Leith and Let Die

The Wiggle Ups'n'Downs - rearranged after the atrocious weather at the beginning of May.  And what a good call that turned out to be.  The weather on sunday was perfect for cycling - not hot, just cool enough.

 

This was my third of a three pronged back to back sportive event in my quest to prepare for the Etape Du Tour.  It should have been my first - thankfully it was my last.  It was a tough nut to crack.

Ninety six miles of hurt and a mocking northerly to make the return journey all the more difficult.  The sportive started with a climb up Ranmore Hill.  The tempo was quick - lots of very keen riders and it wasn't long before I was being overtaken by the group that started behind me.  Unlike the previous week's frantic pace, the quicks on this event were individuals and the attacks seemed to be pretty isolated and uncontrolled and I didn't feel the urge to "follow that wheel".  Some of the riders I did pass later, some I never saw again.

I now feel I know the North Downs as well as I knew the back alleys and rec's that I played on as a child.  I could map the potholes on White Down - and know where I am on Leith Hill by how much lactic acid is in my legs.

This sportive   once again - stacked the pain in the last 25 miles - which was ideal for the Etape.  Leith Hill and WhiteDown all making an unwelcome appearance in the last fifteen miles. 

 

I had a sports massage on Friday and I felt terrible for the first twenty miles.  I mulled the possibility of following the Fun route at the split - and a Sunday lunch in front of the telly rather than a gel in front of the backside in front of me ! ! !  the legs worked themselves out

 

The summary according to Garmin:
05:58 moving time - 06:08 elapsed time (missed gold by about 6 minutes - 11 of which were spent at the second feed station in a queue for water).
1,744 m elevation - this is a little over the Col de Madeleine, and about a third of ACT I in total !
2,592 calories - thats good to know - I can tuck in to a few more mars bars tonight then.

I still havent stopped beating myself up about missing the gold - but that is life.

On a brighter note - the Veho camera was trialled - and a link to the footage will appear shortly - though it is still a bit wobbly.

United We Fell . . . .

Scott Long Legged Sportive - 16 miles in and a fast downhill section with just five miles to go to the first feed station.  The surface was greasy - and small rivulets were running down the country lanes.  Dave T had neglected to turn on his stopwatch - so I told him we were roughly on target for a 17.5 MPH average (Gold) given that were 43 minutes in to the ride.
The bend tightened - and Dave was in front of me - the back wheel skidded - a touch on the brake - and he was off - in front of me . . . .
. . . i downed my bike and we both went crashing in to the nettles and mud - the rivulets of fast running water making the feeling of skidding and lying in the road even more uncomfortable.  Dave was shaken - and his tights were ripped, legs cut and the road was littered with waterbottles and gels.  I was OK - years of rugby taught me never to look at ones injuries but to asses by feeling.  the left cheek of my arse hurt - but nothing serious - my left shin was cut - nothing serious - and my arm left shoulder and arm hurt again nothing serious.  My Altura shorts held up - but the Mavic sprints underneath had a hole.  I could ride.  Dave had  his moral shaken -wet - covered in mud - arese exposed to the world and depressed - he came off worse then me.  He sacked it off at the feed station five miles later where I left him beig attended by St Johns doing an excellent job.  I went on alone.
Wow - what a sportive - this was a beast.  70 miles - with Leith Hill (45 miles) and Barhatch - the wall - at 54.  This was a sportive designed by people who knew the area and loved their hills.  The weather made it all the more challenging - after 2 weeks of incessant rain - today we were met with incessant drizzle.  I kept the cagoul on at all times - and was wet through from start to finish.
The Garmin stats show 5hours elapsed time  - but I lost about 45 minutes sitting on the side of the road with Dave and while he was gettign patched up - hoping he would carry on.  My moving time as 4.19 hours - and this is a little more like it.  I didnt stop at the last feed station - nor would I have at the first one.
the climbs were treacherous getting out of the saddle meant rear wheel lost traction, the descents even worse - days like this are what life is all about - this was one for all the commuters - not the fair weather week-end warriors and kudos to all the finishers.
Best part of the day - passing the bloke on the train who was a bit snooty.  He was sitting on the side of the road at Barhatch pondering his life in the rain - as I pushed painfully passed him.
I nice sausage in a bun at the end and a cycle to Gomshall for the train - job done.  Now - sort out the rattle on the bike, wash the clothes - oil the chain - heal the wounds and the Oxshott Sportive next week.  All I really need is to feel the sunshine and a rise in temperature - one can dream.