118km from Clowne, 22nd May 2004.
After having persuaded Jennifer that an Audax may be a "Good Thing(tm)" for me to try, I sent off a cheque to join AUK and decided to try a flattish ride for my first attempt. The first one on the Audax Calendar to fit this bill was a ride organised by Clive Wilman. The shorter ride (118km as opposed to the 211km) of the two on offer was chosen because I was under strict instructions to return in time to have tea and take my son Christopher and daughter Lydia to their gig with the Langset Dance orchestra in the evening. Jennifer and I, my other daughter Rosanne and a few friends were also going along to dance. I estimated that I would hopefully finish by about 4pm giving enough time to drive home and comply. The decision was made about 2 weeks before the start of the event so I gave Clive a ring to make sure I had not left it too late to enter the ride. He assured me all was fine so off went the cheque. A few days later, the route sheet and instructions arrived. I spent a couple of hours going over the route on the computer autorouting program map and putting in the route to allow the stages to be uploaded to the GPS. The route seemed fairly straightforward but with most of it on little lanes and B roads, there are a lot of junctions and turns!
I had no real worries about fitness or about not completing the course being fairly fit cycling 30 miles a day on a hilly commute. Nevertheless, I took it easier on the commutes of the week. Two out of the 5 days in the preceding week, I had to take the children to school and the other days I kept the effort level well in the aerobic spectrum.
However, I had very recently bought a new Brooks Swift saddle (my old Selle Royale Lookin was starting to get sticky and uncomfortable above 15 miles) and this had not been properly broken in yet, only having done about 90 miles. As compensation is splashed out and bought some Assos bib shorts - Rolls Royce comfort! I am hooked!
The night before I gave the bicycle a once over to check nothing was loose, lightly oiled the chain and put it into the Polo VW Hatchback ready for the morning.
The day dawned partly cloudy and cool in Sheffield with a forecast of sunny spells, moderate northerly wind and normal temperatures for the year, about 14-17C. Two bowls of Mielie meel porridge (made the night before and left to mature in the bottom oven of the Aga) and a slice of toast went down a treat. I put on the bib shorts under jeans and tee shirt and loaded cycle shoes, knee warmers, undershirt and short sleeve cycle jersey into the car. I forgot by waterproof jacket despite putting it out ready. I filled one bottle with 60g Go and water and retrieved the second 500ml bottle of frozen plain water from the freezer. Goodbyes were made and made off at about 8am.
I arrived at the Clowne control at about 8:40 just in time to see a few late leavers on the 211km leave. Took out the bike and re-attached the front wheel. Clive was inside dishing out Brevet Cards. There was some tea and biscuits but I was still full from breakfast so decided to forgo the pleasure of yet more. Went outside and put on knee warmers and both the base layer and top having discovered the lack of water/windproof. Into the rack bag went my packet of marshmallows emergency glucose. Checked the cycle computer, set the route on the GPS, perused the route sheet again and went and emptied the bladder before admiring a few bicycles and chatting to a few fellow randoneurs about nothing in particular.
Clive did a nice impression of starting a Grand Prix with a chequered flag and we were off. A small group of 6 riders took off and disappeared into the distance in a cloud of rubber smoke while the rest of us warmed up slowly, tootling along at about 25kph on the undulations. I chatted to one chap who informed me that his usual partner was off and he was riding alone for a change. For the life of me, I cannot remember any names of riders I met on the ride - my memory is good at pictures and faces but names, never! If any of you are reading this, I apologise unreservedly.
A little further on, I made my first wrong turning (or lack thereof), turned around after about 20 yards and legged it to catch up with the group I had been with. In Blyth, I paired up with another chap and chatted about all sorts. We caught up with an elderly rider and passed the time of day, turning right instead of left at Clayworth in the process and doing 4km extra as a result after he turned south, not being part of the Audax! The detour meant we were on the A630 a little longer than desired. A lorry driver decided we were delaying him and tooted us - we gave a friendly wave and then ignored him. At South Weatle we met up with the correct route but immediately deviated off route again by not staying on the A620 and turning into the village. The detour was rapidly corrected. 5km further on, I gaily sailed past the first control, Rosie's Cafe, looking for it on the left instead of where it actually was, on the right! 10:50am, 51km down and still felt very fresh.
