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Welcome to the Cotswolds edition of the winter 2020 #Jennride.
The ride is set for 09:00, Sunday 5th of January 2020, what better way to welcome in the New Year & blow away the festive seasons bloated cobwebs!
The ride will start & finish in Stroud, Gloucestershire.
The route will be 50ish miles of the Cotswolds, a mix of on & off road, CX suited, with… a heavy focus on mud, slop, gloop, puddles & winter weather!!! I’m not sure on the % in distance of on/off road mix, but at a guess, with the right foul weather conditions under tyre, I’m hoping riders will spend as much time off road as on, taking in a mix of byways, bridleways, tracks, back lanes, showcasing some of the fantastic South Cotswolds scenery.
The concept is that there will be a ride meeting at 08:30 for pre-ride meet & greet & chin wag & caffeine. The route will be a shared GPX file, not made available until a day or two before the ride. The first rider back gets the honour of buying a beer for the next rider back, and so, this system continues for each finishing rider. It’ll be a DIY improvised start from 09:00am, setting off as solos, or small groups, not a mass start as we need to spread out along the route, particularly the first few miles as its narrow-shared use paths.
The ride is free to participate in, however, please feel inclined to make a donation that you can afford to a chronic illness / palliative charity of your choice.
Charlies rules apply.
Is this ride for me:
YES:
Fancy throwing yourself into winters worst weather.
You love mud.
If you are willing to enter into the spirit of an ad-hoc improvised group ride.
Can ride through arduous conditions whilst remaining self-sufficient.
You want to ride solo or in small groups, giving way & being courteous to other trail users.
You can cope without support or sag wagon.
You can follow a GPX route.
If you don’t mind slip sliding, maybe falling off & having your 7kg pride & joy race bike weigh in at 45lb covered in mech destroying mud whilst you drag, carry, run with it through 8” deep hoof impregnated slop.
NO:
If you want to race the whole thing.
If you like litigation and or indemnity cover.
If you want support.
If you need guiding.
If you want a mass start.
WHAT BIKE:
Run what you brung. I’ll be on a CX bike with mud tyres, a 29er HT, SS, fat bike, gravel bike will all get you round fine, hopefully frame clearance will be the most needed frame characteristic. Hell, turn up on an enduro bike, it’s all riding.
Please register any interest on this thread, and join the ride here:
https://www.strava.com/clubs/485313/group_events/603878
More info to follow both on this thread & the Strava club.
START: 09:00 Felt Cafe, Bourne Mills, London Road, Brimscombe, Gloucestershire, GL5 2TA
FINISH: PM Stroud Brewery, Kingfisher Business Park, London Road, Thrupp, Gloucestershire, GL5 2BY
PARKING: The two above venues both have limited parking, so please find somewhere else to park than their car parks.
Cheers,
Mick / Qwerty.
All I read was: Finishes at brewery ... I'm in 🙂
TRAIN: Stroud train station is approx 2 flat canal path miles away from the start.
So looking forward to this again. With luck the weather will not be dissimilar to last year which was just cold and grey enough, without being proper nasty. Anyone thinking of coming along, just do it. It's a fantastic area to ride and a brilliant cause. Will there be a post-event programme similar to last year (charity auction, film, etc?) .
Hope to see a good load of Singletrackers there.
WF
Could be tempted
Welshfarmer - The plan is to keep it more informal this year, but equal amounts of fun & socialising, so coffee & cake at the start, beers and socialising in a brewery at the end. No film planned (but if you've any requests it could "possibly" be accommodated). If participants could make a donation they can afford to a chronic illness / palliative charity of their choice it will surely impact positively upon someone else's situation. No sales on the day - pump your spare cash direct into a charity please. ✌️
Got something to aim for again, and this time I might actually make it!
Brilliant stuff! Well done for organising again. Will try and download the route this time and not get lost 😂
It is exceptionally foul at the moment, even all the way up to Bisley. In fact the top of the Weighbridge descent is almost at get off and push level 😂 The Sapperton river crossing in the photo above is both-shoe-filling. So will be putting the miles in so can come this year, and practising muttering and swearing at the Cotswolds-fullers earth gloop. Fine work organising again, am me Minch if you need a hand
As it's only up the road it would be rude not to - thanks for organising! I just need to get some miles in now...
