Also posted to uk.rec.cycling...
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 Smiley
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 Deniece 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 too submissive, 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 gain, 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
