OK, there - I've said it, straight off...
my first DNF. It's an empowering experience!
MSeries and his pal Andy turned up at my house this morning, around 8.30
and we all faffed about a bit prior to setting off on the perm version
of Mr Wigley's Mere 200. I was on fixed, as was MSeries and Andy was up
front on a fine looking Ribble audax bike. First issue at the end of my
street:
MSeries: Do you know where the start is?
TonyB: Yes, no worries. It's Cheadle Drill Hall.
MSeries: No it's not. It's in Woodford.
TonyB: Oh, right-oh, let's think..
<brain fires up, double clicks MentalMap.exe and suffer instant BSoD>
TonyB: Yeah, right.. this way!
<rather long distance ride to start of audax with several navigational
doubts here and there>
At last, the start!! So, 20km on the clock but none off the route. Hmm...
Whatever, the route across Cheshire was brilliant even if the weather
was a little too Mancunian. Andy up front did a sterling navigational
job and set a cracking pace (30kph+ for most of it) yet it was still
11.30 when we got to the first check at Delamere Station Cafe. Following
a rather splendid cheese and tomato toastie we set off again in moderate
rain, cold after the warmth of the cafe but soon warmed on the first
incline.
Cheshire passed by at a good lick, then I struggled up a longish incline
while the boys hared off up the road. Once I crested the rise I set
off in pursuit of my accomplices but they were nowhere to be seen, wow
how fast were those two going? Of course, after two or three miles it
was obvious I'd missed a turning. Bugger. I arrived at a large
roundabout (Broxton) and decided to have a drink and a think. As I was
not actually entered in the audax (never got round to sending off for a
brevet) I decided tht today was to be the Day; my DNF day. Of course,
this was a pretty easy decision as I had neither route, map or clue as
to where I was supposed to be. The man in the garage (Mickey Broxton,
top cafe BTW) was trying to be helpful:
MickeyB: You OK?
TonyB: Well, I'm a bit lost...
MickeyB: Ah, right - where are you heading?
TonyB: er, dunno really...
MickeyB: OK, well where have you been?
TonyB: er, to be honest I'm not too sure... yes, I know how this sounds...
oh well. The coffee was good though. So, head off home ASAP! Then the
heavens open and I lost the will to cycle. The pub looked really warm
and inviting, ohhh... OK so I caved in, sat in the pub for an hour,
drank two fine pints of Pedigree and welcomed Mrs B when she arrived en
auto to take me home. Yes, I know: I'm a lightweight - I'm fired!
Postscript: once home, I sat for a bit considering the liberating
empowerment DNF can provide when there was a face at the window: an
MSeries shaped face! How could this be? So soon? Well, it turns out they
both stacked too, but were man enough to ride back whereas I opted for
the coward's way out and called on the services of Mrs B's sag wagon.