Bit of a ride report – Faffers 400

It was the Faffer’s 400 last weekend (the unusual name of the ride is derived from the organiser’s proclivities and not actually advice on how to get round in time). A scan of the route had given the impression of a basic but pretty ride with some tough bits around Hay and Knighton. A big appeal was the 7:00am start from Didcot a few miles from home for
me.

Jane dragged herself out of bed and gave me a lift to the start where I discovered at the last minute that I’d not downloaded the route to my GPS. Matt sent us on our way and in Abingdon I split from the route and went home to correct this oversight, not the best of starts. This cost me an hour but I was going well and enjoyed some less familiar lanes
through the Cotswolds and managed to leave the first control at Chipping Campden, 72km, with 40 minutes in hand so all seemed well. I even noted Mark, a renowned back marker, sitting on a bench as I climbed out of Chipping so I wasn’t last any more.

A study of differing luggage requirements - photo MattC

Dropping out of the Cotswolds, legs spinning to a blur, the route turned south west into a wall of wind. I kept the wheels turning but my speed dropped dramatically despite being out of the hills. There had been some interesting classic race cars parading round Chipping and somewhere near Gotherington I passed the Bugatti Pub  where what I subsequently learnt to be the Prescott Hill Climb was taking place. Unsurprisingly the only moton to give me any grief was a red faced, overweight, dick in an almost new car who apparently thought it ok to overtake traffic signalling right. Still fighting the wind my struggle was put into perspective by a chat with a bloke who had picked this week to ride from east to west coast and reckoned the wind was costing him an hour a day.

By the time I left the Newent control after a coffee and a breather I was only 20 mins in
hand. I carried on into the wind, through the lumps and bumps of Herefordshire, but it was a rare moment when my speed surpassed 20kph and I was not at all comfy pushing my 71 inch gear into the wind. I kept instinctively getting out of the saddle to honk then realising this was unsustainable on the flat and not a good way of minimising my profile, then I’d spend a while on the drops till my arms ached. There were some beautiful bits, the gardens by the cattle grid near Old Gore, the hedged lane pervaded by the smell of strawberries growing nearby. But distractions don’t make me any faster.

I stopped where the route crossed the A49 and did a reality check. I might yet make Hay in time but then I’d have the hilliest section over to Knighton to deal with, the wind should be with me by then but only so much use up a 200m climb followed by a series of 100m jobs. Then I would be out of time, it would be dark and I’d no doubt be needing to stop for
naps. The memory of suffering the crawl through the night on the Brevet Cymru still lingered. Even with what should then be a tailwind the chances of me finishing in time were minimal and I couldn’t raise any enthusiasm for carrying on regardless for an out of time finish. I’d already bagged my 400 after all.

So I turned north up the A49 and challenged the landspeed record to Hereford when I let the train take the strain back to Oxford. Because of engineering works I had expected to have to ride the last bit from Moreton and wasn’t adverse to the idea but when the replacement coach driver opened his empty boot and said ‘plenty of room for the bike in here’ I didn’t say no. A failure yes but I think I gave it my best and did notice no one else was daft enough to be riding fixed. I’ve since learnt that their were 5 ‘did not finish’ in all but Mark, still behind me when I packed, finished with 5 minutes to spare.

Two Runs and a Ride

What with the Didcot – Knighton ‘Faffers 400’ looming next Sunday (29th May); last Sunday’s Prestwood 10k already entered and my wanting to accompany Jane on her first parkrun I booked Thursday off work to squeeze in a 200k DIY-GPS Perm. So three events were planned for 7 days!

I cycled out to Prestwood with no illusions of getting a PB on this bumpy course but hoping to knock a lump off last years time of 49 and a lot of seconds. A good ride out on the fixie with a bit of a tailwind and only the one taxing climb, up the Chiltern ridge via Longdown Hill, Cadsden. Met up with fellow VCACs Mary, Sharon, Peter and Keith and managed a good run for me despite the hills and a windy finish. 47:50 80/248. The ride back was enjoyable if a little slower what with a slight headwind and tired legs. There and back total of 49 miles at 13.2mph average.

