Having my hand forced by
injured participants, I nervously jumped up a group, from Slouch to Fast and we
set off about 20 minutes after the Elite group. I very quickly found the pace
too much to sustain and had pains, with only 10 miles completed and a decision
I might regret, I persuaded Steve and his group to completely desert me. 1
mph slower and my stamina seem to recover, but the pain seemed to continue
until, cursing my pre-race tinkering, I noticed my saddle was 2 inches too
low. It was like a different set of legs had taken over, well for another
10 miles or so, just coming in towards the 1st stop, my legs felt heavy once again, looking
down I now realised that the saddle was actually slipping down until it hit the
reflector bracket. Had someone had oiled my shaft the night before! Just like
when you are camping a couple of big leaves, seem to wipe most of it off, clamp
up super tight and why, why did I not do that earlier.
My target time was
eight hours with 7 hours cycling, averaging 15 mph seem possible and now
checking with my only friend left, Mr Strava, he was telling me it was
possible, but tight. I started to feel more confident, but knew all too well
what the last 10-20 miles would feel like, also knowing the wind had little
affect so far, so I knew it would not be long til it did. After lunch at
47miles, I managed to get in a little group and stayed with them for 5 or so
miles, which was a welcome relief, but apart form a few more short tows that
was about the only drafting I got. I bimbled on, cursing a bit and
enjoying it at times, but the last 35 miles were windy and tough, the last 20
very tough, but I could not give up, after all, I am a Gauntleteer. I had
3 stops, drunk 4 litres of fluid and gel ran through my veins, bowl of spicy
pasta for lunch and 4 bananas saw me through. If it had gone slightly
better, yes I could have gone maybe 1mph faster, if I had not mended someone’s
chain I could have saved some time and yes if I had not stopped at all I could
have shaved off another 50 mins, but incredibly even with all this, I would
still be a full hour slower than the Elite Surfer group – Very Impressive.
That will be difficult to pull back in the 10K.
Highlight, the fool who
thought he could keep up with me down a steep descent with a tight sandy corner
at the bottom. I got the turn-in right, hit the apex as my Rossi gate leg
clicked back on to the pedal, giving me enough time to turn and see him cross
the road and use the opposite bank to stop himself. I did warn him and getting
my foot down must have given him a clue.
Lowlight, realising I
have not trained enough and as always, the last 10 miles, although there were
still some to overtake this year.
I was not quick, but some
40 mins quicker than last year, mainly pushing forward on my own, so a great
sense of achievement and as always, well organised and well catered, way of
seeing our lovely county.
DH
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