50 Miles in 4/5 hours

Having agreed to be in one of the Exeter CTC's team, Pippa arranged a team of 3 with myself, Roy & Robin and another with Kirby, Pippa and ? - I stupidly agreed to try the 50 miles in 4/5 hours from Kingskerswell - Crediton and back - it was only after I studied the map that I realised this took in Haldon and all the other hills around the area - and this was the easy ride!!! Having got there nice and early I waited for the rest of the bunch to arrive, Roy & Kirby arrived but no Robin and Pippa at least there were two in my team - Poor Kirby was on his own! There we were minding our own business when suddenly they were off like greyhounds after a bunny - I take it we won't be stopping for coffee then! I certainly had to pedal fast to avoid being left behind even if the leaders made two wrong turnings we all still followed like sheep!! Eventually we got on the right road out of Newton Abbot and made our way up the teign valley to Chudleigh and up to Haldon where I had to stop and hand out the Jelly babies. After Graham Brodie had showed off by sprinting past us on a hill taking photos then still managing to overtake again, I went to granny gear and just relaxed on up until - oh no Puncture hit!! On a hill what a nightmare! Kirby was a real gent and gallantly helped the pathetic female out by changing my inner tube and then puncturing the new one so had to start again - I reckon this lost us a good half hour!

Disaster had also struck that (a) I had forgotten my camera so couldn't sprint ahead to take pictures! and (b) my speedo had stopped working so I didn't know whether I did come down from Haldon into Doddicombleigh at 84mph or not!!!

Eventually we got moving again and made it to Crediton and back over more hills - my knees were beginning to grind by this stage! I couldn't see why everyone wanted to get to the check in by 3hrs 55 mins when I would have been happy with 4hrs 55 mins - but despite the punctures and the bannana stops Kirby and I sailed into the checkpoint at 4 hrs 35mins not bad at all - Sorry Kirby for holding you up so you didn't make your 3hrs 55mins!!! At least the weather was good!