Middle Road 600k - ride report

[juliet]

It's all Charlotte's fault - she convinced me that this was a good idea...

So, after a hefty feed for £3.50 at the Indian Veg in Islington, myself, Liz, & Charlotte arrived in Milton Keynes slightly later than anticipated, with time for a cuppa at Steve A's place while he geared down his fixie, before retiring for the night on (in my case) a very comfortable camp bed.

Up at 5 (ouch) for proposed 6 start; slightly delayed by Matt mislaying himself in the highways & byways of Milton Keynes, but we were off by 7. A bit drizzly/gray, but not as cold as I'd expected, & I had to stop a few km out to take off my longs & jacket. Matt passed on his father's regards - apparently we encountered each other on the Battle & Back, where Matt's dad described my descending as, IIRC, "lunatic" :-) (I should note that Matt descends faster than I do!).

Flattish-to-rolling start, before the Hilly Bit around Desborough, enlivened by Liz's chain falling off on one particularly nasty effort. I tried Main Force to no avail, but Steve was able to get it sorted, and my spoke key came into use to retrue the wheel (almost certainly untrued due to my efforts, oops, & I fear that the next day's spoke breakage - also fixed with aid of spoke key - were probably also related to that.). More hills followed, until we were informed that we'd just finished the worst hill of the ride, and indeed were done with the climbing until the next day. The beans on toast at the very friendly Co-op cafe at Oakham (about 100k) were very welcome!

The next bit to Lincoln (160k or so?) was into a stinking headwind, which I hated with a deep & abiding hatred. I tried to take a bit of my turn on the front, but mostly wheel-sucked with my head down. I hate headwinds a lot worse than hills... Truly unpleasant hill up through Lincoln to the petrol station control was also pretty vile. I was knackered & achey, and feeling fairly pessimistic about my chances of finishing. In particular because it was looking increasingly likely that sleep would be minimal to non-existent.

This first section had also not been assisted by the fact that I'd had to buy new shoes 2 days before, & therefore spent the first 100-150k adjusting the cleats every time we stopped :-/ After Lincoln I had the left one bang on, which did make life much, much easier; the right still wasn't *quite* right but that isn't so bad as it doesn't get unclipped so much (so one can wiggle one's foot around till it's bearable then leave it there for 50k or whatever).

Things improved for me over the next 80-90k (via Gainsborough - sadly no time for planned pub dinner - & then across the flatlands to Howden, the turn point at 250k). The headwind died down; my knees were feeling better; Coke, coffee, crisps, and chocolate were helping revitalise me; and it was a really beautiful night, with stars and fullish moon and owls and so on. We arrived at Howden just in time to get food at the Co-op, and about back on Steve's schedule. Into the pub/hotel for pots of coffee & the consumption of the Co-op food. I was sufficiently hungry that I bought, among other things, a packet of veggie sausages to eat raw. I got one of 'em down (it was simultaneously vile & tasty - hunger there, marvellous), but abandoned the rest of the packet at the pub. And was very, very glad for my own sandwiches!

Unfortunately almost as soon as we were out of Howden, Charlotte started suffering badly from the drowsies, and Liz from her knee. I was feeling pretty good at this point - I think I benefit from the fact that I very, very rarely drink coffee, so when I do it really hits me! I was riding incredibly strongly for me (much to my surprise!) & kept sailing off the front, and eventually between Gainsborough & Lincoln, Steve gave me directions & told me to crack on to the petrol station & wait for them there. Riding solo through the moonlit night was fabulous - I even turned my Solidlights off for a bit to ride by moonlight. There was also one road that was very long, and very straight, and had Orion rising at the end of it - beautiful.

At Lincoln, Rich reckoned that he knew the way through & out of Lincoln, so he & I headed off ahead of the others. FREEZING on the way down the hill through Lincoln, and got steadily colder thereafter as the mist started coming off the fields. I was OK on the top half, but despite 3 pairs of socks & overshoes, my feet were freezing. Dropped Rich at some point on the way to Gonerby Moor (one minute I looked round & his lights were there, next minute nothing), and was starting to get a bit cold-&-miserable as I rode on&on&on with no sign of the A1... Chatted to the bike, ate chocolate, drank more dilute Coke, & sang REM/The Guillemots/anything else that came into my head to keep myself positive & on the bike.

