V
vernon
Guest
I'd been hoping to get a flatish Audax in first but the one I wanted was
oversubscribed leaving me with the mini NorthWest Passage 120km organised by
the West Pennine RC for my first one of the year.. The faster and fitter
riders had set off at 08:00 for the 200km NW Passage leaving me with a bunch
of greyhounds with lesser endurance. The omens were not good. I was
dropped within seconds - they were taking no prisoners and true to past form
I found myself riding alone for the first 35 miles until I caught up with a
rider who's had two punctures. At the last check point I was joined by the
chap plagued by the puncture fairy and another rider. We rode together for
most of the remaining 30+ miles.
The ride itself took me into unchartered riding territory - Todmorden,
Nelson, Trough of Bowland and back to Rochdale. Great scenery in places but
the climbs were unrelenting, not too severe just long and draining. The last
10 miles of the ride saw the fastest 200km riders catch me and within the
last three miles a chap on a fixie swept past and disappeared.
I was the last one back from the mini NW but still had hours in hand. Loved
the free pie and peas dished out at the pub used as the control centre.
I'll have to be a lot fitter to contemplate the NW200. I managed an average
of 11mph (17.5km/hr) if just saddle time was measured Taking the cake stop
and few pauses on the longer hills into account I'd not make the cut for the
15km/hr minimum pace of a normal Audax but I'm satisfied with my first major
ride of the year.
Now to lose some lard for next years NW200 ;-)
Vernon
back in Leeds
oversubscribed leaving me with the mini NorthWest Passage 120km organised by
the West Pennine RC for my first one of the year.. The faster and fitter
riders had set off at 08:00 for the 200km NW Passage leaving me with a bunch
of greyhounds with lesser endurance. The omens were not good. I was
dropped within seconds - they were taking no prisoners and true to past form
I found myself riding alone for the first 35 miles until I caught up with a
rider who's had two punctures. At the last check point I was joined by the
chap plagued by the puncture fairy and another rider. We rode together for
most of the remaining 30+ miles.
The ride itself took me into unchartered riding territory - Todmorden,
Nelson, Trough of Bowland and back to Rochdale. Great scenery in places but
the climbs were unrelenting, not too severe just long and draining. The last
10 miles of the ride saw the fastest 200km riders catch me and within the
last three miles a chap on a fixie swept past and disappeared.
I was the last one back from the mini NW but still had hours in hand. Loved
the free pie and peas dished out at the pub used as the control centre.
I'll have to be a lot fitter to contemplate the NW200. I managed an average
of 11mph (17.5km/hr) if just saddle time was measured Taking the cake stop
and few pauses on the longer hills into account I'd not make the cut for the
15km/hr minimum pace of a normal Audax but I'm satisfied with my first major
ride of the year.
Now to lose some lard for next years NW200 ;-)
Vernon
back in Leeds