James Hayton

What was your reason for wanting to ride the Trafalgar Way?

I had found the event a couple of years ago and was instantly intrigued. It was obviously a challenging distance, but also had a unique story to it. Point-to-point events are somehow mentally different from loops/out and backs. As it happened, I was supposed to be riding another event this summer which was cancelled and so I was very happy to find that RTTW was going ahead. I would definitely recommend it and hope to do it again in the future.

How would you sum up your ride of the Trafalgar Way to a friend?

24-ish hours of type 2 fun. We did it faster (and cheaper) than Lt Lapenotiere! I am pretty sure none of us spent as much on our bikes as he spent on the horses. A great (but committed) way to see so much of the country in one ride.

What was your most memorable part of the ride? your most memorable part of the ride? 

I think riding into Westminster and down the Mall into the Admiralty would have to be the top memory. Although I have very fond memories of a lovely nap in a very nice new cedar planked bus stop in Hurstbourne Priors - a four star Audax hotel! My alarm call was the sound of two or three other bikes whizzing past in the early pre-dawn light. Time to get a move on…

What are your top 3 tips for anyone thinking of riding the Trafalgar Way?

If you stay in Truro for the night before, consider catching the train in the morning - or prepare to add 300 more metres of climbing before you start! Don’t overthink it; it’s only 24 hours (or so).

What are your top bits of equipment or kit you wouldn’t want to ride the Trafalgar Way without?

I am a sucker for my Renee Herse 35mm Bon Jon Pass tires - nice and cushy but not slow.

What bike (make and model) and chainset / cassette set up did you ride the Trafalgar Way with (if available)?

Mason Bokeh, with Sram 1x ‘reverse mullet’ (Force shifters/Rival rear derr/X01 crank), 36 x 9-46 (e-Thirteen) cassette.