Looking out of the window at the pouring rain today, I fear this year's Everesting "season" may be over for this year (or at least for entries of the off road variety).

So, I turned my attention to the HRS Journey challenge. Details here, but in summary: 400 km minimum distance, 10,000 metres minimum ascent, 36 hours maximum time to complete, sleeping in a hedge is allowed Only three people in the UK have logged a qualifying ride

I've plotted a route around the bestest bits of Wales and come up with a 495 km ride, with 10,500 metres of ascent. If the weather isn't too minging this weekend, I'm going to give it a bash. It's the kind of ride that instills a sort of fear in me, a bit like Bwlch-y-groes Everesting did. I've never ridden that far in one go before, nor done that much climbing in one hit but it's mostly tarmac, so it'll be OK, right?

Not expecting anyone to join me, but thought I'd toss it out there and see what you all thought

Stunned silence...

Sounds horrendous to be honest! Have fun...?!

That looks completely stupid ... I like it. Good luck

BTW, what are the Hells500 jerseys made of? $155 - are they a Mink / Merino blend?

Lol, thanks.

Hells 500 jerseys are made from a super light fabric, weighs hardly anything so you can complete your Everesting attempts faster*




*Not really, but they're priced in AUS $, so not as painful as it seems (and I got a free pair of socks)

Where's the "gulp" emoticon when you need it?

Good luck and hope the weather's kind to you.

WTF

I'll say that again! WTF....

Hats off to even thinking of a ride like that! Have you a map of the route to view? Guessing you'll be passing by every forum members house west of the border!

Thought I might have a chance at having cracked this one years ago but alas none of my 600k audaxes have more than 8500m climbing in them (most completed around 36 hours total with a few hours kip though).

A friend of mine did this http://www.aukweb.net/perms/detail/CB33/ once upon a time in a fair bit less than 60 hours. I'll see if he has a gpx file for it, 36 hours of it should qualify for distance and might for ascent.

Best of luck Ian. If you enjoy it there's plenty more ideas on the audax UK page linked above.

Nutter

I've done 300k in one hit (although a bit flatter), so 400k won't be an issue for you. Just keep eating, eating, eating......

Trying to think of routes that have that kind of climbing in that distance, but even the short Audax rarely go over 25m/km

Cheers - went down about as well as I thought it would
I think I spend too much time on my own, and my perspective on things gets skewed after a while...

Sounds good! I thought this would be do-able stringing some of the Marple Grimpeurs together. Plenty of options to refuel and fairly easy to avoid major roads at peak times.

Other than "Hells Bells", I'm not sure what to add. 400km with half that ascent would be tough enough.

I know of someone else planning an attempt not too far from here...and it's not me.

Is "here" Wales, or Swindon

Ian wrote:Is "here" Wales, or Swindon

Here is the forum.

Does this mean that this is now officially a 'race'?

Bearbonesnorm wrote:Does this mean that this is now officially a 'race'?

Only if we're starting at my house at 6:00 am on Saturday morning

The thing with this challenge as opposed to an Everesting, is it isn't a race to a specific climb, but literally a journey or exploration into something entirely personal - for me a route I've devised myself that (I think) will push me further than anything I've done previously.

Ian - this is slightly silly

It really will be "Journey" on many levels - good luck.

Good luck with this endeavour Ian, I'm looking forward to the write up already

Good luck ian! Although...

Hmm. 400km. 10,000m. 36 hours.

Two laps of this years bb200 surely the way to go there...

That said it didn't occur to me to start a second lap the other weekend. Maybe road is the way after all. An off road one would be nails!

Hmm

*goes away to look at maps...*

Good luck with this Ian. We're expecting big things now!

Thanks - I realise that creating such a post is rather committing; that is partly the point.

Well, the forecast is looking OK, so preparation for departure for Saturday is under way; iPod charged, GPX uploaded, Spotwalla page configured, new batteries in the SPOT, bottom bracket bearings serviced, lights charged, route sheet prepared, you get the idea; the list goes on!

ianfitz wrote:Good luck ian! Although...

Hmm. 400km. 10,000m. 36 hours.

Two laps of this years bb200 surely the way to go there...

That said it didn't occur to me to start a second lap the other weekend. Maybe road is the way after all. An off road one would be nails!

Hmm

*goes away to look at maps...*

Now this is silly I got round in just under 17 hours. Pretty sure a second go would have taken more than 19 hours...
I don't doubt an off road version is possible, but it would require a very carefully crafted route, and it'd be nice not to repeat the same loop. There's also the issue of ride-ability - i.e. no pushing allowed. You need a big gravel loop, rather than technical off road (and gorse and tussocks)
For my road loop, I only repeat one climb once (the mountain road from Mach to Dylife), doing a figure of eight type route. It was quite tricky to get the requisite 10,000 metres of climbing in "only" 400km, due to the distance between key road passes/ summit points.

Because it's a really bad idea is exactly why it appeals. But you know that

Top notch endeavour Mr Barrington...

Mad, but top notch...

Si

ianfitz wrote:Because it's a really bad idea is exactly why it appeals. But you know that

So what Stu needs to do for next year is have a BB200 with tussocks and all the usual trimmings, and a more rideable 400km route with 10,000m of climbing and a special badge for a sub 36 hour finish

Ian wrote:

ianfitz wrote:Because it's a really bad idea is exactly why it appeals. But you know that

So what Stu needs to do for next year is have a BB200 with tussocks and all the usual trimmings, and a more rideable 400km route with 10,000m of climbing and a special badge for a sub 36 hour finish

The first is guaranteed as I'm not missing it next year.