over night so the event organiser's had had to make some changes to the route which meant we would have to cycle up the Old Winchester Hill, which proved to be a rather long slog of a climb.
So having filled the water bottles with an endurance energy drink I was waved off by my partner who would be my support driver for the day. The ride to the first check point one was ok weatherwise, as we rode into The Queen Elizabeth Country Park it began to rain again, it was too humid to wear a jacket which I discarded after a couple of miles, preferring the cooling rain. Unfortunately the rain would mean that the chalky parts of the route became rather greasy which made the ascents and descents a little trickier and caused several nasty accidents and retirements. Check Point two at Manor Farm, Cocking appeared quickly and I was grateful to refill my water bottles. Off we went again the ascents and descents becoming more arduous as we now dropped down to sea level to cross the first river crossing at Washington and then back up onto the South Downs Ridge. The trail surface was horrid and at about the seven hour mark my back started to play up with the continual pounding of the flint cobbles which at that point the trail was made up of. I rolled into Check Point Four - the Sixty Mile mark after a great descent off the Ridge line at the Second River Crossing at Bramber. Once I was reunited with my partner, I took the decision to stop at that point as I was in a lot of pain with my back. I had been luckily mechanically with no issues on the bike, apart from the 1x9 gearing not having the top or bottom gear to completely cope with the ascents and descents. So on some of the steeper ascents, getting off and pushing was the better options. Many people suffered punctures, the trail surface being well known for the damage it inflicts to tyres and inner tubes, and it's reputation being proved on the day. There was a great sense of camaraderie during the event, every one checking on any rider who had stopped at the trail side, ensuring they where ok. Once the rain stopped the views from the top of the ridge line both north and south where fantastic, it will be well worth a revisit to this part of the world and event, unfortunately too much head down and pedaling meant i didn't take any photographs. So we managed to complete the first 60 Miles in just under 8 Hours, so it is doable in a day I will need to look into resolving the issue with by my back, whether that is a full suspension bike or a better exercise regimen we shall see, but if all goes well we intend to enter this event again next year. 101 Kilometres in 5 hours 45 Minutes out early, out of Andover on the N246 then through Chilbolton, Long Parish, Hurst Bourne Priors. At Hurst Bourne Tarrant we became mixed in with the Sportive Riders doing the Wiggle Magnificant out from Newbury, this made the country lane very very busy up through Vernham Dean, unlikely they branched off to climb up to the Causeway at the east end, I cycled on in peace to Oxenwood and the west end of the cause way. Once I got onto the top of the cause way we then Sportive Riders coming along to drop down into the Chutes. I have to say the was some very poor road sense in amongst the packs of riders, and spent a lot of time dodging the oncoming 'Mamils' at the East End of the Cause Way went south through Clanville and onto Weyhill. Under the A303 at Thruxton and through Quarley, Grately the Wallops and out to Broughton which was the furtherest south we where going today. I bumped into the Sportive Riders again coming through Longstock and then stopped for a snack at the 'The Bunny' which is a small lane which crosses the Test River, and gives you access to the Test Way and back up to Chilbolton and home. Once home inspection of the Rear tire showed that the puncture was due to a piece of glass. So we tried out our new Pedros Tyre Levers which proved to be useless, so fall back to using the old faithfuls - a set of old Dutch tyre levers. It also allowed us to test the Park Tool Puncture Patches.
http://www.grindlefordvillageshop.com/bike-box-at-the-shop/
Lovely summers evening ride, only marred by the gusts of wind on the way back. 27.22 Kilometers in 1 Hour 20 minutes
Quick hour ride out around the local villages south of Andover, only thing of note was i dropped the chain from the bottom of the front chainring, first time since going to 1x9, happened when i was going down the gears. Put it back on and had not issues on the rest of the route.
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January 2023
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