Version of this ride report with pictures at:
http://www.sandbenders.demon.co.uk/cycling/manc100.htm
Manchester 100 ride 2005
The Manchester 100 bike ride is an annual event in September offering 100km
(63 miles) and 100 mile routes. In March Audrey wondered if she was capable
of getting fit enough to do it. Steph responded with the challenge of "If I
can, you can". We could, and we did.
Our scheduled start time was 8am, with what seemed like about a quarter of
the almost 4000 riders entered milling around in Wythenshawe Park. The day
got off to a very bad start when Audrey had a puncture before reaching the
start line, but fortunately that was the only mechanical problem all day.
Our one and only successful overtaking manoeuvre of the day was achieved
just a few hundred yards from the start. There were about three other groups
keeping pace with us, but we were some of the slowest riders out there.
The route started by going from Wythenshawe into Hale Barns, a very
expensive Manchester suburb, inhabited by the least courteous drivers on the
entire route. One driver honked when I took the lane at traffic lights which
were too narrow for her to pass me, so I gave her a cheery wave, which
seemed to infuriate her even more. From Hale Barns we went over the M60,
through Ashley and past the Rostherne entrance to Tatton Park (stately
home). This is a route that Audrey and I have done often on our regular
Sunday training rides, but always in the other direction from Tatton towards
home, after tea and cakes at the hall. The road along the wall of the estate
is long and straight so the cars go rather fast. I'd rather be going faster
down the hill than up it.
By now the riders were quite spread out, so it seemed like we were on our
own, but at each busy junction where there was a few seconds pause to get
across a group of at least 10 cyclists formed in seconds. After going over
the M6 by bridge at Tabley Hill the route crossed the busy A556 just south
of junction 19, and on regrouping at the other side we had our first food of
the day, working on the eat before you're hungry theory. 16 miles of ride
done, and the legs were feeling as fresh as if we'd only just started. Quite
a contrast to our first ride at the beginning of March, when I needed two
hours in the bath to recover from only 13 miles!
Still on familiar territory the route wound past the entrance to Arley Hall
into Great Budworth, sadly too early for the ice-cream farm to be open. Up
to this point the route had been flat apart from one climb in Hale Barns, so
the 1 in 10 out of Great Budworth was a nasty shock. A flat few miles
through Comberbach and Anderton to recover, then it was on into serious
hills in Northwich. The Mossley Cycle Racing Team children's section had the
right idea, peeling off for a cup of tea at a garden centre in Northwich.
Very embarrassing to be burnt off by a bunch of 8 year olds when they passed
us again later. We carried on up and down through Northwich, but the last 20
yards of one steep hill up to a junction were just too much, so I got off
and pushed.
Just outside Northwich the rides split, the 100km riders turning south to
Whitegate while the 100 mile riders continued east towards Norley. The
marshall at this point was telling 50 mile riders to turn, which given that
the distances were 63 miles or 100 miles was not exactly clear. Later we met
one unfortunate woman who had signed up for 100km but got misled by the 50
mile instruction into doing the 100 mile route.
Near Whitegate we met Rob from the Dawdling Doctors cycling group, whom we
ride with once a month. Rob kindly took this photo of us at about the
halfway mark, still feeling quite good, even though the terrain had become
rolling rather than flat. The day had been sunny from the outset - look at
the shadows in this shot - and from here on the temperature was rather
hotter than we'd have liked.
There weren't many opportunities to take photos, as I didn't want to stop,
but here's one of Audrey womanfully cresting one of those rolling hills.
During the day we saw one recumbent trike, one upright Longstaff trike, one
trailer bike and several tandems. Most riders were on touring or racing
style bikes; mountain bikes were definitely in the minority. Every set of
riders who were struggling, whether it was with mending punctures or blowing
up because they'd set off too fast, were on mountain bikes.
Rolling hills soon induced real hunger, so once we were able to find a shop
in Winsford with cold drinks we stopped for lunch and attacked our
sandwiches with gusto. But oh dear, getting back on after even a short stop
was hard work, especially slogging up hills in the heat. It would have been
better to get a bit further to Middlewich where the route flattens out
again, but we were just too hungry to wait. Church Minshull comes to mind as
a place with some particularly vicious hills, where we got to know several
groups of riders who went at around our pace, stopping for breathers at the
top of the hills.
The only official stop on the 100km route was a pub in Middlewich, where we
had a long cold drink. Some shade to cool off at this point would have been
wonderful but there was none around, so I settled for washing my face in
cold water and reapplying sun cream again. The pub was struggling hard to
cope with so much custom; next time we'll follow the example of other riders
and stop at a different one.
Leaving Middlewich heading towards Lower Peover we met a traction engine
slowly puffing its way downhill. No picture because I was more bothered
about getting to the top of the hill, knowing that if I'd stopped halfway up
I'd have to push the bike from there.
On through Byley into Lower Peover and there were road signs for Knutsford,
which is almost back on home territory. Our spirits were lifted by meeting
the Dawdling Doctors out on their monthly run who rode alongside for a
friendly chat for a bit.
When I saw the first road sign that said Wilmslow, I declared time for food
again. We hadn't felt hungry at this point, but I knew I needed some
reserves to get me up the hill out of Wilmslow, so I ought to eat. And after
two bites of sandwich I felt ravenous, so it was the right decision. The
Dawdling Docs passed us while we ate, and then we passed them when they
stopped for a pint. A refreshing cold drink was tempting, but I knew that
getting started afterwards would be painful, so it was better to press on,
having already got past the point of our previous personal best for the
year.
Wilmslow featured the only traffic jam on the ride, at 4pm on a Sunday
afternoon. The ride followed the pre-bypass route of the A34, swooping down
to the station and then back up the hill towards Handforth. My heart sank
when I saw the marshall sat at the turning for the B1566 to Styal. This has
a fast downhill, followed by a right hand bend and then up a short but very
steep hill into Styal. This hill is my particular bugbear, costing me great
effort to get up it when fresh. Could I cycle up without pushing after 60
miles? Well yes, but only by trying every trick I know to take my mind off
the pain and effort. I was motivated by the idea of being able to say I'd
cycled the entire route, having by this point entirely forgotten that I'd
got off and pushed in Northwich.
From Styal it's pretty much all downhill through Gatley, past a group of
three people sat in a drive in deckchairs. Wow, we had spectators. Just a
bridge over the M60, then a bridge over the railway, through Northenden and
we were back at the park.
Audrey's partner Rob snapped the moment of triumph as we crossed the
finishing line, to a round of applause.
This wasn't quite the end of cycling for the day, as there were another 2
miles home from Wythenshawe Park for me. We each did 68 miles, my personal
best for 9 years and Audrey's personal best ever.
Next year, 100 miles?
Extra comments for urc:
Lots of very fit male rears to be seen, phwooar quotient about 80%. (Helen
Simmons is not the only dirty old woman in this group, I'm just less public
about it.)
At one point I idly counted visible panty lines, and came up with a ratio of
about one third, ouch!
The organisation could have been better. Three official stops on the 100
miles, but only one after 40 miles on the 100km is too late for the less
experienced riders. Anyone intending to do this ride take your own food,
carry at least 2 water bottles (can refill at the official stop) and
consider using a different pub that isn't swamped by cyclists.
--
Judge: A law student who marks his own papers.
Henry Louis Mencken
Steph Peters delete invalid from [email hidden]
Tatting, lace & stitching page <http://www.sandbenders.demon.co.uk/index.htm>