With rain and storms lashing the uk, the only thing to do was enter a Glorious Gravel event, I will admit that when I first entered the event in September, I was hoping for a dry one, after the wet wash that was the March 2023 one (I think for the next one I will leave it a little nearer the time) Since the Rift, i'd lost a little bit of motivation for riding (especially off road) I don't know if I was just tired, or it had been a bit more full on As i said, storms and what were pretty much ravish the uk in the week previous to this event, and the east of england was actually under a flood warning, though we didn't have it anyway near as bad as the south and north of england, I was kinda hoping that the event was cancelled (or postponed) in the week before, I just couldn't face a day of cold and torrential rain, and as I had suggested the event to Jason and Dave, i couldn't face being the one who pulled out, as the day got nearer and the rider communications started coming out, it was quickly clear that it wasn't going to happen, so I arrange to meet up at 8am (secretly hoping the somebody else would suggest not doing it) I did plan to change from the fitted Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H in 40 mm, to the 45mm Cinturato Gravel M, but my preying for the cancellation got in the way, so I just topped up the sealant
Day of the ride
I set 3 alarms for the morning, but woke in enough time, had arranged to met Dave and Jason between 8:30 and 9:00, Dave got there a little earlier than us but the bad phone signal at high lodge meant we missed each other. strangely Jason parked two cars up from me.
So we set out about 9, probably in the in the later end of the groups, this route was a lot more meandering through Thetford forest, but entirely fire-roads, it's a shame with all the great family single track throughout the forest a little was taken in, but it's always good to be in the forest
About half way round the Brandon loop (first 20 miles of the ride) Jason got a puncture, but it was the only one of the day,but looking at my own bike I found that breaking the seal on the tyres to top up the sealant, or I was running to low a pressure was calling a little leakage
About 25 miles in the route left Thetford and the forest behind, becoming a lot more rural and farm track, the trail with all the puddels from last time ( see pictures of the ride from March) caught me out, we were making nice pace avoiding puddels until I cought the edge of a ridge, was spat sidewards, and into a foot deep pudel, soaking me through, I know that it was raining all day. but the water was now inside my water profs, and I was now cold for the rest of the day
To be honest, there isn't a lot more to say about the rest of the day, I was cold and wet, Jason pushed that pace on the climbs, the food stops were ok, but to cold to stop for long
I had a good day in the saddle, but I was glad to get to the end, get into some dry clothes, and sit in the cafe in the warm, even if I was shaking violently because of the cold
What I learned
Always use a camel back when off road, it makes drinking a whole load easier, I defiantly didn't drink enough (two coffee's in the entire ride and maybe a sip of water)
Be a bit conservative in tyre selection, the Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H might have been a little bit under tyred in the really muddy sections, but it was fine 95% of the time and made me think about my lines a lot more
By doing, i gained some motivation, a little beaten up the next day, but I so wanted to ride
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