fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Well, got up early, didn't sleep too well as a 5.00am wake up was on the cards.
Had to wait for the last minute to leave the house to ride to the Park due to it being so dark with the cloud cover - just got to Wythenshawe Park at minutes before 7.00.
Sharky spotted me and we left at just after 7. Weather was a bit damp, but the rain had eased off (wet further East when I set off). Our group quickly picked up a number of earlier riders as we headed out towards Hale. A nice group of about 16 or so riders had now built up.
Pace was a constant 18-20 MPH (think that was something to do with me sat on the front - sorry folks). As we approached Delamere there were a few steep but short climbs that suddenly stopped all conversation - a quick joke from me had a few laughing "and the conversation stops !" Roads were OK bar a few gravely areas and muddy spots.
As we travelled further south (at about 40-45 miles) I and a number of others overcooked a tight bend - I ended up on the opposite side near the verge - good job there wasn't a car. I think I did about 45 of the 55 miles on the front - I felt fine, so stayed up there as I could see the road better.
Rain held off as we reached Nantwich and the enforced stop. Fortunately the marshalls said we could stop for as long as we wanted, so a quick 10 minutes for water refils and the odd cuppa, and a loo stop.
Sharky came in a few minutes down on our group as one of his mates was a bit knackered, so he had hung back.
As we were getting ready to go, a lad from Edinburgh Cycles joined us - he'd been on his own for most of the 55 miles... totally 'hissed off' as he'd not seen that many riders (other than passed a few)
He mentioned that a Corsa had driven at him at speed, on his side of the road (coming in the opposite direction), with a foam batton - the lad had managed to swerve, but the idiots smacked the lad following on his arm. Fortunately he had the sence to report it to the next marshal, and it was reported to the Police (although not able to get the registration). At the finish, it turned out that the car was stolen, and the lad that was hit was OK, but his arm was swolen.
Our group of 10 or so now set off (a few riders hadn't stopped for long) for the remaining 45 miles. It had now started to drizzel, but no-one bothered with waterproofs due to heat build up.
I continued on the front, with a few of the lads coming up for a stint next to me as we kept the tempo up to Crewe. At this point we joined the 100k route.
Plenty of experienced riders doing the 100k, but you did really have to watch out for those 'non serious' cyclists - bit all over the shop, so our group singled out and rode next to the white line for some time, whilst issueing words of encouragement. Hat's off to the occasional cyclists, some of the bikes were pretty low spec - that's a hell of a long way to ride.....
As we got to Crewe, our group started to splinter on any hills (my fault again - got my fueling right) and I ended up with the lad from EBC. He admitted he was goosed, so sat on, which was fine as I felt good.
We passed a pub in Middlewich which was crammed with cyclists... when the lad from EBC mentioned he had spotted some nice ladies on MTB's......we nearly stopped, but cramp was now setting in if we stopped anywhere - so kept going.
Continued towards Byley, again passing loads of 100k rider, Peover, Mobberley, and Wilmslow.
At 94 miles, some old witch starts beeping the horn of her Mini (new) and gesticulating - well I just tell her to funk off - the other lad wasn't sure if she was encouraging us, but when I geve her the evils at the lights, she was off again.... FFS - we were riding single file, and passing all these wobbly bob's at this point..... Happy to say, the only incident we had.
After Wilmslow was the little hill towards Styal - I'll admit it's not welcome when you are fighting cramps, but we both span up it, rather than honk it. Nice run from then into the finish, other than waiting at lights - cramps again trying to get you.
100 miles is 5.15 so I'm happy ! Plus 20 miles return from home.
Feel totally fine (can't believe it) a little sore, but nothing much.
Thoroughly enjoyable day, laods of friendly cyclinst, and very good organisation.
Get this, big signs at all junctions (90 or so of them) and a marshal at every one - hat's off to Bike Events.... took us down loads of little lanes, only short sections on major roads - brill.
Bike was a total mess, no oil left on chain, clothes filthy.... all clean now, and I'm enjoying a few glasses of wine - think we all deserved that.
Had to wait for the last minute to leave the house to ride to the Park due to it being so dark with the cloud cover - just got to Wythenshawe Park at minutes before 7.00.
Sharky spotted me and we left at just after 7. Weather was a bit damp, but the rain had eased off (wet further East when I set off). Our group quickly picked up a number of earlier riders as we headed out towards Hale. A nice group of about 16 or so riders had now built up.
Pace was a constant 18-20 MPH (think that was something to do with me sat on the front - sorry folks). As we approached Delamere there were a few steep but short climbs that suddenly stopped all conversation - a quick joke from me had a few laughing "and the conversation stops !" Roads were OK bar a few gravely areas and muddy spots.
As we travelled further south (at about 40-45 miles) I and a number of others overcooked a tight bend - I ended up on the opposite side near the verge - good job there wasn't a car. I think I did about 45 of the 55 miles on the front - I felt fine, so stayed up there as I could see the road better.
Rain held off as we reached Nantwich and the enforced stop. Fortunately the marshalls said we could stop for as long as we wanted, so a quick 10 minutes for water refils and the odd cuppa, and a loo stop.
Sharky came in a few minutes down on our group as one of his mates was a bit knackered, so he had hung back.
As we were getting ready to go, a lad from Edinburgh Cycles joined us - he'd been on his own for most of the 55 miles... totally 'hissed off' as he'd not seen that many riders (other than passed a few)
He mentioned that a Corsa had driven at him at speed, on his side of the road (coming in the opposite direction), with a foam batton - the lad had managed to swerve, but the idiots smacked the lad following on his arm. Fortunately he had the sence to report it to the next marshal, and it was reported to the Police (although not able to get the registration). At the finish, it turned out that the car was stolen, and the lad that was hit was OK, but his arm was swolen.
Our group of 10 or so now set off (a few riders hadn't stopped for long) for the remaining 45 miles. It had now started to drizzel, but no-one bothered with waterproofs due to heat build up.
I continued on the front, with a few of the lads coming up for a stint next to me as we kept the tempo up to Crewe. At this point we joined the 100k route.
Plenty of experienced riders doing the 100k, but you did really have to watch out for those 'non serious' cyclists - bit all over the shop, so our group singled out and rode next to the white line for some time, whilst issueing words of encouragement. Hat's off to the occasional cyclists, some of the bikes were pretty low spec - that's a hell of a long way to ride.....
As we got to Crewe, our group started to splinter on any hills (my fault again - got my fueling right) and I ended up with the lad from EBC. He admitted he was goosed, so sat on, which was fine as I felt good.
We passed a pub in Middlewich which was crammed with cyclists... when the lad from EBC mentioned he had spotted some nice ladies on MTB's......we nearly stopped, but cramp was now setting in if we stopped anywhere - so kept going.
Continued towards Byley, again passing loads of 100k rider, Peover, Mobberley, and Wilmslow.
At 94 miles, some old witch starts beeping the horn of her Mini (new) and gesticulating - well I just tell her to funk off - the other lad wasn't sure if she was encouraging us, but when I geve her the evils at the lights, she was off again.... FFS - we were riding single file, and passing all these wobbly bob's at this point..... Happy to say, the only incident we had.
After Wilmslow was the little hill towards Styal - I'll admit it's not welcome when you are fighting cramps, but we both span up it, rather than honk it. Nice run from then into the finish, other than waiting at lights - cramps again trying to get you.
100 miles is 5.15 so I'm happy ! Plus 20 miles return from home.
Feel totally fine (can't believe it) a little sore, but nothing much.
Thoroughly enjoyable day, laods of friendly cyclinst, and very good organisation.
Get this, big signs at all junctions (90 or so of them) and a marshal at every one - hat's off to Bike Events.... took us down loads of little lanes, only short sections on major roads - brill.
Bike was a total mess, no oil left on chain, clothes filthy.... all clean now, and I'm enjoying a few glasses of wine - think we all deserved that.
