FINAL TIMES NOW ONLINE! - The Day HELL froze over!!!

The Hell of the Ashdown was Colder!

The Day: in response to enquires at to whether the event was being cancelled we posted on this website 'No snow forecast' (which it wasn't). How wrong can the weathermen be? It was only the first batch of riders who returned before the blizzard struck and therefore avoided worst that mother nature could muster to add to the trials of the HELL. But our stalwart marshalls who stood there like frozen sign posts for hours are only just thawing out!

We did however take note of the advance warning of freezing temperatures and did a ' recce' on the Friday before, to discover pools of standing water lying in several of the little used byways which would undoubtedly turn into sheets of ice if the temperature dropped. A risk analysis resulted in the decision to cut out most of these country lanes. Which is a great pity as these seldom visited, picturesque lanes have become a feature of the HELL of the ASHDOWN. This last minute decision was a logistic nightmare as it demanded the re-siting of many of our marshalls. Required a new plan for waymarking and new route sheets to be provided for all the riders.

We had anticipated that the changes would not make a dramatic difference to the overall distance and in the event this proved to be 63.5 miles. The safety precaution proved to be a wise one because despite the extreme cold, no injuries were reported. The only 'casualty' was the van to pick up bikes which accompanied the minibus 'broom wagon'. This was sent out at the finish of the event to rescue a lost rider with a puncture who was marooned in the middle of a violent snow storm. Although we later discovered he had been picked up by passing motorist. In the midst of this blizzard apart from the fact that the driver could hardly see, the van lost traction slid sideways an smashed its side in. Last year we had the best weather we could have hoped for. This year we have expedited the worst we feared. Enter next year and see what day it turns out to be.

LAST CHANCE TO ORDER COMMEMORATIVE HELL CYCLING TOPS: For all of the riders who registered interest in buying the cycling tops - the online facility to order these is found by clicking on the logo below the 'Devil' on the left hand side of the site - THIS IS THE LAST WEEK THAT YOU WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO ORDER

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