Should add .... my riding on Zwift helped today. They started us in groups of 10-15, 3-5 mins apart ... the group behind me was a club of 30 or so riders so I figured that some of them would form groups and ride together. So my plan was to try to get over the first lump which was about 14km (up to the Westbury White Horse) ahead and when a group caught me the other side then latch on to them.
As they cam past (probably 20km ish) ... I did a little sprint to get in the group and had a nice ride to the first feed station at about 35km. Some of the riders went on, but I topped up water. Started on my own again figuring I'd get caught and do the same again .. was finally caught at Lacock which was about 56km in. I passed a few riders during that 20km, which given I was with the broom wagon both Double Devrills, is quite an achievement for me.
There were 4 of us now and we stuck together until the road signs went missing and we headed the wrong way (as did every one else). We found 3 guys looking a bit lost at 62km, backtracked and now had a group of 7 and we stayed together until the Bath RFC feed station at about 84km. I was ready to leave the food station after topping up water but I stayed with them to leave together which I think ended up being a mistake. Had I left early, had a start, I may have got over the final big climb ahead of them 92-95km and then had a group to ride with to the end. After cresting the hill they were about 100 metres up the road, but I just couldn't close the gap, then legs went as did my free ride to the end.
From then until the end it was just little old me (I passed 4 riders about 3 or 4 miles from the finish) but no one to work with.
Great fun though.
)
That is bonkers!
