Merry Monk Audax - 28th April

I picked Sarah up from Bridgwater and drove to High Ham. It was busy and there clearly were a lot of people there, over 200 for the 100km ride.

 

We were released in two groups and the first few miles is a steady descent. Moving up slowly I watched part of the large Bridgwater contingent move away up the road. Still plenty of time. We rode through Langport and out onto the moors. The pace held high, and the group strung out with more space between them.

 

Up over Windwhistle sorted the groups further and a quick descent on narrow and potholed roads toFforde Abbey. I voucher for a drink, which worked for an orange squash, and back onto the road. Three Bridgwater riders were ahead, as we tracked around the south of Yeovil. Sarah and I were on our own, riding well,  but not fast, well not until I told Sarah a group was catching us. Big ring and time trial head on, and I'm left hanging on. We were caught by a the group working together, and on that basis it was ok to sit on.

 

Cafe in Sherborne, and the three others who were there a few minutes before us, decided not to wait and were off. Sarah and I rode tempo, but didn't really expect to see them, three quite strong riders, who we could stay with, but couldn't close on, well not for Sarah alone with me! They weren't going to have it easy though.

 

Across and past Somerton and the back road to High Ham and up the last short sharp hill. We arrived 4 mins behind the first three, who claimed to  have had a puncture, but they had 10mins on us at the last cafe, so didn't get away from us. I think they were surprised to see us there so close behind them.

 

Then onto the food. The food at the end of this audax is legend and rightly so. I had lemon meringue pie whilst waiting for beans on toast (I know and don't care). Another personal favourite is freshly made custard with your crumble.

 

I give this audax 4.5 out of 5. Some roads are a touch busy,  but the food is great.

The link to my GPX file is http://connect.garmin.com/activity/304559862 

Exmoor Spring Audax - 7th April

A group of Bridgwater riders meet in the car park to the village hall and tried to blend in. I had forgotton my helmet and was not pleased with myself.

We left a few minutes and started the ascent of the Porlock Toll Road. This is a lovely steady climb winding its way up through mature woodland before delivering you to the heather of the moor above. A short stop to regroup the Bridgwater contingent and off, heading south along a unmetalled surface for a few hundred rather too exciting yards, then back onto a narrow strip of tarmac.

We worked together in the cross wind until the first check point. It was in a pub, I asked for cake and no coffee. £4.50! Not for a cake! Apparently you couldn't have one without the other. I handed the cake back. Shortly another rider who only wanted coffee. We had a deal. The young lady bemused handed over a coffee and a cake to two different people and got her £4.50.

Onwards and up another long and draggy climb, one of those where you can see the road ahead, and it is up. Then we soon turned into the headwind. Nigel got dropped, Darren pushing on at the front couldn't hear me to ease off, he was on a mission to catch the other part of our group. When the gap was closed, Steve went back for Nigel whilst we rode more gently on the descent towards Dulverton and the check point.

We stopped, ate and off again up the valley. It was the home run and gaps began to form as we headed up the valley for Wheddon Cross. I held my own, towards the back, although the reality was the gaps were not that big at the top of what was an easier climb than I remember. I lovely desecent into to Dunster with Darren and I taking the lead, aware of my lack of helment. I love to descend and don't like to break unless at all necessary.

Dulverton and onto the main road. This is the worst part of this ride, but we now had the wind behind us and I could see that I was riding at about the same time at last year. I pushed on, giving what I had and getting little for it. Flying down into  and through Porlock I finished 20 seconds faster than last year, better, howereve marginal.

This audax has good quite roads and a good variation of hills and desecents. The food was overpriced at the first checkpoint, I didn't bother at the second. Pubs are not ideal stopping points as they aren't really geared up to the cycling trade of coffee/tea and a cake/snack. This was made up for by the cream scone and jam back at the start though.

We finshed in the first 10.

I give this audax 3.5 out of 5 let down by the first check point prices.

My GPX file can be found at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/294562902

Mad March Excursion Audax - 3rd March

We gathered at one of those modern out of town pubs with a psydo character early in the morning. It was cool, but dry and there were hundreds of us. The appointed time came and lined up down the side of the raod, all pointing down hill beside the dual carriageway.

The appointed time came and we headed off towards the roundabout. I had positioned myself at the back but quickly moved forward, surprised at the intial lack of speed as we progressed up a rise out of the city. I couldn't decide if they were worried about being at the front, cold, or worried about the distance. Whatever, they didn't appear interested and a small group formed at the front quickly after crossing the new cycle bridge over the M5.

We passed the airport and climbed up over woodbury, faster riders caught and passed us and I moved up an on with them.

