These are my 2 girls waiting patiently
for me to finish at the Glitter Ball!
And so having previously struggled with cycling anything like that far I put in a bit of time and effort training for the ride. Ric had set us a target of 3 hours, talk about not doing anything by halves!
And so I had to push on with the cycling but not before having a couple of wobbles.
My first wobble was to come in May when I went out during the week in what started out as cold but soon became very hot. Daft me set off with too many layers on and ended up after struggling out of Bentham up Slaidburn Road - quite steep those couple of hills. At this stage I didn't have anywhere to store my now discarded long sleeve top so had to tie it around the top tube of my bike - silly, yes, but not much else I could do!
Continuing along this section would have eventually taken me over Lythe Fell which, I've since found out, is quite a climb. It got really hot and then there was a sign saying Road Closed which, looking at the size of the hill in front of me, was some relief! I looped back and then at around 50miles didn't think I would be able to cycle home another 20 odd miles so phoned the missus to come and collect me. Luckily she did! You may think I wimped out and maybe you're right!
My second wobble was when I tried riding Trough of Bowland, Waddington Fell ( steep way ) and then home via Chipping. I covered some 68miles and over 4000feet of climbing. I wondered what on earth I had done when trying to climb Waddington Fell. I admit I had to stop at one point contemplating turning around but then realised I was half way round so plodded on. With a bit more experience under my cycling belt I now realise why I stumbled - lack of food. Plain and simple, if you don't take on board any food, be that energy gels, or beans on toast at a cafe, then your body has nothing to burn except fat - obviously I'm no doctor so don't quote me on that. This was the first time I had experienced Lactic Acid which, if you have never had it, believe me, it flaming well and hurts. Burning legs for 30 miles was incredibly difficult to cope with but what else could I do - phone the missus again?
And so, onto the ride itself. We had been entered as part of the Lancs Daf/Leyland Trucks team hwich set off from Leyland at about 6am. Bikes in the back of a truck ( was it a Leyland ) with sheets of cardboard in between each bike to stop damage, us lot in a coach. Having been dropped off just before 7am, Ric was keen to get started before the mad rush of the more `normal` riders started. I just about had time to take a quick wee in the bushes!
This is us just before the start.
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Following Ric as best I could we followed a quick bunch of lads and passed plenty of slower riders - one was even on a uni-cycle and I have the utmost respect for him even trying it. Now Ric's idea of what we should do was a bit different to mine. I was trying to pace myself, whereas Ric, with no speedo, was going to pedal as fast as he could and if he blew up before the end then so be it! I knew how fast we were going and how far we had ridden but Ric didn't want to know - just keep pedalling he said.
There were plenty of riders who had set off earlier than us and we passed plenty of them. At one point we were even passing cars that were stuck behind cyclists riding 3 or 4 abreast!! A bit scary but hey ho!
Saddo me had estimated our time at Leyland so that my Mum & Dad could cheer us on when we got to the Tank at the roundabout outside Leyland. I was spot on with my timings and felt OK as well. Bonus.
Well, not really. I got cramp going through Penwortham which we think was, again through lack of energy gels and drink. It passed but towards the latter stages around the windy roads of Kirkham it happened again. Ric started to slow down to encourage me but that only lasted so long because I just couldn't keep up with him. In the end, the last 7 very flat miles where against a headwind through Lytham and as soon as Ric dropped to the drops ( bars ) he just left me.
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This is from the front at Lytham - looks like I'm struggling a bit!
All on my own, I couldn't even tag along with a couple of riders who passed me with about a mile to go!
Needless to say, I was shattered by the end. So much so that I almost fell off my bike having slipped on the bars and landing on the cross frame - good job it doesn't need to work anymore!
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Reward for finishing?A small Soreen bar and a crap burger.
Funniest moment - the commentator at the finish line syaing that "these riders are the professional club riders coming in at the moment and here is one in Team GB kit. They'll have all the top bikes and gear" - me, hardly!
My ride stats - http://app.strava.com/activities/12798374
And to make matters worse for me, Ric rode back to meet up with the Bridegroom who was also taking part in this event and he ended up doing around 90 miles that day. Mad fool.............
You can support me and Ric by donating to our charities here :
www.justgiving.com/teams/cyclemadness
Next blog - Cycling Clubs : Cleveleys V Chorley