This would be brilliant and would love to have a go but it's a date I can't make this year, it's my wife's birthday. Would you share the gpx file with me anyway so I can have a go with a mate later in January. I'll donate to a charity as way of thanks.
Aye, why not. Sounds brilliant.
I'll have to learn how to import it into my Garmin
I am in as well. I did it on the gravel bike last year but might use the hard tail this year. Can’t make up my mind!
Maybe. Be a nice run out for a good reason.
Cool, thanks for the interest 👍
This year's route should be different to last year's, I'm currently playing around with some options, it'll go live on 01/01/2020 +/- and will be available from the Strava club homepage.
The weather may add to a route that will make or break you (more). We'll all be at the mercy of it.
You'll need a road bike for the road, a cross bike for the mud, a full suss for some descents and an ebike for the climbs..... 🤔
Just under 4 weeks to go so a bit of a thread bump.
Routes pretty much sorted, as are venues, all will be confirmed on 01/01/20.
It's been raining a lot........ 🤗🙏✌️
ill be there again. Likely to be on the 'rusty' fatbike so should be super easy to spot 🙂
As we're at Afan on the 2nd and BPW on the 3rd, getting out on the 5th may be a stretch for me.
Work-depending this sounds like the exact thing I need to kickstart my 2020, it's also the exact lunacy I like and why I have a winter hardtail!
Definitely interested but, as I said, work-dependant.
interested but first day in a new job the day after so don't want to turn up with a broken limb. so all being well I'll try to make it
I’m up for this. How will the gpx be issued?
@wilbert - Good to have you on board. GPX will go out on 01/01/20ish - I'll link to it from here & also via the Strava Club.
Routes now sorted, it'll be 50 miles & 5300' of ascent, i'll post it up as a GPX on 01/01/20.
The ride sets off from Felt Café, Brimscombe, GL5 2TA at 09:00 arrive from 8:30am for coffee & cake, & finishes at the Stroud Brewery, Thrupp, GL5 2BY for hot food & ale. The two venues are 1km apart. The nearest train Station is Stroud which is 2.6 flat miles from the start. Both venues have their own parking, but please avoid clogging up their parking all day & instead park locally (try one of two laybys on the A419 at: just east of the junction with Toadsmoor Road & just east of Hope Mill Lane).
This year sees a route of approximately 50 miles & 5300’ of ascent, it’ll be a mix of some challenging off-road ascent, descent & terrain linked together by sections of road.
Remember: on January 5th 2020 the light will fail fast. I’d advise as a minimum that you carry & use a set of be seen lights. It’s winter, please don’t turn up in just a skin suit, dress to the weather forecast & carry a bit more. Your riding on public roads, my local trails, don’t be a dick, fit a bell & expect to concede to other open space users.
Cycling insurance in mandatory.
If you haven't noticed, its rained a lot of late, expect mud!
Sounds utterly horrible....
I'll see you there.
Ooooh - perfect for trying out the new 29" wheels! 🙂
Conditions update in the Stroud area (applicable if the route goes Minchinhampton, Avening, Cherington, Horsley way) - mud is now v wet, so we have moved out of the adhesive clag phase, but little rain is forecast, so it may become adhesive again. Many leaves about which are still v sticky. Bottom line is clearance, you’ll need a bit otherwise you will be stopping and removing a ball of mud/leaves/grass from your chain stay/forks every 20m or so. Have fun, can’t make it as working (also 50mi is a bit much on a Xmas belly)
Does this count as 'registering interest'? Might well be there but doubt very much I'll do the whole thing. Especially if the route goes anywhere near my house 🙂
Do we need to be on Strava to join in?
@si77 - no, I'll post up a link to the GPX file here sometime tomorrow, along with all the info you'll need for the ride.
My current estimation on the ground conditions is "claggy" Soft, heavy in places with intermittent tarmac.
