Yesterday I rode the Autumn Epic cyclosportive from Knighton. A fantastically slick event, with a fully signed route - seriously challenging ride 136km and 3200m climbing (which means 3200m descending!!!!) I rather let the side down by electing to walk up large number of the steeper inclines having forgotten to put the wide ratio cassette on (TWIT).

 

Nevertheless finished respectably and without much hostility - interviewed for Cycling.TV about the bike etc. tried to give a fair picture - admittedly this was not the best course to have tried to show off on - too many short sharp hills, but on the few flatter or rolling bits did at least manage rto show what low racers are capable of...

 

I can highly recommend this type of event for anyone wanting a challenge, but be warned these are serious lifestyle riders - there were very few sub £1k bikes on show in the several hundred there. Still, a good day out and a chance to give a wider riding group something to think about.

 

Best exchange of the day

"You must be a nutter"

"Yes, but a comfortable nutter"

"Ok fair do"

 

Best comment of the day

"watching you and that thing descend was incredible, fantastic to watch the speed and the way it swoops through the bends. Its just so Quick"

 

(I did mange to nudge 75km/h a couple of times, and this is with a lot of other other bikes around - you have to pick lines carefully and make sure they know you're gonna be belting past!)

 

http://www.cyclosport.co.uk/ - http://www.cyclosport.co.uk/  has more info on these events if yr intersted.