On my DIY 100 in January I went through Cheddar but not up the Gorge, so thought it would be fun to try it on my next long run. So this was the first control of my DIY 200. Rather than turn left to the Somerset levels I thought I'd loop round south of Bath, where I grew up so was an area I knew, and go via Bradford-on-Avon and Shaftesbury then home.
Viamichelin put the route in at 200km exactly, so I checked it many many times to check it was correct - the last thing I wanted was for it not to be validated because it was 1k short.
So, at 7.28am yesterday I bought my Marathon duo (sorry, Snickers - I must be getting old) from the garage 2 miles away and pocketed the receipt, having got a funny look when asking if the receipt showed date and time. By the end of this ride (my first 'proper' DIY) I was used to this reaction.
As with many rides it started with a sharp hill which was just as well because it was pretty cold. 15 minutes later I was well and truly warmed up and then it was a quick flog down the A37 which fortunaltely at this time on a Saturday morning was not busy. Skirting Yeovil I went over Ham Hill where once again it was misty so the views were not much good. Then it was across the Levels to the first control at Cheddar where I stopped for a coffee in a cafe full of cyclists on their stripped down carbon frames. 67 km to here in 3.5 hours which was not too bad seeing I couldn't feel my feet due to the cold and freezing mist and wasn't really pushing it, just enjoying the day out. Whilst this is predominatly a flat stage there are some climbs interspersed; they all seemed easier than in January so maybe I am getting fitter.
Cheddar Gorge was not too full of tourists and was not too bad. The beginning reminded me a bit of the Pyrenees, not sure why, but with the high cliffs it was a bit like the bottom of the Portet d'Aspet, just not as steep thankfully and no memorials to fallen cyclists.
Although some racing snake with no saddlebag overtook me I was pretty pleased with my progress up the Gorge, which was about 8k until it really flattened out. I got up to 20kph on the upper stages. Whether this was due to the food I'd consumed at the bottom I do not know, but it felt good and I know what to expect on next Sunday's Barry's Ball Buster 200k. The countyside in the Mendips is lovely, all stone walls and very unspoilt.
Then it was though Chewton Mendip and Ston Easton - the last time I had been there was at a cousin's wedding, and let's just say my memories are slightly hazy of that evening. A couple of steep hills followed round Midsummer Norton then a lovely ride through Wellow with a vicious climb out, and a short jaunt along the a36 to Limpley Stoke and past the house where I grew up. Nothing has changed, it all looked familiar 30 years later.
After riding around looking for a cashpoint and fighting with stationary cars and idiot drivers I had a quick break at Bradford on Avon (133k) which must have one of Britain's worst traffic systems. I chose a route across county to Warminster, then joined the A350 south to Shaftesbury. This was a tiring section, maybe the wind was in front, but it seemed to take forever and there was one long and demoralising hill out of Kingston Deverill. It's amazing how many twats overtake just as a car is coming the other way. However all bad things come to an end and I controlled in Shaftebury at 5.05pm (163km, or 174 on the road). Refuelled properly.
The home leg was fun, gently downhill for the first 20km or so which allowed for a rest, then 3 big hills. However I was in a rythmn and they didn't seem too bad, and I rolled into the final control at 7.56pm, 12.5 hours after starting. This may not seem very fast but I stopped for longer than usual at my controls and also stopped to look at my old house and grandparents grave. So not too bad and getting up the last three hills pleased me greatly.
Including riding to and from the start / finish it was 224 km which is further than I've ever gone in a day before and at the end I felt as if I could have gone on a bit more, so maybe my 300 is going to possible.
Sunday 20 March 2011
Wednesday 16 March 2011
Flying high
Flew home in a record time at a speed I've never attained before, 3kph faster than my previous best on the route home. It didn't feel like there was much of a tailwind either.
Great adrenalin rush. Bring on the next one!
I'm hoping a few speedy midweek sessions will help bring up my speed on longer distances, so I tend to go for it on the way home after work, which is a hour's workout (or 54 minutes today).
Great adrenalin rush. Bring on the next one!
I'm hoping a few speedy midweek sessions will help bring up my speed on longer distances, so I tend to go for it on the way home after work, which is a hour's workout (or 54 minutes today).
Tuesday 15 March 2011
Denmead 200
After the Mad March Coast and Quantocks last Sunday I had a couple of days off and rode to work on Wednesday. Felt I had recovered quite well so entered the Denmead 200km on the day. I guess there were about 30 entries.
This was a mostly flat route, the first leg going out south of Winchester and Romsey to Salisbury, then up the Woodford valley which was simply beautiful. Lots of lovely houses and unspoilt villages to the control at Heale House Gardens, in the tea rooms, where they served up an excellent soup. I was glad I had stopped there and felt good afterwards.
