Tour de JoLiz

Sunday 25th August 2013

 

Inspired by the upcoming Grand Depart of next year's Tour de France, we decided to try out a section of Day 1's 200km race from Leeds to Harrogate. Choosing a loop containing spectacular Yorkshire Dales scenery, we stayed true to the race route from Buckden via Hawes and round Askrigg Common, but deviated at Reeth to complete our circular ride, with its own very challenging features.

 
Taking in 63 miles and 6152 feet of climbing, our efforts were similar to a professional athlete's -  the differences that belied the fact that we were on holiday rather than competing were: time in the saddle (6 hours 30 minutes) and average speed (9.7 mph) - notwithstanding Liz’s top speed of 38.6 mph; even Jo hit a scarifying 37.9, never before achieved and possibly not to be repeated.

 

Being Lancashire lasses, we followed the exhortation to Allez Yorkshire, and weren't disappointed by the succession of Dales - Wharfedale, Bishopdale, Wensleydale, Coverdale - and the increasingly clear views as the cloud cover dispersed and we were rewarded with blue-sky clarity of Pen-y-Ghent and further afield flat-topped Ingleborough and the peaks of the Howgills.

 

 

Heading north from Hawes with Great Shunner Fell on our left, we bisected the Pennine Way before passing through the villages of Muker and Gunnerside (and deciding Crackpot could stay signposted 1 mile away - we didn't need to visit it).

Following the course of the rivers Ure, Swale and Cover wasn't the gentle riverside amble that you get in other counties. Instead the road repeatedly swooped down alongside and then crossed over bridges then rose high up above the river, looking over to fabulously named hilltops: Rogan's Seat, Great Pinseat, Middle Tongue, Buckden Pike, Wether Fell, Walden Head, Great Haw.

The hardest pull, because we'd already climbed multiple hills, was over Redmire Common.  It had us out of the saddle in a different way. Yes we walked it.  But where there are ups, there are many downs. When can a downside also be the upside? I wondered.  Answer: when you're descending. We plummeted past Castle Bolton, almost missing the old railway track that's now a gated cycle path complete with warning: COWS WITH CALVES CAN BE AGGRESSIVE. We didn't slow down to find out.

 What is the law of nature decreeing that dinky tearooms can only be found in the first half of any bike ride, and when you're thirsting and starving all that's on offer are dry villages and arid farms? It wasn’t until 5pm that the mirage of the Foresters Arms in Carlton became reality. The ethos of the community-owned pub came through as "We don't do sandwiches on Sundays" was translated into 2 massive wholemeal bread sandwiches stuffed with pork from the Sunday roast, washed down with pints of coke and lime and soda.

Just enough to get us along the final 15 miles up, up, up in the shadow of Great Whernside, then down down down (nearly hitting the deck a few times) as we wheeled and swerved and careered and banked the perilous descent to Kettlewell -  25%  gradient, then calming down for the rolling return along Wharfedale to Buckden.

Watch out, Liz! Jo's skidmark - stayed upright though!

Coming back? Yes, we'll bring a group of Glow women to join us in tackling the 17% climbs and zooming descents. And what's more, we scoped out our campsite and ideal viewing point for July 5th 2014. Where? Not telling, we don't want to be swamped out.

Ride London 100 done and delighted

Outside Buckingham Palace, after charging down The Mall to the finish

On Sunday 4th August we completed the 100 mile cycle route through London and Surrey on closed roads. What an achievement - both in completing it and in it actually happening.
The build-up was impressive, the organisation couldn't be faulted, and the conditions were ideal.

We arrived in London on Friday night, went to Excel to collect our race numbers and then joined in the London FreeCycle - 8 miles of closed roads in the centre of London. Ended up at Green Park cycling festival where there were lots of cycling activities taking place. Met up with some cycling friends - not planned - and saw colleagues from the world of cycling.

In preparation for the 100-mile ride we only had a carafe of wine (not a bottle) with our evening pasta! Bed by 9.30pm. Alarm set for 4am - yes 4am. On reading through the final instructions from Ride London realising that the start was at the Olympic park which is 7miles away from where we are staying. We must be on the road by 5am and the only way is to cycle.

It was still dark when the alarm went off. All our clothes were ready to quickly spring into action, eat porridge, drink fluids, final check and leave. Oops left sunglasses on a stool in the hallway. Realised about a mile into the journey but no turning back now.

We had studied our route the day before using the London cycling maps, asked advice about the best way to cycle, downloaded a route from the Barclays cycle app........ And didn't need any of it - just followed the mass of cyclists converging on the London streets at 5am - mixed in with the drunken revellers finishing off their Saturday night out. We passed a few poor cyclists with punctures - not a good start to the day for them.

The sun was rising as we arrived at the Olympic stadium. It was a warm morning and very exciting with thousands of cyclists. Once we knew where our starting gate was we relaxed and took in the atmosphere.

At the start we looked like this, 6am at the Olympic Park
















We set off in our wave exactly on time. A leisurely 2 miles to the official start and the convergence of the blue and black waves together. Pretty amazing that 20,000 cyclists can set off and were pretty spread out in the first few miles.



 

 

 

We had decided to stop off at the 3 hubs 25 miles, 45 miles and 75 miles. Drinks, bananas and bars on offer. We had our fill at each stop. At 45 miles and after the first hill we sat on the grass for 10 mins with a fantastic view of Surrey. Leith hill was a bit steep and then box hill was extremely mild. All that anxiousness for nothing. We are so unconfident of our ability. My goal was to complete 100miles and enjoy the experience - which I did. It was fantastic to be cycling through villages and towns on closed roads with crowds of clapping people encouraging us on. It felt very special. Once we got to 20 miles to go I felt that's it we have done it. All down hill from now - except Wimbledon hill - short, sharp, shock!

Cycling into the centre of London was special - 1. Knowing it would all be over soon, and

2. The honour of being able to cycling in central London and then down the Mall at 18 mph.

We were given a medal at the end and a goody bag.

It was so good to finish. Took some pictures outside Buckingham Palace and then went into Green Park to lie horizontally on the grass and drink some revolting recovery drink from our goody bag. We both fell asleep exhausted probably for 10 mins. We then staggered over to the food area and bought a veggie burger - delicious.



At the end we looked like this, 3pm at Green Park.

We then walked back towards Green Park tube where the roads were open and cycled back to our flat ( well Deborah's flat). Had a bath and then forced ourselves to go out and have some Thai food and a Chang beer. That was enough. Back to the flat and in bed by 8.30pm. What a day.

I loved every minute of it and am really pleased that I did it but I have no desire to do it again. It might spoil it! And someone else can have a go at it.

Freecycle weekend in London

The media build-up set the scene last weekend's festival of cycling in London as a mass experience not to be forgotten.
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/aug/02/cycling-boom-ridelondon

                                   It was warm, it was well-organised, it was wonderful.

As out-of-towners, we thoroughly enjoyed ambling round central London for 8 miles.  Best sights were the Tower of London and riding alongside the Thames with no traffic distractions.

The carnival atmosphere was uplifted by music and all the generations taking part -  small children pushing their parents on tagalongs, or weaving in and out of the crowds with their little legs pumping away. 

 

 

To cap it all, Liz got to sit in the golden throne previously occupied by Chris Froome and friends