Wow - the month of May has come and gone - and with it the appalling weather that saw the Wiggle Ups and Downs Sportive get rescheduled.
Going in to the Ups and Downs I was
feeling very strong, it was my third Epic in as many weeks and I had
targeted May and June to be big months for my Etape training. The
course packed in the Hills from the very beginning and about at ten
miles when the sign for the "fun route" came in to site, I
gave it some serious thought.
My legs were heavy - my cranks felt
like they were stiff and if it wasn't for the welcoming site of a
feed station I may have "accidently" followed the signs for
the standard route and been home in time for Sunday roast and an
afternoon in front of the Giro. I listened to my stomach turned
right towards the fig rolls and flap jacks and prepared for a day of
hard work.
Unlike previous weeks - where I could
drop in behind a welcome wheel or two - this sportive was a lonely,
solitary affair. Like previous weeks though - there were some old
adversaries to face late on in the ride. Leith Hill at 80 miles and
White Down - with it's welcoming 18% gradient - at 89 miles waiting.
Waiting to greet the tired legs. Waiting - like an unwanted school
bully at the school gates and the end of day, looming large to
threaten and tease. Even the third feed station near the top of
Leith Hill could not distract riders from the fact that whilst the
larger of the demons had been slain - a shorter nastier vicious bully
still lay in wait. Like all bullies though - they were seen off -
and while I had to settle for a silver, I looked for excuses, the
long queue at the second feed station, the temporary traffic lights,
the heavy legs in the first twenty miles.
I now have a short family holiday -
where I can re-acquaint myself with my understanding wife (who casts
herself as a cycling widow), son and daughter then cast a mind to the
upcoming events in June, which itself will lead in to July - and the
most testing of school bullies of all - the Alpes.
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