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Did the 140 mile route at Dragon Ride yesterday, tad over 10 hours, I now feel like i've been repeatedly punched in the legs, I struggled to even lift the beer glass to my mouth last night, despite having fantasised about a pint and a steak most of the way round, am I only the only one??
No. But then I didn't ride it this year. Last year I'd ridden the Gran Fondo Stelvio the weekend before and hadn't really recovered from it so was an hour slower than in 2012.
How much of a crash-fest was it this year?
I didn't see may of the accidents themselves, but did get passed by ambulances with the sirens on a few occasions. Some very fast descents straight on to junctions and other things seemed to catch a few poeple out, definitely glad of having the bike skills from riding MTB. Thankfully the weather held except for on 30 minute shower, i think it would of been a lot worse if it had been as wet as the day before.
I did the shorter route in a group of 5. Furthest I have ever ridden (95 miles), so felt it at the time. Previous furthest was 70 miles, but only done that once! And living in the land of no hills, I felt the hills pretty badly.
But, after a decent last night (well, I say decent rest, but it was gone 11pm by the time I'd driven home) I don't feel too bad today. Some aches and pains and my legs are tired, but feel surprisingly good.
Two friends did the 140 miles and I said to them that I would have ended up crying at the road side had I needed to ride further...!
The epic downpour we got caught in just at the base of the last climb was a bit mean, but on the whole the weather was great.
I appreciate the living in the land of no hills Stumpy, I live in Norfolk, so i think i did more climbing yesterday than in 12 months at home.
Yep...scud I am just a bit further west from you, nr Peterborough.
You know a ride is flat when the largest elevation gain is the footbridge over the level crossing!
[i]definitely glad of having the bike skills from riding MTB[/i]
Give that person a job commentating on the road cycling on the telly
Did the 300km Devil, just under 12 hours. I don't feel too bad - paced myself, kept eating and drinking. Felt much worse after MTB events, you don't get as battered on the road.
I am spending the day off work though, eating ice cream and watching cycling on TV.
definitely glad of having the bike skills from riding MTB
The only way I think MTB helps road riding is that you're used to a bike ride being bumpy, so you tend to stay loose over rough roads.
Skipped this year's in preference for trying next week's Etape Eryri.
Last year it took a couple of days before the full effects of the Gran Fondo caught up with me 🙁
In fact, if anyone fancies a jaunt around Snowdonia, entries close at midnight tonight...!
[url= http://etapeeryri.com/ ]Etape Eryri[/url]
I did the Medio Fondo - my first sportive.
Loved the first half of it, set off late and fairly quickly - so lots of overtaking on the first half of the course, which was fun.
First couple of climbs nice and long but not too steep, felt really strong riding up and over Rhigos and the following more gradual climb.
Coped OK with Sarn Helen, but one of my knees went at the top and the other followed swiftly after. Quick stop at the feed station and onwards (looked like a nasty crash on the descent following, hope rider's OK).
Rest of the course I was just trying to manage the knee pain (tendinitis), so soft pedalling really - shame as I felt I could have stayed with some of the overtaking groups from the longer route otherwise.
The last 10 miles including the headwind dual carriageway run (solo) were my low point - thought I'd never get to the end and then it started raining.
Finished in 5.58 - which I'd have settled for beforehand so quite pleased to manage despite injury.
Did an uplift day at the FoD on the way home on Monday and felt pretty fresh actually.
🙂