Wimped out and did the 100k in the end with CycloNick. Decided there was a tad too many climbs which seemed to appear in quick succession between Hatchmere and Beeston for our capabilities when we did a quick reccie in the car the week before. Rather than limp home or worse still fail to complete the ride, we decided that discretion was the better part of valour and instead enjoy the shorter route.
An enjoyable day on the whole; think the fifteen man "train" passed me around Mobberley (maybe before)
Agree Styal Hill didn't seem quite as tough as last year ..... but tough enough. Apologies to the young lady on the Mountain bike who we overtook on the climb up but you've got to keep the momentum up once your rolling; I should add that she proved more than a match for us on the flat once we'd reach the summit, and promptly disappeared into the distance
Strange how you find that extra bit of energy at the end; we probably rode our fastest from Styal Hill summit to the finish line. ...... Is it me getting old or are Penguin biscuits getting smaller
Couple of minor grumbles though. A few too many times I experienced close overtaking by, quite franky, cyclists who I'd expect better passing technique; poor judgement or boorish behaviour? ..... the jury is out on that one I'm afraid. And to the guy in the Credit Agricole shirt who almost swerved into my front wheel early on in the ride and oblivious to what he'd done ..... if you're reading this ..... thanks ..... maybe when you're overtaking you can make sure you leave it a bit longer before cutting back in
Big disappointment not to get that first Century Ride under our belts, particularly as this was what we'd originally planned, but it would've been a bigger downer if we'd started but not finished an event. Onward and upward though; we'll sign up for the Oxford - Cambridge and if the course is the 92 it turned out to be last year, we'll ride through the finish and cycle on home; that should rack up 102 hopefully and mission accomplished
An enjoyable day on the whole; think the fifteen man "train" passed me around Mobberley (maybe before)
Strange how you find that extra bit of energy at the end; we probably rode our fastest from Styal Hill summit to the finish line. ...... Is it me getting old or are Penguin biscuits getting smaller
Couple of minor grumbles though. A few too many times I experienced close overtaking by, quite franky, cyclists who I'd expect better passing technique; poor judgement or boorish behaviour? ..... the jury is out on that one I'm afraid. And to the guy in the Credit Agricole shirt who almost swerved into my front wheel early on in the ride and oblivious to what he'd done ..... if you're reading this ..... thanks ..... maybe when you're overtaking you can make sure you leave it a bit longer before cutting back in
Big disappointment not to get that first Century Ride under our belts, particularly as this was what we'd originally planned, but it would've been a bigger downer if we'd started but not finished an event. Onward and upward though; we'll sign up for the Oxford - Cambridge and if the course is the 92 it turned out to be last year, we'll ride through the finish and cycle on home; that should rack up 102 hopefully and mission accomplished