A crap few days at work meant I was very pleased to have booked the day off, even more so with near perfect cycling weather forecast. I opted for my Slaughter Badby Perm, last ridden in November 2010 when it had taken me 12hr 30m. This time it was great, it’s a mostly lanesy route and I was amazed at how traffic free much of it was for midweek. The meadows and road verges were at their prettiest and I was well fuelled, if weighed down a little, by porkless pie, veg pasty and flapjack. I managed to ride the bridleway ‘bypass’ to avoid the Brackley dual carriageway this time and I got my 71″ gear up all the hills, admittedly with some tacking and grunting. My only real problem was running out of water as I didn’t see a shop or garage for ages – I did find a pub in the end though so a cool soft drink sorted me out. 10hr 45m for the 131 miles this time, much better.

Then Saturday Jane and I drove out to Abingdon for the parkrun, I wanted another go but didn’t expect to do to well only 2 days after my 200k, Jane has never raced before and only once managed 5k in training. A fine, sunny morning and as before I went off much too fast, my excuse being I’d lent my Garmin to Jane and didn’t know my pace, then slowed while everyone overtook me. It got quite warm and felt very hard work but I managed 23:48 28/84 which was only 11 seconds short of my PB from a fortnight before so I should have pushed that little bit harder I’m happy with that. Jane finished in under 39m which she was pleased with.

So a few days rest now before I endure the hills and sleep deprivation of next weekend’s spin to Knighton.

Brevet Cymru 2011

I decided to ride the Brevet Cymru 400k audax as an attempt to tackle a properly hilly long ride ride on fixed rather than deliberately selecting flatter rides for the ‘pignon fixe’ as I usually do. I’ve ridden it 3 times before, last time being 2003 I think, and always found it tough going even on gears. The route – from Chepstow to the Welsh seaside at New Quay and back – is pretty, often stunning, and includes a double crossing of the Cambrian mountains.

In an attempt to minimise my pre-ride sleep debt I arranged to camp 3 miles from the start at Upper Sedbury House which proved to be a good move though not 100% effective as I was later to learn. There were several other cyclists camping and I reckon I managed 5 hours kip before waking at 4:45am in time for a veggie pasty and banana breakfast then off to the 6:00am start at Bulwark allowing enough time for getting lost on the way as almost expected.

Brevet Cymru start (photo nicked off ChrisS from YACF - thanks)

 

Riders at Grosmont

Off to a good start I enjoyed the 100m climb out of Chepstow, chating briefly with GY Jon from the veganfitness forum, and was happy to let all the faster freewheelers whizz past on the descent into the lovely Wye valley where I took turns into the wind with a bunch till Monmouth. We hit the lanes here and a series of noticeable climbs, the steepest being the short haul up to Grosmont where I stopped for a mid-stage nibble. My eating strategy consisted of cramming the savoury content of Holland and Barrett’s fridge into my rack-pack along with a load of energy gels and some other bits – a lot to lug around a hilly course.

 

The route flattened out a bit as we rode through the Golden Valley to Hay on Wye enjoying the sunshine and quiet roads. I’d made sure I drunk both my bottles of water and had an energy gel a few kilometres before. A chat with the organiser, Mark Rigby, refill my bidons and a veggie sausage roll from the rack-pack, then I was on my way to Llandovery. A couple of riders had packed at Hay due to the onset of injuries and I was thankful that so far nothing hurt.

Soon we swung north towards Builth Wells and the wind was really starting to make it’s presence felt. Riding with Barry now we noted the answer to the info and, instead of the usual 4WD and horse-box festival I was amused to find Builth had been invaded by not-so-young mods having some sort of scooter gathering. Riding south west now we were fortunate to have the wind behind again for the long, long haul over Sugar Loaf. I was on my own and on the brakes for most of the descent that followed to the control.

Chips and beans in the West End cafe we were 7hr 30m and 150k into the ride and, I was pleased to see, slightly ahead of the rather ambitious ride schedule I’d scribbled out. The first part of the next stage included a couple of steady 200m climbs which were just fine for 67″ fixed, the gradient being suitable for my 50 turns of the cranks in the saddle 50 turns honking then repeat strategy. After the info at Lampeter though we turned direct into the wind and think we all struggled that 10 miles to the Tregaron control where I drunk lots and ate a porkless pie from my stash. This was halfway though – feeling good and only slightly behind schedule.

A strong tailwind for the next section didn’t help me much as I walked up several unreasonably steep hills, I’d been warned this was a tough section on fixed. Most of the rest of the ride was on well graded old coach and drove roads now evolved to wide Welsh A roads – this bit was more a series of short steep corrugations, one even had a ‘16% Low Gear Now’ sign which wasn’t useful advice for me considering my mount.

