Butty's Brid Trip (300k)
7th May 2005

This was my first 300k.

I was a little apprehensive about the trip – 300km (~200 miles) is a long way on a bicycle but I had coped fine with all the 200's to date and was sure I would finish. I had the day off on Friday 6th May which gave me the opportunity (after fetching mother in law) to go over the Audax bike, pump the tyres, charge the battery for the lights, check the state of the spare tyres, tools, bonk rations, put the carrier on the car, etc.

We all went out to a concert at Christopher's school in the evening – he plays the trombone in almost all the bands at school so it was not possible to get an early night. Before going to bed, I made my ration of maize porage for the morning and got all the clothing and bits and pieces together. I set the alarm for 4:30 in the morning but woke up anyway at 4:15, got up ate said porage, got dressed, loaded the bicycle onto the carrier and left at about 4:50. The weather forecast for Saturday was for a stiff (18-20mph) NE wind, partly cloudy with showers; maximum temperature 13 degrees..

Meltham is about 50 minutes away from home, even with minimal 5am traffic. I parked the car in Meltham central (free) car park dressed up, loaded up and cycled the 800 yards to the start in the scout hall. There were about 5 others in the car park doing the same thing... At the hall, Chris Crossland was signing everybody in – there were about 40 riders signed up for the ride. I recognised a few riders from previous outings, including Joe from 23rd April and Tiho and Jutta on their tandem. It was quite cold early in the morning but I decided that leg and arm warmers with a Gore packlite jacket on top would be adequate for the day. Fortunately, this was adequate, but only just!

6am and we were off. A small group of “racers” immediately burnt rubber and left the rest of us for dust – I decided not to follow them this day – 300km is a long way and I certainly did not want to suffer the last 100k with worn out legs! Up to the first control at 4.8km, I found myself with the tandem and about 7 or so other riders. The section was very lumpy and we were all warming up. At the control, we duly copied down the telephone number on a hoarding and set off for the next section. This involved a fair climb of some 200m up past the north of Barnsley, a lumpy section to Pontefract and then mostly flat to the first cafe (Christines's Diner at Boothferry Bridge). On the climb, I fell in with the tandem and another Scottish fellow. The tandem was setting a steady pace which felt comfortable. Half way up, we lost the Scottish chap due to a mechanical problem so it was just the tandem and I. For the next 50k the tandem set a cracking pace. The wind was 45 degrees off the left shoulder and helped keep the average speed close to evens (just over 30kph) Just after Wormersly, I took a turn – the GPS said one way, the tandem went another... It turned out the GPS thought the route it had chosen was “faster” than the other – it turned out to be 5 minutes slower! Fortuitously, other riders were quite close behind and, when I rejoined the route, they provided company to the control. This 78km section of the route had been fast, in good weather and sunshine and a pleasure to ride. However, it was all I could do to follow the tandem and could not make conversation by riding abreast. Among the group I joined were Joe and Martyn, both from Huddersfield. Joe had been a companion on the Roses to Wraggs ride in April.

At Christine's Diner, beans on toast and a pint of tea were consumed. I also opened the bag of Jelly Babies in anticipation and put them in my jacket back pocket, breaking the zipper in the process (sigh) Tiho and Jutta left before I had finished the meal. I was not concerned about this, desiring some conversation and company so set off with Joe, Martyn and another. The ride was initially flat but just after Beverley, there is a moderate 230m climb. During this, we lost one rider off the back so it was down to just Joe, Martyn and myself. The weather was still fine and crisp and we were making good time, still averaging in the high 20's. After 57k we picked up the info control at Dunnington. Joe, misunderstood the control question, accosting a villager who was unsaddling her horse with “Where can we find Monyark?” - the control was to write down the “Monarch's Initials” on the GPO post box... This prompted some hilarity amongst all present!

