HoNC 2012 Aftermath

It was great to see so many retro bikes out there. I was out there as usual GT spotting. I spotted 2 other Zaskars as well as the Xizang! Oh and a Thermoplastic LTS... and it was badged as such rather then an STS.

I spoke to one or two of you, I was the Zaskar LE guy.

Such a fantastic day. had to cut it short as I took a tumble and broke my thumb but I still carried on on the 50k route thus doing around 75k. such a top day.

Now I need to build up a xizang and STS to get my dream GT collection.

sweet

Great to see old friends. Shame to miss others.

Pulled in at 5.30pm fairly spent. Went in way out of shape, riding the wrong bike and aiming for 50k and a nice day out with pals. Ended up being talked into 100 by Sinnett and then spent the rest of the day out there at the back, pretty much never seeing another human and grinding out on a road block on a cx bike. Brutal.

Loved it!







Highlights for me....

*catching up with the black and white gang at the start line.

*Edwards sullying my brain with his filth.

*Edwards' Ritual abuse of my bike choice and further, component choice.

*The Guv'nor and Gump spinning past shouting 'nice socks' at me on the first of what was to become many miserable downhill experiences.

*Cake stop mainly because I ran out of water about an hour before getting there with a woefully inadequate one bottle strategy.

*Not adopting a two sock strategy for the first time.

*Riding along with Mark S - always an honour.

*Riding along with Edwards - always an education.

*Being surprised how not uncomfortable (not i didn't say comfortable) a 114g Flite Carbonio Flow saddle is after 8.5hrs perched on top of it.

*Having Vietnam flashbacks after the ride thanks to the amount of jelly babies I consumed during it.

*The two dinners I ate at the pub in Winchcombe last night and the nice Irish and Scots table of jolly locals that invited soloist me to join them.

A great day out.

ededwards":23q41r4m said:

oneeyedjim and the courier bag. Again.

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I'm always surprised by the number of comments the old Timbuk2 attracts. Minimalism's all very well, but what do you lightweights do when you find yourselves miles from anywhere in need of a hacksaw ... or a 12" adjustable spanner ... or a pound of Kendal Mint Cake ... or a kitchen sink? :shock:

Whatever happened to the jungle shorts?

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What can I say? It felt like a Lycra day.

Another grand day out in the Cotswolds. The mudbath I'd feared didn't materialise: the day dawned cool and bright, and remained cool and bright. Hawthorn blossom, lambs, Cotswold stone, and little fluffy clouds.

Stumpy did me proud once again. No punctures, and not even a hint of a mechanical. The gears were perfect, and the granny ring remained unused. The cramp that dogged my shifting thumb on my last Cotswold outing didn't appear this time.

I went with the popular tyre choice of Conti XC 1.5" but decided to run them at a low 60psi, relying on judicious choice of line to avoid pinch flats. The gamble paid off, and the sidewalls remained intact.

This was my first big ride with Power Grips, and I was pleased with them.

My little brother dictated the choice of the shorter route, handicapped as he was by youth, suspension, and big fat tyres. I was a little disappointed not to get my money's worth with the 100km ride, but if I'm honest, the 50km course was probably the right choice for me this year, and with the ride over from Tewkesbury it wasn't a bad day in the saddle.

See you all again next year?

My second HONC, and another day of great weather. I thought I was fitter this year than last, but as it turned out not really fit enough.

The only mechanical issue was in the first mile on two when my rear wheel came adrift due to a loose qr. (Doh! )

Had a good day though, intermittently catching up with Nevadasmith, Daj and Daryl through the second half.

Best bit of the ride, hard to say, possibly the single track off Cleve Hill that was parallel to the official route. (yes I did miss the route markers there) or was it the Megaburger at the burger wagon.

Great day out with good company and next year I will be fitter!

He he I wasn't the only one to get lost then. I got lost four times in total following two guys on cyclocross bikes!! Did well in the end though only did just over my 50k as planned but managed to get back at 12.20 one of the first bunch much better than last year. The old green rockhopper seems a lot faster than my modern Santa cruz for some reason ( probably because gravey monster strove built it?) myroast dinner went down well. Be good to meet you all properly at mayhem. Who was the guy on the other old dark specialised with the great big handle bars? I must have passed you three times due to my wandering route?

Fest":1segbqth said:

He he I wasn't the only one to get lost then. I got lost four times in total following two guys on cyclocross bikes!!

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IOh yeah, i should mention that I also got last at the end, went off straight ahead instead of turning left to go toward the quarry area, ended up about 5k out in the middle of nowhere before realising!

haven't lost those skills.

For those interested here is the log from my GPS > http://app.strava.com/rides/6868735

John":149cinhc said:

For those interested here is the log from my GPS > http://app.strava.com/rides/6868735

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sweet, I loaded Strava especially for the Honc, then forgot to switch it on -DOH!

Looking at John's map, I think I got lost about the sharp kept a while before ethe '4' marker.

:roll:

Pictures now up at :

sussexsportphotography.com