Highclere anyone?

nicky_7751
nicky_7751 Posts: 50
edited June 2009 in Sportives/audaxes/training rides
Just wondering how many forum members are doing the Highclere this year. Have entered the 77 miler and it will be my first sportive, really looking forward to it but with some trepidation...longest trip so far 65 miles but hope to get a couple of longer rides in during the next couple of weeks.

Comments

  • bs147
    bs147 Posts: 164
    I'm entered - doing the 126 miler as preparation for the Marmotte. I did it two years ago - tougher than it looked as it was rarely flat!
  • Jaeger
    Jaeger Posts: 439
    Yep, I'm doing the 200km route, but after today's 140km Sunday Sportive over the South Downs I'm beginning to wonder how I'll even get round...!!! :?
  • magliaceleste
    magliaceleste Posts: 748
    I'll be there doing the long route. My favourite sportive.
  • GavH
    GavH Posts: 933
    I'm booked onto the Spud/Polka Dot which I entered without a second thought for when the Highlclere was. Must admit, I did toy with the idea of just writing off the Spud entry fee and doing the Highclere (77 mile route). Binned that idea last night when I looked at the route map and realised that about half way around it goes straight past my house! How soul destroying to have to ride past your house at half way (would be for me anyway!). The Spud it is in then (the half option - been a bit lazy with the mileage on Sundays over the last few weeks! :oops: ).
  • nicky_7751
    nicky_7751 Posts: 50
    [quote="GavH Binned that idea last night when I looked at the route map and realised that about half way around it goes straight past my house! How soul destroying to have to ride past your house at half way (would be for me anyway!).

    Lol passes within 2 miles of my house at about the 65 mile mark......going to be a struggle to keep bike from following my normal route and ending up at home. :lol::lol:
  • ju5t1n
    ju5t1n Posts: 2,028
    It’s my third successive year for this one, also as a prelude to La Marmotte. This is an excellent event, up there with the Autumn Epic as one of my two favourites.
  • pigeon42
    pigeon42 Posts: 98
    Me & my other half are doing the Highclere 77m route - our first sportive, and starting to get pretty nervous about it!
    FCN 10
  • Barkiesnake
    Barkiesnake Posts: 244
    Having lost 3 stone in the last year, and still being 17st i am doing the short route at Highclere. My first ever sportive. Looking forward to the challenge.
    "If you think you can, or if you think you can't, your right" Henry Ford
  • richa
    richa Posts: 1,632
    200k for me. Another using this as part of the tune up for the Marmotte.
    Rich
  • skavanagh.bikeradar
    skavanagh.bikeradar Posts: 1,097
    Overall I enjoyed this a lot last year, although the last 15 miles were murder I tell thee.
  • captain_oakley
    captain_oakley Posts: 222
    Really looking foward to it, did the Tour of Pembrokeshire on the same weekend
    last year. Have entered the 200km route, see you all there.


    'The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation
    with the average voter' - Winston Churchill
  • stevoracer
    stevoracer Posts: 8
    I'm doing the 77 miler, also my first sportive. Signed about a week ago up so that I have goal to work towards, having not cycled regularly for 3 years. On my bike now 6 days a week, loving it and doing some 50% rides - so it's working!

    Really looking forward to it at the same time nervous as hell
  • greeny12
    greeny12 Posts: 759
    This will be my third year and it's the absolute highlight of my cycling calendar.

    As usual, way underprepared so I'll have to mug it...only doing the 77 miler though, so should be OK.

    Must remember to be in super low gear at the end of the first descent of the scorpion sting - last year when the road kicked up again after that sharp turn it caught me right out and I had to climb off to change down 'manually'...!!!
    My cycle racing blog: http://cyclingapprentice.wordpress.com/

    If you live in or near Sussex, check this out:
    http://ontherivet.ning.com/
  • 1878
    1878 Posts: 34
    How does it compare with the Hants Hilly 100, terrain-wise?
  • Le Commentateur
    Le Commentateur Posts: 4,099
    Dunno, but it takes in some of the Southern Sportive route along the downs south of Petersfield.
    Must remember to be in super low gear at the end of the first descent of the scorpion sting - last year when the road kicked up again after that sharp turn it caught me right out and I had to climb off to change down 'manually'...!!!

