Having crashed and burned, due to the heat and dehydration ending my ride with projectile vomiting on Windsor Chester Windsor; I entered Fenland Friends as a back up to complete my qualification for PBP. First decision was which bike? My recumbent is ideally suited to the Fens but this year I'd done all my qualifiers on my road bike and any rides of any distance. The recumbent had just done short local rides. The different riding positions do put emphasis on different muscles within the legs, and consequently my legs would feel weaker on the recumbent. Some initial test rides suggested I'd be fast enough on the recumbent, if I twiddled up the Essex and Suffolk hills, and made up for it in the Fens. I decided to ride the recumbent and dedicated the available two and bit weeks to exclusively riding it to help strengthen the laid back leg muscles. A brevet populaire the week before destroyed my legs, boy did they hurt, but I decided to stick with decision of choice of bike.
I woke at 4:30am, had breakfast and loaded the bike. setting off on the drive over at 4:45am. Parking up in the recreation car park, Gt Dunmow there were a few unloading bikes and getting ready. I rolled down to the start, picked up and filled in a brevet card with my details, had a drink. Time to go.
My plan was not to try and keep up with the road bikes on the uphills and to bide my time till it flattened after Cambridge. I deliberately positioned myself at the back. Here I met Drew Buck who had also crashed and burned at Windsor Chester Windsor and we shook hands as he said "good to see you've made the right decision", "we will see we will see" I replied.
A few words from Tom, and it was time to get going. The plan worked for about 5 mins, the third descent and everyone was freewheeling in front of me. On a recumbent the technique is to hammer the descents and let your speed and aerodynamics carry you as far up the other side as possible. Far less energy intensive. So this is what I did hammering past everyone, and with enough momentum no one caught me on the uphill and I was away. Some decided to give chase and I'd see them closing on the longer uphills, till I was away downhill again. A tenacious group of four caught and passed me on the climb out of Saffron Walden. Then I gained on them once over the top and we stayed in sight of each other till near Great Shelford.
Great Shelford marked the beginning of the red light district. Never before have I hit so many red lights and this continued all the way till Longstanton where finally a traffic light took pity on me. In Cambridge there were a few students returning from late night partys but otherwuise it was deserted and peaceful. Just as I was making the turn right past the market then left to continue north a tourist decided to take a photo of me. The tourist then spoke and I realised it was Alex, with words of encouragement "Go Phil". Then I was round the corner and away. Sorry Alex I can be a bit brain dead early in the morning.
As the terrain flattened my speed increased steadily and I found myself at a nice cruising speed with little effort. There were a number of Red Kites up above and together with the speckled clouds they occupied my attention. I was drinking like it was going out of fashion after my dehyration problems last time, and also taking salt tablets. Consequently I need 3 pee stops before I even got to the first control. Chatteris turned up far sooner than I expected and before long I rolled up at the Green Welly cafe.
Nick and Dod were outside together with Ian Perry, on Yorkshire via Essex, stood by his velomobile. Ian was ahead of the Yorkshire Via Essex control opening time so they were making him wait till. Nick wanted to see if I was ahead of the Fenland Friends control opening time, nope I'd arrived 4 mins after the opening time. Those three pee stops were essential part of the timing plan. Nick then also informed me I was the first to the control from the Dunmow start. I was a bit shocked at this as thought the four who passed me in Saffron Walden were still ahead. But now I recall I had passed them in Earith but my brain was in trance mode. I think they were possibly stopped and just pulling out. Yes, that was them.
With no queue I got my order in for sweet and sour pork with rice and a strawberry Yazoo from the fridge. Whilst drinking the Yazoo and waiting for my order the riders from both starts began to roll in and form a queue. I quickly got my Playpus filled up with water before the queue got too big. After a chat with Ian (still waiting for his control open time) back inside for my food. The cafe was soon heaving and I got various amused comments at me having sweet and sour pork for breakfast. Hey I like this stuff, what can I say?
I was off again, first to leave and greeted various inbound Yorkshire via Essex riders, including a fellow laid back rider on a high racer. I turned onto Forty Foot Bank. Once more I saw some Red Kites above and was so engrossed in them that I missed a turning. It was only when I glanced down that I noted there was no sign of the track on the GPS. Just then a sign appearied pointing to Benwick and I vaguely remembered this was on route. So I turned right and followed the signs to Benwick eventually rejoining the route after 5 km of extra riding. Just as I did this my breakfast companions turned on the route in front of me a group of about 11 doubled up. I caught them up and chatted away with the lone rider at the back. It was nice to be working at a very low effort, drafting the uprights. Eventually, after we'd entered Lincolnshire, I got tired of the view (of riders bums) and so backed off to regain the view I prefer. The wide landscape with sky and birds above.
