After last years effective cancellation of the Poor Student calender event due to snow everywhere I was looking forward to this. The forecast was rain early and a stiff headwind but as a bonus the rain had come and gone before I set off for the start at 7am. Lots of riders are gathered at the Peartree Park and Ride, many familiar faces, some I manage to attach names to. Organiser Dave is handing out A4 paper photocopies of the brevet card as the proper ones hadn’t arrived on time, this had happened to me twice when I used to be the organiser and doesn’t make preparations run smoothly.
8am and we’re off, the bunch seems to think it appropriate to start the ride averaging nearly 30kph so I lag behind a bit soon catching up with Ross BD who also settles for a sensible start pace. The fact we are going to have a headwind for the first 50 miles becomes apparent but it’s not unexpected. I leave Ross behind when we cross the A420 and pootle onto Shrivenham where I stop for a nibble. I also take my waterproof off as I’m warming up a bit, this has an effect like dimming the lights on the whole sky so I hastily put it back on again.
A bit of out of the saddle stuff on the way to Highworth including the unusual experience of not being able to catch up with a horse, they are obviously better up hill than me. Along the rolling B road to Blunsdon but after Purton we’re back in the lanes. Looking in my mirror I spot some riders closing on me who are obviously on the ball as they see me peeking and give me a wave. Tim and Emily, who I’ve not seen for a good while, catch up with another rider. Tim and another rider are also on fixed. We chat away a few miles, turns out Emily will also be runing the White Horse Half, a bit faster than me by the sounds.
We part at Malmesbury where I go for a quick Coop stop while they peel off to the garden centre for a sit down feed. 15 minutes later and I’m heading off to Cirencester soon to be joined by a young chap who has been riding snowy grimpeurs in the Peaks and who I let go after 20k when the road starts going upwards.
A slow but gentle climb in some lovely sunshine up the Whiteway then a hairy descent down a grotty lane where snow can still be seen at the sides of the road and potholes, gravel and pheasants have to be dodged. Then it’s try not to loose too much speed at the crossroads to nowhere then up the long, glorious, climb before Compton Abdale. I plan to ride this but to walk the fixie up the short but taxing climb up to the A40 shortly after. I have to tack most of the way up, fortunately there is hardly any traffic and the nearest riders are a good way behind. Halfway up my tacking is making more horizontal progress than vertical and I manage to stick the front wheel into the mud at the side of the lane so I stop to ‘admire the view’ for a couple of minutes. The guys behind pass by commenting that I seem to be travelling twice the distance they are. Back on board, without actually walking any of the climb, and I make it to the top then descend to Compton Abdale in a blur of legs.
I climb up through the village then dismount for the steep bit to the A40 where I stretch my Achilles pushing up the climb. More hills and 25km to Chipping Campden so time for a breather and a sandwich, while I sit on the curb I spot Ross bumping over the grassy further along bit to avoid adding 2oo metres to the route. Refuelled I’m on my way and soon catch Ross who has had mechanical problems, he’d lost 2 chainnring bolts, after I’d left him and while the bike shop in Purton had sorted him out he was trying to make up lost time at the expense of eating enough. After noticing him sliding backwards on even the little climbs I feed Ross a Trek bar which hopefully helped then speed on to reach Chipping C before dark for a change.
Tim and Emily catch up at the the One-Stop and by the time I’m ready to go there are at least 6 of us gathered including 2 other fixies. I weigh up the pleasure of a convoy back to Oxford against getting a move on and leaving now. I realise that they’ll all drop me anyway when I take my next promised walk up the nasty lump 5k after Chipping so I put my lights and nightgear on and get myself moving while they faff.
The tailwind is strong and consistent. The Relentless energy drink I’ve glugged buzzes me along. I walk my climb in the knowledge that the route gets lots easier after Moreton-in-the-Marsh on the other side. I usually stop at Shipton garage on this leg for refreshment and a breather but no need today, an energy gel and I carry on. Mostly alone though I pass a few riders and a few pass me. I don’t really realise how cold it’s getting till Matt C catches me a couple of miles from arrivee and comments.
A munch a chat and a final receipt in the garage at Peartree, I’d planned for 11hr 30 and finished in 11hr 5 so happy with that, and just the 10k home to do when I do start feeling the chill. 140 miles door to door, a good first ride of the year!