Sorry, won't be able to make it. I'm working at the job I've just left that day 🤪
Looking forward to this as I've got the day off work and the day after too so don't need to worry about finishing early! Is there a time limit on when to get to the bar? Got lights so that won't be an issue but guessing the faster riders will do it by about 2-3pm?
Welcome to the 2020 Jenn Ride Cotswolds, an off-road reliability ride inspired by endurance athlete Jenn Hill.
This event is free to enter, however, please feel free to make a donation towards a palliative care / chronic illness charity of your choosing.
Read all of the ride information to understand what your taking on.
This year sees a route of approximately 50 miles & 5300’ of ascent, it’ll be a mix of some challenging off-road ascent, descent & terrain linked together by sections of road, with… a heavy focus on mud, slop, gloop, puddles & winter weather!!! I’m not sure on the % in distance of on/off road mix, but at a guess, with the right foul weather conditions under tyre, I’m hoping riders will spend as much time off road as on, taking in a mix of byways, bridleways, tracks, back lanes, showcasing some of the fantastic South Cotswolds scenery.
The ride sets off from Felt Café, Brimscombe, GL5 2TA at 09:00 arrive from 8:30am for coffee & cake, & finishes at the Stroud Brewery, Thrupp, GL5 2BY for hot food & ale. The two venues are 1km apart. The nearest train Station is Stroud which is 2.6 flat miles from the start. Both venues have their own parking, but please avoid clogging up their parking all day & instead park locally (try one of two laybys on the A419 at: just east of the junction with Toadsmoor Road & just east of Hope Mill Lane).
Remember: on January 5th 2020 the light will fail fast. I’d advise as a minimum that you carry & use a set of be seen lights. It’s winter, please don’t turn up in just a skin suit, dress to the weather forecast & carry a bit more. Your riding on public roads, my local trails, don’t be a dick, fit a bell & expect to concede to other open space users.
Cycling insurance in mandatory.
Is this ride for me:
YES:
Fancy throwing yourself into winters worst weather.
You love mud.
If you are willing to enter into the spirit of an ad-hoc improvised group ride.
Can ride through arduous conditions whilst remaining self-sufficient.
You want to ride solo or in small groups, giving way & being courteous to other trail users.
You can cope without support or sag wagon.
You can follow a GPX route.
If you don’t mind slip sliding, maybe falling off & having your 7kg pride & joy race bike weigh in at 45lb covered in mech destroying mud whilst you drag, carry, run with it through 8” deep hoof impregnated slop.
NO:
If you want to race the whole thing.
If you like litigation and or indemnity cover.
If you want support.
If you need guiding.
If you want a mass start.
WHAT BIKE:
Run what you brung. I’ll be on a CX bike with mud tyres, a 29er HT, SS, fat bike, gravel bike will all get you round fine, hopefully frame clearance will be the most needed frame characteristic. Hell, turn up on an enduro bike, it’s all riding.
ROUTE INFO:
A clockwise route.
Cattle grids can be plenty slippy – if in doubt – walk it.
Expect fog in parts, use day lights / high vis.
Starts at Felt Café, heads briefly west before the first climb.
After descending Rooksmoor theres a brief stint on the A46, this is a busy road, you’ll need to make a right turn onto Selsley Road, there is a right turn filter here, use it & take care.
Heading out from Kings Stanley & crossing the A419, use the traffic light-controlled pedestrian / cycle crossing to get to the other side.
Woodland GPS can be sketchy, as you head into Standish Woods from Ash Lane, it may be easier to just head NE down the gravel track and turn right into the woods a short way down & pick up the main GPS track through from there.
Headed down to Edge is an out and back kind of loop, ride it anti-clockwise, woodland GPS can be tricky, kinda keep the road close to your right on the way down and then come back up on a trail slightly lower down.
After Caudle Green, opposite Winstone Woods you enter Miserden Estate on a footpath, this is approx. 1 mile long and exits at the main entrance. Many thanks to Miserden Estate for granting us permission to ride this section.
After Edgeworth you’ll descend a rough rocky track, this track gets real rocky the further down you get. Descend with caution. If in doubt, dismount & walk it. (CX bikes will be well out of their depth on this section & enduro bikes in their element!).
