Danny Colyer started his ride report for last year's Exmouth Exodus
"Well, that might have been fun on a warm, moonlit summer night. " And
that's almost what we had last night.
General impressions of the ride: cloudy at the start, disappearing to
leave a bit of a sunset; then the moon in view for several hours - low
in the sky, so a friendly presence rather than a source of light; a
couple of hours of complete darkness, nearly getting lost in the
Somerset lanes; dawn, mist rising from the fields; at the end, classic
seaside with blue skies, sandy beaches and sun warm enough to sit in.
Only bit of Danny's description missing was "warm" - I got seriously
cold in the early hours and would have liked winter gloves, but it was
warm last year, and that didn't really help.
At the pre-start ride I met up with Neil, who I ended up riding with
last year (along with Ron, who has given up this sort of riding
because knee problems). We rode together to the end, joining up with
others from time to time.
First stretch to Burrington Combe taken at a fairly fast pace, average
maybe 16 mph. The climb slowed every one down, but I didn't see anyone
walking. Then the descent of Cheddar Gorge. Neil is a good fast
descender. I'm a bit more nervous, there are a few steep sharp bends
that are difficult to assess in the dark. Having ridden it a second
time, I'm amazed there weren't more incidents in the wet last year (I
think there was one). Cafe stop at around 30 miles just above the town
of Cheddar then on across the Somerset levels to the halfway food
stop, again a fairly brisk pace. At one point a large pack built up,
then someone braked at the front for no obvious reason, and the pack
almost came to a halt - bit like driving on the M25 at a busy time.
Met a couple of Stewartry Wheelers at the halfway stop, Simon Brooke's
club.
After the food stop, on through the foothills to Blagdon Hill. A
badger suddenly appeared in front of the rider next to me, he managed
to avoid it. On seeing something black and white on the ground, Neil
behind initially thought someone had dropped something and was braking
to pick it up, then went into the hedge avoiding the badger. No harm
done.
Long climb up Blagdon Hill, the hairpin is a killer if you don't take
it wide. Last year it was full daylight when we were doing this, today
dawn was breaking as we got to the top. Once on top, a long run across
Luppitt Common. This was the worst bit for me last year, rotten slow
road surface, and 800' up, straight into a strong headwind. This year
the road had been resurfaced and no wind, bliss. A group that looked
like a road club came past Neil and me in fine style and I expected
them to disappear into the distance. Then they formed a pack and went
slower than we'd been going. We put up with this for a while, then
when they hesitated at a junction, went past them and with a bit of
team work stayed ahead of them for several miles, partly for fun, and
partly to get to the tea stop before them so we didn't have to queue.
After the tea stop a long descent on a poor surface. I was feeling
seriously cold. Then a lovely stretch to Ottery St Mary with mist on
the meadows and the sun shining. New route from Ottery St Mary, down
the river valley instead of a direct ascent to Woodbury Common, which
I found soul destroying last year - alternating hills I was too tired
for and flat bits with a headwind. The new route is much better, the
valley is lovely, and the climb to the Common done in one go, through
woods with dappled sunlight. The official new route crosses the ridge
and descends through Exmouth suburbia on the route Ron, Neil and I
accidentally took last year. Neil and I opted to turn left and take
the route we should have taken last year, much nicer, rural until a
few hundred yards from the cafe.
I feel part of the tradition of a long ride to the seaside should be a
quick dip in the sea. After a bit of hesitation I did and it was...
very refreshing... but I warmed up quickly in the sun and felt better
for it.
Ride catering excellent: tea and coffee at 30 and 75 miles, pasta for
£2 in a cricket pavillion at 55 miles.
Stats: 104 miles at around 13.5 mph (cf IIRC 10.5 mph last year);
around 9.5 hours elapsed, cf IIRC over 11 hours last year. I reckon
the wind made last year's ride feel about 20 - 30 miles longer. I was
shattered last year, it took a couple of days to get back to normal.
Today my knees feel a bit stressed and it's nice to sit on something
other than a saddle, but apart from that nearly I'm OK, with only
slight effects of missing a night's sleep. Apart from the wind, the
other difference for me was managing my nutrition much better - my
cheese & onion flapjacks were what I needed.
One tandem on the ride, which disappointed me - there hasn't been a
tandem before, and I wanted to be the first one, but my stoker wasn't
keen.
To anyone thinking of doing it next year, I recommend it, it's a good
fun ride with lots of variety. Logistics with a bit of planning really
not that difficult - good train services at both ends.
Rob