Here's a writeup of my 2005 ride
day BeforeI travelled up to London on the train. Getting across London was tricky
but the bit up the Lee Valley Canal path was v nice
Pasta Party had rather small platefulls of pasta. Glad I had fish n
chips on the way!
day 1Wearing tour de france jersey
Set out from cheshunt railway station at 8.15am. Sean Quiggley was in the same
batch but I didn't see him again until MUCH later.
Before the first control I went off course twice, in fact once in the
first mile Thanks to this I was able to overtake Jack Easton twice!
Howard ( the 62 hour first finisher ) over took me so fast I didn't have a chanc
e to jump on his wheel.
Travelled with "Cambridge" ( Nick Jackson ) for a while.
Travelled with "Hatman" Steve and group for a while.
Got on the back of a fast group (35k+) on the way to Thurby. Fell off
the back when the chain fell onto the small chainring but this helped
my average speed no end!
The flat stuff on the way to Thorne into a headwind was tough. I was on the back of a group being pulled by Al Sutton but even 30k seemed like too fast.
Got to Thorne approx 9:30pm, just getting dark.
Left Thorne with Judith Swallows group. As it got later/darker had a sleep attack brought on by their rear lights. Dropped back. Felt better. Did intervals
until I caught up. The lights hyponised me again. Stopped for caffine tablets.
Couldn't find a turning on the route sheet. Found it. Travelled with someone
else for a while. Dynamo light packed up.
Met "big man" Al Sutton again. Took a detour, but not a large one. Hit first l
ot of real hills at Castle Howard
Made it to Hovingham at 1:30am. No floor mats, blankets or sleeping space
388km
day 2wearing LEL jersey
After a night of 4/5 hours lying on a floor drifting in and out of
consciousness ( not good sleep )
cleaned chain and changed dynamo bulb
Left Hovingham with american Glenn and
the Italian group. Immediately dropped them on sharp hills. Caught by
Dutch/German/Nordic fast group. Bit too fast! Lost them at misturn
on a roundabout. Bad patch. Made it to Eppleby feeling shite. Had a
one hour sleep. Pressed on to Langdon Beck. Dynamo light fitting broke. I hadn't tighten it up properly after changing bulb. Fixed it at the roadside.
Overtook bullet car at Mickleton.
controlled at Langdon Beck and ate 2
platefuls of beans and eggs
Stopped and talked to David Johnston who had started at Thorne and was going the
other way. He said mountains to Edinburgh were cold at night. I was already wearing my extra base layer and it was the middle of the day!
Climbed Yad Moss. Stopped at Alston control for
cup of tea. Pretty hammered. Pressed on to Cannonbie. Took "scenic"
route instead of A road - not good. Met northern bloke about my age with beard.
He knew area. We agreed we'd both take A Road back. Got to Cannonbie approx 9:30pm Had lots of
food and a shower. Had a good nights sleep
207km only today...
day 3Got up at 4am, out at bike at 4:30am. Dynamo light fitting too wobbly. fixed
it again. Left at 5. Headed across the mountains to Edinburgh. Caught up with
plenty of people but mostly recumbents and other end markers
Saw Sean Quiggly coming BACK from Edinburgh. Met up with American Woody and Scottish bloke
just before Interleithen. Saw plenty of other people coming back from Edinburgh
including American Glenn. Felt
well behind at this point.
Lost Woody+scots bloke on the descent near the snow gates.
Nice mechanic at Dalkeith fixed dynamo light properly
Set off back to Cannobie with Woody and Scottish bloke but had a rough patch let
them go on.
Even though felt bad, time back was 1 hour faster than time out due to tailwind
Got to Cannobie. Bought some psp22 packets from mechanic as I was out of magic
powder.
Pressed on to Alston. Met up with Steve again.
So tired I was hearing voices and talking to them! Took caffeine but made me fee
l like I was running on empty. Then....Steve's ankle got so bad he couldn't
start when he stalled on hill. I had to stick with him at a very slow pace.
Limped into Alston at 1:30am. Loverly bed.
303km
day 4Out at 6am, pushed bike up cobbles in Alston and then climbed Yad Moss
at a good pace. Dropped Hatman Steve, didn't see him again until the end.
Didn't stop at Langdon Beck. Wrong turn at Mickleton. Switched back into
dirty shorts at Hovingham
but supplies of flapjack and magic powder
from bag drop welcomed. Rode with Philip, Philip punctured. Two up
time trial style riding with Philip. Steve Abrahams was serving food at
Thorne! 15 minute sleep. Left Thorne without helmet. Left Thorne again.
Travelled with Dutch group ( Herman/Ben ) got sleep attacks again from
looking at lights. Dropped back, took caffine.
Passed Rampton high security mental hospital
Went well until started getting sleep attacks on boring A road. Sang "there was
an old woman who swallowed a fly" to stay awake. Caught Dutch group again on c
limb into Lincoln. Sung them "there was an old woman who swallowed a fly"
Nice bed at Lincoln.
309km
day 5Left before 6am with Dutch group. Long tedious ride across flatlands.
Lost Dutch group before Thurlby. Had a loverly curry at Thurlby.
Laughed at some triathletes in their silly pants. I expect they wondered
why a bunch of dirty knackered looking people had race numbers on their
touring bikes. Incidently, I looked up likely mid week triathlon events when
I got home and I believe this was an armed services one.
Ankle / Achilles started to play up
On into headwind rough patch in Cambridgeshire.
Bought Ibrophen Gel at Gamblingay, slapped it on and continued
Started to rain, which was good as it kept me awake. Took a wrong turn in the
horrible lanes in Hertfordshire and did an extra 7km. Dutch boys caught me
Finished at 9pm with Dutch group. Had a beer.
233km + 7km for getting lost.