RESUPPLY:
6km - The Lodge PH
24km - Kitsch Coffee
40km – The Maltings Coffee
51km – Fostons Ash PH
75km - Eastcombe Stores
If your very, very, very quick: Miserden Stores @ 59km 9-11am & Bisley Stores @ 65km 9-12.
Route GPX track:
https://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=fkoxakfhekwdfqef
I think that's it..... see you Sunday 👌
@reluctantjumper - the bar shuts at 9pm so allows plenty of time to enjoy the ride ✌️
Excellent, I'm not doing all that riding without some refreshments at the end!
I all but ground to a halt around Uley today with a drivechain completely full of mud and leaves. I can confirm it's going to be a muddy one!
What tyres for swamp riding and how do you prevent trench foot?
Parts of the route are going to be a bit squidgy...……………..
Anyone from STW HQ coming?
Just a nudge about donations, remember to use the Gift Aid option if available to make your money go a little further.
If you want to make a Jenn related donation below is a link to the St Gemmas Hospice.
https://www.st-gemma.co.uk/online-donation-form
See you tomorrow and have a great ride.
Car is all packed and ready. Driving down from Derby in the morning. Will prob set of earlier than 9 to stagger the start and get a bit more daylight! See some of you tomoz.
All my kit is ready too, apart from the bike! Broke the front mudguard 2 days ago and need to fit on off one of the other bikes. If it doesn't fit I'll just take the FS instead of the HT. Weather looks good though, chilly but no wind or rain 🙂
Bike is packed in the van. Weather conditions looking favourable (or not depending on your POV). Should be a little drier and a bit warmer than last year. If anyone wants to say hello I will be the beardy one on an old carbon Kona 29er without a pack, but a couple of frame bags. Having looked at the route, it is going to be tough. Not convinced I will get around as not as fit as I was last year.
See you in the morning peeps.
I'll be there, cheating on my ebike. Will be sliding around on Thunder Burt's, to save clogging up the drivechain. Will be a good test of battery range! The most I've done before was 1600m elevation.
👍
Forecast: 6-7' feeling like 3.5-4', hint of drizzle at 7-8am with 20% chance of rain after dropping to 10% for the afternoon, SW wind around 10mph gusting at 20mph,
Looks dry & grey.
Thanks for a great route. I did the lite version as needed to head back. Still a good day 👍👍
Thanks for organising @qwerty. Route seemed tougher than last year. I had to cut it short as wouldn’t get back before dark but had a great day.
Soooo much mud. Top marks to all of that completed it. My battery died with 7km left and my legs are tired now. Great route, possibly better in summer!
Great route and great company. Last 15 miles were torture! That final steep climb destroyed me!
Great ride today, tough going in parts but thoroughly enjoyable route. To finish in a warehouse bar of a brewery was a bonus. Good to catch up with a few regulars and to meet a couple of new faces too. Bet you are glad you didn't take the full suss now @reluctantjumper 🙂
That was a tough but ultimately enjoyable ride, cheers for a great route @qwerty. Knackered me out completely, blew up at 46 miles and struggled round the rest but made it. I genuinely thought it would take me a lot longer to complete the ride, around 9 hours or so but to get round in a smidge over 7:30 was very surprising! Glad to get home and have a shower but I may have had to have a power nap in the services on the way home before that...
@welshfarmer: My ankles wish I had, my legs are glad they didn't have to push any more weight around!
Oh, one thing I've learned today: when you're getting changed by the car in the dark in an unfamiliar layby it's wise to check what foliage is behind you before bending over. A nettle to the arse is not a pleasant thing!
Thanks you you all for making the ride.
Ouch, "that" last climb!
After last year's lack of mud I feel we certainly made up for it this year!
A huge range of types of bikes, a huge range of rider abilities, one course but many options to tailor it to your days plans.
Monies raised towards some charities close to our hearts.
I enjoyed meeting you all & riding with you.
If you fancy sampling similar in the dry, check out The Racing Collectives, Cotsduro.
Cheers, qwerty
Thanks for organising, I’m in!