Hi all,
I've got to confess my sins right away, my time of 8 hr 09 mins is not correct because I did not do the full course like everyone else did. I took a shorter route, about 9 miles shorter to be exact according to my bike computer, more of that later.
Anyway, all the JWCC got a 7.30am start which was nice, along with a bunch of Rockhard Mountain bikers from Glasgow also starting at the same time. Almost Immediately after the start there was a long climb which saw the split in our group with Mark, Darryl, Howie & Dave shooting ahead leaving me, Donald and Lesley setting our own pace. Having not slept at all the night before in the hostel, I wasn't feeling too good and with a long day ahead, my plan was to ride sensibly and at my own pace.
The first 50 miles before the 1st feed station was quite differcult personally because of the amount of hills & the fact that I had no idea where to go which meant I was either trying to catch up with fast groups that was speeding past or I was easing off to wait for somebody to come infront who knew where they were going. By this time all the Johnstone Wheelers had past me and it wasn't until the feed station before I met them again. Before that I had made a couple of wrong turns and at one point on a large roundabout I took the wrong exit and ended up on a time trial route. I was warn before the start that the signage and postings are not very good, I didn't realise it was that bad.
After having some food at the 1st feed and realising that it's only another 60ish miles to go, I felt better and eager to set off again. Straight out of the stop I could not see any cyclist infront or the back of me, as I looked around and spotted two blokes on bike down the bend I immediately followed and I found out later from Donald that It was at that point I should have taken a sharp right to go up the Newland Pass. Eventually I caught the two and chatted with them for a while before I suddenly realised that they did not have a race number on their bikes. Its obvious that I had followed the wrong guys and were now off the route, just as I was thinking of turning back and retrace the route, I spotted a large bunch speeding purposefully at the t-junction road ahead. So, i followed them and made sure that I was back on the route again, by which time the sun was out and I was feeling really hot.
I was looking for any Wheelers at the 2nd feed station, but could not see any and thought to myself they must have all been and left. So, I just took a seat and enjoyed a quick bite before hitting the road again knowing that there was still the dreaded Hardknott & Wrynose to come.
Out of the shaded tree and past the cattle grid was the f***ing Hardknott & Wrynose right infront of you, I tried riding the first section only to stop half way because I just simply couldn't. My legs were ok, but my lower back was killing me. All around me as I pushed hopelessly up the damn thing was carnage, one guy next to me who just fell off as he was not moving due to the steepness, another one swore and cursed himself relentless as he grinds his way over the top, there were poeple on tandams, mountain bikes and even a recumbant & on top of that there were a lot of cars trying to zigzag past stryggling bikers. One women with her kids in a Volvo couldn't get up the steepest bit as her clutch had burnt out and had to roll backwards down the slope, more than half the participant around me got off and walked it including myself. For those who rode up, my hats go off to them. I just cannot believe how steep it was, you got to see it to believe it, how do you train for climbs like that?
After the passes were the decents, it was scary stuff as it was all so steep and twisty, sometimes you feel like you are going over the bar cause of the gradiant. I had my brakes on all the time and half way down we past a medic that was tending to a lady that had came off, it looked pretty bad where her bike had collided with the side of the road, but at least I think she was concious, I hope she was alright. That made me even more edgy and had to stop to get some food and juice in me and it was at this point that Mark & Darryl speed past me and asking me how the hell did I got there so quickly, that just confirmed my short cut route.
Finally rolled into the start / finnish village with my legs still feeling ok but knowing that I hadn't done it properly had put a damper on my sense of satisfaction & enjoyment. My time should be more like 9 hours if I hadn't stray off the route.
Never the less it was a great day out and I strongly recommend everyone to give it a go. Well done to all the Wheelers and hope Frank is feeling better after missing the ride due to a bad cold infection.
Would I do it again? Definetly! And do it properly.
Now, I've got to go and get Ivan Basso's lawyers phone number to deny all this speculation of cheating.
Cheers & thanks for reading
Chung