Crossing Salisbury Plain the wind got up a bit but it was just a case of plugging away until getting to Pewsey for the next control, which was a cashpoint job, then a nice route to Great Bedwyn following the canal and railway line. Bedwyn seems a nice small town and I bought some provisions in the shop. Turning south the wind got up again but it was gently downhill all the way to Whitchurch, again along nice quiet roads through pretty villages, some of which seemed familiar from the Watership Down (and Up) 100. The final control was in Whitchurch, before the final leg back to Denmead. This was OK until Alresford, then it seemed to get a bit hillier and the wind seemed to get a bit stronger and it got a little tiring. Once up on the ridge there were fine views of Pompey to the right, before diving off left down a great descent. The last bit was a tedious slog along a B road, which probably wasn't as hilly as it felt. Got back at 7.05pm and was a good 2kph faster than last week.
All in all another good ride and I feel like doing another soon, even though there was a headwind for the final 80km. Maybe a DIY 200 this weekend to keep the miles up.
This was a mostly flat route, the first leg going out south of Winchester and Romsey to Salisbury, then up the Woodford valley which was simply beautiful. Lots of lovely houses and unspoilt villages to the control at Heale House Gardens, in the tea rooms, where they served up an excellent soup. I was glad I had stopped there and felt good afterwards.
Crossing Salisbury Plain the wind got up a bit but it was just a case of plugging away until getting to Pewsey for the next control, which was a cashpoint job, then a nice route to Great Bedwyn following the canal and railway line. Bedwyn seems a nice small town and I bought some provisions in the shop. Turning south the wind got up again but it was gently downhill all the way to Whitchurch, again along nice quiet roads through pretty villages, some of which seemed familiar from the Watership Down (and Up) 100. The final control was in Whitchurch, before the final leg back to Denmead. This was OK until Alresford, then it seemed to get a bit hillier and the wind seemed to get a bit stronger and it got a little tiring. Once up on the ridge there were fine views of Pompey to the right, before diving off left down a great descent. The last bit was a tedious slog along a B road, which probably wasn't as hilly as it felt. Got back at 7.05pm and was a good 2kph faster than last week.
All in all another good ride and I feel like doing another soon, even though there was a headwind for the final 80km. Maybe a DIY 200 this weekend to keep the miles up.
First PBP Qualifier
Sunday March 7 and the morning of my first qualifier, Mad March Coast and Quantocks. Got to Exeter at about 7.30 in time for a cup of coffee and then on the road promptly at 8am. There seemed to be a good turnout of about 60 and it was a nice day, if a little on the cold side.
The first stretch to the info at Budleigh Salterton was a delight, accross Woodbury Common and a nice descent down to the sea. The last time I went to Budleigh Salterton I was 3 years old. Then it was a relatively lumpy ride to Tiverton and the Canal Tea Rooms where I stopped for a coffee. I didn't seem to be too far behind others and there were plenty still there when I left.
Pressing on, the route followed the River Exe up towards Dulverton. This was beautiful, generally flat with the river on the left. Then a steady climb to Wheddon Cross followed by a great downhill and a scenic route through lovely Dunster to Blue Anchor on the coast, and the control at the steam railway station. Fantastic bit of the ride this leg, I really enjoyed it.
The next stage was hilly and a climb up onto the Quantocks. Beautiful countryside but a long grind up to the top, then a steep down, then hilly all the way to the final control at 170km. Just made it here in the dusk so didn't need to stop specially to put my lights on.
The final stage was gently down with a atilwind, although the road surface was apalling and felt like I had a p******e but arrived back in 11 hours 58 minutes.
Longest ride I'd done since September, and not too bad. Generally quite pleased. Good to get the first one out of the way, and to know that it was possible despite not doing as many miles as I would have liked over the winter due to the weather, being away and illness.
The first stretch to the info at Budleigh Salterton was a delight, accross Woodbury Common and a nice descent down to the sea. The last time I went to Budleigh Salterton I was 3 years old. Then it was a relatively lumpy ride to Tiverton and the Canal Tea Rooms where I stopped for a coffee. I didn't seem to be too far behind others and there were plenty still there when I left.
Pressing on, the route followed the River Exe up towards Dulverton. This was beautiful, generally flat with the river on the left. Then a steady climb to Wheddon Cross followed by a great downhill and a scenic route through lovely Dunster to Blue Anchor on the coast, and the control at the steam railway station. Fantastic bit of the ride this leg, I really enjoyed it.
The next stage was hilly and a climb up onto the Quantocks. Beautiful countryside but a long grind up to the top, then a steep down, then hilly all the way to the final control at 170km. Just made it here in the dusk so didn't need to stop specially to put my lights on.
The final stage was gently down with a atilwind, although the road surface was apalling and felt like I had a p******e but arrived back in 11 hours 58 minutes.
Longest ride I'd done since September, and not too bad. Generally quite pleased. Good to get the first one out of the way, and to know that it was possible despite not doing as many miles as I would have liked over the winter due to the weather, being away and illness.
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