I have *never* been more grateful to see the nasty glow of neon orange on the horizon as when the A1 started to come into view... Got to the Travelodge at 0615, phoned Matt to let me in, & did my best to remain coherent while I got myself out of my dirty kit, into the shower, & into bed, while he headed off to the service station. Rich showed up at 0630 & the others I think at 0700? (I was asleep really at that point...)

Somewhere around Gainsborough on the return, I'd decided that whatever happened, I was going to get 2 hrs sleep, & if the planned departure was before that, then the others should go & I'd catch them up (or not...) later. This based on my own knowledge of my reaction to sleep dep, and on what happened on the BC (45min sleep; total mental breakdown next day). Then I'd ride the rest, & if I was in time, great, & if not, well, 600k even out of time would be good going. So it was rather good luck that it was 0830 when Matt phoned to enquire after us, & we all realised that we had been meaning to get out at 0840... Out of the door by 0900 and onwards, back to Oakham.

Oakham at 1130, with 12 or so hours left for about 180k. By this stage I was pretty confident that I was going to finish the distance, although less confident about the time. Somewhere around here we were back to the Hilly Bit - I remember walking (with Charlotte) one hill where the muscles just weren't doing their thing for no readily apparent reason. (It helped, actually - stretched things out a bit, & the next hill was OK.) I also remember a very splendid downhill with a nasty RH hairpin in the middle.

Somewhere around here Liz's knee finally went BANG, and the group started dividing into two parts. I was riding with Rich & Matt (who are both entirely splendid riding company), and still doing (for me) incredibly well. I could only conclude that crisps, sugar, caffeine, and more sugar (with a helping of home-made SuperFlapjack at intervals) agrees with my legs somehow! Although I could have sworn that there was a muscle in my left thigh that was about to break in the middle... Ibuprofen also V Helpful.

Passed the further-than-ever-before mark at 470k, and was pleased to note that a) I was still on the bike, & b) I hadn't burst into tears yet. By now positive that I was going to finish (barring utter disasters). Liz, Charlotte, & Steve were doing fantastically despite Liz's knee, and were keeping about 15-25min behind myself, Rich, & Matt (i.e. we'd overlap at each garage for a bit!).

The last 100k was something of a time trial - Steve had convinced me that it was possible to make it within the 40hrs, so I was giving it some welly. Assisted by the discovery that going at close to top speed (top maintainable speed, I mean!) was helping keep me awake & cheerful - when I slowed down I started getting dozy & a bit nearly-weepy. Made excellent time along the A? to Aylesbury - I think we may have had a tailwind, but we were doing 13-14mph on the uphill drags, with Matt & I taking turns to lead!

Got to Thame with just under 3 hrs left, and by now I was feeling great (as Matt had predicted - the scent of the finish!). Despite having had to walk a hill or two... (in fact, walked halfway up hill & thought it was over. Scarfed sweeties & Lucozade, got back on bike. Discovered more hill. Swore mightily & sprinted up it - see the power of the sugar!). Matt headed for home & the finish of his 200k, and Rich & I girded our loins for the final push.

A couple of ups, but mostly flattish into Milton Keynes, and once again I kept belting off the front (apologies to Rich - not the best of thanks for his splendid navigation) & then waiting at the turns (although this was useful for comfort break purposes...). Finally we could see the lights of Milton Keynes, & rolled together into Morrisons at 39h55.

I was Very Happy Indeed. SR obtained in first season - not bad going.

Rich directed me to the station (about another 3mi!), and after circling it a few times seeking the entrance, I arrived to await Charlotte, Liz, & Steve about 20min later. Train back to Euston, verrrrrry slooooowwwww ride back to Bermondsey, shower, FOOD, bed.

All splendid people to ride with :) & particular thanks to Steve for taking the time to assist us all round - it's very, very much appreciated. Chapeau all round - I am in awe of Liz's ability to keep going through a pretty serious knee crisis (I couldn't have done it), and of Charlotte's insanity at going straight for the 600k mark on fixed. Also impressed by Rich dragging his great heavy 'bent round, even if it can descend like nothing on earth! Matt clearly didn't suffer like the rest of us, due to missing out the middle 200k, but he did get up at 5am to leave the hotel room ready, bless him!

Things I have learnt this time:
1. I can push harder than I think I can uphill without doing any damage.
2. I really can run on sugar, fat, & caffeine, when required. Especially sugar & caffeine.
3. doop is right - being able to shove on a quick sprint at intervals, even just for a few revolutions, is unparalleled in its ability to keep your speed up.
4. Always, always, take sandwiches with you!

I'm never bloody doing it again, though!