Yeh done this yesterday. In a word: BRUTAL!
Most of the climbs would be a challenge in their own right but collectively they are an absolute pig. Honister is downright nasty but you are still quite fresh at this point. It is just a grind from then to Hardknott. I had the rawhide tune going through my head for about 30 miles "rolling rolling rolling".
Right Hardknott, after 95 miles - borderline torture! I had a compact with a 27 on the back and it was a challenge to keep the bike upright. So many people were walking at this point but i managed to the top without that ever being a possibility. The chimp in my head defo chimed in with a few "you know, you could just get off for a breather you know". Wee bugger! There were plenty of silly descents (in the wet!) too but Hardknott and Honister were two of the worst. Hardknott probably because of the condition of the riders by the time they reach the descent. Think i averaged 13-14mph down it which gives an indication of the mindset there. Super steep!
Wrynose is not that bad a climb but it is steep in sections and is a complete mind f*ck as you are quite convinced that after Hardknott life will be relatively simple. Not so. Another grind. After the descent it is quite rolling and is by no means flat, yet another grind. By the finish the legs, and arms, and everything else, hurt like buggery! I've never had a sore back on the bike either but Hardknott, bent over to keep the front wheel down, sorted that for me. Bloody throbbing! No wonder some people have to walk.
Anyway, official time was 7 hours 24 mins which puts me in first class. It puts the "elite" riders either on a scooter or on EPO!!! It puts me in the top 10-12% or so which i am very happy about having not ridden any of the course before BUT, some guys were putting out times of just over 6 hours which is insane!
Some thoughts during and after the event:
1) A compact, a medium cage and a 32 tooth cassette will be the minimum requirement should i ever return.
2) Sweet Moses use the feed stops!!! Ran out of water with 15 miles to the next station and about 70 miles in.
3) Don't try this on a mountain bike, like several people i spotted were keen to do.
4) People need to REALLY take care on the descents. Way too many were throwing caution to the wind and flying down, in the wet! Not clever. The result was quite a few crashes and it also puts others at risk.
5) The guy that passed me at the bottom of Hardknott descent over the cattle grid came down super hard. Hope he's okay. Sounded horrible. Possibly airlifted.
6) The guy i passed a mile or so after Hardknott - he was throwing up everything he had eaten for the day and some of it was even dangling from his nose! You have my sympathies. It wasn't pleasant.
7) Doing this event once is more than enough! Probably see you there next year.
Made it to the top in one effort but I could have sold the girlfriend for a triple.
