Am up to over 30 names on the start list. I will take Mr Goldsmith's approach and keep adding names over 40 as no doubt I good few of the keen spirits will fall be the wayside by the time April 14th comes around.
The course is a little tweaked - a couple of rip snorter steep climbs replaced with more gradual coastal alternatives. Alan says I must be getting soft.
A good strategy - even established fell runs around here (limited due to "requests" from Natural England) do the same. The organiser reckons on 15% not turning up so he accepts 450 entries for a 400 limit and ends up with just under 400 runners. For newer events like yours then 50% no-shows can be common.
It's the modern way: see something; sign up for it; forget about it.
Better weight than wisdom, a traveller cannot carry
Is the tweaked route the one on the website or will that be sent out nearer the time?
For us singlespeeders does "a couple of rip snorter steep climbs replaced with more gradual coastal alternatives" translate as "excuses to push replaced with climbs just about manageable with the ratio chosen but leave you questioning you sanity for not having gears"
That climb may have been 'edited'.
Have just tried to create a bit more flow. The overall climbing is little different but I wanted to take in a bit more of the coast. Very few changes overall though.
No this years route for the group start will be different. I will email it out this weekend. There is a road section round past Watermouth Caste to Ilfracombe. But there is an added off road climb out of Lee and technical descent. All evens out.
To expand a little. The coastal A399 there is a stunning bit of coastal road. The section from Combe Martin to Ilfracombe is tricky as there is little bridleway and the back roads are super steep and its tricky to get any flow East to West. So I have made it nice and simple with the A399 between CM and Ilfracombe and added a couple of real stinker off road climbs in Lee.
If I was riding it myself, without having to stick to bridleways and the like, I would do it differently. But it has to be legit.
The A399 will have traffic on but it is only a few short miles and the scenery is much nicer than inland.
The 2nd half of the course is just as hard as last year. In fact in terms of technical descents there are a couple of real snorters.
But you can't please all of the people all of the time. Refunds will of course be available for those that don't approve of the course.
I must admit, I'm not a great fan of particularly technical stuff when I'm all bikepacking geared up.
I've handled one of the black trails at Coed Y Brenin that way though, and aside from destroying a pair of waterproof trousers (got shaken off the saddle bag and went straight into my chain) I was fine... so hopefully no worse than that.
Not on my radar for this year but I notice that there's quite a few on the start list also doing the HT550
Did a quick comparison of this year's route and last year's and it looks like the only differences before Combe Martin are the descent into Porlock and a bit around Malmsmead. If the new descent into Porlock is as good as the track leading to that point then it should be a cracker That track was one of the highlights of what I managed to ride last year.
Better weight than wisdom, a traveller cannot carry
Ben, I was just asking why not use the inland road, and it makes sense, If it's super steep and the coast road is better, and short, then that's cool. I don't know that stretch of road at all, so wasn't sure how bad/good it was. Anyway, looking forward to the riding it!
I appreciate the feedback. I have spend (a lot) of time riding the route and ground checking new additions. I tried to add a bit more flow to the second half of the course and take in some of the coastline as it is beautiful. Especially if the weather is good with epic views across the Bristol Channel. Hopefully everyone will 'enjoy'. The course got reasonably positive feedback last year and it is tricky. Some aspects certain people won't like but others may well love. HAB sections for instance. Some love a good yomp in spds and a mountain bike tucked on their shoulder. Others loathe it. I think if I designed the course by consensus it would end up like the People's Front of Judea.
