2012-01-22 - Harp Hilly Hundred

good year to all.

anyone fancy stretching those tired and weary post christmas and new year party legs on some of the fine hills of the chilterns?

i have come across the harp hilly hundred here:
http://www.harphillyhundred.org.uk/

it is a turn up on the day reliability ride with the grand cost of 10 pounds and a total of six hours to meander round the 65 miles of route.
it is a timed event for those that care.

trains out of london are from euston and the 0823 would get us there in time to register and then start rolling. train into apsley and 3 miles to the start.

there are no feed stops on route and i have no idea of the local terrain and if there would be anywhere to stop so it will be a self sufficient affair.

i am planning to do this on gears as it looks to be very very hilly, might be something in the name but if enough want to ride fixed i'm very happy either way.

the route is here:

http://veloroutes.org/bikemaps/?route=23749#

and ride notes here:

http://www.lesrvr.com/HarpHillyHundred/HHH_100kmRoute2012.pdf

and you get a certificate at the end.

It used to be £4 and a reliability ride not a timed sportive. #daysofyore

Good riding out there though for sure. No ice this year I hope with these temps.

http://www.lfgss.com/thread2448-30.html#post1120442

will update then.

reliability ride sounds much better anyways.

it is still 10 pounds though!

...thanks for the link...

What I mean is, it was a reliability ride but they upped the price, timed it and stuff.
I kinda liked the concept of Reliabilities - we don't do them in Oz - they're quirky and cool. They're supposed to be early season cruise to get some blood flowing, not a race (and we all know sportives are races, stop kidding yourselves).

Anyway thanks for the reminder I've not done this ride for a bit - too icy last year. I wonder if I can make it there and around and back without getting lost again?

I just don't understand why pay to ride roads you can ride any day of the week.

I just don't underst

I don't underst either.

I can understand if they've got food stops on but for no stops what's the difference? £10 is a lot for a piece of paper.

In! List!

1. Skive
   
2. Stonehedge
   

I just don't understand why pay to ride roads you can ride any day of the week.

It's fun and it gives Harp Road Club some money?
Who on here rides these roads normally anyway? It's a bit of a trip out there.

I normally get a train to Watford Junction from Euston when I'm riding that neck of the woods...Fox gave the idea and makes it a lot more tolerable.

I can understand if they've got food stops on but for no stops what's the difference? £10 is a lot for a piece of paper.

So don't do it and ride the route some other time.

You get a map, someone to wait for you, other people riding it. Last time they were giving out food at the clubroom.

"**The entry fee for the Harp Hilly Hundred is £10 with at least 50% of the entry fees received for the event donated to charity."

"In**** both 2011 and 2010 we donated £1200 to charity. In 2011 the charity was Linkage Community Trust and in 2010 it was split between the three charities, St Albans Mencap, Shelter and Vic Dashwood Memorial Fund. ****For 2009 the selected charity was the RSPCA Blackberry Farm, Quainton and a cheque of £300 was presented to the charity. ****In previous years, charities we have donated to include, Macmillan Nurses, St Albans Mencap & Richard House." **

Doesn't look outrageously hilly but there are a few short sharp ones. I'll decide fixed or geared closer to the time.

I just don't understand why pay to ride roads you can ride any day of the week.

+1

Because it is sometimes fun to ride with people you don't know, to support a local cycling club and to advertise our sport in general by getting together en masse and publically having a good time.

As Hippy said, if you don't want to do it...nobody is forcing you.

The profile map doesn't mean much to me other than it looks sort of hard. In, on my SS.

1. Skive
   
2. Stonehedge
   
3. youramericanlover
   
   

edit: similar sort of elevation gain to St Margarets Bay, for those of you who've done that.

lot of hating in the new year!

2012.
year of love or was that the dragon?

The profile map doesn't mean much to me other than it looks sort of hard. In, on my SS.

1. Skive
   
2. Stonehedge
   
3. youramericanlover
   
   

edit: similar sort of elevation gain to St Margarets Bay, for those of you who've done that.

I wouldn't believe that total elevation gain from the profile. Ride reports from last year suggest that it is at least 1,000ft less than that. One plot of the route says 2,000ft less! Guess we'll just have to see on the day.

Bisons is a hell of a climb though.

It's bumpy. It's not the north or the Alpes but it's bumpy.

I might have a GPS recording of some of my attempts.

cheers steve, it's on the radar.

if it ends up icy like last years watership down then no way.

will ride SS if i am doing it.

cheers steve, it's on the radar.

if it ends up icy like last years watership down then no way.

will ride SS if i am doing it.

good work sir.

this looks like fun, good to support a local club.

it is on my radar as well but i'll make a decision closer to the event (e.g. weather pending...).

^ would be good to see you mate.