Hell of the North Cotswolds (HONC) was an event I'd read about over the course of several years - mostly via singletrack forum posts.It seemed to be an event that was pretty well known amongst the Cotswold riders.Last year it appears that its fame was mostly due to completely gopping weather. It was being bandied about the net that 40mph gusts of rain filled gales were blowing....eek!The other 'thing' I'd picked up from reading about the HONC was that if was pretty close as to whether it would favour a cross bike or a MTB - both weather and the course could dictate the steed of choice.
This was a slightly intriguing dilemma for me as
This was a slightly intriguing dilemma for me as
- I would have to bring my bike up to the in-laws several days before the actual event, and UK weather prediction seems pretty much as accurate as 'if it's raining out your window take a brolly...'
- Despite the .gpx file being released a week or so before the event, I had such little knowledge of the terrain and trails that this was of no use to me....
I'd been on the 'big london ride' only a few days before, and despite the rigid skinny tyres of the 'kind of cross bike' being (mostly) fine for that, I wasn't sure if I could face 62 miles of 'mountain bike terrain' letting my know I'd picked the wrong bike via the medium of jarred wrists and chattered teeth...
However, I was also fearful that riding the sole gear of 32:18 on the SS would soon let my knees know that gears would have been a sensible choice. It was loosely on my agenda to swap the gears from the full sus to the single speed, but on the day I was planning on doing that I'd taken the choice of riding a bike rather than fettling with one!
I had loosely asked on STW what bike they suggested I take - amongst several replies was the sensible answer "just pick a bloody bike and ride the damn thing"
Wise words.
I picked the single speed.
However, I was also fearful that riding the sole gear of 32:18 on the SS would soon let my knees know that gears would have been a sensible choice. It was loosely on my agenda to swap the gears from the full sus to the single speed, but on the day I was planning on doing that I'd taken the choice of riding a bike rather than fettling with one!
I had loosely asked on STW what bike they suggested I take - amongst several replies was the sensible answer "just pick a bloody bike and ride the damn thing"
Wise words.
I picked the single speed.
Mostly because I chuffing love that bike and I'd rather be slow and comfortable that fast and dead.
Also, a riding friend had emailed me a week or so before and told me I'd be a legend (or words to that effect) if I did the 100k on the single speed. And of course I have an ego to feed....
Also, a riding friend had emailed me a week or so before and told me I'd be a legend (or words to that effect) if I did the 100k on the single speed. And of course I have an ego to feed....
With the awesome power of hindsight it appears that I had chosen wisely - despite being a lovely sunny day and the route being made up of at least half of it road, the off road sections would have been too hideous and bumpy on my poor skinny wrists and worn bottom to have been without fat tyres and bouncy forks!
Anyway, since riding the HONC (13th April) I've been up to a fair few things, but blogging hadn't been one. Hence, I can't recall a great deal about the actual ride - It was a really good, challenging route. And the weather was beautiful to boot!
Here's a few snaps taken on the trails..
Anyway, since riding the HONC (13th April) I've been up to a fair few things, but blogging hadn't been one. Hence, I can't recall a great deal about the actual ride - It was a really good, challenging route. And the weather was beautiful to boot!
Here's a few snaps taken on the trails..
I was pleased to have seen 'Rob the Brewer' at the start line (a fellow Southerner) and we got chatting away about what was coming up. I thought, seeing as we were each 'on our own', it would be nice to ride the route together and continue our chat. Unfortunately as we both got caught up in the first climb we bid our fair-wells and I bombed on ahead.
All in all the event was a great day out and well worth the pretty small entry fee.
Some of the climbs could be described as 'fairly tough', including a good group separator early on in the ride. However, to be honest, riding the single speed up and down hills is petty much like riding any bike - just that if going UP you simply push harder, and if going DOWN, you simply pedal faster! "Why not just add gears" you may ask?! A logical question I suppose...the answer is that for 95% of the riding I want to do, I don't need to. For the other 5%, I'll pick another bike!
All in all the event was a great day out and well worth the pretty small entry fee.
Some of the climbs could be described as 'fairly tough', including a good group separator early on in the ride. However, to be honest, riding the single speed up and down hills is petty much like riding any bike - just that if going UP you simply push harder, and if going DOWN, you simply pedal faster! "Why not just add gears" you may ask?! A logical question I suppose...the answer is that for 95% of the riding I want to do, I don't need to. For the other 5%, I'll pick another bike!
And of course - post ride nutrition is vitally important....