Aware that the next control at New Quay was followed immediately by a long, double-header, climb of about 300m which had been known to leave over-stuffed riders retching by the roadside I played clever and ate moderately a couple of k early. I was in need of a sit down though and was most chuffed when the vegan girl on the cafe checkout let me have some of her soya milk for my cup of tea, very unexpected in a not very right-on fish cafe called the Mariners!

Veggie sausage roll at New Quay

I walked the first, very steep, bit out of town then gently rode the climb away from the sea and back into the mountains. I passed a couple of small groups of riders at junctions, possibly making sure they’d got the route right or maybe shedding layers as it was shorts and sunglasses by now. We were to head back east for the next 100 miles and the wind was now strong and mostly in our faces. I was a good half hour behind schedule but no where near the time limits. As the evening went on though I started feeling tired, sleepy tired, and was distressed to find a full blown dose of the sleepies upon me!

Now I expect to have to stop for little power naps on any overnight ride, it’s not uncommon and the dark early hours of the second day of a long ride curses many riders with the need for 40 winks in a bus shelter. But it was only 9:45pm! Still, remembering that I took a brief nap around midnight last time I rode this, foolishly forgetting to get off the bike first but fortunately landing safely on the soft A40 verge, I know not to ignore those little micro-sleeps when the bike suddenly lurches and you are aware your eyes have shut for a moment.

I walked some hills I’d usually have ridden as a short walk would wake me up a bit. I slowed to a crawl – later analysis showed a 13.4mph riding speed for the first 150 miles followed by 11mph for the rest. Darkness descended, in my mind my schedule was revised to just making sure I left controls before they closed, then to making sure I just reached controls before they closed. A stop for a 5 minute nap on a nice grassy bit which I later noticed was the entrance to a rest home, very appropriate. Everybody passed me.

Somewhere around here a large polecat slunk out of the bushes onto the road just a few metres in front of me, spotting me he turned and slunk back into the undergrowth with belly close to the ground – I think he was hoping I hadn’t spotted him.

The sleepy 200m descent back to the Llandovery was not a good experience but the large coffee was very welcome and I nibbled some chips and chatted with fixed rider Paul who arrived just after me. Paul’s approach to the ride seemed to be more casual than mine, he’s finished it before on fixed, and I took on board his point that we had till 9am which was ages yet.

I had a brief chat with the long suffering proprietor who has been serving as a control on this ride for the last 20 years, it seemed there were a couple of outstanding names on the check list he’d been given but his approach was that they’d be there cleaning up for a while yet. Leaving shortly before the control was due to close – Paul, John and a couple of others still eating – I set out up the next climb on the seemingly endless 46k to Bwlch where basic sleep facilities were offered.

Before leaving Llandovery, still on the A40, I was aware of a rider with no lights on my right saying something. I hit pause on the iPod and turned to see a lad of about 12 on a BMX, unsual after 1am even in Wales. ‘I beat you’ he repeated. ‘Ah but I’m going to beat you to Chepstow’ I replied. ‘Yebbut you can’t do this’ – he did that trick where they stand on the saddle while still holding the handlebars and freewheeling along. Then he dropped behind. This did happen I think, it was just too complicated to be a sleep-deprivation hallucination.

The coffee kept me going for half an hour, then a powernap and later a caffeinated energy gel. I was surprised to find Peter Holden, organiser of last weeks 300, controlling at Bwlch Village Hall. The volunteers behind audax put in many, many hours to make these events work. I found a vacant sleeping mat behind the stage curtain and laid down in the dark for 30 minutes shuteye. 5am and I ate my last porkless pie then, 15 minutes after the control closed and with only 2 more riders still there, I set off for the last 60k back to Chepstow.

Only half an hour but that sleep really did the trick, instead of a continuation of my stop, start, crawl of the night before I was happy and strong again and enjoyed the early morning ride along the A40 through Crickhowell and Abergavenny. The remaining 2 riders passed but I seemed to be OK for time so long as I didn’t puncture or anything.

I knew about the sting in the tale, the 200m climb between the Usk and Wye valleys, which awaited in the final few miles of the ride. I climbed it no problem though, a brief walk halfway up to relieve my back as it was too steep to ride seated. As is proper on a Welsh ride the rain came down and I honked through the woods and the downpour traumatising the world with a rendering of Pink Floyd’s Shine on You Crazy Diamond, which I was fortunate enough not to have to hear as I had the iPod earphones in, accompanied by the grunts and creaks I was no doubt also emitting.

