Getting ready to give it a go... 'Hello Nello'

[coffeejo]

Sun 28th June

Total distance: 59.23 miles
Route: Nello - (according to them, 55 miles - or 100k - it can't be both, and I don't think it was either!! I'm going to go with the number on my 'puter, and allow a bit of variation)
Time: 4.49.30
Av speed: 12.27
Weather: Damp. Windy. However, it could have been worse - though I was soaked to the skin before I even began!
Traffic: Fine - what a difference cycling in a group as part of a big, organised 'event'

I was fine; all the slogging up those monster hills round here in the past few months certainly paid off - I wasn't fast, but I did make good ground going up Long Drag, Cruwys Woods etc, when others were sobbing in despair behind me.

So that's it - all done. Many thanks to all who've cheered and encouraged from the sidelines @jazzkat @coffeejo @hatler @2clepto @Saluki @Racing roadkill among others. You made it a lot easier to keep digging in with the preparations, when at times I might have thrown the towel in.

Well done!

So, what's next?!

 

[Mandragora]

Well done!

So, what's next?!

A lie down :-)

 

[coffeejo]

A lie down :-)

How many feet of climbing did your Garmin come back with? (I know it's not necessarily accurate but just wondering how it stacks up against your training.)

 

[Mandragora]

How many feet of climbing did your Garmin come back with? (I know it's not necessarily accurate but just wondering how it stacks up against your training.)

Not a clue, I'm afraid - I'm a technical numpty, and though the OH offered his 'device' I thought better of it at 7 o'clock this morning, preferring to make a bit of room in the bum bag for more jelly babies instead. (I have a nasty feeling I may have consumed more calories than I burned today, but I won't think about that for now!)

 

[jazzkat]

Well done, It's never as bad as you imagine.
Enjoy your well deserved lie down!

 

[Ian H]

Because Nello, after whom the ride is named, was a restauranteur, the food is something special. I hope you tried the amazing kedgeree at the start. We pootled round the 100. It was certainly wetter than forecast until well into the afternoon.

 

[hatler]

Sun 28th June

Total distance: 59.23 miles
Route: Nello - (according to them, 55 miles - or 100k - it can't be both, and I don't think it was either!! I'm going to go with the number on my 'puter, and allow a bit of variation)
Time: 4.49.30
Av speed: 12.27
Weather: Damp. Windy. However, it could have been worse - though I was soaked to the skin before I even began!
Traffic: Fine - what a difference cycling in a group as part of a big, organised 'event'

I was fine; all the slogging up those monster hills round here in the past few months certainly paid off - I wasn't fast, but I did make good ground going up Long Drag, Cruwys Woods etc, when others were sobbing in despair behind me.

So that's it - all done. Many thanks to all who've cheered and encouraged from the sidelines @jazzkat @coffeejo @hatler @2clepto @Saluki @Racing roadkill among others. You made it a lot easier to keep digging in with the preparations, when at times I might have thrown the towel in.

HUZZAH !! Well done. Now the problem starts. More gear. Another bike. Etc etc.

 

[Mandragora]

HUZZAH !! Well done. Now the problem starts. More gear. Another bike. Etc etc.

You may be right. I drove home this evening thinking 'It's a lovely night - I wonder if I could get out for a quick spin...'

 

[IDMark2]

Well done! You probably actually have everything you need in terms of gear, a bike. But thinking that on the way home tonight means you have the most important bit already, the necessary mind set of a cyclist..'I feel like going for a ride..'

 

[Mandragora]

Video of the ride here: http://www.forcecancercharity.co.uk/videos/the-nello-bike-ride-2015/ I didn't recognise anything from the first 3 minutes of the footage, and then the camera lens got a bit dampish, and it all came flooding back!

 

[Ian H]

Plenty of Exeter Wheelers yellow in the first minutes, including me in the starting pen behind Marc.