Ultracross

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It should also be noted that there’s nothing really new in Ultracross – there has been a very famous race taking place in the Yorkshire Dales called the Three Peaks Cyclo-Cross Challenge for the last 50 years – but note the key word there ‘race’. There are also Cyclo-cross style sportives popping up nationally such as the Southern CX Sportive that Trail Break organise in Salisbury, Woodcote and Duncton or there’s a new ride ClifCross up in the Pennines. The difference with Ultracross is that if you don’t take yourself too seriously and can read a map, then you’ll be alright.

Despite all that we had 25 riders turn up on the morning of 30th December 2012, which considering our general laziness in actually promoting the ride wasn’t too bad. Somehow the ride had been posted to various local club forums and the turn out was good from Eastbourne Rovers and Lewes Wanderers – they got the concept and they were up for the ride.

The organised start was to meet at the Tri Store in Eastbourne at 9am and head out from there. I didn’t ride myself, as I had taken a complete battering the day before riding the route and placing the stamps out at the various points on the route – it happened to be a particularly grotty day with gale force winds, rain and up on the Downs hardly any visibility, which made me nervous for the next day but it turned out to be bright, though still with gusty winds. We had arranged a space at the Belgian Café in Eastbourne where the ride finished so that we could all enjoy a good Belgian beer with some moules-frites and laugh about the days exploits.

The stamps served a couple of purposes: 1. where they were placed ensured that people actually rode the whole route; 2. it kept people on course as much a possible; and 3. it was a bit of fun as the stamps were very colourful self inking kids craft stamps, rockets, boats, helicopters, cars and cats.

At the start everyone was given a brief, a route card and the stamp card and off they all went. There’s a ride report on Velomorpha.

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