130 or 200 that is the question🧐.
The wait is over , winter training has been a challenge and the 200 seems a big jump for most of us as the Dunbar book of excuses gets a significant airing
The cast top ten .
💯 man himself Rowan
9Doc (AMR) Lewis no excuses
8 Junior … many excuses but hard to hide the watts
7 what’s left of Hugh Brennan
6 Jon … excuses already tendered.
5 Cato no excuses after Girona training camp
4 Barry unfortunately had to cancel 😞
3. Julie … will keep us all honest
2. Liz. Already on second volume of excuses
1 COC ( not any more !) J.F.D.I ( the 130 that is)
0. The ghost of Martin Og.
Van is packed to busting , bikes are fettled , tyres changed and rechanged. Forecast is excellent.
5am alarm. Rendezvous at stena . 27 piece fry for Hugh
Calm crossing , and back in the cars for transfer to Kielder.
Quick stop for registration and off to find the “bothys”
Then a quick spin to test the legs
Very early start Saturday with Rowan chomping at the bit before the prearranged time. Tim and Julie faffing.
Into the Elite pens on Rowan’s instructions. And away we went. First cut off at 37km was 11:45 so we ( at the back) wanted to be sure of passing that. Tim , Rowan , Junior , Hugh and Jon disappeared into the distance. Only Jon was seen again at first feed .
Hardly any photos during the spin I’m afraid.
Quick stop at first feed station and back in the saddle. Second section seems easier Bit of a tailwind I think. But the climbing never ended. At second feed there had been a bad crash and diversion set up. Junior and Rowan had got through just before , Tim and Hugh were diverted. We just arrived in time for the course to be open again
Off on the last 30km with finish in sight. Not even slightly tempted at the 130/200 junction. Lovely roll in along the lake.
Junior , Hugh and Rowan already on second pint having finished an hour earlier. Jon minutes behind us and Cato not far behind him.
Tim naturally had gone on the 200 , but because of his diversion was now only 175. He was devastated 😉, Julie rolled in a bit later exhausted not from cycling but from chatting to anyone who would talk to her.
Back home , quick shower and up to the Holly bush inn for a feed and a drink.
Great weekend. Couldn’t ever go back if it was raining. That course would be seriously messy in the wet.
The most impressive result from the weekend was however converting mr Brennan to kilometres !
The most dubious result is surely Tim’s second place in the 200 with an average speed of 37 kph 🧐. Jury are still out.