    Good tip-off! Any other comedy moments set up by the route planners that first timers need to be aware of?
    Un uomo solo al commando
  • nicky_7751
    nicky_7751 Posts: 50
    Not feeling quite so nervous about this now as managed a 96 miler yesterday...my longest trip yet!! :D Was following some of the TOW coming out of Bruton & got caught out when they did the climb to King Alfreds Tower...had to walk the last 100m or so :oops: other than that just tired for last 15 miles or so. :D
  • daniel_b
    daniel_b Posts: 11,973
    Am riding 10 miles of this course tomorrow (riding 40 miles in total tomorrow) at some point, including the scorpions sting.

    :shock:

    Signed up for the 77 miler as well.

    It's not far away.

    I'm still pretty nervous.

    Putting a cassette on tonight to give me half a chance up the hills though :oops:

    Dan
    Felt F70 05 (Turbo)
    Marin Palisades Trail 91 and 06
    Scott CR1 SL 12
    Cannondale Synapse Adventure 15 & 16 Di2
    Scott Foil 18
  • graham1871
    graham1871 Posts: 34
    Stupid question - where is the scorpion sting??
  • greeny12
    greeny12 Posts: 759
    graham1871 wrote:
    Stupid question - where is the scorpion sting??

    It's a back to back climb over Walbury Hill and Faccombe Hill. There's a short downhill section between them so the idea is you get stung once then stung again very soon after, like a typical scorpion sting.

    Luckily it falls reasonably near the start of the ride...
    My cycle racing blog: http://cyclingapprentice.wordpress.com/

    If you live in or near Sussex, check this out:
    http://ontherivet.ning.com/
  • TheStone
    TheStone Posts: 2,291
    Does the Highclere feel like a longer version of the Hampshire Hilly Hundred or is the climbing a lot tougher?
    exercise.png
  • shakey88
    shakey88 Posts: 289
    stevoracer wrote:
    I'm doing the 77 miler, also my first sportive. Signed about a week ago up so that I have goal to work towards, having not cycled regularly for 3 years. On my bike now 6 days a week, loving it and doing some 50% rides - so it's working!

    Really looking forward to it at the same time nervous as hell

    50% riding hey,you must be good.
    Nothing for 3 years and now you're pedaling on one leg! Class 8)
  • craker
    craker Posts: 1,739
    Has anyone had the entry packs yet? I can't see anything on the website, presumably we have to sign on Saturday or Sunday early?
  • richa
    richa Posts: 1,632
    There is a pdf on the website:
    http://www.cyclegb.co.uk/index.php?main ... s&sub=docs
    Rich
  • richa
    richa Posts: 1,632
    Does anyone have a GPX / Tracklog of the 2009 route?
    Thks.
    Rich
  • juggler
    juggler Posts: 262
    TheStone wrote:
    Does the Highclere feel like a longer version of the Hampshire Hilly Hundred or is the climbing a lot tougher?

    Yes... pretty much the same as HHH but longer. Climb up to Hannington and then White Hill near Kingsclere is on both rides. For much of the rest of the ride you are riding in the same area as HHH but different roads.... Walbury Hill and then Inkpen Beacon near the start are the steepest climbs, but not very long ones, so you should be fresh enough at that point to get up with ease...
  • TheStone
    TheStone Posts: 2,291
    Cheers. Looking forward to this one, but expecting much pain!!!

    RichA, I took the GPX from this route:
    http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Hi ... mile-202km
    exercise.png
  • juggler
    juggler Posts: 262
    Me too... hoping the weather holds out or may opt for the 123km.

    If you have not riden Stonor Hill before (after second timing mat and feed stop at the cycle shop)..... then as you go up take a look behind you down the valley... for a brief moment you can imagine you are on the lower slopes of an alpine col. Folks round here call the area ' Little Switzerland'... i say for one brief monet cos you soon get to the top , but a couple of nice switchbacks to enjoy and not too steep..... :)
  • Brocade
    Brocade Posts: 433
    Planning to ride the 126 miler... but it looks like it's going to rain.

    Apparently, 3km ascent in total. Not pretty.
    BMC Pro Machine
    Enigma Ego

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