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By the way, any word from the Fred Whitton boys, or did they all drown?
I can confirm all the ACC riders finished as we met in the pub on Sunday night for dinner and a couple of celebratory beers
That was the hardest thing I have ever done on a bike
I travelled up to Conniston with two friends from Southborough Wheelers on Saturday morning and we arrived at the HQ at 4pm to sign on and collect our timing chips
After unpacking and putting our bikes together we headed off to town where we met up with Aoden, Maria and Hal .
In a small village like Conniston it was good to find plenty of pubs to choose from and with 800 riders setting off in the morning they were pretty busy .
It had been raining for most of the drive up and was a steady drizzle now. The forcast was saying dry first thing with more rain arriving around midday so we decided to be among the first riders off and start at 6am.
After dinner of pasta and apple crumble I set of back to my B&B for an early night,
The morning came far too quick for my liking and after a couple of quick last minute checks I was spinning my way over to the start where Hal and the others were waiting. There was no sign of Aoden or Maria at this point so we set off.
Amazingly the forcast seened to have got it right and although it was a bit misty and chilly there was no rain.
As the ride progressed, the sun actually came out, and it got quite warm and we were treated to some of the most fantastic views of the Lake and its surrounding mountains
Then we hit the first of the ridiculous climbs
Kirkstone Pass (454m), 5 km at 7.0% (max 25%)
Followed by
Honister Pass (358m), 3 km at 7.9% (max 25%)
Then
Whinlatter Pass (318m), 4 km at 5.7% (max 25%)
All the time I was thinking that the worst was yet to come and when it did I could not believe it .
It was like trying to ride up your stairs
Hardknott Pass (393 m), 2 km at 15% (max 33%)
I was pushing a 39x27 and in places I have to admit I just couldn't turn the cranks over any more and had to walk before getting on for another go.
Then it flattens out and you get a brief restbite before getting to
Wrynose Pass (390 m), 3 km at 5.7% (max 25%)
My legs and lungs were burning, my brain kept saying what the but I eventually made it to the top where someone said "well done mate, it's all down hill from here"
Exhausted and near collapse (
) I'ts then like throwing yourself off a cliff as you drop over the other side of Wrynose.
My arms and fingers were screaming from all the bumps and breaking , you litterally have to hang off the back of the saddle MTB style or you'd go over the bars
The last few miles to the finish were a relief but even then every little up was an effort,
Then I turned the corner into the finish past the cheering spectators , over the line and I'd done it....
I shuffled through the clubhouse to collect my certificate and then on to the FOOD.
I'm very pleased with my time as I managed 7:55 just under 8 hours which gives me a 1st class
I'm coming back next year . I'm gonna break 7:30 and I'm gonna ride that Hardnott Pass right to the top[quote][/quote]