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Past Ride

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Sun Dec 30th 2012
SPAM Winter Challenge 3*
Leader:
Robin Tucker
Start Time:
10:00 am
Start Location:
Erlestoke (but lift shares being organised)
Description:
Organised by the Salisbury Plain Area Mountainbikers, the SPAM Winter Challenge is a Mountain Bike Enduro event held on the hard pack – all weather trails of Salisbury Plain.

A number of us off-roaders are already planning to go, and happy to add more and share lifts. Call me or email robin-dot-tucker1-at-yahoo-dot-co-dot-uk and I'll attempt to co-ordinate us.

You will need to enter yourself for the event (and pay). You can do this on the website link above, or in person on the day.

The Challenge is a relaxed event and the riding isn't particularly technical. You can blast around or take it easy, it's up to you. There are three distances to choose from: 25km, 35km and 50km. It might be called a Plain, but the edges of Salisbury Plain are not flat, providing plenty of up & down sections. It can be cold and mucky, or very cold and frozen rock hard. But a great way to work off your Christmas dinner and build up a thirst for the New Year celebrations.
Riders:
David Brown
David Yearley
Richard Anstis
Richard Pethybridge
Riders = 4
Report:
Wow! What a ride. There was plenty of mud, despite the promise that this ride was to be run on the all-weather hard pack tracks of Salisbury Plain. After the first climb there were many riders to be seen scraping the sticky mud from their wheels, mechanisms and brakes - I was one of them.
The rain held off for most of the ride, but managed to arrive in a very heavy shower at one point. The rain was horizontal, and due to the force of the wind was actually quite painful on exposed skin. It didn't last too long though, which left us to 'enjoy' the rest of the ride in relative comfort.
The ride was an up and down affair, consisting of 8 climbs/descents spread evenly across the distance, with the biggest single climb - 122 vertical metres over a distance of less than 1 km - coming just 5 km from the finish.

Some basic facts:
Distance: 50 km
Vertical Climb: 875 metres
My climb time: 2:29
My descent time: 1:17
My flat time: 0:06 (!)

David Yearley
Distance:
50.00 km (31.07 mi)
Ride Details:
http://www.spamwinterchallenge.co.uk
Comment on this ride

Ride Filter
Start Locations
WMP
Wantage Market Place
OMH
Old Mill Hall, Grove
Categories
1* - Suitable for irregular, social, beginner or family riders, pace will match the slower riders. Not hilly or long. Expect rides up to 3 hours. Gentle exercise.
2* - Suitable for regular riders who prefer to cover some distance but at a more relaxed pace. Likely to be half-day rides. Solid exercise.
3* - Suitable for experienced riders, may be hilly, long, quick, or any combination! Likely to be half or full-day rides. Challenging exercise.
4* - Suitable for athletic riders who can ride safely above the 3* standard. Quick rides for the fit.
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