First Dean and a bit of an epic. Climbed well, remembering to keep a bit in the tank for later. Mostly by myself so the wind took a toll and I really crawled from then on, average speed dropping from 25 to 21kph and a lot of time hovering around 18. I was passed by a young woman who asked me if I was on the Dean, Don't think she could quite believe that an audaxer could be riding so slowly.... needless to say she disappeared up the road pretty quick. Stop at 200km I realised there were plenty worse off than me... hoping the aussie guy I was chatting to, who seemed pretty wrecked, made it through. At the next services I was surprised to see Agi and Robert there as they are usually a lot faster than me. Turns out they had mechanicals. And a guy turned up who had spent 90 minutes walking to a bike shop to get a new tyre... and he's caught me up! Beginning to feel old and slow, the only way I can keep up with the under 40s is if they have something to wrong... welcome to my future ;-)
Rode the last leg with Mr Colchester and Mr Scientist. We didn't say an awful lot, but the company through the pain was appreciated and thankfully only the one long slow hill in the last leg.
So yes, an epic, but a great ride to have in the legs. Highlights - the climbing in part one in among the lambs and the country and then later topping over the white horse and not walking and then the lovely sunset playing out on the hills down to Stanford - magic.
Thanks to ACH for their inimitable style and making sure this ride stays in the books, it's a good 'un - see you on Sunday for another (shark) bite.
