White Horse Historical Tour Sunday 11th May 2008

[wadham]

Clive

Many thanks from the final member of last nights 'white knuckle' ride. If I can get through those lanes without binning it I'm sure anyone can. If you don't mind I might do a ride report for others to enjoy.


Wadham

 

[Clive]

If you don't mind I might do a ride report for others to enjoy.

I don't mind at all.

 

[blues n twos]

Hi Clive,

Just to let you know that My request for anual leave was refused so I won't be able to attend the tour

Jon

 

[Steve B]

Looks like fun. Add me to the expanding list please.
Steve

 

[Slowdown]

Looks like fun. Add me to the expanding list please.
Steve

You calling us fat?

 

[Steve B]

You have a guilty conscience?

 

[TRICKY1200]

Hi Clive,
Please add another two, to your list. Enjoyed last years bimble
Richard

 

[JasonT]

Me too!

I'll hopefully be along as well...

J

 

[The White Rabbit]

I am going to have to bring my 400. Will I keep up on the road sections, and any ideas where I can park up a trailer?

 

[Clive]

I am going to have to bring my 400. Will I keep up on the road sections, and any ideas where I can park up a trailer?

Should be ok on the 400 - we stop every couple of miles to look at something

Not sure about a trailer - I haven't been down the A4 for a while - looking on Google Earth there looks to be a layby (arrowed) a short way from the meeting point, on the Newbury side, opposite a garden centre. Maybe that will do?
There are a couple of laybys just South of M4 J14 and also other laybys further towards Newbury - often get cyclists parking up there while they have races or somesuch, but I don't know how secure they will be.

 

[Possu]

Lock the trailer to the car to secure it.

Clive: roughly what percentage of the whole route is offroad?

 

[Clive]

Clive: roughly what percentage of the whole route is offroad?

The whole route via tarmac is approx 150 miles.

The first byway is approx 2.5 miles, the bit from Stonehenge across the plain is approx 10 miles, the bit across Roundway Down is approx 2 miles.

From the Sanctuary to Hackpen via the Ridgeway is approx 4.5 miles, although I don't intend taking any novices along that - there is a tricky rutted section and I haven't been along it since last year to see what it is like now ( although as we are past the 1st May - I may get a chance to take a look along it on the way back from NOG tomorrow )

From Hackpen to Barbury Castle is approx 2 miles - that is fairly easy for anyone, the slightly harder route from Rockley to Barbury Castle is approx 3 miles.

So that is around 21 miles or about 15%

 

[Deleted Member I]

Is the meeting point the same as last year? At the Total petrol station?

 

[Clive]

Is the meeting point the same as last year? At the Total petrol station?

Hang on, let me just check the first post in this thread.







Yes, it is the same as last year. Yes, the Total petrol station

 

[Deleted Member I]

Hang on, let me just check the first post in this thread.







Yes, it is the same as last year. Yes, the Total petrol station

Just checking as that petrol station was not too big .. thought you might have changed the meeting point to accommodate the numbers.

 

[Clive]

While collecting the new machine today at NOG, I bumped into Steve, who had expressed interest in next weekend's ride, but hadn't taken his GS off tarmac before and couldn't make the "training session" the other week.

Ah ha, I thought, in at the deep end for Steve, a chance for a recce of the Ridgeway section of the route and running in 1st and 2nd gears all at the same time

A bit damp in patches but hasn't changed much from last year. The deeper ruts can be avoided, the section from the Sanctuary to Hackpen White Horse might be "interesting" for those on Tourances and two-up
but the remaining bit from Hackpen to Barbury Castle is easy enough

 

[Clive]

Steve did very well, from a position of no experience, until I asked him to move in front a bit so I could take a photo. Failed at parking

Had a quick lesson in picking it up

 

[Clive]

Just checking as that petrol station was not too big .. thought you might have changed the meeting point to accommodate the numbers.

Once people have filled up with fuel and packed lunch stuff, there is a load of space around the back near the car wash/air pump.

I shall be checking that everyone has parked at 45 degrees though


Hoping there isn't much rain this week

 

[MikeP]

Looks quite nice with that tinted screen........

Nearly there now, just need to get those grey bits black too.

Did you notice the benefits of the low first-gear?

 

[Clive]

Did you notice the benefits of the low first-gear?

Possibly - seemed like a little less clutch work than usual over the tricky bits, but that just might be wishful thinking

Impressed, so far, with the Metzler Karoo T tyres that were fitted.