The ride was in aid of Prostate Cancer and I was determined to do a reasonable ride, to work hard despite the weather so I could justify the donations that people have made. Just because I've done the event doesn't mean you can't donate - Please, please, please visit my Virgin Giving page and donate as much as you can.
The forecast was OK, not as good as it had been in the days leading to the event but still, not too bad - how wrong they were! I stood patently on the start line, there were 1300 riders to start in groups of 40 four minutes apart, so I was standing there for quite a while. Once I got moving though I began to enjoy the event from the start - well, at least after I'd found a suitable bush in which to stop and relieve myself - that wait on the start line had been a tad to long!!!!!!!
The route is well planned and follows the route of the Stoke stage of the Tour Of Britain, the only deviation being that we start and finish in Trentham rather than finish in Hanley. It's a very rolling route with very little flat, either up or down with the only real flat being the section from Uttoxeter to Rocester, by the time I'd reached the flat bit I'd already climbed over 800m in less that 30 miles. Then we hit the big stuff.
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| The first feed stop at Milwich - still looking clean! |
There are 3 categorised climbs, Ramshorn, Gun Hill and Commonside. The first is Ramshorn, a Cat 2 climb that goes up in steps with a max gradient of 14%. It's long but not really hard, that said, I lost some time here as I rode with someone that was slower then me and I was chatting - well, for about half way anyway.
After Ramshorn came the Morridge and the fast descent to Tittesworth Reservoir. It's a great descent after reaching the high point of the day up on the Morridge above Leek.
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| Descending from the Morridge |
At Tittesworth I met Tracey, my long suffering wife, who was driving round to the feed stations providing me with bottles of High5 and ZipVit Gels.
Then to Gun Hill - average gradient of 10% with a max of 25% had most of the people around me struggling - but, as with last year I rode up strongly and with a smile of my fat face. How I can do that I have no idea - but I rode away from many much fitter looking people! The photo here is of me near the top of Gun Hill - check out the grin! Or, is it in fact a grimace?
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| On Gun Hill |
From Gun Hill the route dropped to Leek and then over the feared and rolling hills to Whetley Rocks. As it was I didn't find it half as bad as I expected that section to be.
Our Own Worst Enemies?
It was here, on this section that I saw some appalling riding from people doing the event and no wonder us cyclists get abuse. As we left Leek there was a set of traffic lights, they were clearly on red and were for a junction, not a crossing. They were on a descent and one guy over took me, flew down the hill, undertook a car that was slowing for the red light and just blasted on through at high speed with no regard for the safety of anyone on the road. What a bloody fool and what kind of impression is that going to give? He was too far away for me to get his number, if I had been able to then I'd be looking to get some kind of prosecution on going for careless cycling or at the very least a ban from Tour Ride events. I'm very sorry to say that it wasn't the only bit of bad riding I saw. We truly are our own worst enemy and how can we really blame motorists for not giving us room, or just being obstructive when we behave like that?
Well, after that I decided to really stick to riding on my own and doing my won thing for the rest of the event. I rode strongly to Commonside and then suffered on the climb. It's bloody steep, my old Garmin registered 29% there each time I rode it. I managed to ride the whole thing - slowly - where others were forced off their bikes and into walking. Even the Pro's suffered in the Tour of Britain on this hill.
Tracey was waiting a the top with the camera and she saw me, spoke to me and took a few photo's - now for the comical part. I rode over the top of the hill and into very heavy rain so I carried on without stopping. It's only 15 miles or so from here to the finish and I had a full bottle of High5. What I hadn't heared was Trace shouting that she'd see me at the top with a bottle. She turned and ran after me and when she got to the top she saw another Lichfield CCC Rider at the top stopped taking a drink. I'd overtaken this chap on the brow of the hill. Trace convinced herself that the rider she'd seen was this other chap and so she went back down and waited, all the time I'm slogging it out with the last remaining hills and the rain to the finish.
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| On Commonside - excuse the blur, it was very dark! |
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| Near Barlaston |
The finish was brilliant - unlike last year when there was hardly anyone there, this time there were hundreds of spectators, all cheering and banging the boards and it felt like a real race finish - even my tired legs were inspired to go quick to the end. I grabbed my medal and looked for Trace - oooooops. I waited 15 minutes, soaked through and getting rapidly colder and then I rang her, "Where are you?", "I'm on the top of Commonside!" came the reply. "Oh Bugger" said I, "I'm at the finish"!!!!!!!
She raced back but had to follow the route as she didn't know any other way - I was like a block of ice when she reached me and I shivered all the way home. As it was I finished 175th with an offical ride time of 05:18.33 for the 87 miles. My actual ride time not including the few stops I made was 05:09.08. I'm very pleased with that given my overweight stature at the moment and my lack of real training.
It was a really great day - a huge thank you to the organisers.
An even bigger thank you must go to the people that sponsored me - George, Tilly, Jane, Trace, Vinny, Mark and Nicola. At the moment I've raised about £85.00 and I'm trying to raise even more.
Looking forward to next year already.
Here is the Endomondo workout for the day.
Rich
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