Braunton 150

sean_iow · Post by **sean_iow** » Fri Dec 07, 2018 10:25 am

I only spotted that this is on next year in the 2019 What You Got Planned thread (thanks ianpv) so in case anyone else has hasn't spotted it

http://www.braunton150.org/?page_id=402

Hopefully it will go ahead next year as I really enjoyed it in 2017.

In Reverse · Post by **In Reverse** » Fri Dec 07, 2018 11:00 am

WRT weekend. Would have been game for this otherwise.

lune ranger · Post by **lune ranger** » Fri Dec 07, 2018 9:56 pm

Great stuff. Not Easter this year.
Just sent in my intention to ride.

Richard G · Post by **Richard G** » Fri Dec 07, 2018 11:39 pm

Considered it, but as I've previously finished it I think I'll just stick to my stupidly hard self-made WRT route.

It would be tempting to do it sub 24 hours at some point though.

lune ranger · Post by **lune ranger** » Sat Dec 08, 2018 1:17 am

That would be impressive. Not completed the route but I'm a Devon local and know the terrain.
I'm thinking 36-40 hours would be realistic for me

Richard G · Post by **Richard G** » Sat Dec 08, 2018 2:04 am

Yeah, it's a tough ride for sure.

sean_iow · Post by **sean_iow** » Sat Dec 08, 2018 10:49 am

I'd like to get under 24 hours. I got round in 26 hours 18 minutes in 2017. The weather had been very dry in the run up to the event and the going was fast. Liam Glen was first home in 18 hours 45 minutes

The previous year in the terrible weather Liam was also first home but it took 27 hours.

Richard G · Post by **Richard G** » Sat Dec 08, 2018 12:45 pm

I was definitely fit enough to do it in 2017 but I was riding with a friend so the pace was pretty sedate for me.

(That was the year I was freaking people out by doing hill repeats

)

lune ranger · Post by **lune ranger** » Sat Dec 08, 2018 3:52 pm

Just had a 'ping' moment when I realised 150miles is 240km not the 320km I was thinking

24hours in favourable conditions and some training seems a good target. Certainly sub 30 hours.
Did this years BB200 in 22hrs or so with storm Callum for company and no meaningful training or long rides even since early summer.
Game on.

liamg · Post by **liamg** » Sat Dec 08, 2018 3:53 pm

sean_iow wrote:The previous year in the terrible weather Liam was also first home but it took 27 hours.

That did include a very leisurely 6 hour sleep though!

redefined_cycles · Post by **redefined_cycles** » Sat Dec 08, 2018 4:24 pm

Is this as tough as the BB routes that Stu normally concocts... if so it might be a bit much for my feeble self but if its alot easier then might consider attempting. Any thoughts/descriptions of the route would be appreciated

whitestone · Post by **whitestone** » Sat Dec 08, 2018 4:46 pm

redefined_cycles wrote:Is this as tough as the BB routes that Stu normally concocts... if so it might be a bit much for my feeble self but if its alot easier then might consider attempting. Any thoughts/descriptions of the route would be appreciated

Little or no hike-a-bike. I attempted it on the first group start but the storm beat me and I scratched at Combe Martin about 30km from the finish. It had been dry that year until the weekend of the ride, some of the lower lying bridleways might be interesting after prolonged rain. A little bit harder than the Trans-Cambrian or YD200 would be my take on it.

BigdummySteve · Post by **BigdummySteve** » Sat Dec 08, 2018 4:50 pm

I’ve not ridden the whole route but it’s very tough terrain, I’ve done about 30miles of it around dunkery beacon, makes mid Wales seem flat.

lune ranger · Post by **lune ranger** » Sat Dec 08, 2018 5:14 pm

whitestone wrote: Little or no hike-a-bike.... would be my take on it.

My take on riding on Exmoor is that most people in normal (think gloopy) ground conditions will find it tough.
Lots of steep hills, some going above 500m, ground surface often tussocks Interspersed with bog, paths often poorly defined.
There is of course a good measure of hard surface fast riding trackswith amazing views of moor and sea.
I'd be amazed if anyone rode 240km in this area and did not push/carry more than just a bit.
I live inbetween Dartmoor and Exmoor and love them both. However,when the wind is blowing, you are up to your axles in mud and barely averaging 5km/h in horizontal rain I have trouble remembering that sometimes.

Lump · Post by **Lump** » Sat Dec 08, 2018 6:19 pm

Im in again, still to finish one. Ill keep banging my head at it

Scattamah · Post by **Scattamah** » Sun Dec 09, 2018 1:10 pm

redefined_cycles wrote:Is this as tough as the BB routes that Stu normally concocts...

After beating myself up for a couple of years now that I haven't finished this route, speaking with Rob and Rich over lunch on TNR, they both said it's one of the toughest rides they've done and that I should relax a bit. 'Tis very nice though. Having done it in terrible conditions and then really good conditions, I can say it's much nicer dry and that the descent off Dunkery Beacon is much easier in the daylight.

Greetz

S.

Richard G · Post by **Richard G** » Sun Dec 09, 2018 7:51 pm

That said...the descent is great fun when you can barely see it and you're been smashed all over the place by big old rocks.

Just a different type of fun.

BigRingGrinder · Post by **BigRingGrinder** » Sun Dec 09, 2018 8:10 pm

Pencilled this one in the diary for next year. Had considered it last year before it got cancelled. Sounds like it will be a good challenge.

Dave Barter · Post by **Dave Barter** » Sun Dec 09, 2018 8:38 pm

Rufus is doing it with me in January

ianpv · Post by **ianpv** » Sun Dec 09, 2018 8:53 pm

January? Oof. That'll be tough

.

Both times I've done it I had a decent sleep and did it in under 30 hours. It's a lot of short steep climbs that grind you down, but is good fun. Sub 24 very doable by a mortal (you don't have to be Liam!) if conditions are good and you press on through the night. My moving time was 19 hours last year and 21.5 hours in the storm the year before. I may go light this year and try that if I'm fit enough by May.

Jurassic pusher · Post by **Jurassic pusher** » Sun Dec 09, 2018 10:03 pm

It`s good that the date has been moved a month or so later in the year.
I rode it as an ITT at the end of May 2017 , there was plenty of daylight then, it would have been a shame to had ridden a lot of it in the dark and miss the stunning views of the North Devon coast.
The route down from Dunkery beacon was in the daylight too

sbcoombs · Post by **sbcoombs** » Sun Dec 09, 2018 11:16 pm

I need to make a space in my calendar for this ride. A perfect UK ride prior to the Veneto Trail.

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