September 2017| 75 After registration and a quick safety briefing whilst in the saddle, we were raring to go and then let off the leash! Nervous chatter was followed by laughter as almost immediately we hit a bottleneck in the path. Fortunately we were sent on our way in small groups of 50 or so riders and weren’t travelling at speed so no drama. I have to say that the scenery was amazing with the sun starting to rise over the hills and it really felt great to be part of this fantastic event. The weather was kind also with a light breeze and not too hot to start with, although it did warm up as the day went on. Thankfully though not the 25+ degrees I’d experienced on a training ride a few weeks before. It has to be said that the signage wasn’t the best and having to follow the small blue acorn symbols for most of the first 15 or so miles with just few BHF arrows caused a few frustrating moments, especially when a group of us took the wrong route down a very steep winding path only to be told at the bottom that the South Downs Way was back up the way we came! At that point I dropped back from the last of my chums and was cycling on my own for most of the ride, but of course the route was busy enough to meet other riders and walkers, especially as we passed through gates along the way. The South Downs has some very demanding hills, even for the most athletic of riders, so steep to the point where an old rambler would casually amble past you as riders zig-zagged up the slope due to the ridiculous peddle rate when in your lowest gear. My approach was to ride as much as I could, but if being overtaken by walkers or progress is just painfully slow, then I’d jump off and push. It made a nice change actually, using different muscle groups and you actually could take in the scenery rather than having your head down trying not to look how much of this hill was left to complete! I have to say though that if anyone cycled every inch of the 100 mile route then they must be super human as some of those hills were brutal even to walk up. support was critical it wasn’t jumping me at each with a smile, course the there would me finishing. a break as well as a
Ensuring I had at the 7 check points to my success and if for my partner Lorna, in the car and meeting pit stop along the way reassuring words and of food/water supplies, then have been no chance of It was important to take much for psychological as physical recharge.
Riding in with just a few miles to go in the twilight was magical. It was after 9pm and so I concerned that I’d be too late to collect my medal, so I was pushing on as hard as I could with the rabbits darting across the trail. There was no one around and it was great to enjoy the
environment like that, especially knowing that I was so close to the finish. However, there are two monster hills at the end which make sure they sap most of what you have left, just when you think you’ve cracked it. I arrived at the finish at 9:40pm and the organisers were still there to cheer me in, so I did get my medal! Only took me 16 hours and 20 minutes so possibly the slowest time ever, but I had finished and on a fat bike and that was all the mattered. So, would I do it again? Well no probably not, but I did meet a few people who come back every year and I can sort of see why. Would I recommend it? Absolutely, it was an incredible adventure and one I’ll never forget.