As a final preparation ride for the forthcoming weekend's Gran Fondo
Milan - Sanremo, I rode yesterday's "Heart of the Shires" 200km
Audax in Leicestershire.
There I met my match in the shape of a guy of about 50-55 riding a
heavy audax bike complete with oversize map holder and huge saddlebag
who must have been 15 years my senior with varicose veins on his legs
that resembled a relief map of the Alps. I was equipped with a
light(-ish) weight race bike with light wheels and although I would
never consider myself to be an accomplished racer, I was well and truly
humbled when he came to the front after 115 miles and promptly pedalled
me and my mate off his wheel at 21mph.
When we met up with him at the finish (we were the first 3 finishers
with a time just over 8 hours), he explained that 200km is one of the
shorter rides he does, as 600km is his normal fare. We felt a bit
better then ......... until he mentioned that he'd ridden 42 miles to
the event from Birmingham that morning and would be riding back again
fairly shortly.
Living proof that you can never "judge a book by it's cover". I
reckon this guy was the human equivalent of a Morris Minor with an
8-litre V8 engine under the bonnet! Unfortunately I didn't remember
to ask his name, but I consider myself well and truly humbled in his
presence!
Also humbling was the couple who finished just after us on a fabulous
Santana tandem who made light work indeed of the many hills and drags
of the Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire area.
Bronzie