Off down on Friday night to Devon for the Tour of Exmoor ([url]http://www.tourofexmoor.com[/url])
I'd selected the full 97mile route with 4000m of climbing
, didn't seem much point going all that way and just doing half a ride. 
Up and out on Saturday morning and off to the HQ at Wimbleball.
Weather looking good, dry, sunny and light cloud.
Pretty small field for this one though, not sure where everyone else is today.
Starting times from 8.30 till 9.00 so I roll up ready to set out just after 8.35. A few small groups and the inevitable string of 'mechanicals' at the side of the road for the first few miles.
Don't know the roads or route but signposting is excellent with plenty of intermediate "straight on" signs to let you know you're still on the right route. Just seem to keep catching and passing groups, given the number I've gone past there can't be that many more in front - had been hoping to find a decent group to ride in.
About 25miles in suffer first stupid problem as I bunny hopped over a cattle grid (there are lots) to avoid slowing down. "Twang" and my left calf muscle seizes up with the action. So spend a mile or so pedalling one footed shaking my leg. Back on the pedals and it feels ok now, but won't try that again.
Two big climbs on this one at Porlock and Lynton. But I don't know the roads so am vaguely aware of the distances they are at.
After the first feed stop at Exford got into a small group and rode together for a little while, mainly uphill.
Left the first group after a while and chased down another group of riders up ahead, steady progress not very tidy group work though and.... we hit a descent weeeeeee....
Tucked down. 50mph. Bendy. Windy. Errrrrrrrrrrr. aahhh. trying to balance brakes on the hairpin corners. back wheel skips out a few times.
bloody hell that corner was a bit tighter than I expected. nearly ended up on other side of road. and onwards. and er. that coach in front has got stuck on the bend.I'm full on brakes and the coach is getting closer and closer. not sure I'm going to stop in time... consider putting my arm out in front to stop... but just come to a halt with about a metre to spare!!
The coach is taking the full width of the road so toddle along behind for a bit as a few other riders catch up and have a bit of a chat.
*Very* pretty ascent now, road going up and looping backwards and forwards up through a toll road.
up up up
up
drop the group at the bottom and churn away.
one of the group catches me and scampers off, but I'm happy with my pace.
Over the top and now a steady ride along to the next climb.
Now is this the second climb? seems pretty steady but it's going on for a long time. Down the gears and try to keep the cadence a bit higher, the group from before comes back together again as we climb together. Finally good to have a group to keep a consistent pace with going uphill, hit the top of the moors and into a nasty headwind so pressed on at the front, peeled right for someone to come through..... glanced over shoulder to realise I'm completely on my own now. again. How the hell did that happen? oh well, head down and onwards I go.
Slow down to navigate a highland cattle that's standing in the middle of the road!
Second feed stop right on the top of the moors, and I've just run out of water. Stop and stretch as a few other riders pull into the windswept stop. Loads of food laid out, but I just have half a sandwich and half a litre of water. Topped up, quick stretch and off for the last bit.
Last 10 miles are *utter* hell, just constant grinding and steadilly upwards. I feel like I'm going slower and slower, although I am passing a few people - I must be passing riders on the shorter routes now. Have sight of another rider I'd been catching for a while and try to close the gap - he appears to be suffering as much as I am but the distance between us stays about the same.
A small group of three cruises past, I say hello, they completely blank me.... notice from the colour of their chips that they're just on the short route. Feel smug and superior. miserable ****s.
Pain. slight dip. relax. pain. etc.
And there's the finish! Got back with a time of 6h3m. A bronze apparently.
Hmmm not sure about these time bands that was a lot of effort for a bronze. Slightly disheartened at that, I thought i'd been doing a pretty good pace considering the 4000m of climbing.Final times and results posted, and I got around in 5th place, 6 minutes off the lead. Everyone got Bronze.
So rather pleased with that and feeling much better about my performance now.
That was an absolutely stunning route. Naturally the glorious weather helped, probably a little bleaker in a blowing gale and lashing rain!
Now then is doing an evening TT on tuesday wise.... ahem (it wasn't).