I finished with 50 minutes to spare and was awarded the Lantern Rouge which I shouldn’t go on about too much as audax events are not supposed to be competitive. A couple of hours kip in the tent before it got unbearably hot in the morning sunshine and then an easy drive home to laze away the rest of the Bank Holiday weekend. All in all a great rides with many extremes of experience – I’m not planning to take the fixie back to Wales in the near future though. That was tough!

Heart of England 2011

The Heart of England 300 starts not far away in Cirencester and has always been a good experience and not too tough so I thought I’d enter even if it was only a week before the Brevet Cymru. I set the alarm for 4am but managed to wake from a fitful sleep just before 2 so I already felt tired for the drive down and the gremlins were trying to persuade me I was ill and should turn the car round and go back to bed.

In fact the first stage through the Cotswolds, up The Whiteway, over the Compton Abdale climbs, gradually up to pass Broadway Tower then descending Saintbury Hill and on through flatter bits to the first control at Alcester was great. Cool but not cold for the early climbs but warm enough to take off my jacket by 9am. This stage that I thought of as the hilliest turned out to be the fastest for the day for me.

Onwards to Atherton, drinking my way through another 2 bottles of water as became clear we could look forward to a scorcher. I again bounced the cafe settling for a Co-op control and a sandwich then off towards Daventry. I’d originally hoped for a 17 hour ride but it was looking like an unprecedented 16 was possible now, in fact I passed the halfway point in just 7hrs 30m so I briefly assumed it in the bag. I was getting hot though, too hot!

A chat with Gary as he passed then a sit down behind a shady hedge to eat a flapjack in an attempt to get some oomph back. I plodded on towards Daventry, making sure I kept drinking, crawling up hills much gentler than those I was flying up earlier. I was beginning to think gearing up to 71″ had been a mistake.

It was quite reassuring to find most of my fellow riders similarly melted when I eventually reached the Daventry cafe. The atmosphere of happy disorientation was more one I’d expect on the second day of a 600 than 190k into an ‘easy’ 300. I ordered chips and beans but couldn’t eat it all. I knew there was one steep hill that I’d be walking a bit of just after the control so didn’t want to force my stomach. Richard, a previous AAA champ who should know about these things, reckoned the rest of the next stage was also hilly – a fact I’d conveniently forgotten.

At least 40 minutes later and I was on my way at last, the first climb was tough but shaded and the walk was only short. Richard was right though and the scenery rolled for most of the stage interspersed with fields full of rape and a mouth full of greenfly, I was very glad of my sunglasses.

It was starting to cool by the time I reached the control near Tackley at the Sturdy’s Castle pub. I’d been having an energy gel 10k before each control and fortified with a pint of orange squash, a black coffee and my 3rd pack of salty crisps for the day I was off on the last stage a little alarmed that I was now going to have to work just to ensure my sub 17hrs now.

Stopping to put my iPod on at Bladon I felt cool and strong enough to manage a bit of a flier for the duration of The Best of Jefferson Airplane, it was dark by now and I was playing ‘guess who’s light that is on my wheel’ with myself, Pat or James I reckoned. I’ve noticed before how I tend to have a burst of power just before I totally blow and sure enough, just as The Prodigy took their turn in my headphones, my legs went soggy. I pressed pause and turned to tell Pat I’d run out of fuel. Fast forwarding to some gentler Caravan we pottered on till, 20k from the finish, Pat overtook me, stopped just up the road and started eating chocolate. I took the hint and ate some sweets and dried fruit and we continued on to finish comfortably before 11pm.

A good ride with some old lessons re-learnt but on the positive side I avoided sunburn and dehydration. I do hope it cools down a bit for next weekend’s Brevet Cymru though!

 

The Dean 2011

What with this being my first 300 since 2008 I expected to be stepping outside my comfort zone during The Dean 2011 – this notwithstanding my suspicion that I’ve ridden it more often than any other AUK. Still there we all were at the Peartree P&R carpark getting a baffled look from the bus driver who kindly waited while we flew up the road at 6:00 am. I took it easy near the back while the large lead group made an impressive sight as they cruised up the A44.

