White Horses 200 2024

Ride Details

• Date Ridden - Saturday 26 October 2024
• Event Type - Calendar Event
• Points Distance - 200

Ride Stats

• Distance - 214.1 km
• Time - 9h1m43s
• Elapsed time - 10h18m9s
• Avg Speed - 23.7 km/h
• Elevation - 1887 metres
• Bike - Sabbath September AR-1

Ride Notes

Early start for the drive to North Bristol - I’d decided to park near the arrivée in Hambrook and when I parked up I met Simon from Somerton who’d had the same idea. We rode to the départ together arriving in good time - early enough for a coffee and chat.

After signing on and a pep-talk by Luke we were sent off in small groups along the cycle path towards Bath - these self-sorted and by the time we’d made it through the tunnels I was in a fairly fast buch of about 10 riders. This stayed together until control #1 at The Three Daggers in Edington near Westbury. Another coffee plus half of the vegggie pastry I’d bought before I left on my own as I was getting cold. About 5km up the road I was passed by two riders (David and another chap whose name I didn’t get) and I managed to hold the wheel for a while. There then followed the steepest climb of the day up to a gravel track of about 3km - testing! Luke was waiting at the checkpoint, then it was on the Free control Great Bedwyn after the second info control in Pewsey. This section I rode with David - giving me a much needed tow.

From Great Bedwyn there was a long descent through Savernake forest to Marlborough. The road to Hackpen Hill I’ve only ridden in the opposite direction, same goes for the descent into Broad Town for the third info. This was followed by a really nice section to the stop at The White Horse in Compton Basset…. more coffee! I was riding alone now, and making good time - the weather had cheered up and it was a lovely afternoon.

I stopped at the Londis in Corsham for a drink and some chocolate before tackling the final section. The road to Grittleton via Biddestone and Yatton Keynell is great to ride and I was really enjoying myself.

After the final info control, however, the good weather proved to be a bit of a problem - Acton Turville all the way to Westerleigh was straight into a very low winter sunset. The boy racers from Castle Combe were having a wail of a time on the straight road to Tormarton - although I must say they gave me plenty of room…. perhaps they were worried that they’d scratch their percious machines if they close passed.

Before long I was descending for the final push to the finish.

Thanks to Luke and the ACBers at the controls - I had a great day out to complete RRtY x 4 on some completely new roads, plus a few familiar locations approached from a different direction.