Hell of the North Cotswolds, April 2004
For those of you who couldn't make it, just thought I'd pen a few lines
about the Hell of the North Cotswolds which happened yesterday. This was
the 20th anniversery of the event which has been timed to coincide with
the genuine Hell of the North (Paris - Roubaix).
Five of us (Dean, Chris J, Chris P, Rachel F and myself) assembled at
Winchcombe at about 0800 Sunday morning after camping the previous night
near Broadway. A little bit wet and blustery overnight, I think we all
wondered what the day would have in store for us. After some marginal
faffing (wheel bearings, and other routine last minute adjustments...) we
wound up on the start with some 900-odd other riders. Dean, Chris^2 and
myself were doing the 100km route with Rachel wisely opting for the 50.
Most people were on MTBs, but there was still a smattering of cycloX
bikes.
The route, which was premarked on an OS map, took in about 40% bridleways,
tracks and other non-metalled routes with the remainder on small country
lanes. Chris (P) and I decided to make up some ground since we'd started
right at the back of the pack and spent the next few hours passing people
- always good fun. Conditions were suprisingly good, with a fresh wind
strengthening as the day wore on. After a few navigational slips (one of
which involved inadvertantly taking about 20-25 people astray before
slipping back en-route again... oops...) we arrived at the half way mark
for tea and cakes. Nice.
The remainder of the course was stayed on form - the increasing headwind
now making life slightly hard work at times. The final climb was slightly
demoralsing - seemingly endless tarmac followed by seemingly endless muddy
grass towards seemingly unreachable radio masts. Or it could be my memory
of it is skewed since I'd forgotten to eat for the previous hour and a bit
and had bonked really badly ;o)
The final downhill made up for it though - a slightly suicidal
photographer sitting at what would usually be the bail-out point for an
abortive descent attempt complicated the affair, but the rocky, muddy,
twisting track was a great note to end on.
The verdict - less technical than the 100km routes on the Merida series
with possibly less climbing (only 1700m) but a great fun day out and an
ideal start to the 100km season. Many thanks to:
David Carter - I wouldn't have known about it otherwise
Chris Jones - Driving, booking up campsites and generally
running around
Dean - BBQ skills supreme!
Chris P - Ride company!
Rachel - Local knowledge!
Bart
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