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| Cleopatra's a welcome sight in the stunning dusk backdrop |
January 28th 4.30 pm the welcome finish at Cleopatra's
I think i developed a love-hate relationship in the 6 weeks leading up to this challenge i set myself, mainly due to problems alongside the organising i endured!
It was case of loving the idea of helping raise awareness of an illness that affects so many people, directly through family or indirectly through friends or someone they know. The hate was the frustration of trying to put the all the pieces together in a giant puzzle...you know what you have to do but there is always a piece missing...luckily the weeks of organising came together, albeit right at the last minute!
The day of the challenge was Saturday 28th 8:30 am, praying for a decent day i awoke to find the complete opposite, wet, cold and windy...but what could i do, all the support was in place, so it was a case of sucking it up and get on with it!
The Bike Marshals arrived as promised, resplendent in all the necessary gear to make the ride look professional, but above all safe, especially as the visibility was not the best. Awi and Andy were following in the support vehicle carrying my spare bike, wheels and nutritional needs for 150 miles!
Also with them was Martin, he was going to film the whole day and hopefully edit the challenge into a short documentary.
The ride itself was a matter of focusing on the job in-hand as this was going test me in every way, physically and mentally, trying to complete 240 kms / 150 miles in the middle of winter over some very tough terrain in North Wales. I set myself a target of an average of 32 kph / 20 mph for the whole ride, which was kind of fast for this time of year, taking-in the tough course and the weather being against me...i was asking a lot!
An hour into the ride and some of the harder hills already behind me i was up on schedule holding a good average of 32 kph tempo into the wind and not putting too many stresses on my muscles so early into the ride. By the time we hit Corwen i was settled, well warmed-up and maintaining the target average. Further on we reached Betws-y-Coed the rain was torrential and cold, i couldn't feel my hands or feet and had to make an abrupt stop to change my gloves, which turned out very tricky, as it was so difficult to get the dry ones over my frozen hands! As you can imagine mind games started as i set off for Capel Curig, i knew what was ahead and it was going to test my determination to the limit.
By the turn at Bangor I realised i was still up on schedule and had the advantage of a favorable wind to help, at least back to Corwen. The climbs out of Bangor were tough, not so steep, but with over 75 hard miles already in my legs they were telling! Once over the top it was a fast run all the way to Betws-y-Coed, the rain was relentless but it didn't dampen my determination and as i approached Corwen i knew i could make to the finish and hopefully in daylight.
Here we picked up my second support car, Angelo and Deb's Derosa, who have been supporting me in the difficult weeks preceding this ride. Now i was full of strength, my speed was high and i just seemed energised despite what the elements threw at me for the last 6 hours...i suppose in a weird way i was glad because it certainly lived up to it's name...challenge!
Nearing the finish, emotions got the better of me, i knew i had made it, but it let me shed a tear for my dad, who i knew would be so proud of me completing such a tough ride in such conditions!
The Bike Marshals who didn't put a foot wrong, for whom I'm so grateful for keeping me safe, sped ahead with the support cars, leaving me to enter the finish where a great reception awaited. The falling light and the dusk backdrop just made it all the better, as the headlights from the bikes surrounded me up just as we entered Holt...fantastic and emotional!
Family, friends and supporters stayed for a celebratory coffee/beer and photo at Cleopatra's Bistro, a perfect opportunity for me say thank you to everyone involved who helped to make the challenge a success in support of the Alzheimer's Society!
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| The 'amazing' Bike Marshals |
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| Exhausted but happy |
Stats:
Dist: 240 kms (150 miles)
Time: 7 hrs 56 mins
Spd: 30.3 kph (19 mph)
Elevation: 2008m (6,526 feet)
Weather: what can i say...s**t...rain, sleet and cold wind
Thank you to the following:
- The Bike Marshals - outriders and route safety
- Awi & Andy Hazell - Support car (1)
- Angelo & Deb's Derosa - support car (2)
- Martin Bilsborough - filming and photography
- Solestar - providing the time prediction prize
- Keith Jones - TLI finish area banners
***Most importanily i would like to thank with all my heart those who kindly donated to this worthy cause, over £1300...THANK YOU!***
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| Family and friends enjoying a meal at Cleopatra's |
See you next time...
Nick
