Evans Ride-it: Chieveley
Me and MrsBeOne did the Evans Ride-it at Chieveley today. Registration was open at 8am at Chieveley village hall. We only had a short journey down the A34 from Oxford so we arrived there at about 7.45 We had pre-registered online and paid the £10 entry fee. The entry fee for on the day entry was £12.50. We collected our rider cards from the registration desk inside the village hall and returned to the car to get ready. We have a Citroen saxo and no bike rack (well, we have got a rack but we don't use it very often). We take the front and back wheels off both bikes, fold the back seats down in the car and in the bikes go. We got the bikes ready, got ourselves layered up (was -2 at this point) and made our way to the start.
Our start time was recorded on the rider cards. It was 8.35 when we set off. The route was mostly bridlepath with some short road sections in between and it took us north towards East Ilsey and then along the Ridgeway towards Bury Down and then Chilton. After a short road section at Chilton we were heading south, back on off-road trails towards Blewbury Down almost following the line of the A34 south, crossing under the road as we approached Beedon. After reaching Beedon common we were back on the same route we took on the outward journey for the short return to the finish at Chieveley.
We did the Medium route which was 26 miles (28.24 according to my bike computer). The trail was so frozen it was rock solid. Almost like riding on bumpy concrete...icy, bumpy, concrete. The route was a cross country trail. There was nothing really technical and no mammoth climbs or downhills. The most technical part of the ride was dodging the rather large wheel ruts left behind by farm vehicles and 4x4's etc. There were two drink stations situated at convenient points along the route. The first one had a supply of free energy bars which was very nice. We also received a free energy bar and map each at the riders registration desk .
We finished at about 12.15..don't remember the exact time. Apart from being a bit chilly and having a few slippery moments it was a good mornings ride. The event seemed to be well organised and hot drinks and food was available at the village hall at the end of the ride. We might do another of these events soon, maybe at Milton Keynes in March.
We didn't take many photographs as the weather was quite misty......and it was too cold to stop for too long! 
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well donr mr - and mrs ...
Tammy Sykes
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... Ha! a bit chilly you say! That's why our camelback water tubes froze and my jaw went numb (I know you're saying thankful for small mercies). But remember I had to put my water tube in my jumper, wrapped part round my boob to thaw out. Otherwise you wouldn't have had a drink either. It was for me absolutely tiring and great fun. That coffee and pasty at the end were a God Send. Glad I remembered to take a change of clothes though. Good morning out. Now I really know how unfit I feel. hehe! |
Richard Grimes
said:
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... Top Tip time: I have a tip on frozen drinking tubes (courtesy of Karate Monkey) blow into the tube regularly, it work. This forces the ice back into the water reservoir and allows the water to flow past the ice. Oh and MrsB1K you info on how you thawed out your tube was bordering on too much info. I may need to report you to the moderators inn the future (what am I saying? I am a moderator!)  TTFN Buster |
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