Reflections the morning after, as a first time 600-er.
Half a dozen or so major climbs which I really enjoyed, especially the climbs out of Chard and Bath, but boy those interminable rolling hills on the stages into Sherborne, Cirencester and Brackley are energy-sapping will-destroying fiends - The Buzzard may not look like a climbing challenge on paper but it belies its difficulty.
All in all a great route with a good mix of fast roads and quiet by-ways. The only quibble, and it really is a minor one given that I'm talking about no more than 1% of the entire route, was that Bath was way, way too intricate, and that 30%+ narrow descent is too dangerous on a fully-loaded bike.
There may only have been 30-40 of us but you couldn't have hand-picked a more friendly and supportive group - hope to see you all again on future rides.
Still no feeling in some of my right hand and right foot, and my "saddle area" more than a little sore today, but hopefully these are one or two day phenomena.
And I now know what it's like to ride a 600. The brain-frying aspect of the challenge of riding close to 40hrs without sleep was something I didn't expect. Mid-afternoon day two I bizarrely forgot how to tell time, and was convinced it was approx. 5pm so that I was going to miss the cut. I was then bemused and confused when my receipt at the next control said it was only 13:30. At least I'll know to expect this next time I ride a 600.
So, thank you to Ian H, thank you to everyone else who had a hand in organising, and thank you to everyone who helped cheer me up and lift my spirits along the way: with apologies to those whose names either I never asked or have forgotten overnight - Derbyshire guy, Irish Jersey guy, Adam, Adam's co-rider on the final stage and SWRC guy.
