Hi Guys,
What beautiful weather we've been having over the last few days, it really makes a difference to my training.
I have been out in pretty much every type of weather over the last few months - I hated the combination of sleet and snow the most , but this makes it all worth it.
Last weekend, Ade and I faced our biggest training challenge so far, by taking on the North Downs over towards Woking as part of an Evans Cycles Sportive. There are lots of these rides orgainsed each year, and they each contain 3 different routes based on distance. We chose to take on the 60 mile route, which was further than either of us had ever cycled in one day before. The reality was however that with riding to the station, and then from the station to the event centre, and back again, we both hit the 75 mile mark.
We both loved it! It was the first time we had ever been out on our bikes together, the first real test for our road bikes, and the first time we would know how hard our challenge in cycling to Cornwall was going to be.
Because this was an organised ride, we didn't have to worry about where we were supposed to go. The little pink signs with the black arrows at every junction did all that for us. I wonder if we could make our own ones, and get our support car to put them out for us at the start of each day? (what do you reckon Dad?!) We were also treated with bananas, fresh water and some of the best cake you've ever eaten, at the 2 checkpoints along the route.
The ride itself was great, we made a fast start and flew past anyone who fell into our sights over the first 25 miles. Immediately after we left the first checkpoint I got a puncture in my rear wheel. It was good practice, as I'm sure we'll have loads to deal with on the challenge, but it wasn't the "lucky puncture" Ade had before he left his house in the morning.
The middle section of the ride was tougher, a few more hills and some long roads that dragged on without much to look at. We were both very glad to see the sign for the 2nd checkpoint, which meant more cake and a chance to get our early form back.
The final stage was quite a long one, there were a couple of steep hills to climb, but for the most part we were heading downhill. A quick stop to have the Tropical Engery Gel we had been given at the start, and then we kicked for home. I tried to ride the last 12 miles like I was Lance Armstrong, and I think I did as best I could. There weren't so many people to overtake as there had been in the early stages, but we were definately back in our groove.
We finished in a time of 4 hours 42 minutes and 29 seconds, but that had included our 3 stops for refreshments and my puncture. Our riding time was closer to 4 hours 10 minutes.
We had a well needed burger from the BBQ, another piece of cake and a nice chat with Norman Pitcher (I'll tell you all about him another time) before we headed off home.
On the train home, shattered and wondering how on earth we were going to ride back from the station, it dawned on us how much fun we had just had, how much we had learned and how hard our bodies had worked - but you know what? That was the moment I was happiest, that was when I knew how tough this challenge was going to be, but how incredible it was going to feel going over that final hill and into the descent to Watergate Bay.
We are going to have to work so hard between now and then, but through all that pain will come the most amazing reward, but not just for the 4 of us.
www.justgiving.com/justgottarideit
No comments:
Post a Comment