shropshire highland challenge sunday

tarbot18

Hi anyone else doing the shropshire highland challenge on sunday , 66 miles and 6500 ft of climbing sounds fun oh and maybe some rain !! Im doing it with a few mates we ve done the coast to coast before which had a few bad hills so hoping we ll be ok.

Ron Stuart

Hi Tarbot,
I am down to escort this guy round on Sunday as I did in the Challenge last year... http://www.tonyhewson.co.uk/home/about-tony the third photo down is taken from last years ride (nice day) I paste in a report of the route which I did recently for Tony's benefit.
I started the ride part way round as it is nearer where I live by the way.

Hi Tony,
I took advantage of weather improvement today and recced the Highland Challenge. I car assisted to Clun then did a route out along the Jack Mytton Way and picked up the highland route at the xroads turned right for Newcastle then did the dodgy descent in the dry which wasn’t to bad but there were some ruts and pots on the lower slopes. It wouldn’t be great in the rain though. I continued round and back to Clun where I picked up more food and fluids for the remainder of the route from the car. The climb up Church Bank is tough but steady fairly longish but I found it not too bad. Descent to Chapel Lawn was OK not too hairy with some flatter bits to enjoy the area. After turning left and through Chapel Lawn it was flattish (into wind today) all the way to the Broom turn. I turned right and investigated Goat Hill which was manageable but it had a steep hairpin 2/3rds up. Nice ride from there through Ludlow to Richards Castle and the Goggin (sounds like Lord of the Rings stuff). Steep drag for a few hundred meters at the two telegraph pole turn. Generally down with a few ramps up all the way to Yatton , easy down to turn off for Upper Lye which was nice lane for some miles then after crossing river Lugg very steep ramp at other side, then a series of narrow gritty lanes up and down till Lingen main B road. Through Lingen, Brampton Bryan, Bucknell again and on to Bedstone where steepish bit from main road to Community Centre. From Control to Hopton Castle was flat or down then up steady gradient to wooded are then it flattens somewhat and continues up at a reasonable gradient then down to Obley easy descent then after a couple of right turns first by Chapel it brings you out to probably the steepest section of the ride not to bad leading to 150m or so of 1 in 4 ( thinks you may walk this bit Tony) on to A488 where turn left then shortly give way on a down slope with little view of traffic (care) then up another steep ramp which flattens for a while then goes steep again then over and fast down to the xroads where I first joined the Highland Challenge route.
My overall impression is that this was slightly tougher than last year but that might just be my memory bank playing up (or my legs).

Enjoy your day it's fantastic country.

tarbot18

hi ron looks like a few hairy downhills according to your decription but i think the weather bucking up a bit fingers crossed . If you see 3 guys on a new scott new boardman and very old ribble puffing up the hills may be us lol

Ron Stuart

tarbot18 wrote:

hi ron looks like a few hairy downhills according to your decription but i think the weather bucking up a bit fingers crossed . If you see 3 guys on a new scott new boardman and very old ribble puffing up the hills may be us lol

Hope it's dry, the descent down to Newcastle-on-Clun would be dodgy in the wet (very narrow) and no room for car up and bike down :shock:
With care the rest shouldn't pose a problem other than some of the gradients on the legs.
I shall be riding my training bike (because of poor surfacing in places) and I am out for a ride not a race on Sunday.
Link to the guy I am escorting round on Sunday the third photo down is Tony doing last years ride.... http://www.tonyhewson.co.uk/home/about-tony 8)

wicked

Chaps hopefully see you there. First time for me despite being in my home county I always seem to miss this event. If you see a white orbea orca say hi

Am I right in thinking that the route is not marked then?

Ron Stuart

The route isn't marked, one of the reasons I do a recce of it. You should have received The Route Sheet 2011 + checkpoint card.

wicked

Yes got the route sheet , was just hoping that it was only for if you get lost.

rdt

I'm riding this. Last time, 5 years ago, I followed some local lads who "knew" the route & roads and we ended up overaking the same people twice after a few "detours" This time I'll follow my audax strat of following someone with a GPS, and only resort to the routesheet if it all goes wrong...

Forecast is looking better than it was, so fingers crossed.

I see there's proper food available at the middle stop (Newcastle). Does anyone know if the first checkpoint (Bedstone) has just drinks, or will there be cake there or other "fuel"? I'm trying to gauge how light I can ride food-wise... :?:

tarbot18

hmmm think we may need to take a map or even better follow someone that knows the route although have to keep up with them then doh

Slacey

I'll be there with GPS, I'm hopeless with those route sheets!

wicked

Slacey wrote:

I'll be there with GPS, I'm hopeless with those route sheets!

Can I follow you?

Slacey

wicked wrote:

Slacey wrote:

I'll be there with GPS, I'm hopeless with those route sheets!

Can I follow you?

No worries

wicked

Slacey wrote:

wicked wrote:

Slacey wrote:

I'll be there with GPS, I'm hopeless with those route sheets!

Can I follow you?

No worries

That looks a newport jersey! I too am in telford.

tlw1

Missing it this year

Got an assignment due Tuesday

JamesB

Great route today, thanks Danny and great tea / cake stops

Bit on chilly side up on hills above Clun, but at least dry, cracking views all around from hills, and really good panoramas from Goat Hill towards end with a marvellous descent too

Fabulous value for £8.50 and makes one wonder where all teh £30 goes on some Sportives nowadays (yes this is an old debate again)

Here`s Garmin route http://connect.garmin.com/activity/93417261

had no trouble navigating around with Garmin + route card

wicked

JamesB wrote:

Great route today, thanks Danny and great tea / cake stops

Bit on chilly side up on hills above Clun, but at least dry, cracking views all around from hills, and really good panoramas from Goat Hill towards end with a marvellous descent too

Fabulous value for £8.50 and makes one wonder where all teh £30 goes on some Sportives nowadays (yes this is an old debate again)

Here`s Garmin route http://connect.garmin.com/activity/93417261

had no trouble navigating around with Garmin + route card

+1
Great fun today really enjoyed it. Puts sportives to shame.

Ron Stuart

Got round fine yesterday with Tony Hewson, great day out with a real friendly atmosphere about it.
Thanks to Phil from Sutton St Nicholas who was good company on the day. Who needs timing the terrain is the challenge and a medal at the end?

tarbot18

Great day yesterday bit sore today , thought the stops where well planned and what a place to camp . Can the pubs be closed next year in ludlow however, the quick pint after our pub lunch degenerated into a 6 pinter not quite the right preparation although we soon sweated it out !!!

rdt

Had a very fine day too, finding some good large groups to ride with, particularly the Steve Jones group and the Climb on Bikes club. With the latter, our (my :shock: ) navigation went a bit t!ts up near the end, taking us on an excursion TT'ing it the wrong way up the A49 a couple of miles short of Craven Arms before we realised...

The organisation, particularly at the stops, was really excellent. And for £8.50! Fantastic.