EVANS RIDE IT - Sportive, Hexham

First sportive i have entered for along time so here we go. Angus got free entry so tagged along as well. We had pre entered the medium route of 54miles - 5300ft climb. I did not sleep well on the sat night and had a bad stomach so that was not a good start but the weather looked ok, well it was not raining. Pulled into the school and there was cars everywhere. I was not expecting it to be as busy but nice to see. Signed on and got our free goodies for pre entering so many weeks in advance. Barcode sticker label applied to the helmet and we were ready. Had the event briefing and we were off. Straight out of the school and a steady climb out of hexham for nearly three miles, that warmed the legs up! The farmer decided to splatter attack his hedges all the way out and some poor riders got punctures straight away. Along the race course road then followed the coutry roads. Again there was loads of hedges that had been cut and riders were littering the verges pumping away and tubes flying all over the place. We passed the Family/Fun split where we seen some riders heading and continued on. Angus then got a puncture in the rear, changed tube and we were of again. It was just over 2 degrees when we were climbing past Slaley Hall with a stiff breeze. Some riders were off and pushing on the climbs and maps out looking for the split points. It was a tough route and caught many novice riders out. At the Med/Short plit point we had a refuel and think about what we were going to do from here. We choose the 32miler instead and enjoy the ride instead of killing ourselves on the 54miler. It was quite after this point so had the roads to oursleves for long time then we started passing a few riders on the return leg. It was all up and down with no flat sections and still freezing cold. The last section was the same road as what we climbed out of Hexham so knew it was going to be a three mile down hill. Got back to hq in one piece and enjoyed the ride. Slight confusion at the finishing line as it was not manned and another rider said we had to go into the main hall to sign back in. No we just had to walk through the tent and the scanner logged us back in so lost 5mins or so but not to worry. They said all the staff were out sorting mechanicals / bringing riders back and they were under staffed! Cake etc to finish off and some engery goodies. All in excellent value for money and very well signed (cannot comment on the med/long routes). We did 31.4miles and 3300ft climbing in 2 1/2hrs. Shame they did not do their offroad sportive as plenty of tracks over the common.  

noe then which way will we go

hes happy we are doing the short one

finished

goodies