Had the usual on comming charity ride for the ride back from Bridlington. Better hehaved this year with everyone on the right(left) side of the road other than a few struggling on the 12+ %. I gave them space.
I will remember the ride for two reasons:
1) The deluge after Thirsk. I didn't get that wet from the sky and decided I'd be better off leaving the plastic bag in the saddle pack. However rain was running down the legs and the roads were flooded. Locals were standing outside their house on Back lane after Thirsk warning of a hole in road under a particularly deep flood that went over the bottom bracket. Someone was shouting "you're mad" from a window, I said lying, "it's not too bad out here".
2) At 5am on Sunday morning on the edge of Burnley there was a loud crack from my rear wheel, the rear rim had split accross 2 spokes.
I rapidly pulled over and deflated the rear tyre before it burst out. Then did a seach for stuff to support the tube. I only had rail tickets so seperated out the used ones. Another rider camw past whom I knew from the previous day and other rides. He asked, as riders alway do if I was Ok and I replied "yes but not really". He pulled over provided tent repair tape and hence saved my day/ride. Wrapped the tube, pumped it up to 35psi as that's about as much as would not bulge the metal work further and was back on the road albeit carefully. Pleasent ride out to blackpool in warming temeratures and quiet roads. Tyre went down in Blackpool due the split widening and wrapping moving slightly. Repaired pucture and rearanged packing and back on the road to fail to findtheentry cost tothe pier - info question, not a high point oftheride. Went to take a picture but phone/camera baterry flat so wrote down some dribble form the amusement arcade( free entry and 1 quid/game of bowls).
Not a high point of the ride.
With the hold ups I was getting quite badly down on time, if I missed the 4ish pm train out of Mytholmroyd I would miss the Virgin East Coast train back down South which was on a non flexible ticket. I was struggling to maintain 12mph average. Stopped for a much needed Coffee and cake at Glasson Dock and then pushed on. I kept on thinking I would or wouldn't make the train and considered diverting at Todmonden, giving up the ride for the cost of a replacement rail ticket, but decided against it, I've never abandoned an Audax. Luckily the helper crew had just set up at Hollingworh which saved a queue at the Cafe. Immediately pressed on up the hill and then as fast as I wanted to risk down to the Arrivee. Finished at 3.55. Controller kindly accepted a pile of unsorted rubbish with the brevet card and I headed off the the station. On the platform at 4.02 and discovered I needed the 4.05 train, I was thinking I had another 20 minutes to that point.
600Km in 34 hours with 3 minute in hand for the train. Success! Without the help of the rider in Burnley of the efficency of Chris and his helpers I'd have not made it.
Thanks all for a memorable ride.
