I've just manage to combine the 6 files into one and upload into Strava (the Edge 130 can only hold about 12 hours of data).
My writeup below for those that don't use Strava.
Dean's Flatlands
Dean was looking for someone to ride a 600 with him to complete the ACME SR and this was the last weekend it could be done. I volunteered to ride with him for (type 2) fun. There were a few occasions over the two days when I felt that decision may have been hasty.
The forecast showed high winds on Saturday (45mph) with torrential rain over a 3 hour period, and a strong to moderate southerly all the rest of the weekend. The forecast was right!
A 6:15 start (because I took a wrong turning on the way to the start and went up the A120 to Takeley wasn't a good start.
It was fine at the start with little wind, but as the sun came up, so did the wind. As a tailwind or crosswind it was fine, and the rain showers were intermittent enough to dry out in-between.
After Kirton-in-Lindsey it started to rain and for about an hour it got heavier and heavier. Rain legs on, but overshoes left at home (bugger). The roads were flooded and full of debris. I nearly lost it in a pothole that I didn't see.
But, as we turned to run alongside the Trent, it eased off and we had a pleasant run up to Goole.
I was so pleased to see that Clewe's Garage was open, and they let us use the seats and tables, so refuelled we setoff to Gainsborough for an overnight (3 hours) sleep.
We arrived at 01:55 and 10 minutes later it was 01:05! that was confusing, so we made plans to sleep for three hours and meet at 04:30. I have never know a bed as comfortable as the one in the Travelodge.
It was the receptionist's second night, and hats off to him for being so helpful.
The journey home was just as expected.
The 15-20mph headwind was just as forecast. Not massive (as we have seen on several trips across the Fens, but constant and sapping. Aiming to keep about 20kph was the target. Doable, but a bit of a strain, and made up of 22kph on the cross winds and 18 kph on the headwinds.
A full 'spoons breakfast for both of us in Sleaford provided enough energy for the next few hours for the section to Spalding, which I think is the worst of the three Fenland legs.
It was a real pleasant surprise to bump into @Rob Bullyment in Spalding on his way back from a week in Yorkshire. He is fit to start with, and having had a full nights rest, he provided us witha most welcome tow to Cowbit.
The rest of the journey back was just 10 hours of headwind cycling. Hard, but doable.
I had loaded the original route into the Garmin 130 (The 1030 is being replaced) and I now remember why we don't use that route now. Tom's route in September is far better, but trying to navigate it in the dark, on a 1" monochrome was a bit too much. I have put that route on the ACME Ride with GPS Library for anyone to use.
We made it back by 19:06, a 38 hour ride with a 4 hour hotel break. Given the conditions, I settle for that.
Hats off to Dean for riding this one. For those that Don't know him, Dean rides a very heavy Dawes bike with butterfly bars (so very upright) and big Schwalbe tyres. No clipless pedals (just flats) and a set of panniers that are full. To make it more of a challenge, the Front derailleur cable snapped, and he did over half of the ride in the smallest (of three) rings! When behind me, he is never close enough to benefit from drafting. Heaven help us if Dean ever gets a "proper" bike, because I reckon even Froome would struggle to keep up with him.
A big thanks to Dean for letting me ride with him. Another Flatlands experience etched into my mind😲.
