Hell of the Ashdown

I did it, but I don't think I should have done. Constant sneezing has been replaced by a throat that feels like sandpaper, woop woop. To bed with me.

Nice seeing you earlier Tom & Nick. Martin, thanks again for your company on the way round. As usual the event was superbly marshalled with well stocked feed stops.

For the record, the two named above completed it in well under 4 hours. A great effort. I was a little more pedestrian-like at 4hr 24. Heavy winter bike though ;0)

That was good fun, I'm a bit damaged now though.

Jolly nice to see some forum folk, both before and after. Get around okay, Ludwig?

Martin, thanks for the ideas about where I might take my bike this year. All of those Pendragon rides provide definite food for thought. Challenging stuff! When I can concentrate again I might just investigate one or two.

Heal up Tom. The ride to the station in the rain was definitely not fun. Were lucky and got straight into a train.

This was brilliant. I really love Kent. Still don' t know where Ashdown Forrest is.

Nice to see Phil. Got around very well, Nick. Olivier was an inspiration up those hills. After Star Hill I was very, very slow. The last few miles can't have taken an hour, but it certainly felt so. Very pleased with 4:51.

This was brilliant. I really love Kent. Still don' t know where Ashdown Forrest is.

East Sussex ;0)

That makes sense. The Kent sign must have been at round 50 miles.

was anyone else in the group of about 25 riders that got sent down hogtrough hill at the very end of the route instead of turning right down grays road?
i was quite pissed off to have to cycle back up hogtrough because of a lack of signposting, nearly sent me over the 5 hour mark too!
great event though

was anyone else in the group of about 25 riders that got sent down hogtrough hill at the very end of the route instead of turning right down grays road?
i was quite pissed off to have to cycle back up hogtrough because of a lack of signposting, nearly sent me over the 5 hour mark too!
great event though

Sorry I did the route marking, we put three arrows there and at the left @ TJ before it yesterday morning, last night they were gone so we replaced them again, this morning when I route checked it they were gone again so replaced them again, I know the broom wagon had to replace them again mid morning, Tonight when I took them down there was only one left there.
Unfortunately somebody up there does not like our ride.

You could always read & check it against the route sheet ;)

There really are some dicks around.

You did a great job, thanks Steve :0)

Absolutely. I thought the organisation was top notch.

There really are some dicks around.

You did a great job, thanks Steve :0)

Thank you but it was a team effort, my job was organizing route arrows, signs and Marshalls, Peter helped me put them out and take them down.

Top ride today, real nice to roll round with Sam and share a tea with Tom and Nick at the end.
FixedWNut thanks for all your efforts much appreciated, will email the team to say cheers. Not easy to take photos with gloves on but I managed to take a few snaps here

hell of ashdown is always good..
did it three years ago, loved it
wonderful atmosphere

well done to everyone involved
either helping out or entering

al

Times are up, didn't get top 10 :(

Made top 200 :0) lol

You and mj have exactly the same splits, but he pips you by a second at the final check. Cheeky...

Times are up, didn't get top 10 :(

No doubt your illness meant you were a little slower T..

Two minutes slower than I'd recorded on me' pooter! :(

Illness = legitimate excuse for doing badly / triumphant story of overcoming in doing well. Can't lose! :P
I actually feel a million times better today, which is a surprise as I thought disease would strike hardest when I was feeling a little low. By tomorrow I should be human again.
So there you go, 100k at pace = legitimate cure for cold.

Anectodal. n has to be >1 before I believe that.

(well done)

Christ that was good fun. Says Friday. Again.

Sorry if I'm stating the obvious. The experience has made me a little over-enthusiastic.

Top ride today, real nice to roll round with Sam and share a tea with Tom and Nick at the end.
FixedWNut thanks for all your efforts much appreciated, will email the team to say cheers. Not easy to take photos with gloves on but I managed to take a few snaps here

I am disappointed by the lack of;

1) Beards
2) Rapha-cam editing

Glad you all got round unscathed

Sorry, I shaved it off about a month ago. It was getting in the way of my food.

yep good event.

but we got wet on the ride home. at least it was down hill all the way.

we did 161k in total. good early season kays.

There are pics up, I'm not posting any as I look like shit in most of them!