Anyway, here’s the spreadsheet.

For the record, my official time was: 

6:44:49 which placed me 263rd out of 796 riders who completed the 102 mile route.

This year’s version was 7 miles longer for a start (102 miles), but more importantly, it was backloaded with hills. Starting with Mow Cop, the route went on to Biddulph Moor, Barlow Hill, Macc Forest, Lamaload Reservoir and finished up with the legendary Swiss Hill, a cobbled climb in Alderley Edge reminiscent of the types of climb you get on the Tour of Flanders road race. Without having done any recce I reckoned that 6 hours was no longer on, but hoped to get in under 7. This was based on the fact that I am a stone lighter than this time last year; have logged more quality miles in training; and switched to a 27 rear sprocket instead of last year’s 25 which left me grovelling on Mow Cop.

The day started frosty with some mist, but this soon burned off to leave bright sunshine, low temperatures and very light winds, pefect conditions in other words and a far cry from the strong winds and hail that had been lashing the area only 24 hours before. I got into a fast group and we were soon rolling through the flat lanes towards Middlewich and on to Nantwich at a solid pace. I ignored the first feed stop and pressed on through Audlem and Batley in a reduced group. The relentless pace was beginning to tell as thigh muscles tightened not used to riding at such a constant pace on the flat for so long. I stopped briefly at the second feed to eat a banana prior to Mow Cop: the fun was about to start. I’d covered the first 60 miles or so in a little over 3 hours and was a little concerned that I’d gone out too hard. 

Folly at Mow Cop: image credit Creative Commons, Steve P2008 on Flickr

Mow Cop was definitely easier than last year, the reduced weight and lower first gear got me up with nary a zig or a zag. That was pleasing. The long grind up to Biddulph Moor offered no problems, but as the road swung northwards the real nature of the new route revealed itself with steep hill after steep hill. Barlow Hill was particularly nasty as it had a very steep start, and a short descent to a blind corner to make you think that you’d finished before revealing a long and agonising drag up to the Buxton – Congleton Road. The next “featurette” appeared after the final feed (half a sausage roll and a refill of energy drink) in the shape of the ascent out of Macc Forest. This was the toughest hill on the route, I think: a solid 17% for a mile or so. This left me crawling and zigzagging my way towards the top trying to avoid the patches of ice (yes, really) on the road.

Once over Macc Forest there was only the long drag up towards the Cat and Fiddle before I was on my own training roads. I knew what to expect from the hills to come and although the climb past Lamaload Reservoir was just as steep as Macc Forest I knew it wasn’t as long. This was followed by a long blast down Blaze Hill and on once more to the Cheshire Plain. Just Swiss Hill left then.

My legs were pretty shot by this stage and although I had got into another group moving at a decent pace I dropped off a little to refuel. My local knowledge told me to be in first gear before the sharp left hand turn onto the hill, and sure enough there was carnage as riders scrabbled for gears, slipped on the road as they stood up on the pedals and picked the wrong line. I weaved serenely through and got to the top very tired, but feeling very pleased as I don’t think anyone from the group I was with made it up the first pitch of the climb, let alone the second.

From Alderley it was a simple run home to Knutsford along flat roads and into the leisure centre clocking 6 hours 44 minutes (an average of  15.1mph). Given how hard the route was, I was very pleased indeed with my time.

The Cheshire Cat has transformed itself. It’s no longer a season opener with one marquee climb, but is a solid and tough full-on sportive not for the out-of condition.  The signposting was excellent throughout and the only improvements I would suggest are 1) signs at the very busy sign on – it’s alphabetical, but there was no means of telling which queue to stand in; and 2) food at the finish. This was a criticism last year and one that has yet to be addressed. Overall, an impressive route and a well organised event: thoroughly recommended.

Full report after the event.

After horrendous weather on the Saturday, Sunday dawned bright and clear with a fresh breeze from the west. I rolled out from Knutsford Leisure Centre feeling good, but quite apprehensive as I’d never tackled a ride as long as this so early in the season. Luckily the first few miles were very easy and I worked in with a group to share the effort into the wind. Signposting was excellent as we navigated our way west to Delamere Forest where the first hills arrived. These proved to be relatively simple and I rolled into the first feed stop near Beeston Castle well under two hours. Here I met up with Mark, a rider from Glossop who I’d met out near Whaley Bridge on a ride recently, and we rolled at some pace on to the next feed down some quiet and very easy lanes. The sun was shining and as the route swung back east the wind was on our backs.

From the second feed we began to be aware that we had put some serious miles into our legs and we could see Mow Cop in the distance rearing above the Cheshire Plain like Mount Doom. Mark dropped back to help his friend Dave and I pressed on with Mark’s other mate, Matt. The organisers had helpfully put in an extra hill before Mount Doom just to soften our legs up and Matt was beginning to get worried about cramps in his calf. I was going well but was really worried about the coming climb. Matt and I had made a tactical decision to take it very easy on the approach, and we crawled like Hobbits towards the steep section at the top. The approach was much harder than I’d been led to believe and was horrified when I saw how steep the top section was. There was no alternative but to zigzag abjectly, and I apologise to the Mitsubishi 4X4 driver whose progress I reduced to a crawl.

At the time, after 70 miles it felt like the hardest hill I’d ever climbed and was mightily relieved as I rolled downhill to the final feed. Matt was suffering cramps quite badly and I helped him stretch out his calves before we set off on the last leg. Almost immediately there were two more hills, the sort that you’d romp up on your 25 mile evening training ride, but after 75 miles and Mow Cop in your legs they felt like a real struggle. We knew, though, that after these it was just a gentle roll back through the lanes to Knutsford. Unfortunately, some kind soul had taken all the signposts down.

I knew vaguely where the route was supposed to go, and because I was now on home territory, I knew the lanes around Withington too. Within a few minutes I’d picked up a train of about 30 riders who were lost. At every junction we came to there seemd to be riders approaching from every direction, and it was apparent that riders were becoming scattered all over Cheshire. The group pressed on, and eventually, as we approached Toft we picked up signs again – cue all the buggers who had been following me for miles while I slogged into a headwind dropping me like a stone as attacks went off the front! Ungrateful b*****ds .

Matt and I rolled into Knutsford Leisure Centre after 6hrs 23 minutes and 477th position out of about 1000 riders. I was really pleased to have finished such a long ride and apart from struggling up Mow Cop (I wasn’t alone) I felt pretty strong throughout. Good prep for this year’s Etape du Dales!

Picture copyright http://www.cyclosport.org

And here’s a video – I,m the guy after about 55 secs wearing the red/white 7-eleven top. Gives you a good idea about how brutal Mow Cop is.