Test Valley Tour Hot Challenge
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterBY: Louise Robinson
Published: 9th June, 2014
Another weekend, another dilemma over which mountain bike event to attend. There seems to be so many good events in the calendar now, a girls just got too many choices. With Bristol Bikefest, The Southern XC final round and the Gorrick Test Valley Tour all within stumbling distance from home a decision had to be made. As we had baby sitters on offer from Saturday night to Sunday afternoon and a need to get some serious training miles in before my upcoming 12 solo, Jason and I decided to ride the Test Valley Tour 80K challenge together.
This event attracts a massive array of riders of all abilities for a way marked ride around the glorious countryside of the Test Valley. 30, 50 & 80K options were available and with wall-to-wall sunshine forecast, the car park was packed as we arrived.
The route took in many of the local hills, a few road sections and the well-loved Collingbourne Woods. All three routes started together, with the split off for the longer loops shortly before the end of the 30K route. This first 30K was some of the hardest riding I have done in a long time! The previously much rated Collingbourne Woods turned from the hard packed twisty single-track that was used in the Cool Challenge back in October, to absolute filth. And it was not just a bit of mud, This was mud even Mountain Mayhem would have been proud of. According to locals the surrounding villages were badly flooded over the winter and the woods have just not recovered. The ground was completely unrecognisable from previous visits and a big disappointment as it has previously been such a fun section.
But with the summer race season ahead of me, the mud training was actually really valuable. However, with almost 4.5miles of unrelenting gloop, I did start to suffer a sense of humor failure. Despite running all weather Ground Controls I was still slipping around and when I ended up stuck hub deep in one section of mud, couldn’t unclip my shoe and slow motion fell onto my side, I did come very close to opting to cut the ride short and follow the 50K markers home.
However, once out of the mud, the route improved significantly with some lovely views and amazing rolling hills. I recovered my mojo enough to push on to the full 80K distance but did feel like it added insult to injury when the 80K route looped back to complete the first 30K loop for a second time and this meant another run through Collingbourne “will we ever get to the end” woods. Second time through the first section was significantly improved; with a definite “line” in the mud beginning to emerge and I started to think it was all going to be OK. However, shortly after the drinks stop the previously wet mud became sticky mud and our speed dropped to about 2.5miles per hour at one point. I do find it demoralizing to be achieving this speed, in the granny ring, at maximum heart rate, on a FLAT section.
But we finally emerged, and enjoyed the rest of the ride. This was a great training session. It had hills, it had mud, it had distance and the weather was glorious. I do feel a little sorry for anyone who was expecting a nice gentle ride through the woods however, as this was anything but.
The drinks stops were great, especially on such a hot day, meaning that we didn’t have to carry too much water. And flapjack and jellybeans are always gratefully received. There was lots of jolly banter on the way round and we managed to get quite a few photos. In the end we managed 80K in just under 5 hours after a serious stomp home on the final road section.
I can quite safety say, it was the wettest “dry” ride I have even done.
Many thanks to Gorrick for Organizing and Test Valley Council for letting us complete a brutal ride through their back garden.
But with the summer race season ahead of me, the mud training was actually really valuable. However, with almost 4.5miles of unrelenting gloop, I did start to suffer a sense of humor failure. Despite running all weather Ground Controls I was still slipping around and when I ended up stuck hub deep in one section of mud, couldn’t unclip my shoe and slow motion fell onto my side, I did come very close to opting to cut the ride short and follow the 50K markers home.
However, once out of the mud, the route improved significantly with some lovely views and amazing rolling hills. I recovered my mojo enough to push on to the full 80K distance but did feel like it added insult to injury when the 80K route looped back to complete the first 30K loop for a second time and this meant another run through Collingbourne “will we ever get to the end” woods. Second time through the first section was significantly improved; with a definite “line” in the mud beginning to emerge and I started to think it was all going to be OK. However, shortly after the drinks stop the previously wet mud became sticky mud and our speed dropped to about 2.5miles per hour at one point. I do find it demoralizing to be achieving this speed, in the granny ring, at maximum heart rate, on a FLAT section.
But we finally emerged, and enjoyed the rest of the ride. This was a great training session. It had hills, it had mud, it had distance and the weather was glorious. I do feel a little sorry for anyone who was expecting a nice gentle ride through the woods however, as this was anything but.
The drinks stops were great, especially on such a hot day, meaning that we didn’t have to carry too much water. And flapjack and jellybeans are always gratefully received. There was lots of jolly banter on the way round and we managed to get quite a few photos. In the end we managed 80K in just under 5 hours after a serious stomp home on the final road section.
I can quite safety say, it was the wettest “dry” ride I have even done.
Many thanks to Gorrick for Organizing and Test Valley Council for letting us complete a brutal ride through their back garden.
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Louise Robinson
Mum, Pharmacist and XCracer Team Rider
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