A serialisation by arallsopp (starts here)
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Day ‘2′: Tuesday 0418hrs. Ski Hire?

I wake just before the alarm sings out, silence it, and spot a soon to be vacated bit of sofa. I wait. Quietly. Wake no one. Drop in behind the departing cyclist immediately on exit, and grab a much needed hour’s kip. Clock rolls around to 05:15, get up. Sys check says things are OK. Probably got around 3 hours sleep. Self test brain over breakfast with attempt do the maths on arrivals versus closing times for controls on my brevet card.

• 1hr 15mins down at start
• Either out of time, or irretrievably lost at Gamlingay
• 3hrs 51 up by Thurlby
• 6hrs 9mins up by Washingborough
• 6hrs 30mins up by Wragby (short leg)
• 9hrs 37mins up at Thorne
• 10hrs 39 in Coxwold
• 11:25 at Middleton Tyas
• 12:53 up on arrival to Alston.

That’s good. I made time, even on that last leg. If I can keep that pace going, I need only keep about 4 hours in the bag to deal with punctures, zipties, and mechanicals. Assuming nothing too daft, I can take a fairly relaxed breakfast, or better still, grab a sleep somewhere on the way out from Scotland. My legs are probably even fresh.

By the time I’ve processed food and figures, its coming up 0630. Just under 4 and a half hours in the bag. Still safe.

I exit by the side door, noting the sign for ski-hire. Ski-hire? Surely a clear indicator that this is not an intelligent place to arrive by bike…

… continued here.