Well, we're back. When we woke up this morning it was raining and the
fog driving there was crazy but luckily it cleared up by 10-11
o'clock-ish.
The start point was the car park of Rowsley steam railway where we had
a coffee before starting out. Whilst supping our caffeine a lady came
over who was part of the organisation and said in a very concerned
voice:"Have you ridden the course before? There are lots of big hills
you know."
Then my dad told her we'd ridden down Snowdon the week before and she
went away. Chortle chortle.
The ride started on a wee path before joining a road a few hundred
yards later. Then there was a hill. A big hill. I got about 4/5ths of
the way up on Pete's Schlumpf before getting puffed out and deciding to
walk the rest. I got a good deal further up than a lot of two wheeled
types though. Over all I was pretty happy with my climbing today.
At the top pete and I swapped steeds and continued on over rolling,
gentle hills for a good bit longer. Pete knocked the geared goer up a
notch and started feeling the wind in his hair (and the bugs in his
teeth).
Then not much happened for a bit...Roads, rest stop, rising and
returning to various altitudes. I picked up a slow puncture somewhere
along the way which was a bit of a bum. I'd be pedalling along trying
to work out why it suddenly felt like I was riding through snot or some
other slimy substance. Then I'd look down and realise my tyre had gone
all squidgy.
We picked up an escort at the first orange squash/custard cream
station. A guy who was a rolling marshall had been asked to stay with
us, first aid kit at the ready, by someone. Probably our concerned
friend from the car park.
There were loads and loads of other riders doing this. It was a really
fun, sociable day out. I discovered a new unicycling phenomena too
which I have dubbed "the doppler nice one". It's when you're on a big
descent and a two wheeled type zooms past offering a compliment or word
or two of encouragement. nnnnnnnniiiiiiiceone...Whoosh.
After the second rest stop we went onto a disused railway track which
provided me with my first UPD of the day. I was riding El Schlumpfo at
the time; hit a bump whilst not paying attention and found myself
suddenly jogging. My second (and happily final) UPD happened about a
mile further on whilst aboard the good ship Coker. muddy, rocky
descent, foot half off pedal, me on floor. No damage done though.
Pete's Schlumpf really came into it's own today. Mucho ass and dee
sending. The Schlumpf really is lovely for climbing when in 29'er mode.
The mud proved a bit of a problem for the Big Apple but luckily there
wasn't too much of it.
Due to the hilliness of the ride we were keeping pace with the cyclists
pretty well and were overtaking a lot of them on some of the uphills.
Though I have to admit we walked most of the last hill up through
Stanton. But it is a biggie. It's pretty cruel of the organisers to
have put a big hill in the way of the course only a few miles from the
end.
Probably the best moment was being cheered on by hippies who live in
the treetops. At the top of Stanton are some standing stones at a very
old sacred site called Nine Ladies. A nearby quarry wants to dig where
the stones are so there's been a tree top protest there for years. So
far they've been succesful in protecting the site.
The last descent from Stanton was a killer on the knees, 20% in places.
So was pleased that the last bit from there was relatively flat.
All in all 'twas excellent. Will be doing it again next year for sure.
A nice target to work towards could be to try to ride up all the hills
next time.
--
MrBoogiejuice
If quizzes are quizzical what are tests?
Make crumbs not War!
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