Last leg of my Super Randonneur.
After completing my 400km event in May one large obstacle stood in the way of my 2022 SR.
600km and around the Scottish Borders and Galloway forest, this is the ride that would define my 2022 season and the one I had been looking forward to most of all. This anticipation was also filling me with a few pre ride nerves in the days leading up to the event.
With the Audax starting at 6am in Carlisle on Saturday morning the obvious decision was to head north on the Friday. With the majority of England gripped by the first heatwave of Summer (30℃) it was surprising to say the least when my Friday warm up ride up Hartside Pass in Cumbria was completed in rain and mist, 12℃ at the summit. Most of Friday evening was spent eating and checking every available weather app for forecast around Scotland, it looked as if my luck would change and the weekend would be dry if a little windy.
600k day.
46 riders made the start line at 6am outside McDonald's in Carlisle after a brief pep talk from Andy Berne we rolled out at 6am. I was aware that the first 150km to Kirkmichael would be into a significant headwind, luckily I was able to get into a strong group and we shared the work. The kilometres ticked by quickly that morning to a point that I thought we are riding too hard for a 600! The desire to stay with the group and my natural competitive nature meant I stayed with them snatching the chance to remove my jacket at an info control I had to pedal hard to get back on. We were in Kirkmichael at lunch time for the control point and some food included in the entry.
Kirkmichael 144km
After eating and refilling bottles etc I was off again, this time solo this made a nice change being able to stop and take a photo etc when I wanted. The 150km were good in a group but quite stressful, a means to an end. The next section would see me negotiate the highest point of the entire course, the Shoulder of Shalloch on Minnoch at 1421ft at the top. This really took me into the Galloway forest and it was beautiful. After the climb I descended into Newton Stewart for another control. This was 200km a nice milestone to hit at 3pm.
Newton Stewart 200km
My next major target was to get to Abington Services at 302km before 10pm, this was due to the Burger king closing time and I wanted a Whopper !! The next 50km from Newton Stewart to Moniaive were some of the best I have ever rode. It seemed all planets aligned, The sun was now out it was finally warm (Scotland is cold even in June), I had picked up a tailwind and the scenery was nothing short of stunning. At Moniaive I knew there was a shop that presented the best opportunity for food and water before Abington. I bought some crisps and nuts and water but nothing else really took my fancy. Big Mistake. I phoned home and spoke to my Wife Emma and the Kids briefly, Moniaives local pub was very tempting in the evening Sunshine but unfortunately not an option. So onwards towards Abington (50km), It was at the top of the Dalveen Pass that I began to realise I hadn't ate enough. The sunny skies were replaced by foreboding clouds and the temperature dropped like a stone. I layered up and began the decent to Abington, my vision and concentration seemed impaired and I generally just felt rubbish. I picked up two other riders from the the original morning group the 3 of us rode the last 10km together..
Abington 302km
I got there at 8pm plenty of time for the a double whopper meal. I felt cold and weak under the service station air conditioning, so after finishing my meal I put on air warmers gilet and jacket. I needed gloves and leg warmers really but alas they were in Carlisle which seemed a million miles away at that time. When I got outside I found it was now raining 😠. So when all else fails deploy cycling rule #5 - Harden the F*** up. I was only left with 45km to Lockerbie lorry park and this was all along the motorway relief road. After 5mins the rain stopped and the road although a little boring was ideal for evening / night riding.
Lockerbie lorry park 348km
I arrived at 10:30pm solo and tired but I was now able to eat, grab a shower and try and get a little sleep using the bag drop facility provided by the organiser. I got about 2 hours sleep and after eating breakfast provided by the team of volunteers at the lorry park I began day 2. It felt good to be over halfway, and the first part of day 2 was a fairly benign stretch of B-road to Gretna Green. I love cycling early mornings everything is fresh virtually no traffic and you feel your getting one up on everyone. I passed a few groups of fellow Audaxers on the road, my 3-30am alarm must have been a lie-in 😄😄, but I was flying apart from the nagging pain in my right knee. This is an injury that's plagued me for 20 plus years, a legacy of amateur football days. Its generally ok but flairs up from time to time. the cold air wasn't helping (Scotland is cold - I wish I had leg warmers), I soon arrived in Gretna and Café was open, more coffee and second breakfast soon had me feeling human. I chatted to a few others who arrived while I was there, before continuing this time with another rider Sophie from Newcastle we rode back to Lockerbie together before splitting up again. A few miles with company was much needed after many hours solo.
Moffat 429km
I stopped again in Moffat another control point and took the opportunity to have my 3rd Breakfast of the day, a full Scottish this time. I was determined to stay fuelled today and not repeat yesterdays mistake. Straight out of Moffat was the days biggest climb The Legendary Devils Beef Tub, it was a climb I had done before on fresh legs, I was far from fresh this time and the Strava segment time reflected it 11 minutes slower this time!! The headwind since Gretna had been very hard going and my knee was very sore at this point but after the descent a right turn would mean the wind would be cross and eventually tail as the day went on.
Peebles 482km
Peebles had seemed a very long drag from Moffat and my lowest point on day 2. After a simple lunch on a bench outside McColl's I pressed on again the Sun now out and with only just over 200km to go I felt happy. I can do it, I thought. A traffic free section through Glentress and two spectacular climbs from Innerleithen and even more spectacular descents led to the next control.
Eskdalemuir 539km
The best control ever, bathed in sunshine after food and drink I didn't want to leave but I had 65km to go. These km's flew by with the feeling of satisfaction filling my mind, my knee was sore and now my right Achilles was very tight probably as a result of favouring the knee. I didn't care nothing barring a major accident / or mechanical could stop me now. After a quick control stop at Annan for ice-cream. (£1.10, I 💓 Scotland) I set about finishing by 6pm. I punched the air as I rolled through 600km on my Garmin and into the finish Control at exactly 6pm. 5 hours inside the time limit.
Carlisle 605km
The Brevet card was verified at the finish by Andy Berne. The finish point was conveniently also a pub. I spent the evening there drinking and eating with Andy, Sophie and various other riders who rolled in after me. Tour of the Borders and Galloway 2022 what a brilliant event, with organisation second to none by Andy and his team. Of the 46 who began 35 finished within the time limit. some rode through the night and although I could have pushed on into the dark, I think my decision to rest and enjoy the sunny afternoon on Sunday was wise and definitely more fun.
One step closer to PBP2023. Pre qualifier ✅
My fundraising is now at £960 for MND association.
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/hamsterrides
No comments:
Post a Comment