In 2022 my 600km ride was my favourite ride ever. It had everything, great views, highs, lows and an enormous sense of achievement. So I was looking forward to this years 600km, I like the distance as the speed I ride at should give me the chance to have some sleep at the overnight control.
I had selected the Slaithwaite 600 which started and finishes in Doncaster and features an overnight stop in Slaithwaite or Sla-wit as the locals pronounce it! I had booked the Friday and Monday off work and the weather forecast was looking very good ! Sun cream would be needed and after a cold spring this was a real novelty. On the Friday I travelled up from Shropshire and had a short shakedown ride in North Yorkshire riding the famous climb of Greets Moss, this is one of the 100 greatest climbs series. When I'm not riding Audax I enjoy riding these climbs and aim to complete the 200 featured in Simon Warrens first 2 books. It was a very pleasant little 30km spin and shortly afterwards I arrived in Darlington at my hotel. After a 3 course meal at the local pub I had an early night with the alarm set for 4am.
Saturday morning soon arrived and after a light breakfast at the hotel I rode the 5km to the start point. After signing on the large field of PBP hopefuls rolled out at 6am. The first 100km traversed the Pennines to the first control at Brampton, under an early morning mist we steam rolled the first few KMs I had chosen just to wear a light Gilet and arm warmers at this point anticipating the warm weather to come. Everyone else was layered up !! I was cold 🥶but after about an hour the sun broke through and as others stopped to delayer I rolled on in the lead group. We were flying climbing up the long draggy Yad Moss (another top 100 climb bagged) This climb is 16km at 2% we rode it at 26kmh !! It all seemed too easy and I got feeling we would pay for this tail wind later, but at this point the world felt like a wonderful place. In a group of about 6, warm sunshine brilliant views over the vast North Pennine landscape, it was perfect. We arrived in Brampton around 9:30 a 3.5hr 100km! After a CO OP picnic which was a little rushed because we wanted to keep a little group together. Little did I know at this point the best part of the weekend had already been and gone 🤯
3 of us rolled on towards Shap now heading south. The roads changed immediately from the long constant climbs in the Pennines to rolling roads in farmland, the riding continued to be pleasant without being spectacular. Crucially our change in direction to a southerly heading now gave us a head wind and the going was immediately tougher. We worked well together particularly on the A6, we stopped briefly in Shap and then Continued over Shap fell the famous climb in most peoples LEJOG route. After this I rolled into the next control at Carnforth, I was tired and hungry after a virtually non stop 200km. I rested on a park bench for roughly 30mins and then hit the road again. The next section was across to Settle through the top of the Forest of Bowland, the weather was great mid twenties and blue skies. These temperatures were not something I had experienced for the last 6 months and I felt drained and sluggish. Had we started to quickly ? Was I ill ? Whatever it was I didn't feel great and the terrain exacerbated the feelings. Constant short sharp climbs and descents were tough going, but the weather was still good and time was on my side.
The next control at Settle was to have an actual control in the form of a camper van serving food and drinks. However it didn't open until about 6pm !! I was early and opted for Chips and a Coke in town. My appetite had gone at this point but I forced chips down. As I rolled back out of Settle I noticed the camper van was now in position, so I stopped again for cake and tea.
The next control was in Clitheroe and was reached along roads I had cycled before on another Audax. The sun was now cooler and I felt a bit better. After a quick stop I again pressed on towards the overnight control. At this point I had a decision to make the standard route followed urban roads through several Lancashire towns, I had made an alternative route taking in an Extra climb the renowned Crown Point (you guessed it another 100) this added a couple of extra kms and also additional climbing. the trade off was it being more scenic. I opted for the extra climb and don't regret it but it was tough, at the top I layered up as the temperature was dropping quickly and also phoned home to briefly say hello to my wife and kids. It was now about 8pm and I had another hour or so of light. The remaining section from the top of Crown Point to Miln Bridge (the over night control) was very urban and I just wanted it to get it done!! However from viewing the route prior to the event I knew there were two significant climbs still to be done. As it turned out they were bloody tough long climbs especially after 300+ kms. The altitude gain really meant the air temperature dropped rapidly and I was really cold for the last bit.
The over night was great a hot meal was provided and then a large room with air beds, I grabbed a few hours sleep before being woken at about 03:30 be some of the loudest snoring ever recorded 🤣. After faffing with kit and grabbing some breakfast I hit the road again. I had taken more rest than most so was now behind most of the faster riders and was destined to ride mainly solo all Sunday, I was happy with this as my way of riding a 600 is to enjoy it and ride in the daylight hours. 268kms remained and the first target was the next control with a chance of a full English breakfast at the Happy Café on Sandtoft Airfield, I knew this opened at 08-30 and timed it nicely arriving bang on time. The breakfast was brilliant and just what I needed, looking back this early morning section was definitely the day 2 highlight.
Onwards ! Next stop the famous Humber Bridge another feature that had drawn me to choose this route. I had never cycled the bridge before my only previous crossing was by car many years ago. Its a great piece of Engineering and when opened in 1981 was the longest single span suspension bridge in the world. On the run in to the bridge I wanted to get a good picture on what was now a beautiful morning. On a downhill section the view seemed perfect, so in my wisdom I decided it would be a good idea to get a photo while still moving!
Disaster struck I dropped my phone, It could have been so much worse as I could have easily crashed. I quickly stopped and retrieved the phone, the screen was smashed and the display totally black. It dawned on me how stupid I had just been. Never again, that picture can always wait till I have pulled over. I continued in a black mood, how can I contact my family ? Can I repair or replace the phone? What do I in case of emergency ? I crossed the Humber bridge under blue skies but was struggling to get my head back in the game.
The next control was North Ferriby a few KMs after the bridge. I stopped at the coop and gathered my thoughts, the phone was useless I could not unlock the screen to phone home but it was still connected to my Garmin so it was alive. Later in the ride the route passed through York I decided this would be the only real chance to get it repaired. I pressed on feeling better that I now had a plan but I had to reach York before the shops closed which would be 16:00 on a Sunday. The terrain had now changed to pleasant lanes through the flat lands of North Eastern England, The final control before York was a quiet village called Elvington, it was here a kind lady let me borrow her phone to contact Emma my wife and tell her all was well apart from the phone situation. Next stop York.
In York city centre I asked various people for directions to a phone repair shop. Anyway what transpired in the next 2 hours is a long (boring) story so I will be brief, no luck with the phone and after waiting 90 minutes for a failed repair I spent £250 on a new one. At least now I had a working replacement but a much lower bank balance. I had also lost 2 hours!
The next leg was a 65km push to the McDonald's at Lemming Bar, It was now I started looking at the time! I'm not normally a full value rider and time limits don't normally enter my head, I had gone from thinking about my fastest 600 to having half an eye on control closing times etc. As it transpired lemming bar McDonald's offered a good refuel and the final 35km from there back to Darlington passed by relatively uneventfully apart from sharing the last section with my new friend "Il Pirata" !! I had cycled with this gentleman on the Saturday morning and himself and his kit bore more than a passing resemblance for the that of the legend Marco Pantani ! I never did get his name but I just called him the Pirate. We rode the last 20km hard and fast through and off, probably riding harder than either of us really wanted, but we could virtually smell the Arrivee.
Back at base in 37 hours, I had a mixture of emotions ranging from relief to disappointment at the slow time. Ultimately I am was very happy to be a 2 time Super Randonneur and also I had finally Qualified for PBP 2023. I'm going to France 😁
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