Last weekend I too completed the Gavin and Stacey. The reports and advice here were very helpful, so I thought I would share my 'story' of what happened when I did to in case it helps anyone else thinking of doing it.
Gavin & Stacey 400km: Write up.
At 05:30 on Saturday 6th April I found myself outside a cash machine in Billericay about to attempt the Gavin and Stacey 400km for the third time. The first time I lost all my motivation to cycle 400km, the second time the bike needed essential maintenance, so hopefully third time would be the charm.
That being said I faced the hardest part of the ride (at least mentally) on the way to the first control. I went past the turning which would take me home and back to bed, all I had to do was turn left and cycle up the hill. 40 miles as a decent distance right?
I managed to resist the temptation and arrived at Buntingford around 08:35 and tried to get a receipt from the CO-OP cash machine with no luck. I went a little bit further in town and found a proper cash machine and had more luck there. I had a snack from my bag and then started the next 42km to St. Neots where there was a Wetherspoons which I was looking forward to.
From what I can remember this stage was fairly uneventful and I reach the 'Spoons at 10:59. The place was already busy but luckily I was able to find a free table. Eyes bigger than my belly I ordered the large veggie breakfast but couldn't finish it even though I knew the next stage to Towcester would be long at 62km. Maybe I would be more hungry at the McDonalds.
I was making good progress I though and was a head of the schedule I had mapped out. Having a snack every ten miles for a reward and to keep the engine running.
The next two stages were fairly uneventful, I arrived at Towcester at 14:59 and Banbury at 17:10. I stocked up for the night at the Tesco in Banbury and also ate at the McDonalds (which for some reason took me a while to find!)
Not far after Banbury was the half way point, so that is always an encouraging thought but I wasn't quite close enough to the finish to start thinking about the nice nap I was going to have on the train back to London.
By now I was in the Cotswolds hills and snapped a picture at sunset. I suppose it was a blessing that it was getting dark so I couldn't really see how big there would be but my legs sure let me know. Not much I could do about it though but press on.
I passed through the village of Chipping Campden where all the buildings were made of the same yellow / cream bricks which was quite interesting.
An hour and a half after Chipping Campden I reached the next control at Tewkesbury. It was now 21:36 and Chepstow was a further 65km away and by the time I got there everything would likely be closed, so I had my last sit down meal inside of the ride at a takeaway. Some kind of spicy chicken burger with chips and a coke.
On this stage I really started struggle. I guess it was because I was approaching my normal bed time but I had real problems staying awake. My speed came right down and I started to lose all the time I had in hand (or at least that's what it felt like, I didn't want to check my watch) and started to find excuses to stop. At one point I found a bench and just sat down and closed my eyes for a few minutes. Nano nap? This and another snack seamed to help a bit and I carried on to Chepstow and finally got there at 01:55. I got a receipt from the cash machine and sat on the bench nearby and ate the sandwich I bough in Banbury with my eyes closed. - Multitasking!
My mood lifted that the next stage to Pontypridd was the last long stage I was back on the road. I had some extra encouragement up the hills from the local 'party goers' heading home. Once away from them I seemed to flying along the now deserted A road (can't remember which one.) The road signs gradually started to turn Welsh which was also encouraging and the roads had 'ARAF' painted on them.
I passed another McDonalds which looked open and I could have really used another cup of tea but I was mindful of the time I had wasted stopping in the dark so didn't want to risk another half an hour stopped, so reluctantly cycled passed it.
Approaching Pontypridd I was 'welcomed' by the biggest and steepest hill! My tired legs refused to cycle all the way up it and my brain was willing to let them give up and walk it. However I am not sure if that was any easier and my arms started complain about pushing the bike. Needless to say the descent was quite fun and scary in the dark. They certainly tested my brakes!
I found it a struggle finding a cash machine in Pontypridd that actually existed and had the time and place printed on the receipt and I wasted more time until I finally found one next to a Spar. Still at 06:02 I had a couple of hours left to make it to Barry. Maybe I could have had that tea after all?
Thankfully the last stage was short and once I was out of the valley in Pontypridd it was mostly down hill to Barry and I finally got there at 07:45 and this time was able to get the receipt from the first cash machine I saw.
That was a lot harder than I thought it would be and I really struggled in the night but overall I quite enjoyed it, I think! I bought too much food and water at Banbury which didn't help with the Pontypridd hill! Now all I have to do is gather up the courage to face it again and back again on the 'ACME Ten Tonnes' perm!