Turning into the lanes the sun seemed to be promising a bright day later and I enjoyed the ride to the Stow control where a quick stop at the ATM and a munch then I was off through the Cotswold towards Newent. Martin, another fixed rider, caught me after the fast descent out of Stow and said I seemed to be spinning fine – I think I hit 30mph so a 150 plus cadence. I’d made the mistake of removing my jacket and before long the mist seemed to become fog and the temperature seemed to go down not up. Still I enjoyed the ups and downs and the intermittent company as faster riders caught me and vice versa. I told myself that once we dropped of the escarpment the fog would clear and it would be much warmer but this was only partly true. Team Rapha passed with a cheerful hello on the flat after Bishop’s Cleeve.

I ate 3 of a 5 bag of doughnuts from Newent Coop, and bought a pack of safety pins as I was getting annoyed by the my leg-warmer’s tendency to slip down every time I honked up a hill. I put my coat and gloves back on slightly worried to be already wearing my night gear at midday.

The next stage through the Forest of Dean was great but slow as it’s rather hilly. The sun started winning against the fog. Lambs everywhere, including a couple on the road with mum. A lad walking down the lane only to be called back by an old boy from a doorway ‘you need a bucket, you won’t get near ‘im without a bucket’. All became clear soon as JJ and another conscientious AUK were spotted trying to entice a pony off the road. I berated them for not being properly equiped with a bucket then told them help was on the way. I was happy not to spot the dead wild boar piglet reported by another rider though I guess this is evidence of a live colony somewhere in the trees. The jacket came off again.

I honked up the climb to Bream no problem and after a few more lumps was caught up by Judith who I promptly led the wrong way through a Chepstow subway on a misjudged shortcut. Still we met with JJ at Tesco Express and refuelled then off over the Severn Bridge back to England where we chatted away the miles till the climb up to the Somerset Monument which I knew I was going to be walking. Matt and Richard caught up for the spin into the Malmesbury control.

Nik and Paul at Malmesbury (photo thanks LEE from YACF)

There were still bikes everywhere even 200k in, the Derby Mercury contingent rolled in complete with Jim on trike, Paul set off on his fixed trying for the next control before dark fell, the cafe was buried in bikes. The first 300 qualifier in PBP year is guaranteed a good field and now it had warmed up it felt a fine day.

I enjoyed the ride and banter with Matt and Richard much of the next stage. I was pleased to stay on board for the Broad Town climb but had to take a walk on up Hackpen which followed soon after. The guys had found an excuse to wait at the top and I did my best to keep up on the long descent, legs spinning till I was sure my joints would shake loose. We got the Info at Marlborough but I got dropped soon after and was happy to ease off. Wheeled my bike into the foyer then orange juice, cold chips and crap coffee at Membury Services where I was surprised to be the only cyclist, the others all having settled for the petrol station option. Still it’s always fun to watch the motorists try and work out what a bike is doing in the motorway services.

On my way for the last leg, glad of my good lights and my GPS to guide me in the dark, potholes lanes. Everyone catches me somewhere around the Lambourn Downs which is fortunate as my GPS suddenly dies, it’s running on what’s supposed to be over 20 hours worth of back-up battery so I’m not pleased (the next day this appears to be user error). Still Derby Mercury seem to know where they’re going and I’m on home territory soon. I hang on till after the Stanford Info control but can’t keep it up in my 67″ gear and have no idea of the time or my speed any more.

I let them all slowly fade into an abstract of red LED but still reckon I might be on for a 17 hour finish – I’d only hoped for 18 so this was good. My shoulders and hands ached and I was well into the ‘countdown to finish’ mindset. Another rider had lost the group and I knew he was suffering from the uneconomic pedal pedal whirr pattern as he grabbed a moments free-wheel every few revolutions. In familiar territory now I found the distance between villages, between junctions, seemed to have grown. The pace hadn’t slowed but my mind had, prolonging discomfort. It was nice to have company though- no need to speak just plough on through the night close enough to anticipate arrivée.

Almost in Cumnor and I catch a glance of a rider watering the hedge, soon I find Dave and express surprise to have caught him, he’s says he was waiting for JJ who soon joins us and minutes later we’re spinning down Cumnor Hill into Oxford. I don’t realise I’d lost my companion till too late. Dave goes right, we take in Saturday night George Street where the young folk are into their cups, JJ heads left for Summerton. I grab a receipt at Cowley Road Tesco ATM giving me a 16hr 45m finish, my second fastest Dean and easily my fastest on fixed.