The International Torture 40ish Mile Hilly Challenge (not yet UCI approved) Easter Sunday MARCH 23rd 2008, 10.00am roll out A circuitous 72km route around the most feared climbs in the Hambledon Valley. Read what the pros say: “The hardest thing I have ever done in my life” - Armstrong1 “The team car got me up most of the climbs” - McEwan2 “You need a lot of haemoglobin” - Vini 2 All riders welcome. Female riders especially welcome (note gender correction on times in adjoining notes), every rider finishing will receive a sticky, sickly Easter egg to replace all the calories you lost in one swallow. 1 Lance Armstrong is quoted as saying this at the finish of the New York Marathon, but we think he may have been talking about the Hambledon valley at the time. It is unclear whether he has ever visited Frieth and surrounds, but someone wearing US postal kit was spotted on the A4155 in 2006. 2 It is not claimed that any pro rider has ever completed the Torture 40 or that these are direct quotes, but a mate of mine heard an Italian masseur say that he heard a pro rider say something like this and also mention “Ibstonio” Reading CC The Torture 40ish Mile Hilly Challenge Sunday MARCH 23rd 2008, 10.00am roll out (Please be at Mill End by 9.45am to sign-up) The route for the T40 is on the adjoining sheet also with a schematic map. The map is not to scale and if you want to really know where you are going cross-reference this with an OS 175 map. The route climbs 11 of the sharpest hills around the Hambledon Valley and like all good 40m rides is actually closer to 45miles. Who can take part: I am organising this for any Reading CC members who fancy a hilly, testing Sunday ride. I am happy for anyone (whether they are an RC member or not) to turn up and take part, so long as they understand this is just an informal ride round a suggested route. There are no marshals and no ride “leader” and each rider is therefore an individual taking responsibility for their own actions and conduct on the road. As an informal Sunday ride, this is not a race. But should anyone find themselves travelling at speed, please note a couple of dangerous locations: Early in the ride you join the main Henley-Marlow road (A4155) for a short while. This is very busy, again just take that extra second or so to check traffic before you join the road. The descent back down Vineyard hill is steep with a VERY uneven surface. We have had an accident there before. Please descend with caution, it will only cost you a few seconds. Similarly the descent down Ashfield Farm hill, near Ibstone, is steep and bumpy, this is not a place to take off your Gilet, for both these hills hang-onto your hoods (the rubbery bits on your bars). The final descent back down pheasants hill into Hambledon has a blind narrow left-hand bend, with a high wall to the left, at the end of the descent, watch your speed ! Gearing & Equipment: Some of these climbs, particularly Ashfield Farm, Fawley and Vineyard are real knee-crackers. A triple or 25 sprocket is recommended, but if you can’t be bothered to take off the 23, then wear thick socks. A light bike is good, but it is probably best if you leave your carbon rims at home for these descents, they are quite harsh on your wheels and good breaking surface is quite useful. This is across a lot of small backroads, punctures are quite likely, do take a full kit. If you just have a C02 cartridge and a bit of shiny plastic you may have a very long walk home. I will issue my mobile number to everyone and will do pick-ups in the case of total bike or body failure, but you will have to wait until I get back myself. Whats the point ? This is not just about who gets round first. At the start I hope to log the weights and ages of all participants. In addition to finishing time I will then calculate the following as per 2007: 1. Finishing time with gender correction: Checking the best male/females at the Marmotte in the past 3 years suggests that female times should be adjusted by 0.85. On this basis any female rider completing in 2:56 is athletically equivalent to a male in 2:30 and will be ranked as such. 2. Age correction: Seconds/year, if you are a wee-slip of a 30yr old you will need to move quickly to beat last years sec/yr winner Fred Hale. 3. Greatest Power: Calculated using the terrain, weight and finishing time. Someone who is 85kg and completes the course in 2:50 could gain the same ranking as someone who was 75kg and completed in 2:30: heavy can be good ! (note that starting weight includes your bike with bottles). If you have any queries, please contact me via: [email protected] Start/finish Mill End car park, GR 785855. The entire route is on OS 175 1:50000 Reading & Windsor map Key: R = Right T = T-junction X = Crossroads SO = Straight On L = Left Stgd = staggered Sp = signpost Imm = immediately 1. L OUT OF CAR PARK 3 R.AT T SP.WATLINGTON 1ST R SP PHEASANTS HILL 1ST L SP WATLINGTON BEAR L BY CHURCHYARD BEAR L BY CARRIERS ARMS TO WALL SP PHEASANTS HILL FOLLOW BEAR R AND KEEP R UP HILL ONE-WAY SYSTEM (SPRING BEAR L AFTER TOP OF HILL SP LANE) FRIETH R AT T SP OXFORD L BY PHONE BOX SP IN BRITWELL SALOME L SP COLSTROPE BRITWELL HILL R AT T SP SKIRMETT R AT T NO SP L AT STGD X SP CHILTERN 1ST L AND DESCEND TO VALLEY WINERY PISHILL BEAR R AT T (APPEARS SO) NO 1ST L SP TURVILLE HEATH SP 1ST R SP TURVILLE 1ST L SP FAWLEY IMM R AT X SP TURVILLE R AT T BY POND SP HENLEY 4. 2. AT START OF DESCENT BEAR L DOWN HILL SP BEAR SHARP R HENLEY DESCEND TO T WHERE L NO L AT T ( A4155 ) SP MARLOW SP 1ST L SP FAWLEY THRO TURVILLE THEN 1ST R R AT T SP SOUTHEND NO SP R ON LH BEND NO SP (SINGLE BEAR R AT TOP OF STEEP TRACK ROAD) AND DESCEND HILL PAST CHILTERN VALLEY R AT T SP FINGEST WINERY L AT T SP FINGEST L AT STGD X SP SKIRMETT R AT T TO SKIRMETT 1ST R SP FRIETH IN SKIRMETT L ON SHARP R L AT T SP LANE END BEND SP FRIETH L AT X SP FINGEST R AT T SP PHEASANTS HILL, L AT T SP FINGEST FOLLOW TO HAMBLEDEN R AT TRIANGLE SP IBSTONE VILLAGE. 1ST R SP IBSTONE L AT T AFTER PASSING 1ST L JUST AFTER IBSTONE THROUGH VILLAGE SIGN R.INTO CAR PARK FINISH R AT T SP NORTHEND R AT T SP CHRISTMAS Length: Approx 45miles COMMON Ibstone Watlington Xmas Cmn 6. Ibstone 10. Ashfield Northend Fingest Ashfield Barn Mousells Wd B4009 7. Italian Climb Moor Cmn 5. Frieth Turville Britwell Skirmett Frieth Turville Heath 11. Frieth Caution ! 8. Britwell Hill 9. TurvilleH Pishill 2. Vineyard Colstrope B481 Bosmore farm Stonor 1. Pheasants Hambledon Fawley Bottom Fawley BLUE first part of route 3. Fawley 4. Benham PURPLE mid-section P RED final section of route Start Finish Caution ! A4155 Map – schematic only. Not to scale. Check with the OS map for full spec .