Not very. About a third is on road, a lot of the rest is on the ridgeway. There's really no tight technical stuff so you should be just fine... if it's dry you can even keep your tyres at 70PSI
Run (1st & 3rd leg): Set off along road from the HQ car park - 1st km is flat, then start climbing. Longish hill (still on road) which gets quite steep in the second half. At crest of hill turn off road to the left and pick up footpath. About 500m on flat ground on crest of hill along a v. narrow footpath and then across an open field before entering some woodland and dropping downhill for about 1km. Out of the woods and another steepish (but shorter) climb before the final 1km descent back to the start.
Cylce: Head out across the Thames & through streatly along the road, turning right at the t-junction in the village. About 500m on bear off to the left down a lane, eventually leading to the bottom of the bridle way which begins the long climb up onto the ridgeway. Climbing is relatively easy, as bridleway is wide, and mostly consists of well made fling track. Once on top, the ridgeway itself is heavily rutted in places, so need to pick your line carefully in order to make good progress. Eventually descend back off the ridgeway - descent can be taken fast, although beware the path is quite narrow in places, and there is alot of loose stone which can throw you off line if not careful. Finally regain the road for final 3k back to the finish line.
As SW says, it's not a technical course (there was a very wide range of competitors last year, from serious tri- people, to some out for a sunday jolly on some real bone-rattlers) - the only section which needs to be treated with some respect is that downhill coming off the ridgeway. A dis-mount there could be quite painful!
Hope that helps... it's a good day out - if you have family, bring them along as there is alot of face painting, bouncy castles etc. for the kids, and good tea and cake for your better half.
i'm thinking about this race, but i don't have a car or any friends with cars who would be willing to compete in a duathlon (they look at me like i'm mad!!!)
so, do you know if there is a public-transport that is bike friendly that could get me near the start?
thanks rocks- i was coming around to the same thought myself. it might help me to not have that nasty post-race blues if i have another one to look forward to!
would you suggest a road bike or a mountain bike since a lot of the cycle seems to be off-road?
I rode this with nobblies last year, but now you ask, I reckon you could easily have got away with semis on the rough stuff, and definitely have benefitted from them on the road sections.... I'm going to have to think about this now!
Comments
I've ridden off-road only once and went arse over tit quite a few times (probably because I had the tyres at 70 PSI!)!
How technical is the off-road cycling leg?
Run (1st & 3rd leg): Set off along road from the HQ car park - 1st km is flat, then start climbing. Longish hill (still on road) which gets quite steep in the second half. At crest of hill turn off road to the left and pick up footpath. About 500m on flat ground on crest of hill along a v. narrow footpath and then across an open field before entering some woodland and dropping downhill for about 1km. Out of the woods and another steepish (but shorter) climb before the final 1km descent back to the start.
Cylce: Head out across the Thames & through streatly along the road, turning right at the t-junction in the village. About 500m on bear off to the left down a lane, eventually leading to the bottom of the bridle way which begins the long climb up onto the ridgeway. Climbing is relatively easy, as bridleway is wide, and mostly consists of well made fling track. Once on top, the ridgeway itself is heavily rutted in places, so need to pick your line carefully in order to make good progress. Eventually descend back off the ridgeway - descent can be taken fast, although beware the path is quite narrow in places, and there is alot of loose stone which can throw you off line if not careful. Finally regain the road for final 3k back to the finish line.
As SW says, it's not a technical course (there was a very wide range of competitors last year, from serious tri- people, to some out for a sunday jolly on some real bone-rattlers) - the only section which needs to be treated with some respect is that downhill coming off the ridgeway. A dis-mount there could be quite painful!
Hope that helps... it's a good day out - if you have family, bring them along as there is alot of face painting, bouncy castles etc. for the kids, and good tea and cake for your better half.
Nice one Rocks. I'll get me entry in the post!!
so, do you know if there is a public-transport that is bike friendly that could get me near the start?
cheers!
I did this event last year following on from FLM - I think you'll find it's plenty long enough between the two to recover.
would you suggest a road bike or a mountain bike since a lot of the cycle seems to be off-road?
Too bumpy for a road bike - you'll definitely want to be on a mtb for this.
Knobblies or semis-(slicks/knobblies)?
I rode this with nobblies last year, but now you ask, I reckon you could easily have got away with semis on the rough stuff, and definitely have benefitted from them on the road sections.... I'm going to have to think about this now!
Nice one, Rocks! Interested to hear your comments.
Cheers.