Beans on Toast and Tea for £1.80 was the order of the day in Rosie's Cafe. Brevet card duly stamped and food consumed, we sat and chatted a bit extending the stop to about 30 minutes. Some others were setting off all the time and eventually so did we, but not before I was accosted by a mean looking motorcycle rider - well, he looked mean but was not! He was one of Jennifer's colleagues out on an advanced motor cycle training course. He expressed surprise at seeing me so far from home - "You didn't cycle all the way did you?" I also tucked into half my supply of Marshmallows feeling that the ammount I had had for lunch was not quite sufficient to cope with another 72km.
By now we had turned due north directly into the wind and a chill had set in with the sun hiding behind a few clouds. I needed to warm up so informed my companions that I needed to pick up the pace to do so. Pretty soon, I had lost them and was trundling along at about 30kph. The route was now quite simple and no more excursions occurred.
The next control was in the delightful little village of Epworth, the birthplace of the Wesley brothers. The Info control was to complete a quotation on the statue of John Wesley. 3 minute stop to write this down and to share my pen with another randoneur.
I had warmed up nicely by now but it was still cool so I set off at a steady pace on my own. About 5-6km along, the route turned south and with the wind now more favourable it was easy to pick up the pace. On the short stretch of the B1396 I caught up with a group of 4 riders and tagged along sharing the lead with another fellow making between 30 and 35kph for much of the run south. 8km further on, we picked up another rider who had pulled over . At the staggered crossroads in Bawtry, my co-leader went straight on and had to be shouted to come back leaving me in the lead of the group with the new addition. The terrain now started to get a bit more lumpy although there were still no significant hills to tax us. We got chatting about music, music lessons and what personalities liked what instruments. He has a couple of younger children and was considering introducing them to instruments. After while we discovered that we had lost the rest of our group and so carried on regardless.... My new companion turned out to be a reasonably experienced Randoneur and spoke about some other rides he had been on. The ups and downs were now quite pleasant slowing to about 15-20kph on the ups and sometimes hitting 50+kph on the downs. I noticed that we went through Harthill where I had brought Lydia on one of her Orchestra gigs a couple of years ago - the steep hill didn't seem as steep this time!
The next thing we knew we were turning into the Clowne Control at 14:10. I was quite surprised to find that we were 6th and 7th out of a field of 35 to report in; the first of the non rubber burning group...
As we walked in, Clive was muttering something to the effect that he was wondering when people would start turning up! The Brevet cards were handed in and duly stamped. We then turned our attention to the food laid on by Clive and his superb bevy of helpers. It was a very nice spread although I did not eat much, wanting to get off home in time for the arrival of guests for tea and getting ready for the dance in the evening. I said goodbye to my companion of the past 40km and waved him off on his cycle before packing up and piling everything back into the Polo. After packing up, I felt a bit peckish and finished off the rest of the marshmallows and the dregs of the waterbottles.
I felt very good - the ride had been exhilarating. The legs felt good and I could have gone on a bit further. However, as a first Audax, I think the length was just right. I am looking forward to me next one - I have started working on Jennifer already. The Tramway 160 would have been nice but I am on call that weekend. Possibilities are the "Roses to Wraggs" 211km in July and "Phil and Friends" 150km from Stannington in August, perhaps both? I think I am hooked.
What would I do different next time? I would certainly knock together a route card holder. The GPS works fine but sometimes you need to see the route instructions as well. I would also make sure I do not forget my windproof jacket next time. I really need to learn how to remember names! Must use suncream properly; I got a nice cyclists tan on the arms - fortunately did not burn.
Pieter 30th May 2003
Cannondale T800, 16.5kg all up
Schwalbe Marathon plus tyres
Rear carrier with rack bag
Tools: Alien II, puncture repair kit.
Spares: 2 tubes, chain, 2 AA batteries.
Speed: max 54 kph, avg 26.3 kph
Climb: total 480 m, max gradient 10%, max climb rate 21 m/min; avg 6m/min.
Heart Rate: max 152 (~80%), avg 130 (~65%)
Temp: max 22C, min 12C, avg 16C
Access Count: