Hell of the Ashdown

I notice the website says the route has changed slightly this year. Does anybody who has done it before know if the bike route toaster course is the new one or the old one?

I think the route given on the website is the new one as it mentions climbing Ide Hill instead of Bayleys Hill for safer access to the feed station. Good, I effing hate the horrible drag to Bayleys.

^thanks

If there is anyone out there who has found they are not able to make the ride on Sunday and don't want to see their place go to waste, please PM me

If there is anyone out there who has found they are not able to make the ride on Sunday and don't want to see their place go to waste, please PM me

Transfers were stopped two weeks ago.

Has anyone got the course route on google maps.. so I can actually follow it on my phone?

Transfers were stopped two weeks ago.

Has anyone got the course route on google maps.. so I can actually follow it on my phone?

That's not helpful!!

Nothing on the website saying transfers are not possible, and I suppose if someone choses to transfer their ride to someone else that is their perogative.

Bit chilly out

Chapeau to the marshals who were out in force on practically every corner, freezing their nads off and still smiling. Equally chirpy were the feed-stop staffers, especially those who spent time buttering maltloaf over at Ide Hill. Time well spent, I say.

An early start meant the roads were a bit icy, but the tranquillity and frozen landscapes made up for the peril.

Something which I'm sure a lot of riders saw today on their way by:

I saw that, amazing.
I was too busy with my best hill climbing gurn on to stop and take a piccy.

^^I really regretted not photographing that! Nice one.

Great ride today and awesome organisation / marshalling. Who was the marshall in the LFGSS cap, was too wrapped up to recognise.

^the one having an amazing time at Chiddingstone Hoath? I have no idea but he sounds AWESOME.

I wondered if it might be you! Hope you were warm enough...

How come you weren't riding?

Didn't really feel like it, so to displace the feelings of guilt thought I'd stand in the cold for 4 and a half hours. Was fun! But now I can't feel anything, anywhere.

Sorry Tom, Martin and I did spot the cap but not the face. Hello!

We spotted KT Bee a bit late as well, mainly cos I was ignoring marshalling duties and faffing around with the trangia so I could have a cup of tea. Everyone riding looked remarkably cheerful given that it was ridiculously cold. Impressive stuff.

It was very very cold. Fantastic marshalling, and people seemed to be keeping amazingly chipper, given it was tickling us with snow almost all the way round.

Were you two the marshalls with the blankets? I was a wee bit jealous.

We were. And the Helinox chair. And the Thermos full of soup. And a Lot of biscuits. Essential equipment for effective marshalling :D

You did look pretty happy! Nice spot too.

^^^^ Lovely to see friendly faces. It was chilly - but v friendly, and given the conditions, probably more impressive marshalling than cycling.

Didn't really feel like it, so to displace the feelings of guilt thought I'd stand in the cold for 4 and a half hours. Was fun! But now I can't feel anything, anywhere.

Yes a big thanks to all the marshalls, quite sacrificial, it's much appreciated.
Tom, just seen your time for last year again on the strava hota segment (pretty darn fast) and spookily Tracy has near enough exactly the same time this year.

Chapeau to everybody who did this - I see that at least a few of you nutters even rode there and back!

yeah doffs of the earwarming caps to you finishers

Didn't really feel like it, so to displace the feelings of guilt thought I'd stand in the cold for 4 and a half hours. Was fun! But now I can't feel anything, anywhere.

6pt & Tricitybendix your help was much appreciated especially covering the 'no mans land' Marshall point in case anybody took the Ice Route :D I owe you both Beerz.

All feedback so far is great everybody making special praise of the Marshall's
Cheers
Steve

Icicle Tree having seen that four times since Friday morning I saw loads of people stopping to photograph that :)

Didn't think it was all that cold.
Why was no one else wearing Shorts?
Great marshalling, felt safe all the time even with the ice.

Who was that on the red Eddy Merckx?

That was a wicked day out. Cold though. KT and I had a really lovely ride round. Nice to see 6pt and tricb, I did my best geared skid for you as thanks for the great marshalling.

Thank you to everyone who helped put this on, it's a great event.

It was cold, but not as bad as I feared. The only time it really got through to the bones was after the first feed stop and the long descent. I was properly shivering at the bottom. Luckily there was a good climb shortly after to get the blood moving again.

Unfortunately a knee issue flared up with about 25 miles to go which meant taking it easy from then on and a very slow ride home after the finish. I did spot Germain Burton and his dad on the way back from their training run. That lad has strong legs and was gone in a blink of an eye.