Hey well done to Jason! We met on the start-line and when he asked how I was planning to ride I realised I hadn't actually been giving it a thought! But after a few minutes when I saw him shooting off to the front of our 100-riders group which was already far ahead, I realised this was the thing to do in order to be able to ride within a group at decent speed.
It was odd though because even at the front it wasn't that fast, and then soon after leaving them behind you'd come across the back of another starting group, a pattern that repeated itself time and time again (given that we'd started about 45" after the first wave). Often it would be tempting to sit in with them, but you had to just keep going overtaking.
A lot has been said already very accurately about the ride, places and weather - so just a few notes:
- I was staying in Porthcawl which was much nicer than Bridgend (the Italian restaurant there the evening before the ride was good though- I really didn’t need that desert though!)
- like many I had overdressed and was wearing 3/4 bibs, thick wool socks and overshoes, liner + ss jersey + armwarmers, and full-fingered gloves. I was really hot in times especially the feet and could also feel the added weight of the bulky overshoes.
- I didn't stop at the first feedstation, as had a full bag of jelly babies and not even finished the first of my two 750ml bottles. Sweated loads on the next two climbs though, and soon ran out of fluids, which meant I couldn't eat either. Big thanks to Chris who let me have 1/2l from one of his bottles, not sure in what state I'd've made it to the second stop there. I don't want to see another jelly baby until the next 200k ride now. Oh wait this might be next weekend.
- There was a queue for drinks there and when Chris realized he’d gotten some road rash through his shorts after his low-speed fall we waited for him to be patched in the ambulance.
- Also rode lots of it solo in the first half, but after mentioned food stop at about 103km, found myself within a good group of four, taking turns in the drops, great work. At some point one of us, a small, super light guy took his turn in a steep downhill – he was pedaling hard but everyone behind him were having to use their brakes
. We kept overtaking people and at some point some must have latched onto our group, as there were still only four of us taking turns, but when I turned back we were towing at least 15 other riders
A bit like in that certain TdF advert
- When we got to the steepest climb of the race though (after a village), all but the light guy and me fell behind. Stuck with him doing most of the work to the second time up Bwylch, where he slowly gained terrain not to be seen again.
- Lost about 5 minutes fiddling with my saddle bag twice having to stop, it would reverse itself around the strap and end up dangling from the saddle, held only be the safety pin I thankfully used for … safety. Last time was 5 miles from the finish and I couldn’t be bothered to stop again, as was having a good ride with another strong riders I met after stopping the second time. Out of the saddle it would act like a very annoying pendulum.
- Riding time was about 6h15 and average speed 31.6km/h – reflecting the fact that the course was not all that hilly in the end. But a great ride and well marshaled event. Didn't feel great at any point, but not too bad either, except when I was riding without drink.
- drove back early this morning with Hal, and the rain didn't stop for a second almost all the way to London. Lots of it