Wish me luck - 50km Charity Ride - Page 2

**Lowe** · 06-10-2008, 01:01 PM

Well, I got around it in one piece! One puncture (loads of people suffered on one section due to the area being cleared of trees and shrubs leaving lots of small sharp bits of wood about the place.

However, it wasn't at no expense. If you managed 10mph on most sections (bar the road links to each section) you were flying. The mud was unlike anything I've ever seen, so much so that by about half way around I'd completely burned away my brake pads, front and rear. It was that thick that even trying to turn the wheel around was impossible because it jammed on the fork... Crazy stuff.

Luckily there were quite a few water splashes about, so you could hit those and clear off the majority of the muck, but the bike is absolutely bladdered and will need a total strip down. Hopefully the (new!) brake pads will be the only casualty!

I took one pic - having got back to the van and clearing up myself a bit, I took one of the bike:

Most of the real thick muck had come off, but you get the idea!

linda · 06-10-2008, 02:00 PM

congratulations andy

great picture
the bike looks in a sorry state

**Lowe** · 09-10-2008, 03:13 PM

Well, the times have just been released:

http://www.vikingchallenge.org.uk/VC2008-results.pdf

I did it in 4 hours 39 mins, which includes all the stops, puncture repair and waiting about for the rest of our groups. Not too bad I guess, the 'winner' did it in about half of that. I'd estimate about 30-40 mins of that time was spent being stopped unnecessary reasons, so that gives me something to aim for next year!

There's a few pics on the site as well. This one kinda gives you an idea of what it was like off road at its best!

http://www.vikingchallenge.org.uk/media/VC08-mud.jpg

**sarah** · 09-10-2008, 05:06 PM

Well im very proud of you Andrew all in the name for charity.

I was expecting you to come home with some cuts

GAZ · 09-10-2008, 06:29 PM

well done to you looks like it would have been a very hard trek

09-10-2008, 05:06 PM	#14
sarah Administrator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Newcastle-Under-Lyme Posts: 11,914	Well im very proud of you Andrew all in the name for charity. I was expecting you to come home with some cuts __________________ Click: www.shelledwarriorsshop.co.uk STRUGGLING TO FIND WEEDS? LOOK AT OUR DRIED WEEDS 'READY TO FEED' Home of 'Grow Your Own Food' Bearded Dragon, Tortoise, Rabbit, Hamster seed mixes from 89p FREE POST Livefood, Thermostats, Housing, Heating, Mercury Vapour bulbs, UVB etc etc CHEAP PRICES TORTOISES ARE MY PASSION

06-10-2008, 01:01 PM	#11
Lowe Administrator Juvenile Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Newcastle Under Lyme Posts: 855	Well, I got around it in one piece! One puncture (loads of people suffered on one section due to the area being cleared of trees and shrubs leaving lots of small sharp bits of wood about the place. However, it wasn't at no expense. If you managed 10mph on most sections (bar the road links to each section) you were flying. The mud was unlike anything I've ever seen, so much so that by about half way around I'd completely burned away my brake pads, front and rear. It was that thick that even trying to turn the wheel around was impossible because it jammed on the fork... Crazy stuff. Luckily there were quite a few water splashes about, so you could hit those and clear off the majority of the muck, but the bike is absolutely bladdered and will need a total strip down. Hopefully the (new!) brake pads will be the only casualty! I took one pic - having got back to the van and clearing up myself a bit, I took one of the bike: Most of the real thick muck had come off, but you get the idea!

06-10-2008, 02:00 PM	#12
linda Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: west midlands Posts: 17,134	congratulations andy great picture the bike looks in a sorry state

09-10-2008, 03:13 PM	#13
Lowe Administrator Juvenile Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Newcastle Under Lyme Posts: 855	Well, the times have just been released: http://www.vikingchallenge.org.uk/VC2008-results.pdf I did it in 4 hours 39 mins, which includes all the stops, puncture repair and waiting about for the rest of our groups. Not too bad I guess, the 'winner' did it in about half of that. I'd estimate about 30-40 mins of that time was spent being stopped unnecessary reasons, so that gives me something to aim for next year! There's a few pics on the site as well. This one kinda gives you an idea of what it was like off road at its best! http://www.vikingchallenge.org.uk/media/VC08-mud.jpg

09-10-2008, 06:29 PM	#15
GAZ Member Hatched Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: worcester Posts: 468	well done to you looks like it would have been a very hard trek

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