Having had the route sheet for some time now I decided to bite the bullet and ride this one. I work Saturday evenings so the 2.00 am start (avoiding traffic) as suggested by the man himself didn't appeal, both on comfort and safety grounds (lack of sleep). As it was I managed a magnificent four hours of scrappy sleep after watching the days Tour de France highlights and finishing my prep. So, Pease Pottage at just before 7.00 am Sunday Morning for the start. A few colleagues at work had expressed interest in my plans (The usual, How far? Where to? ... on a bike?) so a photo on facebook and off I went. (This also has the advantage that Mrs C can track my progress and not worry)
Heart Rate stuff:
After the previous weeks Ide Hill Grimpeur (recommended) I had been out midweek to test my Max HR on a suitable Hill. There are plenty near me but I went for Boxley Hill just North of Maidstone. It lurks on El Supremo's Medway Meander Perm between Boxley and Bredhurst and has been described as 'Entertaining' I rode as close to the limit with out getting off as I could etc etc. i didn't really consider the process a great deal until seeing Bradley Wiggins (chapeau!) dropping off the front group on a big climb. "He's blown" said one commentator. "No, he's just pullling back out of his red zone to recover" said another (something to that effect anyway). An idea evolved. I've never really bothered with the HR beyond seeing what happens on a trainer and certainly not on an Audax ride, but I do have a tendency to push too hard and then sag badly so instead of riding to speed I rode to HR zone. Using a Garmin 705 (NOT for navigation- ahem!), this was easy. The zones show as numbers ie Zone 3 would be 3.0 3.1 3.2 etc. I got up to 5.6 on Boxley Hill in my red zone but the 'Burn' starts at around 4.3. The plan was to ride somewhere in the high 3's and in a gear that gave roughly 80 r.p.m. (I have tried 90 but can't sustain it through the day) Enough of that for now.
The ride:
The run down to Chichester was pretty straighforward and quiet traffic-wise so no real problems, apart from mis-counting the MRABS in Storrington. I realised almost straight away and the next Left put me back on track. My perspex route sheet holder disintegrated just before Eartham. Thus ruined, I resorted to keeping the laminated sections in my back pocket. Not really a problem but alternative arrangements will have to be made in future as remembering two or three instructions at a time can lead to mixups!. I Arrived at the Sainsbury's checkpoint just as they opened and settled down to breakfast. So far so good. The HR caper was working well and I allowed myself to go just into the 4 zone on climbs but no further than 4.3. Sit down take it easy etc.
I had also set the Garmin to show calories and had something to eat (mouthful of energy bar etc) every 500 calories. this was all rule of thumb (sorry girls) but it was working.
Stage two was the first visit to Sutton Scotney with some nice lanes. I got my knickers in a twist near Clanfield when a roundabout appeared unexpectedly in the road. It was marked on the route sheet but i was already on the next line and looking for a crossroads! Fortunately, the inclusion of a pub name in a later instruction produced a suitable "That Way!" from a local. They don't know the road names but they know where the pubs are! Onwards. Another food break at the Texaco garage at Sutton Scotney (now has a 24hr ATM outside)
On to Leigh Delamere the longest leg at 89k. The weather was gradually closing in. Cool enough for arm warmers and a gilet but not so bad and the lively SW wind was more a help than a hindrance. Once again some familiar bits from other rides, including the delightful (!) climb out of Marlborough. The rain did start to appear on this section, though I can't remember where and It wasn't bad enough for rainwear until just before Leigh Delamere so I put up with it until the stop. At this point I felt pretty good and was not sure if I had been moving quickly enough but the Garmin informed me that I had averaged (including stops) 20k.p.h. That'll do me!
By now, the heavens had opened and I was never so pleased to see a motorway service station. I say this, after a lifetime of such places in the middle of the night on the way home from work, usually with terrible food. More than half way and in good time, I sat down to fish and chips. When it arrived at the table I didn't like the look of the batter but, it was truly excellent and really hit the spot. The mushy peas had entertainment value on way back, too!
I wasn't in a massive hurry to leave as the rain had set in, but an hour is quite enough so I suited up in Rainlegs and an Oxygen, top shoe covers, cap under my bash hat to which I had added my headlamp for later. It was still light but the prospect of fiddling with the elastic straps in the rain wasn't pleasant. In Chippenham, there was a choice of through the town centre or around the Ring Road. The former had a short walking section (cycling prohibited 9.30-7.30pm) but clever timing had me there just after 7.30. Not so clever navigation of the RABS found me on the Ring Road... Doh! Anyway, deja vu set in here as it must have been at a similar time of day with similar weather conditions to that of the Midhurst 600 last year, that I climbed the knee cruncher towards Bishops' Canning and on through Pewsey. I can only guess that the scenery looks beautiful in bright sunshine having not seen it other than through rain streaked glasses! Night set in and the pace steadied, if only for safety's sake . I was still feeling fine and in spite of the rain was enjoying myself. I quite like riding in the dark. At Sutton Scotney, the Texaco was closed but the alternative of the A34 services was available around the corner. This was a bit disappointing as the eateries were all locked up effectively leaving just a petrol station with nowhere to sit down. Next time I will carry food from Leigh Delaware and use the ATM at the Texaco. I must have been tired by now as I hung about for 40 mins. faffing with stuff and changing my sock for dry ones.
The next Leg to Midhurst was uneventful though I did notice I was having difficulty getting up into Zone 3. OK, i was travelling slower but it meant i could take more uphill dashes with out blowing. Answers on a postcard!
Midhurst was closed as well, so another ATM and a Bakewell Tart which I had carried from Sutton Scotney. Shorter, sensible break this time and on to the last bash.
A fairly familar route this section with the long drag up to Pease Pottage looming ever larger. It didn't help that the magic figure of 24hrs was going to be missed by minutes (7 actually) but the arrivee felt good anyway. It was also nice to see my car was still there just around the corner from the last checkpoint for a 7 o'clock finish. One last photo for facebook (I do wonder what everybody thought given that most of the photos were of petrol stations!) a change of clothing and home to bed.
410km, 24h 7mins, 3010m climbing, 13,800 calories. A really good ride (apart from the weather- but that was anticipated) and a different way (for) me of regulating myself. Another valuable spin-off from this was that I didn't suffer dead foot at any time, probably due to not 'forcing it'. That was a first!
Recommended!
Andy T-V