Then it was 18km northwards to Bridlington. We were now heading more into the wind and the going got a little harder, slowing us down. Just then, another Audaxer caught us up and took the lead with strong legs, dragging us all into Bridlington and the Boat House Café. The bikes were safely parked in the back garden of the café and we went inside for welcome refreshments. Fish and chips with bread and tea went down very well – this was Bridlington on sea, after all! The tandem again left before we did. As we were leaving I noticed Mike Wigley arriving. While in the Café we had the first of the predicted afternoon showers....

The next section of the Audax was skirting the southern portions of the North York Moors climbing a couple of 250m lumps. I took the lead into the gale for much of this section, trying to keep our average up to about 24kph in between the shower squalls. The headwind was hard work. After an info control at Sheldon, we eventually dropped back down into the valley and the next control at Pocklington. 62 km of hard work. Joe ran out of energy about 5km from Pocklington but was suitably revived with the last of my Jelly Babies. At this stage, 210km into the Audax, I was finding it difficult to consume energy. With all the work going to the legs, the bowels do not seem to want to work properly and I was getting strange cravings but did not feel up to eating very much. I had a craving for salt and sour so bought a packet of crisps, fresh fruit juice and some peanuts which seemed to settle after a fashion.

Off again on the 55km to Castleford. As we were nearing Escrick, the weather got worse, there were some terrific rolls of thunder and the rain started to bounce. In Escrick itself, the heavens opened and covered the ground with an all white layer of hail stones. We huddled under some trees and waited for the worst to pass. In the process, we acquired a couple more riders. The deluge having resolved to a drizzle, we set off once again. With 5 in the group going was still tough but a little easier. Eventually, however, Joe fell off the back and Martyn and I dropped off as well to keep him company. He was clearly suffering a little so we stopped at a roadside pub “For Bikers, run by Bikers” for some tea/coffee and food. Suitable refreshed, we set off once more for the last few km of the stage to Castleford and the control at the Esso Garage and fruit juice (with a till receipt for the control). Chris Hopkinson, one of the front “racers” was there – he was waxing lyrical about doing the RAAM solo in the summer. I don't know if I would be able to come anywhere near completing over 3000 miles across America in less than 10 days..... 300km is OK for a day's ride; over 300 miles a day for 9 days would a stiff test indeed!

We were now 270km into the event and things were starting to slow down a bit with the relentless headwind The temperature was also dropping again to below 10 degrees from the high of about 11. Heading toward the Pennines, the terrain was also starting to undulate slightly. About 45km for the last leg – the last half becoming lumpy. We also had to cross the conurbations of Dewsbury and Huddersfield. This was home territory for Joe and Martyn so I just switched off and went into automatic pilot. In Huddersfield, we put on our lights and tackled the last climb up to Meltham.

Chris signed us in at 9:10. We were tired. There was a very nice spread of food laid out but I did not feel up to much apart from a couple of bowels of rice pudding. Apparently the lead crowd had arrived about 2 hours previously at just after 7pm. After chatting a bit to Cris, I bad my farewells and thanks to Chris and Joe – Martyn had left a few minutes before - saddled up and climbed the 800m up the hill to the car park. As I was leaving Tiho and Jutta turned up on the tandem – Its an amazing thing, Audax, they were ahead of us but we never passed them on the route we took... Tiho was muttering dark words to the effect that this was the hardest 300 he had ever done!

45 minutes later I was home and ready to flop into a nice bath and bed. The day after, I am still catching up on energy deprivation and have pleasantly aching thighs and backside. I think I will take the 30 mile commute very easy tomorrow....

What did I forget this time? Bananas! Never forget your bananas!

Statistics:

Total distance: 317km
Moving time: 12h58 Moving average: 24.45kph
Total time: 15h10 Overall average: 20.9kph
Altitude gain over 317km: 1990m (5m resolution - HAC4) (~6500ft)


Altitude Profile: Meltham to Bridlington.


Altitiude Profile: Bridlington to Meltham,


Audax Route.



Pieter Meiring, May 2005.

Access Count: