Wiggle it, just a little bit

Mark arranged to meet me at 8am in Histon  at 7.00 last Sunday.  i got a text saying he was 30 minutes away (he started in Eastbourne)  last minute rush, bolt my coffee in time for Mark to pick me up  in his "Granddad car"  and we made good time to Huntingdon. We were directed into the station car park (free) where we got our stuff together. At 10C but with a fair stiff breeze 80 miles was going to be a challenge.

We headed onto the road towards registration, all well signed. Registration was in the school hall. The area had been transformed with pagodas from Wiggle and a Sat Nav firm. It had the feel of an "athelete's village". I must have looked the village idiot. After registering in the hall, almost smoothly, I received my timing chip, voucher for free coffee and my number and we rode to the start.

Although there were up to 1000 riders expected the queue at the start banner was short and we were away in the second batch. Pace was gentle as we headed through the outskirts of Huntingon towards Grafham. Very quickly the road narrowed and the traffic almost disappeared. This proved the story of the day.

Following the infamous white arrows on red background, the roads wound around Grafham Water and Bedford airfield. The road changed direction often enough for the effects of the wind to be mitigated without being too frequent.

The first stop at about 25 miles had (free) peanut butter sandwiches (smooth, never mind) cake, lovely flapjacks, bananas, a gel and bucketloads (literally) of Hi5. We took on fuel (including a pocket full of jelly beans) and admired the bike porn.

At the split we took the epic route and the pace picked up a little. There were a few riders strung out on the route. We passed some, more than some passed us. Mark very kindly stuck with me even though he could have picked up a chain gang. Poor man had to occupy himself doing bunny hops on road bridges.

Status Quo: Mark relaxed, me fighting to keep up

Thr route was mostly undulating, and as the road kicked up I fell back and with the crest I finally caught up with Mark. This happened quite a few times! A few too many for me!

At the second food stop, limited but clean toilets, plenty of food and a chat with a man up from Glastonbury doing the ride.

Headed into the last third of the and the route got lumpier. I got less fast. If that was possible. Mark of course just floated.

Interestingly the traffic was so low there were very few issues. Most of the chaingangers were well behaved although the gel littering was a bit much.

Finally, 5 hours of riding, 5.30 elapsed we arrived back into the finish. Got handed our schwag (a medal, a mag and some bars). Got our free coffee (cake extra). Bit odd that after all the free cake the coffee was rationed and the cake paid!

For those who want to mock my pain (life is pain, highness. Anyone telling you otherwise is selling something, my Garmin data is here.

All in the route was well planned and quiet. The course was quiet compared to the London Cambridge and the ability level (present company excepted) higher. If anything the only thing missing was a more inclusive range of ages and sexes.  

I'd finally just like to thank all the people that sponsored me and raised over £300 for CAFT using justgiving