Essex sportive - 3 June 2007

[adrian]

Here's a link to the website for anyone that hasn't seen it on Sean's '2K' thread:

http://www.kilotogo.com/soyouthink.htm

[Mike I]

Mrs I has booked us in to visit the in-laws this weekend, so I can't do this one. But, since they are in Braintree, I might be able to nip out to give you a cheer after about 80 miles or so.

I fear with all these miles you're going to give me a good kicking on the Dragon Ride. Good luck.

Mike

[adrian]

Thanks, Mike. We'll look out for you.

[adrian]

This was a thoroughly enjoyable and successful excursion.

The course was neither excessively long at 107 miles, nor in any way hilly (think clubrun without the Box Hill detour) but this did mean that there was little or no recovery time and made for a pretty hard-working day.

Apples and I (the sole ACC representatives on the day) started off in the first group together. I stuck with him for the first hour or so but the man was riding like someone who hadn't been let out for weeks and I had to let him and a few others go. Still, the first hour had gone by and taken 20 miles - and most of the climbs, such as they were - with it.

I joined up straight away with an group of five and stuck with them for the next couple of hours or so. Gradually this was whittled down to three until the penultimate feed station/checkpoint at Danbury, where we latched onto a likely, lively group and averaged about 22 for the next hour or so. By now we'd gone as far east as Maldon, having started at Epping.

(We turned back inland at Goldhanger - sadly, without a view of the mudflats, one of my favourite parts of the country and one I hoped we'd linger in for a little longer. Anyone who's seen the Bill Nighy film The Lawless Heart - or been there themselves, of course - will know the landscape I mean. As it was, it was Constable country all the way once out of Epping Forest, so not too shabby.)

Despite being aware that the miles were ticking by rapidly, I couldn't keep this pace up and had to sit up with a couple of others for a bit. For the next hour or so I felt decidedly ropey, but eventually the last control point came with 24 miles to go.

Here we joined up with two lads from Wimbledon who were training for, and veterans of, the Etape. They'd ridden up on the morning of the event and planned to ride back. The five of us worked together well - we were all knackered and a bit hot and bothered, but pleased to have come through well on a hard ride.

With three lengthy-ish food stops included, my total time start to finish was 6hrs 14mins (riding time 5:50-ish) with an average of 18mph. I'd never felt that great all day and had a few wobbly spells, so I was happy enough with that. The results aren't posted yet so I don't know how that rates in the general scheme of things, but I do know that Apples played a blinder and finished well under six hours with a very good average speed.

So a great day out in perfect weather - hot and sunny but with a nice breeze. Didn't get to put on my NC gilet, but there'll be other times

Well done to Apples for a great ride and also thanks for the door-to-door lifts. Shame Sean couldn't make it after his weightlifting woes on Saturday.

By the way, as we drove home, we didn't catch up the two Wimbledon riders until Elephant & Castle. Fair play to them and to the cyclist v the motorised vehicle user in general.

Edited for typo: Essex > Epping

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

[quote]Apples played a blinder and finished well under six hours with a very good average speed.

[adrian]

How now, Apples - what say you? Don't let PT take all the credit!

[quote]
richard appleton 05:36:27
Adrian Ashworth 06:13:47
Sean Hogan 00:00:00 DNS

[Richard (Apples)]

Yeah they haven't sorted the times into long /short ride yet.

I put it all down to riding carbon fibre / shimano

[Brian Nolan]

great write up Adrian - and well done to you 'n Apples for doing a very good ride ! seems like you are getting really keen on this sportive lark !

cheers,
brian

[adrian]

Cheers, Brian. Tell me again how keen I am after the Dragon Ride (especially if I don't manage to procure a compact between now and then)!

Hope your preparations are going well - see you on the line in Bridgend if not before.

[Richard (Apples)]

Yeah , Adrian pretty much covered it in his write up . It was a great day for cycling with beautiful weather and great scenery