The day by now had warmed up and eventually I got the early warning signs of cramp. My tactic with the salt tablets was to pre load before the ride and then take one at each control, and to take one if signs of cramp appeared. I took a tablet and the early signs receded till the legs were back to normal. I didn't get cramp on a long brevet, in warm weather, for the first time in a long time. I'm a convert to supplementary salt tablets. oh, and arm coolers work well as well. Just need leg / knee coolers now.
I had made a number of adjustments ot the offical route to make it more suited to my bike's strengths. I'd also decided to bypass Spalding since it wasn't a control. This involves going along Welland Bank then when it drops off the bank go left instead right towards Spalding. You then head via Pinchbeck West to rejoin the offical route north and west of Spalding. A great traffic free variation that works well.
Eventually Sleaford appeared and I do like the first view you get of it, approaching from the south. Origianlly my plan was to hit the Wetherspoons but about 100 metres short I saw some fellow riders outside a bakery, and decided I'd stop. An iced tea cake and two jam doughnuts and a coke. The water available was in small bottles so I decided not to top up the bladder, which still had water.
I left shortly before the others gathered around and headed north to Lincoln. Initially the roads were fairly busy but once I turned onto the B road to Branston it quietened down again. The road was rolling and perfect for hammering the descents and getting most of the way up the other side without pedalling. Arriving in Branston I stopped at the red lights and the others caught me here. Straight on to Canwiock hill and a gravel section or the longer diversion. At this point Stefan and Mark are to my right and ask if I'm going right. Decision made, we go right whilst the others go straight on.
The diversion goes well and Mark and Stefan follow me on my second alteration which heads out to Skellingthorpe then Saxilby, rejoining the offical route at Staunton by Stow and bypassing the climb onto the ridge. At Staunton by Stow my water has run out so I bid the others on whilst I stop at the shop there. Topping up my water I also grab a jam doughnut and eat it on the picnic bench outside.
Crazy speeds entering Gainsbrough on the descent, and then a staple of audax, a garage forcourt. Perhaps a dozen of us are sat around on our quality diets. The chilli snack is somewhat hot and burns my throat. The sun is hot and any shade is greatly appreciated. Moving off I opt to cross on the right hand side of the bridge and turn right by the pub down the paved cycle track to Old Trent rd. This bypasses the A631 road section. it was not pre planned but traffic is quite busy at this point and the alternative is more pleasant. In contrast the A161, to Goole, is quite empty.
Goole services and McDonalds it is. After waiting several minutes at one of the automated machines; I give up and go to the counter. A McFlurry Crunchie and a coke. My order turns up quickly. The time on the receipt is 18:00, bang on 12 hours. We've made good progress. I sit with one of my companions from breakfast at the Green Welly.
Retracing out of Goole to Eastoft. Back south and passing and waving at various riders inbound to Goole. The wind is quite light at this point and I don't notice any reduction in speed. Climbing the hill to Kirton in Lindsay I spy my table companions stood outside a COOP, so I pulled over to join them. I opt for some pineaple chunks and a pint of milk. Diet getting better. Further up just before the turn right some are sat outside having a pint at the pub. Here I have another alteration to the route, opting to bypass Lincoln by going direct to Bardney then Southrey to join the water railway. I mount a speaker on my seat, plug in the ipod and start the playlist for my solo jaunt into the night.
The light fades as i enter Bardney and I'm almost tempted to stop at a pub but carry on. At Southrey I had the church porch lined up to sleep in, but in the ptich black I fail to spot the chiurch and find myself at the water railway. So I keep going till I find an enclosed bench along the Water Railway. I pull the seat pad off my recumbent, and set the alarm on the GPS to wake me at 1am. Perhaps 20 mins later a rider stops and asks me if I'd like to rdie with him. Not right now, I'm sleeping, but if he wants to wait till 1am then sure. Not being tired, he opts to ride on. Peace descends again.
