2013-01-13 - Watership Down Audax, 100k, nr Winchester

Choose your seconds.

Good advice. There might be a qeue for the toilet.

FWIW I don't expect to finish particularly quickly as I'm riding fixed and am also too fat for cycling up hills. You won't need to hang about at controls for very long, but I don't think anybody would really want to as it'll be too cold for fannying about waiting.

I'm rapidly increasing the amount of clothing I was planning on wearing.

FWIW I don't expect to finish particularly quickly as I'm riding fixed and am also too fat for cycling up hills. You won't need to hang about at controls for very long, but I don't think anybody would really want to as it'll be too cold for fannying about waiting.

IIRC, there's only one manned control, the other 2 (or was it 3?) were info controls (you write down the answer to the question on the sheet (what is the name of such and such house, or how far is such & such village on the sign in the green).

If the forecast is correct, I would be very careful on the descents, esp from Chute Causeway, as there is likely to be a lot of ice around. 2 years ago it was cold, and there was a heavy frost, but I was okish on 32c tyres, but some people did come off quite badly.

For me, it's been the 1st longish ride of the year when I have done it, so it's always taken a bit longer than 6 hours, hence closer to dusk than 1pm. If you're in decent shape and know the route (or are following someone that does) then 4 or 5 probably isn't wildly optimistic, but it is very lumpy, as well as being really in the lanes.

I was going to use my 28c Maxxis ReFuse, other option would be my studded tyres, but that strikes me as massive overkill

I was going to use my 28c Maxxis ReFuse, other option would be my studded tyres, but that strikes me as massive overkill

If the roads are so bad that you need to use studded tyres, then the organisers will probably cancel the event on safety grounds.

Hm. Maybe I should rethink my choice of bike since i haven't got clearance for anything bigger than 25c on the fixeh.

I can't do the event, as I will be away, so didn't bother entering, but I have been for a ride around part of the course. Epic mud, potholes, and central nature reservations.
I used 23s, which were OK with a bit of care, but it might be very different on Sunday, but at least the mud should be more solid.
Reading the thread about earlier events a lot of people saw a few Red Kites, now the area is now heaving with them, but better still there are a few Ravens at Combe which I could hear as I climbed up to the Gibbet.
Enjoy!

I have 23s and no other tyres. After the time it took me to put the flipping mudguards on, I'm not faffing round with new tyres. I may fall off - I may not.

C'mon Steph (I see you lurking). It'll be fine (freezing / muddy / freezing& muddy)

I'll be going to the Watership Down ride.
It's my local patch.
Ridden it twice before fixed - never seen any other fixed doing it

do you allow fixed strangers to ride in your gang?

I'm out. Doing a 100 in Norfolk next week instead.

Hope it doesn't get called off. Looks like it'll be cold.

@Fox your act of kindness in darting back to London Fields for me is greatly appreciated!

@Ludwig wtf are you rattling on about?

@all who ride it try the pub at Burghclere, about halfway, it was a very welcome ale when we stopped there in 2011. It even has a dedicated cycle parking spot. No lock stands, just some yellow lines.

Well, will believe not everything I hear in the future then.

I'll be going to the Watership Down ride.
It's my local patch.
Ridden it twice before fixed - never seen any other fixed doing it

do you allow fixed strangers to ride in your gang?

A stranger is just a hipster we haven't met yet.

Well, will believe not everything I hear in the future then.

I, for one, believe every single one of Will's tales about Skully.

@skully It was a pleasure, I was just glad they were still there. It just seemed relevant.

Have you tried asking your head about the time you left it in the toilet?

Email from Sue Coles- ride full, my entry has been turned down.

Bugger, just send mine 2 days ago.

Email from Sue Coles- ride full, my entry has been turned down.

You can do the ride anyway, just follow someone - you just won't get a card.

I did the ride on 'dillo 25s when it was icy and a forum contingent went out.
It was cold, icy, and fun. There were a couple of spills, but nothing major that I saw. Though Des did fracture some ribs, but was medicated by Skully.
The tea stop at the end was amazing. You could tell we weren't in London. Prices and portions were sensible.

I can't recommend this ride enough.

Me too. It is a lovely ride.

I've been meaning to do it with a small group in summer some time...

Can someone keep their route sheet afterwards? I still have the one from 2011 but it may be good to have another / revised one.

Seriously I've been thinking about it for ages, I'm going to bloody do it.

Skully, I made a google map of the route from the sheet last night so I could use my smaaahtfone if I got lost or didn't understand the cue sheet. You're welcome to crib from it:

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=208601273732770266189.0004d2f6f3992db6a856d&msa=0

Ah cheers Bo.

You can do the ride anyway, just follow someone - you just won't get a card.

I'll make my own card, with glitter.

I haven't heard one way or the other, though I haven't sifted the post in the communal hall that carefully. Having a tiny fit of angst about the weather (and my decidedly unwinter tyres)