Club run reports - 11th June

Pre-audax 100 km ride led by Tony Dos Santos

The weather forecasted today was going to make a for hot, hot ride.

Nine Wheelers arrived for the 8 o’clock start. Ian Bailey turned up as well. Amazing, considering he likes his bed so so much. The temperature was already 20°C, and everyone had two water bottles. Valdis and I were the Wheelers’ guinea pigs, being dragged into the 21st Century and using the E-Brevet for the first time for our club audax.

We started off well; the banter was good and everyone was in good spirits. The temperature started to ramp up pretty quickly though, and fluid was being taken on board. I wanted to ensure everyone was going to make it round the 100 km course. We got to the 25km mark and I “stamped” my E-Brevet - all was well. We stopped and had a snack as the first food stop was 48 km into the ride. We cycled on. The faster riders were off like greyhounds and the ride became splintered, which I expected anyway with Elio, Enzo, Lisa and Leigh sailing off into the distance. 

I got to Great Wymondley and hoped everyone had turned right. A few more kilometres down the road, we met up with the faster group, but there was no Ian or Valdis. They had taken the wrong turn and would meet as at Mill End Plants. We got to Mill End at about a quarter past ten and we all ate heartily, the Bakewell of course, except Lisa, who does not like it! When we left at 11, Denis said his goodbyes.

The real climbing had started, and the impact of the heat and sun beating down was starting to show. I was absolutely shattered on the undulating roads. At 54 km in we reached Great Chishill, where we regrouped and had a nice chat. Ryan Page, looked worse for wear. The sun had got to him and he advised his ride was finished. We said our goodbyes and rode off. Only another 50 km to go in this fierce heat. 

At about 65 km Ian had started to cramp and I was also seriously knackered. Valdis was the only one who looked pretty fresh. The main peleton (the fast ones) had already arrived at The Blind Fiddler at 1.40 and we were still 20 minutes away. However the wall I had hit at 50 km had gone and I was feeling better. With 3 km to go, I had a mad moment and rode off, in the knowledge I could have a nice pint. Arriving at the Blind Fiddler at 2, we briefly saw the crazy fast ones for a split second, as they had their drinks and wanted to get off (can’t blame them). 

We had a nice pint of lemonade and lime and chilled a little. In the knowledge it now wasn’t far to the finish, we made the final push and got back by 4. Absolutely shattered, I was going to ride home, until Ian uttered those immortal words “would you like a lift home?”. I grabbed at the chance and was duly driven home. 

All in all, a good ride, even though the sun and heat had taken its toll today. Here is a list of the riders, as they all deserve a mention on a very hot day:
Denis Bassom, Leigh Pegg, Elio Domenicano, Enzo Misuraca, Lisa Ridoutt, Ian Bailey, Valdis Belinis, Ryan Page, Tony Dos Santos. 

Not a single mechanical today, apart from Leigh having a puncture after the ride had finished. 

This was not written on the throne!