Come 1am I'm off again and meet a few Yorkshire via Essex riders coming the other way. Being low to the ground I'm slightly blinded by their death ray lights. A few wobbles and slowing down till they are past and once more into the dark. Boston rolls up, and another McDonalds. A coke and a milkshake this time. As well as Fenland Friends there's another group of riders in, doing a 90 mile night ride. They are a bit loud but I decide on a second doze. The other riders leave and after finishing my drinks, a trip to the toilet to lose weight, and then a third doze. Another Fenlad Friends rider turns up, just as I'm leaving and we greet each other in passing.
Leaving Boston in the ethereal pre dawn light the birds are singing away and it's a lovely moment in time rolling south west to Spalding. Out of Spalding I opt once more for Welland Bank, preferring it to the Cowbit option. After Crowland I start to get the dozies but the verge is long grass and full of insects crawling on my skin. So I get back up and continue on. A posh house on the right has manicured the grass facing onto the road. So this tramp, parks his recumbent next to his wall, and once more lays down, undistrubed by insects. After a 30 min catnap I'm on the move again, refreshed. In Whittlesey I spy a newsagent and go inside asking if they sell ice lollies. The paper girls and boys are busy filling up their bags for their rounds. Not only do they, but the popsicles are only 22p, bargain, receipt done.
Near Warboys the first hills in oh I don't know like forever turn up, and they feel like the Himalayas. In Warboys I stop at the service station and have a Callipo. In Earwith I stop again and have an iced lolly. You get the idea, most village stops I paassed, I was now stopping for ice lollies. It felt like the day was going to get seriously hot. Haddenham delivered a triple hill just in case I wasn't paying attention to the change in geography.
The leg to Red Lodge seemed to take forever, but turn up eventually it did. There were 3 other riders already there. I ordered a ham and cheese omelette and vimto. Well I tried to order it but some loud local man keep shouting about, oh another cheese omelette, that I had to turn around and tell him to shut up whilst I ordered. Eventually the other riders left whilst I ate what I could of the worlds largest omelette, it was huge! Even when fresh I'm not sure I've have managed to finish it.
Now my final bit of route fettling to smooth the hills to the finish, Great Dunmow. It included some unridden roads suggested by Alex B that went via Cowlinge. Near Darsham I met some audax riders coming the opposite way which initially confused me. Then I saw a whole load more and realised they must be on a different audax. Now I think Alex B was having a laugh. I turned into one lane which was simply named "The Hill" and indded it was going on for longer than usual round these parts. I crawled up this, under the hot sun. My knees and legs now burnt to a crisp. Riding a low racer is like being on a mobile sun lounger, watch out for bit of legs burning that don't on an upright bike. The reward for this climb was a fantastic long descent the other side.
I opped out on the A134 and there was a shop there. So I stopped there and drank 1.5 litres of lemonade, plus the obligatory iced lolly. The A134 was wonderful and had the sort of rollers wherre, on the recumbent, you don't need to pedal the uphills. All but two of the rollers I was able to do this, brilliant. The link to Finchingfield and Bardfield not so much, and I crawled up hills, fast descent, but then needed to pedal the next hills.
Eventually a sign for Dunmow, 7 miles, almost done. I was certainly done and feeling the heat. I'd been managing my hydration and pouring water over myself to cool down throughout the ride. Plus taking the salt tablet, It had worked well. I think I've found the solution to the problems I have with heat.
Those last 7 miles seemed to take forever the motto "one more hill". Motorbikes were racing these sections of roads but fortunately were moving along the white line and well away from me. A final quick descent to Gt Dunmow, hitting 67 km/h. Then into the Angel and Harp. The ACME gang had tables 30 and 37 in the garden. It was 1509, my quickest 600 time in the last 3 years. It was validation for me, that my fitness is ok, if I take care of heat and hydration before they become too big an issue. Just as importantly I'd qualified for Paris. Mission accomplished.
I had a doze on the grass beind the table and then when awake again ordered a pizza and Ghost Ship. My appetite exceeded my ability to eat the pizza. Far too much left. Should have ordeed the garlic bread that later arrivals had. Tom and ACMe crew riding turned up and after a bit of chat it was time to head home beofre a wave of dozies turn up again.
I drove home, taking it easy and leaving big gaps. Safely home, car unloaded. A ribena and strawberry milkshake. Shower then bed. I slept till 6am, interrupted with needing a pee, or my legs burning on contact with the duvet. Almost a full 12 hours sleep. Now I have today off to chill, and stay out the sun, with a little leg strech round the local park.
Thanks Tom and helpers, and those I rode with or spoke to on the road.
Photo's here
https://photos.app.goo.gl/dMZTabM9Dg6wTcGH9