The first stop was lovely. Food undercover in a barn. Great choices to. I went for toast and a piece of cake. The feed station filling I pushed on, dodging the frozen puddles on the road we had been warned of, and climbed up onto the Blackdowns. There is a disused airfield here, in my experince airfield are always windy, and this one proved the rule. Fortunatly we had formed a small group of five and I happily sat behind a far stronger (an older) rider who pushed into the wind as we climbed gently across the flat expsoed airfield.

We stopped to regroup at the next turn, one chap had had his tool bag drop from his bike, and then we descended through to Uffcume and Coldharbour Mill. First group in, but no I don't want chicken curry. Two of the group decisde to eat their sandwiches but I lose them amongst riders coming in. I eat and drink, and off again. I have no idea where I am and set off to see if I can catch the others, but to no avail. It is a nice gradual descent toward Exeter, where one of the group catch me, but there is no way I can hold onto his pace. There is a kick back up towards Exeter and as I fail to produce much power I am passed by two riders I think are in front of me. I should have had the same in my sandwiches clearly, but I manage to stay with them, principally as they have no idea of the route, so keep waiting for me.

We drop back to the pub, and sign in. I ask how many have finished in front of us, expecting 10 or so, to find that we are in the first four back.

So in summary:

The pub HQ is not ideal for me, and there is only pub bought drinks and food at the end, in contrast to the great first stop.

The route has some good quite roads and has a couple of challenging hills.

Overall I would give this audax 4 out of 5

My gpx file is available at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/279788795

The Year So Far

So here we are an update of the first 6 months of the year. Looking back it is a bit odd, as altought I don't feel it is much different to normal, and the weather has not been that bad, I seem to be somewhat behind in terms of hours/miles on where I am nornally.

I also seem to be slower than normal, but I put that down to no real Saturday ride to get some speed practice in.

So the year in events

Dunnoon to Killin - Friday 7th September

One more day. Odd how on the last day it is possible to rise to the challenge and do it just one more time. I was also looking forward to it. Another day in Scotland, another ferry and quite roads.

I was off fairly early and into light rain. It stayed with me all day, sometimes light, sometimes heavy but always there. It was the only day of rain. Front light and rear lights on and flashing to warn of my presence and wake up the odd motorist from their day dream.

Dunoon looking North

I headed north first up the same route as the SEWN up ride then right, climbing slowly. Not far to the ferry, but it comes slowly. I recall the route in my head, but the miles pass much slower on the road than they do in my head, and landmarks I see masquerade as those on the maps. I drop back to the sea and through a small village. There is a sign for the ferry, good not far, but it is another 6 miles on. Finally I drop down to the sea and see the ferry coming, I push on and beat it to the slipway.

 

 

The route the Sat Nav thinks I took.
The dotted line over sea is what I did.

I put the bike on the roof of the car and turn the GPS off so not to claim non cycled miles. We arrive at Tarbet and turn the GPS on. 5 Miles later up a surprisingly busy road I realise the GPS is not recording the distance. If you look on the map above it appears that I went north up the sea loch, but instead I did go to Tarbet, and I claim my 100miles plus for today.


I turn to ride along the road beside the Crinan Canel, a delight and meet the support in one of the car parks. It is a short ride across the promontory and I turn north again by the Atlantic. Flat and straight is the theme until I rejoin the main road for a short section then climb over to Loch Awe. I am expecting miles of views across the loch, but instead spend 23 miles of deciduous tree cover and very little loch views. It is still raining and road side waterfalls sound very much like cars in the rain, so every now and then I am surprised to find there is a car behind me. I can tell as waterfalls don't generally follow me up the road.

Canel on the left, sea on the right

Finally I break out of the trees and onto the main road. The traffic is light, and there is one 1000ft of hill left. The GPS is sulking and whilst is will tell me where I am, is protesting but not helping me with any elevation. The road surface is so variable, rarely smooth, usually rough with the stones standing proud of the worn tarmac, sometimes the stones are gone and I am running through small potholes. So tiring, can't swing round them in fear of being taken out from behind. My rear light guards me and cars pull over and give me room, but I am not going to take any liberties.

The last hill steepens, I climb slowly , alternating standing and sitting, not far now, a blind bend, a car behind, he slows and follows me. I ride on the white line, then on the edge of the tarmac. I am so slow and I want to let him go. The road opens up, he passes and I get a cheery double toot on the horn. He knew what I was trying to do and thanked me. I too was grateful.

Then the descent. I had tailwind, some wind and the desire to finish. I pushed on, as hard as I could. It was late, the traffic light and I bounced through the holes.

Finally I was there, surprising the support who were inside and not expecting me yet.

There I was, finished. Happy but finished.



756 miles in 7 consecutive days, each with over 100 miles a day and over 37,000 of climbing

Well done me.