We set out early on Sunday morning with the bikes loaded onto the back of the car for the drive to Darley Dale (just outside Matlock) to take part in the Ride. I had entered us on Wednesday having picked up a flyer when in Derby that day - nothing like good forward planning! The route was described as "Challenging" and there was a choice of 20 or 40 mile options. With me being in charge of entering us I put us down for the biggie! We arrived all of 20 minutes before the first riders set off and I unloaded the bikes and Julia went and registered us (picked up the nice red t-shirts). Now I had seen the course profile before this point and er.... Julia had not! There were 3 Grade 5 climbs, 1 Grade 4 climb and 1 Grade 3 climb and the rest of it was either up or down as well :-) and we were to meet the hardest one first after just 2.5 miles!
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Oh what fun!!! |
The organisers had said there would be drinks and sweets at the top of the first hill and it was only after we thought we had climbed it we realised we hadn't got to the top yet!
There was a (welcome) rest stop at Middleton where the 20 milers went back towards the finish and the 40 milers turned left and out on a further lap. Immediately we started off again we hit yet another 20% hill. Oh what fun...... The rest of that loop wasn't too bad and it was on one great downhill section I reached 39.7 mph - before I chickened out and braked!
There was a (welcome) rest stop at Middleton where the 20 milers went back towards the finish and the 40 milers turned left and out on a further lap. Immediately we started off again we hit yet another 20% hill. Oh what fun...... The rest of that loop wasn't too bad and it was on one great downhill section I reached 39.7 mph - before I chickened out and braked!
We then got back to the Middleton stop for another quick drink and biscuit before setting out for the run back to Darley Dale. It was on this section where we came to Stanton in the Peak. Now I don't know about you but as far as I'm concerned any place name with 'Peak' it it means trouble and this was no exception, the only relief being we didn't go right to the top!
We rolled back into the finish having covered 40.4 (bloody hilly) miles at an average moving speed of 9.5 mph! in 4:15 hrs of moving. We had climbed 4117ft in 40 miles - the good? news is on our LEJOG we only climb more than that on one day (day 2, St Austell to Whiddon Down) and thats over 63 miles so should be gentler???????
Overall it was a really nice ride out over some tough climbs which will (fingers well and truly crossed) hold us in good stead 12 weeks from now!
Martin
Big hills, Red T-shirt, red medal, red face but on a positive note not a red backside! Glad I didn't look at the course profile before. I thought we had reached the top of the first hill (not too bad I thought) It turned out to be the little blip at the start of the profile picture BEFORE the hill - all 6km of it. It was a very tough ride but I really enjoyed it. It turned out to be a glorious sunny but windy day- we expected rain. Just a bit puzzled - how come when you cycle a loop you can cycle into the wind both ways?! It was a very well organised ride, well marshalled, good signposts and tea-stops. I was pleased that I managed the mileage with only a two or three quick stops. We cycled past the half way tea point without stopping!
Am hoping that this will be good practice for Devon and Cornwall. Hoping that some of the training we do will be harder than what we will meet on day two.
Julia
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