UK Etape Repotage.

[Richard (Apples)]

After all the worries about poor organisation I thought that went pretty well.

Rode over to Grenwich Park with Adrian and a friend of his, and after struggling for 5 mins to get the backing of my sticky number lobbed my bin bag in the truck and rolled over to the start.

I was sure we would see loads of ACC yellow but maybe the rain jackets were causing problems so we didnt meet up with any other Agreeables.

Once in the start area there was no going back and we got to the front quickly where a lovely young lady with a microphone told us she was there to help us all get off .

We didnt see anyone at the park gates so off we went.

It was a sedate pace for the first few miles with loads of traffic lights which most people were stopping for .

Once we got out of town things quickened up and groups started forming . Although even I could spot the riders not used to being in a group as there were quite a few dodgey manouvers going on.

I cant remember how far into the ride it was when I heard " Allo Mr Apples " and Hal and Toby came cruising past in a group of a dozen or so with Toby seemingly organising the rotation. I jumped on and rode T&O with them for quite a way .

Then I realised they had gone off the front with a faster lot and I gave myself a good kicking trying to get back to them. I got back on but couldn't stay with them for long as I'd "genied" my box of matches and suddenly felt crap.

I think I rode the next 40 miles or so on my own into that headwind and so stopped for a while at the last feed station , which, one of the ladies told me , had been put on by the locals as the official food lorry had had an accident , so well done them .

After that stop and with 20 miles to go I was feeling much better and teamed up with 2 lads, one a tester, and we started flying along behind him , he seemed quite happy on the front and took us all the way to Canterbury where the poor sod died up the slight incline to the finish

Went over the line where the family Apples were waiting for me and I was very glad it was over.

I saw Hal and Toby tucking into some grub (fantastic time guys) , then saw Paul T and Carl and Adrian , Then it was off to the pub for lunch

A great day out , see you all soon

[Tamar]

Brilliant! Well done all. Sounds like a great day out. Some top times too.

[Jonathan B]

What a great ride, this was my first proper sportive and definitely not my last but don’t tell my legs.

I started with the main group however due to the mixed range of paces the group soon spread out other the course and I was mainly riding by myself, however I always managed to run into other agreeables at the feed stations.

For the first half I was going well and the miles were rolling past. It was at the 60-mile mark that I started to wavier a bit mentally. The distance on my computer just didn,t seem to want to move into the 70s and felt like I was going hard but not making any progress. This coupled with the fact that I would keep over take other riders just to have them come back past me again a few minutes later. However they were probably thinking the same.

At the 80-mile point I found that I was starting to go physically and took a longer stop at Tenderton to properly refuel and stretch. It was here that I bumped into Carole and Nick and decided I needed to ride with a group and wait to get my second wind.

After the next feed stop at Arlington I found my energy levels had returned so struck out on my own again. The final large hill was a bit of a struggle but seeing the sign at the top “10 miles to go” the knowledge that I was so close to the finish spurred me on. The last 10 miles really seemed to fly past as I tried to make up for lost time early. The terrain helped me to keep a consistent high speed all the way to the end where it was great to be meet by the cheering crowds.

Looking at my computer the time was 6:45 with an average of 17.5 however my official time is nearly an hour longer. I guess the feed stations stops took longer than I thought. On the plus side I managed to finish the race with more go gels than I started with as I always grabbed a large handful at each stop. On the downside if I had eaten more of them perhaps I wouldn’t have flagged so much half way.

All in all a great day out and good feeling of achievement despite the early start and heavy rain at the beginning.

[Toks]

[quote="adrian"]Matt Seaton of The Guardian - 5:33! Can this be right?

[Brian Robinson]

Quite a tough day in the saddle for me. Started with Steve B, Phil F and Stef. We headed off just after 7am and unfortunately myself and Steve lost Phil and Stef quite early on. I'd never seen so many punctures on the way out of London.

Someone had said that the route was like London to Brighton but I found it a bit too lumpy for my liking, having to dig deep at anything more than a gentle drag. Steve was riding strongly and I was really having to push it just to stay on his wheel. I remember he asked me after about 20 miles what my heart rate was, I was at 85% and he was at 70% MHR, nuff said. He had to slow down after most of the lumps so I could catch up again.

As mentioned in other reports there didn't seem to be any large groups forming, from my perspective they were like mirages in the desert. I could always seem to see a group up ahead yet by the time we arrived at the back of the supposed group it had all but disappeared.

Just as we were coming out of the 3rd feeding station we saw Phil and Stef coming in so we decided to wait for them. We also bumped into Mark L who waited with us. We all rolled out and stayed together except for on the lumps where I was continually shelled out the back. Farthing Common was a tough final slog and I had to force myself to pedal the last 10 miles into Canterbury by which time Steve, Phil and Stef had long disappeared in TT mode.

All-in-all a good day but just missed out on getting under 8 hours. Official time 8.00:03. I reckon about an hour was spent at the stops so probably a shade over 7 hours for me on the road.

Just to say congats to all the ACCers and what an impressive set of times from Toby and Hal through to the likes of Andrew G. I've got some work to do!

