Also posted to uk.rec.cycling... (copied from ACF post)
Went to bed at 11pm on Friday, and didn't manage to get to sleep until
about 1, and didn't sleep all that well even then. Alarm went off at
2.20 and got up, turned on the coffee machine and had a bath and
dressed while it warmed up. Got the bike into the car - loud bang from
the bike as I tried to get it in, which I think was the left fork
against the car pump. Got to the start with little time to spare,
parked up and got the bike out and reassembled, rode round to the
control and got my card. Asked how much time til the start - 2 minutes
- so no time to check anything or move the car.
Set off with the group and found the pace quite easy near the back. A
few spots of very light drizzle made me think about putting my jacket
on but I decided to avoid stopping and the rain proper held off. I
have little idea what speed we were doing as it was of course dark and
I had forgotten my head torch. We rode out to the first control, which
was an info control. However, it had been stolen we were told before
the start of the ride, so it was now manned by Anne Scott (the
organiser) who was waiting for us. This proved to be a chance to check
the condition of the forks and have a pee, which meant that by the time
I set off I was tail end charlie along with a female rider. It was her
first 300 too. I suggested we'd be better off catching the pack again
- despite having to speed up - as then we could sit in. We caught them
reasonably quickly and sat in until the next control which was at a BP
petrol station on the A14. This was supposed to be an unmanned control
but it'd stopped being 24/7 so again there was someone there to stamp
our cards. I was first to set off, turning my nose up at the free
cake, since I had plenty energy bars and water. I was followed and
soon some others spotted my GPS so I led the way through a few turns
through Stowmarket and then sat in again.
A nasty moment occured on one of the short undulations where the group
bunched up and a car came around the corner (rh bend from our POV)
rather fast. Some of the bikes had to squeeze left and I heard tyres
squealing a bit as the driver braked and somehow everyone got through.
That was lucky for those who had been too far over to the right.
The pace continued and we arrived at the 3rd control, at a cafe, at
about 7am. This was at something like 72km so we were making
reasonable time. I asked the controller how many had been through
before us and was surprised to be told we were the first group. Ate
beans on toast, used the bathroom, and just as I was getting ready to
go saw Dave Larrington turn up. Hadn't seen him at the start, so
introduced myself here, and he explained he'd fallen off just after the
start. He seemed to be OK, and I set off and set about trying to chase
down some of the others who'd set off ahead of me. The people I caught
first were going a little slower than I liked so I pushed on and then
was caught by a few others, and ended up being part of a reasonably
fast group of 4. I felt I wasn't doing my fair share, but also didn't
want to overdo it.
At some point on this section we were overtaken at speed by a white
car-derived van. This would've been fine - he left us plenty room -
except there was an Ordinary coming the other way at the time, who they
can't have missed by much. Fortunately they did miss.
We stayed together til the next control where we found two others, and
apparently at least one was ahead of him. Ate banana, got some
lucozade for my empty bottle, and we pressed on.
This was a long section - all the way to Saffron Walden - and one of
the more undulating parts. Two of us were on our first 300s and were
finding it harder to stick with the group on the climbs. The other two
did wait for us. We only split up properly on the way into Saffron
Walden, and then rejoined as a group through the last few junctions
into the town.
The cafe here was slow with a lot of queueing, and one of the group had
punctured. Deniece (the lady who'd helped me chase down the group
earlier) arrived, and asked if she could ride with us, as the group she
was with had dropped her and she didn't like riding in traffic on her
own.
We set off eventually, and immediately I realised I had problems. Due
to the traffic I got slightly separated from the group and had no power
to catch up on the hill. My heart was pounding and I decided to back
off and just get round at my own pace. I had been worried about the
early pace, and it was back to bite me. I fought it throughout the
section up to Weston Colville, where the info control was. I had no
pen, so texted myself the answer for later writing down on the card.
