An early season test for the cyclist who appreciates a challenge. While taking in some sharp climbs and remote lanes the spring lambs route follows a circular loop around Essex, incorporating the rolling hills to the west of the county then heading north sampling the undulations below Thaxted. It follows by dropping South East to take in the mighty North Hill with a westward return to the Start / Finish at Billericay
Looking at last year’s results I didn’t expect to be in the top few, nor the top 20, an average speed of 19mph would scrape me into the top 30 and this was my target.
Mr Curran has previously made a few comments that I only do short Sportives, so I’m hoping this one will keep him quiet for a bit, This now being the longest ride I’ve done at 93.75 miles (150km)
The ride started in Billericay, with approximately 450 riders beginning on a rolling start over the timing mats; I was on my way after 5mins and eager to make good progress and in search of a decent group to ride with.
This search took longer than expected; I was making good time, passing a number of riders that started in the five minutes before me. After 20miles I could see a large group of about 20 riders in the distance, it was difficult to make ground on them, but eventually I reeled them in.
This group was travelling slow at times which made me doubt whether I should stick with them or make a break for it, but I decided against it also due to seeing a number of riders attempt to ride off the front of the group and then get caught quite quickly, until two riders made a break and disappeared into the horizon. I resisted the urge to go with them as I felt it was more beneficial to preserve energy due to the length of the ride.
After 40 miles cycling close to Stansted Airport I found myself near the front of the group, the riders in front of me all slowing down and I could hear them discussing that it was a good idea to cycle at the back of the group, That is exactly what they did, leaving me at the front, I then made the decision to get down on the aero bars and make a break.
The break seemed to have worked, every so often when making a turn I would look behind and I could not see anyone. I continued to cycle down on the TT bars as much as possible. The next 20miles would be quite lonely, but I managed to stay focused on the job in hand.
It was around this distance (60miles) that I began to see the two riders that had previously made the break; I later found out that they were at the front of the field. It took a good five miles, but I managed to catch them, although once I had I suddenly felt shattered.
At the 67mile mark in Great Leighs, I passed a supporter – My Mum, I gave her a wave and wished her a happy Mother’s Day and I then pushed on, the two riders seemed to be increasing their effort more and more and my legs were hurting more and more.
Then after 75miles the dreaded North Hill was facing us, a mile long hill with a few harsh sections. At the bottom of this hill my chain decided to come off, an amateur mistake being in the big rings at front and back, then switching down, lesson learned!!!
So off the two riders went that I had battled so hard to catch. Half way up North Hill another supporter had come along to help spur me on, my mate Dave that I have been cycling with recently, who appreciated how nasty this hill can be. He ran up with me for a bit and gave me much needed encouragement.
Through Danbury, Bicknacre and East Hanningfield I was presented with some nice flat and downhill sections enabling to pick up some good speed, however the group that I had lost after 40miles had now caught me, although this group was now down to five rather than the original twenty. This was the group that I stuck with until the end of the ride, two of the riders from Cressing CC pushing hard at the front to bridge the gap with the leading two, but they still remained just out of reach.
On the final stretch, half a mile to go, the five riders that I was with all found some energy from somewhere, as if it was a sprint finish. First I thought I’d let them go, as they all had started the ride earlier than me anyway - I would therefore have a quicker time. About half a second later I thought better of that crazy idea and back down on the tt bars I went, giving everything I’ve got to overtake them, managing to get up to 32mph I overtook these five riders and also managed to catch the two riders up front, finishing on their back wheels as we crossed the finish line.
I finished the ride of 93.87 miles in 4hrs 40min 38secs. Average speed of 20.1mph 3,010 ft of climbing.
The provisional results currently show me as 4th fastest, And 2nd in my age category. With the fastest rider completing the ride in 4hrs 39mins 25secs
(please no one remind me that if my chain hadn’t have come off that I could have been first)
Garmin Data: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/76916274