My last long ride I think for a while today, felt great no problems, went through 15quids worth or bars and gel and the last 30 miles rode myself to destruction when the group splitted I decided to sit 100m behind the ones booting it off, 22mph into a headwind was tough, when I got back into York my performance went through the floor and I crawled back to Wistow in a tough headwind it felt.
Was amazingly cold and wet up Tan Hill but was an interesting bunch of people, a few people had some guinness, I had half a pint, don't know if it helped me or not, one of which was going to be a rower in the Olympics in 2012, he was surprisingly fast up the hills, he did not look the type of person to be fast, beat me a few times, I beat him a few times hehe, this black guy, first time I've ever seen a black guy on a club run, was a nice guy, he flew on the hills literally into the distance no effort, used to be a sub 4min runner, don't know if that's good or not.
One of the guys got REALLY pissed off with me, I said I think I'm going to hold back on this, so he apparently took it steadier, I felt pretty crap after the lunch stop at Tan Hill and after a lunch stop I never really expect to keep on happily munching hills, but was going up one long windy hill near a firing range not far from Leyburn I was trying to take it easy, and he was really struggling behind me, I was surprised I managed to recover. I don't think his bike helped though he's got a temporary Trek Madone with SRAM Force so he's not used to the gears and the frame is too big so he can't get the handlebars low enough.
Anyway despite not being recommended to do this due to my knee and that I'd be an idiot I'm pretty happy I did do it, my knee gave me hardly any bother, no club run next week due to club race, going back to Manchester soon, winter coming I guess time to take it easy get myself sorted out.
So 165 miles, garmin reports 8,959ft don't know if it's correct, the route was supposed to be 7000 but my extra 22 miles might change it I guess, 8:55:56. Shame it was the same roads back as we came out.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/11782170