Thanks to Tomsk for another great event. Pre event curry was most enjoyable, but it emerged that the majority of diners werent doing the event!
I managed to nab a tow on a few reasonably rapid groups until about 75km where i reverted to solo riding but still managed to reach the 100km mark in just under 4 hrs. Id been in short sleeves n shorts til then and added leg/arm warmers at that point. It was a long old slog to Newport Pagnell - 85km with no shops open so i stopped at a bus stop around midway for a flapjack and 5 mins off the bike.
Long stop admiring the splendour of the Pag then onwards in mercifully smaller distances to Biggleswade where it was very hot and still not 9am where i reverted to short sleeves and slapped on much sun cream. I was slowing up at this point and wasnt feeling very good at all but was still ahead of 20kph overall, so time was no issue. I stopped briefly at Reed but pressed on slowly trying to ensure i was following the correct route. Tiredness, heat and a few digestive issues meant i wasnt enjoying the ride as much as i should have. Many pretty villages and many quiet lanes later i crawled into Great Dunmow for a quick turnaround and off to Braintree for the train (nice cycle path, if a little bit “track”-y.
Thanks to Tomsk, hes had a bumper year as organiser.
Nice to see The McTaggarts too - even if took an event 300 miles from home.