You are reading a single comment by @andyp and its replies.
Click here to read the full conversation.
-
Good effort! What was your total distance in the end?
On the geography, the downs from Reading to Marlborough are colloquially known as the North Wessex Downs. The North Downs is the ridge that runs from Farnham to Dover.
andyp-
325km. I've finished my SR now and realised I will need to do some "training" for PBP. Read somewhere that some overnight rides are good for the sleep deprivation thing, so the TNRC overnighter was a good opportunity to extend. Felt really good yesterday. Only thing is, I was on my fixie, which I now think if more comfy that the roadie. I should just be sensible and get the fit right on my road bike.
Ruserius
I got back about 5, fell asleep at 6 and now awake at 1am. Well that's my body clock sorted.
TNRC specials keeping the standards high! Route out of London to the pub is one of the better ones. High police presence at Ascot and relatively quite surrounds made for pleasant riding to get to the remainder of the virtually deserted lanes of the north downs where the chill kept any sleepiness at bay. No supply stops and a puncture close to the end made me enjoy the hot coffee and super sunny sunrise at Avebury even more.
Was really torn between enjoying all Swindon's wonders with the main returners group, or the fast train back along the then sunny lanes back to another yet to be determined station. Either would have been great, but was very happy with my choice as we sped back through the much warmer greenery of the north downs again which was a hell of a contrast to Newbury's rush hour roundabouts where we enjoyed a breakfast in the sainsburys car park. A4 was then fast, but is not pretty, and I parted ways with @Rodmunch and @CowHen to join National Cycle Route 4 which got me to Reading slowly and relaxed. Tried to find the nice parts of Reading to ride but failed so resorted to buying beer and leaving, only finding a nice place to drink it once out of the town. Tried following NCR4 but combination of shit signage and routing led me to the final part of an audax route instead. Back along the A4 was easier after a beer in Maidenhead, with a final flurry of riding in Sipson pre 3rd runway before ordering every vegan thing on the menu at a bakery deli place near home.
Awesome day and night out. Thanks all, organisers and riders