Firstly a big thankyou to Huw for promoting this ride and providing loads of helpful information
As a lot of people have mentioned already , everyone was expecting to get completely soaked ,and as I arrived at the start I was worried I didnt have enough layers on and nearly rode back to my B&B for another jacket
As we rolled over the timing mat to the strains of what I imagine the youth of 1930's Germany used to do physical jerks too,
the rain stopped and the weather got steadyly better until the sun eventually came out.
For the first hour or so I felt pretty good and the group I was in was moving along at a comfortable pace with plenty of riders taking turns on the front.
I was really enjoying myself
Going up Bwlch the first time was fantastic and we were passing people the whole way, over the other side and the decent was fast and furious with some riders coming past me on the straights and then me passing them on the bends
.
I think it was just after I'd passed the point where the route split that things started to get weird. My nether regions started to go numb and the only way I could get the feeling back was to keep getting out of the saddle.
Obviously I couldn't ride the rest of the way standing up so I had to grin and bear it . It was strange cos I kept thinking I had a puncture as the back wheel felt floaty .
Anyone else ever had that
As I came up to Bwlch for the second time I was feeling terrible and had to grind up at about 6mph , my spirits only raised by riders who were in a much worse place than me , one bloke was bent double having a good old puke
When I got to the top some people had stopped to put on jackets but I was too knackered and the decent wasn't that cold anyway.
I picked up a couple of people at the bottom and rode for a while in a smallish group and was looking forward to the last 10 miles which loads of people had been saying was "all down hill"
Then the sting in the tail , just as I thought I was coming into the home straight they send you off across miles of bloody scrubland with some cheeky little up's just to finish you off .
Anyway once back onto the main road towards the finish I was joined by Hal and we rode over the welcoming bleep of the timing mat at the finish together.
It was great to see so many ACC's at the finish
I was well pleased to come in under 7 hours . Next time though Huw can you get your Mum to pack an extra sarnie for you as I see you came in [size=150]1 second [/size]ahead of me
I'd like to add that I thought the organisation was smooth the route was great , the signage unmissable the marshals very helpful and the energy gel in the goody bag at the end very tasty.
See you all at Grenwich
