Help compiling a list of 2016 ITTs with group starts

[HopeValleyPaul]

2016 ITT dates

Folks, I'm trying to be good and organise my self for next year (particular as my bosses are tyrants and needs loads of notice to get time off) can anybody help add to this very short list of ITTs with a group start so that I can get a plan together for next year.

Dirty Reiver 200Km gravel (Kilder forest?) april 16th (registration 1st december)

Cairngorm Loop, 300km April 30th, 2016

BB 200 8/9 October 2016.

[HopeValleyPaul]

Dirty Reiver 200Km gravel (Kilder forest?) april 16th (registration 1st december)

Cairngorm Loop, 300km April 30th, 2016

HTR Saturday, May 28th, 2016 - 09:00 (Entries open 28th November 2015)

BB 200 8/9 October 2016.

[whitestone]

I'm assuming you are meaning ones with a group start (or in the case of the BB200 a morning slot start).

To add to your list:

HT550
Yorkshire Dales 300 - probably last weekend in June, similar to this year.
Yorkshire Dales 200 - I don't think Stuart has sorted a date for this for 2016 but it will be early in the year rather than October as this year.
Capital Trail

[HopeValleyPaul]

Thanks, if it's not a group start I wouldn't leave the first pub i get to.

Dirty Reiver 200Km gravel (Kilder forest?) april 16th (registration 1st December)
Cairngorm Loop, 300km April 30th, 2016
HTR Saturday, May 28th, 2016 - 09:00 (Entries open 28th November 2015)
Yorkshire Dales 300 - probably last weekend in June, similar to this year.
Yorkshire Dales 200 - I don't think Stuart has sorted a date for this for 2016 but it will be early in the year rather than October as this year.
Capital Trail
BB 200 8/9 October 2016.

[ianfitz]

Paul pick a date for the peak itt. I left it too late this year. No one has ever finished it from a group start!

Maybe early July before school holidays?

[whitestone]

Definitely outside school hols if it's a ride in the Peak.

Any reason why no finishers from the group starts?

[ianfitz]

Definitely outside school hols if it's a ride in the Peak.

Any reason why no finishers from the group starts?

Yeah. It's really tough. And the hardest ITT route in Europe.

Actually no. The first start was after a week of rain and the first route was 'a little soft' in places. It had rained A LOT the week before and conditions where dreadful. Slow going and mechanicals did for most people.

The second year quite a few folk expressed an interest but only two of us turned up. We rode about 100 miles and as we were still together, riding the borders 350 two weeks later and very close to our respective homes we quit early!

[Ray Young]

Borders 350 Saturday 2 July, Max 50 riders, registration opens March 1.

[Mariner]

Look forward to seeing the European listing.
Fancy somewhere warm and mud free with decent food - but then they have bigger mountains and bitey things.

[whitestone]

I've done a quick Google Calendar of the above events, filling in as much detail as I know. Events where I believe I have full data are in green, the others are in yellow.

https://calendar.google.com/calendar/em ... Z2xlLmNvbQ

Let me know any addenda/errata/ideas and I'll update it.

[ianfitz]

Let's go with 10am on Saturday 9th July for the peak itt

[GregMay]

A lot of the start dates are also on the selfsupported site don't forget.

[HopeValleyPaul]

Let's go with 10am on Saturday 9th July for the peak itt

sorry Ian i never got back to you, but that weekend fits perfectly.

[pistonbroke]

Don't forget to include the CAT700 it's a 400 mile mass start bike packing event that runs the length of Cataluna starting on June 25th with a 5 day time limit. CAT700.com will get you to the website with a local tv report of this year's event. I'm now living about 20km from the finish so can organise transfer from Reus/Tarragona airport which does cheap flights from several uk airports. Being a linear route, they transport you from the finish to the start. It seems a good event, I've now ridden in the area of the last third and the scenery is stunning. I'm definitely in and having a few bods from home along would be great. Entries open mid January

[ianfitz]

Let's go with 10am on Saturday 9th July for the peak itt

sorry Ian i never got back to you, but that weekend fits perfectly.

No worries Paul. I figured you'd be working over the weekend

[biggaygibbon]

Hi guys and gals,

I am pulling together an ITT with a group start on easter bank holiday weekend (Friday 28th of March).

The route will start and finish in Braunton on the N Devon coast. It will head out onto Exmoor and loop back along the coast. Stats for the course as it stands at the moment are approx 240km and just under 7000m of total ascent.

I am pulling together a website for it and will ride the route over the next month or so. Many of the trails are not ridden very much and draw on a lot of local knowledge. The variety of terrain, from open moorland to clifftop trails and wooded single track, should satisfy most mountain bikers.

I am hoping that this date fits into the UK bikepacking calender OK and that we get a few people down for the group start.

Cheers

Ben

[AlanG]

That's great news, it's about time there was an event to showcase the fantastic riding on Exmoor. I shall try to be there.
It sounds tough, that's about the same amount of climbing as Lakeland 200!

[biggaygibbon]

Thanks Alan. Hopefully the long bank holiday weekend will help with the tough course and completion.
The weather is generally milder down here, and can be cracking that time of year. Lots of options for bivvying up and cafe stops en route.
I am going to try and ensure the trails are good all weather routes and ridable - although I know you like your hike a bike.
There will be some very sweet cliff top singletrack and some of the climbs and descents on Exmoor are as good as anywhere. As you well know.

[whitestone]

With the exception of the South Downs Way and Ridgeway Doubles all the ITTs on selfsupporteduk.net are further north so it would be good to have more choice down south. A good time of year as well as it's out of the way of the others.

Could well be interested - I'll add it to my calendar and potential hit list for 2016.

Only downer - getting to the south west on a bank holiday

[biggaygibbon]

Yes I think travel up on the Thursday night would be the go. If you leave it a bit later the M5/A361 is OK. Plan for a mid morning start on the 28th.
There are lots of campsites/bunk houses and B&Bs in and around Braunton and car parking is not an issue.
I will include advice on travel/parking and accommodation on the website.

[ianfitz]

That sounds great! I've run a bit round there but never ridden.

I'm committed to a Scotland trip with mark from the 3rd April and ain't likely to get a passout for both. I'd like a copy of the GPX though.

Next year...

[whitestone]

I've done some stuff further east around Porlock and Winsford/Withypool but it must have been holidays with my parents when I was last in that area.

[biggaygibbon]

Yes it will take in some of that area.

I will have a GPX ready in Feb.

[mountainbaker]

I'm in for the Exmoor route too, I live so close, and have hardly ridden up there yet. Looking forward to it. Plus good HTR training.

Also, I'm working on a route along the south coast. Inititally started as a Jurrasic Coast route, but it will probably grow into something longer. Some good riding down here, and many many hills.

[mountainbaker]

Also, I assume you mean Friday 25th March?