Hell Freezes Over Again - Andy Rice & Hazel Davies

The Hell of the Ashdown is always a bit testing as an early season sportive given the 100km, 2000m of climbing and risk of poor weather.  This year again came up trumps with a very heavy frost on Saturday night resulting in turning the lying water into sheets of ice.  Even with a later than normal start and a detour there was still plenty of ice to cycle through - fortunately it was all visible and melting as the morning warmed up.  However, the threat of ice meant only just over half the entries actually turned up!  Apart from it being cold (but not in the new Club kit!) and once past the ice early on, the day was really bright and pleasant until the last hour when it started to rain.  Given the lack of winter miles this year we were pleased to get round the route in pretty much the same time as last year.  As an early year challenge we would recommend this Sportive to the Club.