Mr Larrington had been at the Mocha cafe in Saffron Walden, and I
assumed he was ahead, until I saw him rolling up as I was leaving the
control. He had had his second puncture of the ride. I pointed the
control out to him, and then said I'd see him at the next control, and
pushed on. This was now just a few more undulations getting to
Balsham, then a nice long descent to Little Abington. Everyone in my
group was there, and said they'd been there for an hour... right
I was still more than 3h ahead of schedule and this was my fastest 200
ever so I suspected the last 100 would be tough. They said they'd wait
for me and I should sit in and shouldn't spend so much time on the
front. Well, sit in I did and we rolled out still in familiar
territory. We got within about 4 miles of my house during this section
- but the temptation to pack never really bothered me. Mr Larrington
had joined us so we were now 6 in number. We did the Sawston,
Shelfords, Trumpington, Grantchester, Cambridge section and headed out
through Girton and Oakington. The pace was around 30kph and we dropped
Deniece a couple of times. This seemed to be largely due to her slowing
down more in traffic than anything else. We waited up for her to catch
on again.
At times, I was riding behind Deniece but her pace was inconsistent -
dropping off then sprinting back - so I sprinted past her and sat
behind Mr Larrington instead. However, he wasn't as much of a
protection as a wedgie and so I had to work a bit harder. I made
everyone stop in Earith to eat a banana, and we pressed on for
Chatteris. About 3-4 miles from the Chatteris control, I cracked
again, and dropped off the back. I slowed to about 20kph, recouped
somewhat and then managed to get back to 25kph. One guy then slowed to
wait for me and we rolled in together. He was getting a rear puncture
but managed to limp in. We had to shout at the other lot, who were
riding past the control
I felt dog tired at this point - more so than on any other ride I've
done - and had real trouble eating anything. This was a double whammy
since I needed the food. The woman running the place seemed a bit odd
too, and service was not fantastic. I asked for a white coffee and got
a coffee made entirely from milk. It had skin on. I ate scrambled
eggs on toast - since that seemed to have worked well at the last
control - but couldn't finish it or my apple and blackcurrant pie. We
set off again and I was doing 30kph. Was on the front. Started to
tire a little, so dropped back but couldn't maintain pace, and was
dropped. I settled into a more easy 20-25kph as I had plenty time.
The others vanished from sight, and I plodded on. It was a 48km/30
mile section, this, back to Mildenhall.
Joined the A142 and saw Mr Larrington stopped at the side of the road -
another puncture - checked he was OK, then pressed on. Left the A142
to go through Witchford, and found Denise and Roy who were confused
about the route. I told 'em this was correct, and they rode with me
through the village, back onto the A142 (now on the cycle path for a
while) then through Ely. I got fed up with being on the back because
the riding style of Deniece in traffic was not compatible with my own,
so went on the front and sped up a bit. These bursts of speed couldn't
last so I slowed back to 20-25kph after out the other side. Said I was going
to have my last banana. Deniece told me to save it for the finish, but I
needed it now. Told them to leave me to it, and I'd see them at the
finish.
I had my banana, and pressed on again. Flat's good in a way, but you
can't have any descents to rest on. For a while I could see them in
the distance, then they dropped from view. I stopped again, ate a
small bit of energy bar I had in my pocket, then pressed on again.
About 4 miles from Mildenhall they appeared to kick in, and I pushed
the speed up and raced into the town, through the centre, and turned
into the road back out of Mildenhall and saw two bikes ahead - Deniece
and Roy - and managed to catch them and overtake them on to the run
down Wamil Way to the finish, saying gleefully "see the effect a banana
has!".
I rolled in at 8.02pm feeling utterly fine and not at all tired.
Weird. Chatted to Mr Larrington and a few others - many interested in
my titanium frame - and then packed everything up and drove home. Less
tired on Sunday than I was the day after my first 300 - yes those 300s
really are easier than the 200s. :
Stats:
Start 4am, finished at 8.02pm.
GPS trip odometer: 307km
Moving time: 12h 38 min.
Stopped 3h 24 min
Max speed 54.6kph
Moving average: 24.3kph
Overall average: 19.2kph
