After the usual pre ride sleep of approximately 2 hours I forced down my breakfast, the dogs were fed at stupid o'clock and I headed out of the door at some unearthly hour, collected a good friend and headed off to Norwich. Parking was easy peasy at silly o'clock, bikes unloaded and off to the start. A spectacle to behold of riders of all ages, bikes of all styles, colours and sizes. I spotted 3 tandems and two bents. I chatted with one grandmother after the event who said that she had watched her son and daughter in law set off on the 100 last year and had muttered about riding the 50 herself. She accomplished that and was immensely proud of herself, hearing stories such as those warms the heart and makes the world seem a nicer place. Whilst walking back to the car after the event an elderly lady said she always came to watch the event but was too late today, she also mentioned that the last time she had ridden a bike she had come off and then watched her cabbage roll down the road.
Anyway, it was a fairly cloudy start but the sun soon shone and provided me with a constant flow of perspiration under my thermal bib longs, yes I know I was silly but earlier on it had seemed to be a bit chilly, I believe I was the only person out of 2000 in bib longs
I set off too fast with a group of guys and kept a good pace for several miles, at around 20-25 miles my legs started to feel as though I was pulling a trailer with a couple of kids on board, so I slowed down and tried my hardest to pace myself. I realised that having the computer now set at kms instead of mph was a mistake, as was wearing thermal bib longs, I think I already mentioned that earlier.
I was amazed at the number of people swerving all over the road or simply pulling out from the side of the road, without a care in the world. One guy sat on my wheel for several miles, I slowed down to chat to him and explained some of the rules for riding in a group, he was riding all over the road and I could hear a fast group coming up behind. He told me that he desperately tried to stick with one of the fast groups earlier on but he hadn't been able to keep up, he also told me that he didn't like to be slower than a woman. I stopped at the side of the road for a banana, we chatted for a minute or two and he shot off, never to return the favour of a wheel. The wind on the way out was pretty draining and I felt quite vulnerable cycling alone. I decided to do the 50 miles instead of the 100 in the end and to get back and enjoy the afternoon outside the cathedral, watching the world go by. I seemed to find my legs again at about 32 miles, just warming up I suppose, each time I turned around some other guy would be on my wheel, no one was in front, one of the guys said 'hope you don't mind but this is a good pace and I am quite comfortable behind you', about 4 miles from the end he shot off and never returned the favour either.
I was pleased to finish, 3.23 minutes, probably a little too fast but good training. My friend who was riding the 100 clocked around 6 hours, chapeau to him and his team.
I realise I wasn't the fastest but many riders were still coming in several hours after I had finished, some jumping and clapping having realised it was their longest ride to date.
I offered imaginary G & T's to several riders, some smiled, others frowned, as usual I never lost my sense of humour. I didn't observe one other Carradice bag
One of the smiliest moments was watching a lady from the Norwich Cycling Campaign finish the ride on her Brompton, dressed in a woolly pully with pink and white diamonds and a big smile on her face.
I had a thoroughly splendid day despite riding alone for the most part, I only sang once or twice and my sit bones are intact, that has to be a miracle.
No marmite sandwiches were harmed during the ride, nor were they eaten, probably because I forgot to make any.
