I had foolishly agreed to ride from Dundee to York with a friend who
was doing it as a sponsored ride.
So, buoyed by my recent ride to the York Rally, and a couple of
training rides of at least 20 miles, we set off, most of our kit in a
support vehicel but being an audaxer of sorts I had a saddlebag with
almost everything bar a gas welding kit in.
Lesson 1. Agree a good route first. Do not follow the triathlete who is
just popping down to Edinburgh and likes the tour of the hilly Fife
coast. From Kircaldy to the Forth bridge the air was turning bluer.
2. Drink more. and more still. By the time we got to the Crammond Brig
I was feeling poorly. Fortunately a short rest and lots of liquids
meant I got through this rough patch. NCN1 was the location of our only
puncture. Changed the tube but in pumping it up my friend managed to
break the valve stem. Air pressure kept it in place till the meadows
when it let go so we repaired to the EBC for a spare.
3. The borders are really nice. After the ride to Galashiels on A7 we
turned left and pootled to Kelso, which is a picturesque old market
town on the Tweed. As time was getting on we stopped for the night at
185km for the day (115 miles) but about 30 short of where we had
intended to be. 22.5 km/h rolling average speed, so not too bad.
4. An old B&B with rooms ovrlooking a cobbled square populated by boy
racers doesn't auger well for a good nights sleep.
5. Northumberland has hills. Day 2 saw us follow the Tweed to
Coldstream and south to Morpeth. There are some killer hills that took
all my mental fortitude to get up. Knowing that the first stop would
only lead to more, I resolved to not stop, and despite all the road
could throw at me I managed that.
6. On to North Shields, navigating by road signs as we didn't have a
map. It was at this point that My friend was punted into the kerb by a
car who didn't stop. No harm done as he rolled on the grass verge but
upsetting none the less. The passenger ferry over the Tyne is nice.
7. On to Sunderland. I stopped to get some water a t a fish and chip
stall on teh seafront and the girl took umbrage at being presented with
a scottish tenner. Still took it though..
Sunderland was as uch fun as ever, then the ups and downs through the
collieries, includign th every long run down through Easington?. And
Hartlepool. Pushing the speed up for the dual carriageways and
roundabouts, we were cruising at around 20/21 mph.
8. There must have been a headwind. After the joys of Hartlepool it was
the long flat slog across Teeside. We'd decided to stop at the
transporter bridge so it turned into a bit of a TTfest, pleased to be
able to still be pushing 18/19 into a (light) headwind after 100 miles
though that dropped dramaticaly on avery undulation. 115 miles for the
day, cumulative 369km at a rolling average of 24.5 km/h.
9. Stopped at Yarm. English pubs are smoky.. Woke up this morning
feeling rough, too much sunburn and too many miles. Got dropped off at
Darlinton to get the train home, leaving my friend to complete the last
stretch to York alone.
10. Going back to bed for a quiet lie down.. Got blisters on my hands
and feet, chafing as expected, and surnburn on my face and arms. My
legs ache so stairs are interesting.
I had thought of doing a 300. I think some training might be a good
idea first, though I now know I can just about roll out of bed and do a
200. I'm not convinced that anything under 200 requires any great
fitness, just good technique.
...d