Last Sunday saw me do the Spud Riley challenge ride – a locally based cycle-sportive run by Manchester Velo. I had high hopes for this event as it went over some of my favourite local hills (Old Brickworks, Windgather rocks and the Cat and Fiddle) and my condition had been improving as I ramped up my training for the Vitruvian on 8th September. There is a long (101 miles) and short (54miles) version and both pack in a heck of a lot of climbage! I was minded to do the 54 mile version as that most closely matched the distance of the bike leg in the Vitruvian, but told myself that if I was feeling good, I’d do the long one (hah!).
I set off nice and early (about 8am) and settled in with a fast group – mistake. Pretty soon my heartrate was hammering and I was quickly shelled on the first big climb (the Brickworks). Once I’d got my HR under control and was doing things at my own pace, things improved, and I even caught up with a few early fast starters on the way up the Goyt Valley to the Cat and Fiddle. There followed a superb long descent along the A537 to Allgreave, followed by a long and grinding two mile drag up to the village of Flash. One of the features of this event is that there is a sign at the bottom of each climb telling you how far it is to the top – two miles doesn’t make pleasant reading.
After the village of Crowdecote and the first time control I had to make a decision – my legs were suffering from my fast start so I decided that discretion was the better part of valour and headed up the five mile climb to Axe Edge and the short route. This was the grimmest part of the ride – exposed, headwind and unrelenting. I was fast running out of energy so slowed down, ate a cereal bar and glugged some carbs. It was pretty lonely on the moor as most people were doing the long ride – only one guy caught me in the five mile stretch – blithely complaining that he had “no energy today” as he whizzed gaily past. Don’t you just hate that!
The return stretch past Lamaload reservoir and down into Pott Shrigley was fantastic, and, back on the level of the Cheshire Plain I felt I had enough juice left to get into my aero tuck and TT it back to Woodford Community Hall. My watch said 3:58 but my official time was given as 4:02 making me 12th equal out of the 60 odd that did the short course. I was pretty pleased with my effort and would recommend this ride to anyone wanting a friendly and challenging ride around some of the best and quietest roads that the Peak District has to offer.
So, it’s the Vitruvian next, an event I am really looking forward to. My target is to go under six hours (last year was 6:03). It will be tough, as I had a fantastic bike leg last time: 2:53 (some 18.5 mph for the course), but as long as I’m sensible, I think I’ll be OK.
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