11 September 2016

Well, I made it. My first sportive ride, unless you count London to Brighton many years ago before these things were as well-organised as they are now. 80 miles (128km) is further than I’ve ridden in a day since my late teens, I think, but over the two months leading up to the day I’d been building up the mileage and had done a couple of 70-mile rides as well as plenty of shorter 30s and 40s, and a couple of 50s.

This hit-and-miss training paid off and on the day I rode the distance without being totally exhausted at the end – which was a good thing because I still had to ride home up Headley Way. Those of you who know Oxford will sympathise.

Ashendon feed station

The whole event was well-organised; the route well marked and with two feed stations en route with ‘real food’. The morning was bright but rather chilly at 7.45 when I started in the first group of about twenty riders. Even though the twenty miles to the first feed station at Ashendon were the hilliest part of the day I didn’t really warm up until afterwards. Then there were 32 flatter miles to the next feed at about 11.30 before the final 28 miles with some hills but on familiar roads. Julia and Jonathan had come out to cheer me on and provide almond slices at North Aston (62 miles), which was a nice break for a few minutes.

Riding out of the picture after almond slices at North Aston

Two things I learned: starting in the first group away and being one of the slower riders meant that for the first half of the ride I was always being passed by faster riders, which is a bit dispiriting. It was only later in the day after time and distance had shuffled the pack that I sometimes came across others on the road going at my speed or slower. The other lesson is not to spend too much time at the feed stops – the difference between my planned 50 minutes and my actual hour and a quarter (too long chatting!) would have moved me about 25 places up the finishers’ list!

Everyone gets a medal!