Abandoned ride
05-21-06, 11:41 AM
#1
Time for a change.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: 6 miles inland from the coast of Sussex, in the South East of England
Posts: 19,913
Bikes: Dale MT2000. Bianchi FS920 Kona Explosif. Giant TCR C. Boreas Ignis. Pinarello Fp Uno.
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
4 Posts
Abandoned ride
Similar posting on my ride that I have posted on other Forums- but yesterday attempted a 100mile, 10,000ft of climbing- 95% offroad- and lowcell wanted a report
last week had seen plenty of rain in the area, but Friday it hit. 2" rain on Friday night on an already waterlogged trail. High winds taking over trees and snapping big branches in the wooded areas, and causing problems in the open expanse when it veered to side ways on.
Still Friday morning and perfect weather- except for the high winds. First 20 miles ok- Bit sheltered on the trails and wind behind on the exposed bits. Only about 5 minutes behind the leaders on the first check point but from then on found the waterlogged trails- try not only getting wet feet but washing off your drivechain by just riding through the 12" of water. Then getting chainsuck on a bike that now weighs 10 lbs. heavier. Then running into grip problems on the 15% climbs and even some of the 10%.
Weather was diabolical High winds, plenty of Rain that luckily kept falling just in front of us, The mud in places was bad- The grip on the hills was bad- The standing water was diabolical- the fallen trees caused a problem getting round, but the worst was that Wind. Initially gusting to 35 mph and it veered to a crosswind. Then to a Front right quarter on gusting to 50 and so at the 65 mile mark we abandoned. After being given warnings that on the notorious Kingston loop- riders were not able to keep upright on the bike- The wind strength was getting to gale strength and that Rain was forecast in an hour or so. We felt it would be stupid to carry on. Nerver mind- can always do it next year. When I dry out.
Pics by the way are at the start where I reckon only 250 of the 400 starters started. Action shot is one of the few in the woods where a walker could get to and this was just about the start of our problems Only problem was that they went on for the next 60 miles.
last week had seen plenty of rain in the area, but Friday it hit. 2" rain on Friday night on an already waterlogged trail. High winds taking over trees and snapping big branches in the wooded areas, and causing problems in the open expanse when it veered to side ways on.
Still Friday morning and perfect weather- except for the high winds. First 20 miles ok- Bit sheltered on the trails and wind behind on the exposed bits. Only about 5 minutes behind the leaders on the first check point but from then on found the waterlogged trails- try not only getting wet feet but washing off your drivechain by just riding through the 12" of water. Then getting chainsuck on a bike that now weighs 10 lbs. heavier. Then running into grip problems on the 15% climbs and even some of the 10%.
Weather was diabolical High winds, plenty of Rain that luckily kept falling just in front of us, The mud in places was bad- The grip on the hills was bad- The standing water was diabolical- the fallen trees caused a problem getting round, but the worst was that Wind. Initially gusting to 35 mph and it veered to a crosswind. Then to a Front right quarter on gusting to 50 and so at the 65 mile mark we abandoned. After being given warnings that on the notorious Kingston loop- riders were not able to keep upright on the bike- The wind strength was getting to gale strength and that Rain was forecast in an hour or so. We felt it would be stupid to carry on. Nerver mind- can always do it next year. When I dry out.
Pics by the way are at the start where I reckon only 250 of the 400 starters started. Action shot is one of the few in the woods where a walker could get to and this was just about the start of our problems Only problem was that they went on for the next 60 miles.
__________________
How long was I in the army? Five foot seven.
Spike Milligan
How long was I in the army? Five foot seven.
Spike Milligan
05-21-06, 01:33 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Long Beach, California
Posts: 594
Bikes: 2005 Specialized hardrock pro... pike426, e.13 drs, fsa gap crank, formula k24's, and some more/2006 Scattante R-660 easton circuit wheels.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
i would ditch the ride as well
