Top day out! Look forward to seeing some of the pics when they are online.
Done more or less every HoNC since 1992 (or 1993) and reckon the conditions this year were amongst the best. The trails were bone dry and the weather a pleasant 20 degrees.
We arrived in Winchcombe at 8:30 to be met by an almost full car park. Quick change and we were ready for the off. After a captivating speech by the chairman of Winchcombe CC the gun went and 1200 riders rolled out through the Cotswold market town. As per every other year the first climb was painfully slow with over a 1000 riders of differing abilities trying to get up the same track. Once this has been bettered the course opened up a little and we were able to make better progess, hot on the heels of Edwards 'The Bear' and Sinnet 'The Cat' or so we thought. Following a couple fo hours riding a mixture of road and off road lunch came round suprisingly quickly, the stop was at 26 miles from 66 - not 100% ideal.
A few other retrobikers were at the cake stop already and Edwards, Sinnet and Del rolled in a little afterwards. Cakes duly dispatched we rolled out to tackle the remainder of the course.
Like a second rate domestique coming to the end of his contract Edwards showed strongly from the feed stop. It couldn't last it would seem and after 15 miles of strong riding Edwards was forced to sit up.
On and on we rode. Managed to stick with 'Fast James' until the climb up the back of Snowshill. A triple combo of foolishly trying to middle ring the climb, a relative lack of condition along with perhaps a little dehydration lead to a cramp. A quick stretch and on again. Caught James over the summit (well, he waited) and on we headed to Winchcombe. Some of the tracks on the home leg had been a mud bath two years earlier - this time they were bone dry and super fast. They were quickly dispatched, was running a semi slick with 60psi in.
Tailed off a little on a couple of the last little drags but finally rolled into the finish a little after 1500.
Tea, cakes and sandwich's were all gratefully received at he finish (cheers Mum!).
Was a little nervous before this years event having ridden very little over the last few months, however I've certainly felt far worse during a HoNC. The good conditions certainly helped and I did think there was more road on the outward leg, be interesting to know if this was accurate or not.
Look forward to next year already, will have to try and arrange a retrobike meet up before the off. Sadly didn't get to see everyone before the start.
Done more or less every HoNC since 1992 (or 1993) and reckon the conditions this year were amongst the best. The trails were bone dry and the weather a pleasant 20 degrees.
We arrived in Winchcombe at 8:30 to be met by an almost full car park. Quick change and we were ready for the off. After a captivating speech by the chairman of Winchcombe CC the gun went and 1200 riders rolled out through the Cotswold market town. As per every other year the first climb was painfully slow with over a 1000 riders of differing abilities trying to get up the same track. Once this has been bettered the course opened up a little and we were able to make better progess, hot on the heels of Edwards 'The Bear' and Sinnet 'The Cat' or so we thought. Following a couple fo hours riding a mixture of road and off road lunch came round suprisingly quickly, the stop was at 26 miles from 66 - not 100% ideal.
A few other retrobikers were at the cake stop already and Edwards, Sinnet and Del rolled in a little afterwards. Cakes duly dispatched we rolled out to tackle the remainder of the course.
Like a second rate domestique coming to the end of his contract Edwards showed strongly from the feed stop. It couldn't last it would seem and after 15 miles of strong riding Edwards was forced to sit up.
On and on we rode. Managed to stick with 'Fast James' until the climb up the back of Snowshill. A triple combo of foolishly trying to middle ring the climb, a relative lack of condition along with perhaps a little dehydration lead to a cramp. A quick stretch and on again. Caught James over the summit (well, he waited) and on we headed to Winchcombe. Some of the tracks on the home leg had been a mud bath two years earlier - this time they were bone dry and super fast. They were quickly dispatched, was running a semi slick with 60psi in.
Tailed off a little on a couple of the last little drags but finally rolled into the finish a little after 1500.
Tea, cakes and sandwich's were all gratefully received at he finish (cheers Mum!).
Was a little nervous before this years event having ridden very little over the last few months, however I've certainly felt far worse during a HoNC. The good conditions certainly helped and I did think there was more road on the outward leg, be interesting to know if this was accurate or not.
Look forward to next year already, will have to try and arrange a retrobike meet up before the off. Sadly didn't get to see everyone before the start.
