30\07\16 - National 400km Audax

This year's National was run by the Peak Audax, so hills were never going to be far away.  With a 07:00 start, within minutes the route went NW to the A53.  And into a raging headwind.  On the A53 it was a short downhill to Buxton and then onto the Monsal Trail.  This is a old (disused) railway line running W to E with wonderful views although it was still difficult to make up some of the lost time.  I got through the first 100km (to Anslow) in nearly six hours, at many places thinking that I would be outside of the cut-off time.  On the upside the scenery was fantastic and the Monsal Trail a joy to ride.
The next hundred was westward to Upton Magna (just E of Shrewsbury).  Again the wind showed its strength and it was an arduous effort via Rugeley, Penkridge, and Ironbridge.  But I needed to get back to Upton Magna via Langollen, a 120km circuit.  A problem for me was that the hamstring behind my right knee was acting up and my calf was starting to cramp.  Several riding positions later these problems became manageable.  The last few miles from Chirk to Llangollen was downhill so I didn't have to pedal much but wasn't impressed with the fact that I'd have to ride back up this long, long hill.
It was as I left Llangollen for the return that I really discovered the strength of the wind as I shot up the hill faster than I'd come down.  Oh, joy!  By now it was dark so I loosely paired up with another rider for safety's sake as we made our way back to Upton Magna.  I'd thought that with a reasonable run back I'd return somewhere between 05:00 & 05:30.  How wrong I was.  I'd managed to forget those all-important words - Peak Audax.  Got as far as Stone when the mountains kicked back in.  Ok, they were probably pimples to some but at 03:00 in the dark they seemed mountainous.  Made the penultimate control at Aston (375kms), suffering from sleep deprivation and general knackeredness but with the reassuring thought of only 30kms to go.  Back along the Tissington Trail (another disused railway line that was uphill all the way) to the HQ (406kms) by 07:45.
The National 400 is the nearest thing to a TLC event as you can get.  There are controls (generally village halls) along the route manned by willing volunteers who know what's required.  So you walk in, get your card stamped, and food\drink is put in front of you.  No queuing, no faff.  Two of the controls were the "Van of Delights", full of food\drink, although at the second rendezvous it had run out of water - so it was just a van.  And I thought the ukelele player was a bit OTT.
400's are usually considered the most difficult of all Audaxes.  They are just not quite long enough to plan a sleep-stop as you get 27 hours to complete.  For me an average ride time is just inside 20 hours although this one was nearly 22 hours.  With about 2 and a half hours non-riding time, there's not much leeway involved for any mishaps.  Yet it did have its rewards with the scenery and the occasional company.  That's two 400's this month - I don't need another one this year!  PW.