Big skies, wide open spaces

The weather in the couple of weeks before the Salisbury Plain Challenge didn't look too promising, being as it was wetter than a jetwashed haddock, but it all came good when it mattered. A stout frost for two nights made the courses across the Plain firm underwheel, while clear skies and sunshine kept the riders not too chilly.

And they turned out in their hundreds. Rumour had it that 1,500 people showed up - we haven't had an official number but the car park was full and when the start gun went we didn't actually start moving for several minutes...

We ambled round the 50km loop in a relaxed three and a half hours (hey, we stopped to take pictures and eat cake and stuff) and had a cracking ride. Full report tomorrow, giving you time to tell us your Salisbury Plain stories - were you the chap who narrowly escaped serious injury when the top of your fork steerer sheared off? What small yet vital part were the two guys peering intently at the ground looking for? Drop us a line and tell us how you got on. And if you took any pretty pictures send 'em in...