Bri

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

Starting off, though the ACC gruppetto would stay together, but none of it, once out the starting gate, Hal, Mat, Toby and Rob Cwere flying, so I tagged along with them, catching and passing a grup in front of us every couple of minutes or so. I asked Toby(?) if they intended to keep that pace up all the way and he replied that later on they would "crank it up" I was comfortable on the flatter bits but the effort wa beginning to tell on the climbs, where my heart rate was getting dangerously high just hanging on to them I eased back, and got back to them a couple of times on the other side, but was reallt putting in too much effort to maintan for 6 hours. Chapeau guys, you really deserve it

I kept moving up through groups, and soon realised that I was doing nearly the whole route by myself as none of the groups were quick enough. A group containing a Dulwich paragon rider (I'm sure he's a 1st cat) overtook and I hung on to them for a while, until the climb out of Tonbridge when I lost contact. Carried on my solo ride until about 20 miles to go. Got together with 3 riders through and off. As we overtook people they jumped on and the group swelled to about 30 including Rob C who we had picked up along the way, and didn't quite hang on to the finish (I won the sprint in from the group )

My finish time on computer was 5:59:50 !! Honest, just under 6 hours. Average 19.1, mostly alone. Only one quick stop for water and traffic lights, so actual time probably around 6:10.

At least I beat Huw

[CaroleH]

You missed me on the official results!!!!

Official time: 7:55:07 (I think)

Ride time: 7:02!!!!

Carole H

[Tamar]

Carole that's a fantastic time. I'm so impressed.

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

Jon Avery made it all the way this time. Well done......where were you Sean

[Dombo]

A great day out, although at 07:58:30 point to point and 07:15 on the bike speedo slower than I expected and only marginally quicker than my toil around the Dragon Ride. Traffic jams and food stops did for me.

Having arrived well before my appointed start time, I joined the throng being entertained by the babelicious pro rider Emma D-J who so effortlessly dropped me at the Bwlch summit on the Dragon Ride. Then came the off and a brisk ride through Greenwich and its picturesque environs, latching onto various stronger riders as we headed out of London.

First feed stop was a little early, and followed after 10 miles by another where I scarfed down some malt loaf, sadly lacking butter, filled the bottles and watered the nettles.

Sad to say that after 120 miles I still have no idea where we were at any point, being focussed on the wheels or road ahead. I know it rained at 30-odd miles near a castle by a river just before a short savage climb that had a few people walking. Many on smarter bikes and looking more the part than me in my mtb shoes astride the Lemond.

Then it was more climbing up some lanes and interesting descents in blinding rain. By this time I was effectively on my own, catching tows whenever fast individuals or groups passed me, ever wary that the discipline and bike handling/awareness of our club runs was often lacking.

The halfway point was a welcome sight, especially as I had somehow thought the ride was 120 miles and speedo now showed only mid-50s, then came more hills and foodstops. Interestingly, although I passed many riders on the hills, a lot of them caught me downhill and on the flats, so my technique or lack thereof definitely needs working on.

Then some pretty, but traffic-clogged villages where the locals had kindly come out to cheer us on. One narrow downhill stretch of Somewhereorotherhurstden High Street in particular should prove a laugh for the pros next Sunday, with speed bumps along its length.

Some kind folk at Altingdon (20 miles to go) had set up stalls with water and fruit loaf, most welcome before the final stretch. This I could now relate directly to my commute from Coulsdon to Canary Wharf, ticking off the miles with imaginary points on my route; the Ponds of Thornton Heath and the rolling hills of Streatham and Brixton the equivalent in my imagination of pretty Kent villages in distance if nothing else.

Finally came a fast straight downhill to Canterbury for 10 or so miles, only a bee flying into one of the vents on my helmet serving to take the edge off my excitement.

De-hatting at 30mph, waving helmet around to release said bee and then re-donning headgear, all while controlling the bike one-handed, would have been worthy of Jacques Tati or, for my younger readers, Mr Bean.

Composure regained I caught some other riders and our mini-peloton rolled into Canterbury, pleased to be waved through a red light by a couple of that city's finest, but nevertheless wary they may be seeking to fill that day's quota of RLJ-ers en bloc by simple entrapment.

The final stretch was lined with well-wishers, then a quick double bleep, off with the chip and onto the bus, with 100-odd grand's worth of bikes bouncing around in the back of the following truck.

Definitely on for next year, and perhaps even the Real Etape. But when I'm much older so I have an excuse for a slow time.

Early to bed. Into work:
"How was your weekend? Do anything exciting?"
"I rode Stage One of the Tour de France"
"Oh".

[Andrew G]

Excellent read Dombo.

BTW the Castle/big drag hill is Tonbridge. There's a fast 10 TT course that starts at the top of that hill (doesn't go down it though ). It makes for quite a funny sight watching people wrestling full on hardcore TT bikes with disc wheels and huge gears up it.

[Toks]

[quote="Lance's thong"]You missed me on the official results!!!!

Official time: 7:55:07 (I think)

Ride time: 7:02!!!!

Carole H

[Andrew G]

I though Wrighty would find it hard going. I read an interview with him where he said he just hadn't realised how hard cycling is. He WAS NOT looking forward to doing the first week of the Tour with Geoff, but said he'd do it for the cause as his pain doing it was nothing compared to others.

I was having a pizza at the finish when they said he'd got to half way! Bet he wasn't quite as bouncy as normal at the finish.

[adrian]

[quote]BTW the Castle/big drag hill is Tonbridge.

[Dombo]

Yes, somebody said it was Rochester. Climb was very short but around 16-20% and through housing, topped out at a T-junction with a street lined with houses on the right and a nice, 6 foot plus concrete wall on the left