Re: This Is Not A Tour - new Audax events in memory of Mike
Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2018 1:53 pm
Well, that was a cracking day out, and much of it down to a great route, with very well chosen gravel segments and great re-fuelling options - big thanks to Mark and all of his team. Also met loads of nice people along the way, all of whom where clearly better prepared than me in my minimalist, ride-or-die configuration!
Despite having over-dressed for the beautiful warm weather we ended up enjoying, I was having a good ride, and the new wheels from JRA where rolling well on 30mm G-Ones. Over-indulged in the fabulous veggie cafe by the lunch control, which had my stomach rumbling, but still had a hot-dog and chips (vinegar really does help with cramps!) later in the fabulous open-all-hours corner shop!
At 300km I was comfortably inside 24hr pace for the 400, when I switched on my Exposure Diablo, and...nothing! I was hoping the checkpoint a few minutes away in Newtown would be manned by someone with the foresight to have a spare light, but obviously that tenuous plan didn't work. With no bivi and only a tiny Petzl emergency tent torch, I wasn't going to attempt riding almost blind on the rougher, steeper back roads to Knighton, but managed to pootle back to the finish on the main road, exploiting the light from a 300 rider.
Covered in midge bites and a raw ass (would never have survived 600km), but very happy to have covered 360 fine km, and looking forward to the next one.
Despite having over-dressed for the beautiful warm weather we ended up enjoying, I was having a good ride, and the new wheels from JRA where rolling well on 30mm G-Ones. Over-indulged in the fabulous veggie cafe by the lunch control, which had my stomach rumbling, but still had a hot-dog and chips (vinegar really does help with cramps!) later in the fabulous open-all-hours corner shop!
At 300km I was comfortably inside 24hr pace for the 400, when I switched on my Exposure Diablo, and...nothing! I was hoping the checkpoint a few minutes away in Newtown would be manned by someone with the foresight to have a spare light, but obviously that tenuous plan didn't work. With no bivi and only a tiny Petzl emergency tent torch, I wasn't going to attempt riding almost blind on the rougher, steeper back roads to Knighton, but managed to pootle back to the finish on the main road, exploiting the light from a 300 rider.
Covered in midge bites and a raw ass (would never have survived 600km), but very happy to have covered 360 fine km, and looking forward to the next one.