A 23:00 start mean't a full day of trying to take it easy. Failed. I
arrive to pick my cycing buddy up in good time, on the drive over I
noticed in my rear view mirror that my front tyre was sporting a bulge.
Damn it, I'd just replaced a Schwalbe Marathon with a part used
Panaracer Pasela that I'd remove last year in readiness for the winter,
trust me to pick the one that was removed prior to the Cambridge ride,
because of the bulge !!! [It was the one with most tread] Thankfully the
Blonde had just bought a new pair of Paselas a week prior so I scrounged
one and methodically made the change.
Off to Tony B.s eating peanut butter and banana sandwiches, a leasurely
drive along the M62. The three of us then gently rolled the 14km to the
start, a car park in Poynton. Ages too early as usual, ready to go an no
faffing required, just standing around. Met a few familiar faces eating
kebabs and baked potatoes, I guess with a late start there are plenty of
take aways open for last minute rav., but kebabs, with chilli sauce, no
thanks.
About 30 riders head out into the night to the sound of cheers and
shouts from the amassed crowds who clearly had been waiting in local
hostalries all evening for this moment. The pace was quite high as
usual, I thought perhaps it would be a slower start at night,. Blonde
threatened to lose some luggage so we stopped, repacked and let the
group go. The three of us pedalled on and soon passed another rider
faffing. He over hauled us then we caught back up with another six
riders whose lights we could see in the distance for ages. They were a
miserable bunch, were not interested in our singing and joking at all.
Two guys eased off the front, I raced up to catch them dragging my
companions along but the pace was a little too high so we dropped back
to the other four. We had to stop again for a shed chain or something so
we arrived at the first control as a triplet just as the main group was
leaving. We kept catching a losing this group all night and all the next
day. The night was dark and cool though with my 5 layers I was gently
perspiring. A 02:00 the 24 hour petrol station was quite busy, we had to
queue for the only lav. as many motorists as cyclist, the one to whom I
spoke didn't say I must be mad to be cycling all night. I think he
believes I was actually riding to Newtown because I needed to go there !
It seemed colder and darker as we set off bound for Dinky's Dinah, no
company on this leg, hardly any traffic, just dark lanes. Navigation was
easy enough, route sheet was pretty much spot on, we arrived easily
enough at 04:00. 40 clicks to the turn, accompanied by the sounds of a
few early birds we rode into the dawn and Wales. Creoso. The road got
choppier as we rounded Long Mynd, no trafic and no increase in
temparature, 3 C the forecast had said. Quick turn around, and back
towards DInky Dinahs Diner, a little busier than before, the same four
riders followed us in, more to eat and off. We were feeling tired, a
long stage to Alsager, Tony was flagging a bit, Blondes rear lamp fell
off and her knee was giving her gyp.!! I feel guilty since I
manufactured the bracket that snapped. Thankfully we'd finish before
darkness. After a feast at Radway Green garden centre with spirits
revived we made the final dash to Poynton. The weather broke and we had
a little drizzle fall on us, not too bad, could have been worse. Final
reciept gathered and the final 14km back to Tony B.s 341km in total, no
real incidents to talk off, Tony kept a count of dead wild life, I
didn;t see the badger though. I saw the live fox and dead cat.