And now, the RR
Peter M couldn't make the start because he could not obtain a permit from his
wife boss and was obliged to miss the ride. He must have used too many brownie points last year, getting ready for PBP.
So it was just Ian H and myself, until Andrew came in at the last minute.
After my first attempt at housework for the year, in order to clear some sleeping space for Ian H (I even did some hoovering
) I was almost ready for Ian's arrival on Friday night.
All set on Saturday morning for the off at 0600, and all systems were go to our first control at Saffron Walden.
Tailwind and sunshine all the way, but I had to soft pedal. This was Andrew's first attempt at a 600. In fact, he has yet to ride a 400, so it was to be double the distance of his longest ride. Lucky my route was easy then.
Andrew was a bit slow up the hills, but then again, I may be a bit fitter than I think I am, I don't know. I was using an embarrasingly huge gear for the ride. (So big, that I'm not telling you lot, so there
)
Ian seemed keen to get off to a good start, so we had to wait for Andy a few times.
Saffron Walden came up, a bit later than I'd hoped and after a game of hide and seek with Andy, we got our cards stamped.
Andy seemed OK to press on without a cafe stop, which was good news, so we went onwards to Needham Market, still in the sun, with a tailwind.
Andy was notably fading, especially on the hills. He seemed to be getting more tired. Ian and I were starting to consider leaving him. He has a girfriend to rescue him and it's not cold, so it won't be horrible for him to wait for her. We were getting doubtfull about whether he was up to the ride, but decided to see how he went.
We had a cafe stop in Needham Market, which seemed to make a big difference to Andy. He was going well again for a few more miles, but once again faded a bit in the last few miles to Swaffham.
We brought a picnic at Swaffham, which took longer than anticipated as Andy needed a number two in the local loo. Ian and I were still having doubts about Andy, but I decided that if we were going to leave him, we should take all of his impressive stash of bananas first.
Off again, with Andy going well, except for on the hills. I hoped that the wind would drop for Andy's sake, but it never seemed to.
We stopped at a pub just before Cromer just before 2100. Pubs often stop serving food after 2100, so we decided on stopping before Cromer, rather than go hungry.
Ian offered to buy a round of drinks, so ordered his. As Andy and I ordered ours, Andy offered to buy the round instead, which prompted Ian to order another drink for himself. (Crafty git)
After Cromer, was an enjoyable ride along the Norfolk coast road in the night with very little traffic. Ian was getting dozy. So was I come to think of it, so we stopped for some sleep in a bus shelter. It helped a little, but the dozies soon returned, which prompted some awful joke telling from me. The idea being, that if they pedal fast enough, they don't have to put up with my bad jokes for as long.
Andy seemed to be going very well at night. Or was it that Ian and i had slowed down a lot?
Hunstanton was the next control, where we just used the ATM at Tesco. Then on to the intended sleep control at Kings Lynn services, but arriving with around two hours to spare.
We had a doze outside the petrol garage. Lucky it was a very mild night. Then we left with just under an hour in hand, along the old A17 and past my favourite cafe at Fleet Hargate, which was shut. On to Spalding for the next control at a Mc Donalds for a tea. Andy also indulged in a piece of plastic maquerading as a muffin.
We were soon on our way again, with the hope of a breakfast at Wisbech. I remembered a Whetherspoons pub there, which would sell us a much needed breakfast and some coffee.
We headed for Wisbech along the tricky to follow B road which winds its way through the fens. The last few miles were into the wind. Ian and Andy didn't seem to enjoy that bit very much.
After our breakfasts, we had a doze. Andy had some large blisters on the palms of his hands. We had some more coffee before the off for our next control at Downham Market, which we used an ATM for our brevidence.
Then back into the wind to Ely, following the drain through the fens along a lane which runs parallell to the A10. Andy seemed to be tiring again as we rode into the wind and some rain.
Ely came earlier than expected and the Little Chef was soon found, bang on schedule for 1330, to meet Richard Forrest on his funny bike.
I made do with an Olympic Breakfast and tried not to wince too much when I had to pay for it.
Richard took over from navigating all the way back to the finish. The rain had vanished and the wind didn't seem quite so against us.
Progress was slow as Andy was tiring. But there was no need to rush. We had time in hand and were going fast enough to keep it.
Gamlingay was soon in the bag, with a shop as a control, then Richard took us through the more scenic parts of Bedfordshire to take us home via Woburn.
We entered Milton Keynes with a firey red sky on the horizon.
A fitting finish to the best 600 of the season so far.
Andy managed his first 600.
Ian rode his second fixed wheel 600 of the season.
Andy said at the finish, that he couldn't wait to ride another 600 and is really looking forward to his next one.
At least, I think he did.
