I'd aimed to leave home at 3am, knowing I'd be riding into that SW wind almost all the way, but I faffed, and left at 3:30, knowing I'd have to avg around 14mph to get to the start for 6. The wind put paid to my plan of riding easy all day as I had a power test to do at the gym Monday, and needed to be fresh. There was a time when I thought I'd arrive with ten minutes to spare, but I was dreaming. I reached the A4 roundabout at six, and was saddened on exiting it to see a sea of cyclists heading the other way. At least there were others late setting off. no time to eat my brekky (a choccy spread sarnie, although I'd had a couple of shortbreads on the go).
At 6:10 I set off, alone, but thankful I wasn't into the wind. I got overtaken by a few faster (and I hope younger) cyclists. I remember the rain started again after 5km, but stopped before I saw the first puncture victim at 10km. Oh no, the "P" thought was in my head, but at least I was carrying a new spare tyre and three (I had two punctures on my last 200) inners. The first test was the climb in Finstock, and I thought back to the time Ian and I drew to a halt in the snow on it. I had a long wait for a GWR train at a crossing, and coulda eaten my sarnie (the tandem/recumbent couple broke out the flapjacks). I was caught by an older man (on a lighter looking bike with fewer supplies though) I'd met on the dean and other rides before. I wanted to call him Ricki Goode, but I knew it wasn't him. It was nice to have someone to chat to, and I remarked how different this section we were on to Stow looked so different in the daytime, as I'm on it at night when I ride to and from Tewkesbury. I lagged just behind him as I caught that sudden gust of sidewind at the junction just below the climb into Stow. Hot choc and a few bites of my sarnie was enough there, as I was dreaming of a café or 'spoons stop. A wait for the loo and taking off the overtrousers that had done a grand job and I was gone (on my own again).
There was some hard climbing (short steep and long drags) which I'd been expecting, and took it easy. I was glad to put Cleeve and Winchcombe hills behind me. Another blast at a crosswinds caught me out slightly, but the worst was the headwind on the open B4211 as the route turned towards Newent. Does anyone else remember the ripped plastic sheeting on the field of agricultural frames, blowing frantically? I headed straight for the Good News café in Newent, thinking a stop there would be quicker than 'spoons in Chepstow (and I wanted a sit down and hot food right now!). Standing in the queue was the first time I'd looked at the control times. I got my receipt showing 12 mins in hand. The server said food would be 10-15 mins. I shared a table with another Audaxer, and hopefully didn't worry her when I said there was a long hill out of Newent, and I had it in my head we might be climbing Yat Rock (another Audax). It was gone 12:30 and still no food. I was confident we'd make up time on the next section, as the Forest of Dean would shelter us. The Beans on toast arrived, and I ate faster than I would normally. We both went outside but she said not to wait. I think it was 1pm now (40 mins after control closing).
I felt good on this section to Stow (and the little climb out of Newent got confused with another). I stopped to take a few pics en route (have forgotten how to put them on here). The Parish of Little Dean was a picture. Lots of ups and downs and beautiful scenery until the exposed high up sections before the drop into Chepstow. I looked at my watch whilst waiting at the lights on the old bridge and my heart sank seeing I was just out of time. I thought I'd been riding so well (must stop taking pics). Straight to Tesco where I was told the atm was rcptless. the older chap from earlier was there (milk again?). I got a yazoo then looked for batteries (the four pairs I brought weren't lasting). 17 mins out of time, although the Brevet said 139km and I was on 146 or something. No time to waste, so off to Malmesbury.
Up the hill, to the very top this time (for a change, and a better view of the bridge). I'd used the right side cycle path two weeks ago, so knew about going under it. I've had to lean into the wind before on it, but that was harder, and my upper arms ached after. Now I wished I was on the Rough Diamond (not done it yet), as that route follows the estuary towards Gloucester. I can't remember when it started raining again, but it meant the Somerset monument climb was wet, and I was hoping I wouldn't get wheel slip whilst out of the saddle. I was cold and upper body wet by Malmesbury (my Gore jacket might need to retire), and sheltered with others near the co-op (rcpt 11mins in hand). I drank and ate more of my sarnie (still regularly eating shortbread on the bike).
Set off alone again but kept meeting and chatting to others. I was chatting to someone when the rider in front said something like "I know that dulcet voice, is that Ritchie?". I rode alongside, recognising the chap, and remembered he was another Ian. We chatted awhile, even up the climbs. Found the Marlborough info control (after I'd got it into my head it was in Rockley), and went on alone to Membury, as I was longing to be inside, and change some clothing. No hot food at the garage there, and that was all my taste buds felt like, so I just had a mocha, a sit down with others, and put my spare base layer on (took a while peeling off and putting on wet clothes). The loo hand dryer was useful.
Set off alone again, but again I found people to chat to on those dark, remote looking roads. I was amazed at the sight of the church in Buckland, all lit up, and so I took a pic with the flash on (didn't come out well though). Someone caught me at the Bampton info, and we rode together. On my previous three Deans I'd ridden back through Oxford, but the A40 cycle path sounded interesting. I was ahead of him and just behind two others in Eynsham, when I decided to go straight on at a roundabout to get onto the A40 earlier. They all went right. The so called cyclepath was more like a footpath the council had decided to put shared user signs on. I saw the others at the lights, and they were heading to get onto the outward route. I almost got on their wheels when I heard my front tyre flatten whilst coming off the cycle path. only around 6km from the finish! After I swapped tyre and inner my dynamo wouldn't come back on. A quick wire jiggle and it was sorted, but when I rode on I knew my rear tyre felt softer. I joined the queue outside the garage (I'd hoped Starbucks would be open 24hrs now), held up by Ian asking the cashier to look for toothpaste
I got my rcpt with 47 mins to spare. Ian did ask if I had everything before we said 'bye (I'd commented on the rear tyre).
I left looking forward to no headwind home (if I had a tailwind, I was too tired to notice). I was going slower than I'd have liked (tyre pressures and trying to do it as a recovery ride), and I was cold again. My rear inner gave up at Ambroseden, and I stopped under a streetlight to change it, getting the guilty flint out aswell. After pumping up, I was shocked to see it go down again. The replacement had a patch, but I'd checked it before bringing it. On checking, the hiss was coming from the patch, so onto my third and last patched inner. I always used to carry two unpatched ones, but now I have loadsa patched ones in the garage, not getting used. The last one stayed inflated, and so I set off again, having lost maybe 30 mins. I counted down the villages until Winslow (9 miles from home), where I felt I could just walk the rest of the way if I had another puncture (I was carrying a repair kit though), or wake up my wife with an early morning call and ask her to drive out with another bike. No more mishaps though, and I arrived home, shivering, after 4:30am. I was still shivering when I awoke in the bath an hour later!
I think whatever the weather, the Dean is a challenge, and this one felt like the hardest Audax ever.