well I'm a bit late to the party here however, I have to say like everyone else before me, what an event, thankyou to everyone I met over the course of the weekend.
I started at 6 and in hindsight probably went off a bit too quick, I was soon over henley but something just did not feel right, I got to the second check very flat and, the sight of a train station nearby nearly had me packing, I pulled my socks up and, thought better of it. The ride into the evening making the turn before dark was superb, I was heartened by the fact that not too many riders were coming towards me, I had felt awfully slow all afternoon, not helped by a dip in the stream / ford. Luckily for me there had been some towels dropped on the roadside a bit further on- clean and dry! I dried off and kept going. At the turn I was met by the cheery face and dinner plate handshake of Damon, how very nice to see him again we chatted and discussed the heartbeat 400 where I had saw him last. This was actually a master stroke as the heartbeat had been very tough but I finished it comfortably. My mindset altered and I thought if I can do that I can do this.
Back outside for my as per plan one leg in darkness back to S1 where I was going to try to sleep for a few hours till dawn, It was spitting and, soon enough raining very hard, I made a tough decision and took the "alternative return route" the A41, flatter and better surfaces this turned out to be a good decision I got back feeling much better than I imagine I would if I had fought my way back over harthill and, the lanes. I did manage a little sleep, woke up, sorted my bag out and felt out of sorts I laid down again for a while and felt much better. A bowl of cheerios and off I went at 04:30, there was some rain before S2 but I was greeted at the door by someone telling me theres a full english waiting for you inside, how amazing, this lifted me immensely and, the rest of day went fairly well, I had to get off and push over the last two hills near Henley but apart from that I got over everything else, my favourite being the residential "ladder hill" which was most pleasing. After Henley I felt like I had enough to push hard and, a welcome tailwind also pushed me along. I arrived back at 18:20, slower than I had hoped but on reflection given the lumpy nature of the course, much better than I had expected.
The only downside to the weekend is that the wet caused my quite a few soreness issues, I am sure I am not alone, in this, I hope I can mend them before my next event on the 11th.
Danial and, his various control teams I salute you, especially the kind team at the last check who snatched my wheel out of my hand and, fixed my puncture for me, I owe you a pint.
To the riders who were of a similar ability/ speed to me who I saw at most of the checks, the welsh tandemologists, swansea, hampshire road club, cannondale synapse disc, young lad on genesis with longflap, and many more, all of which whose names escape me again, many thanks, your kind words and, smiles really helped greatly.
Sorry for the rambling stream of consciousness, hopefully see you all again soon.
