Eden Valley Epic - My First Sportive

BigDaddyG

As I very much like reading others 'blogs/accounts' of there first rides I thought I would throw something together, and put it out there for you guys to read/pull apart.

http://app.strava.com/activities/42969941

The night before.........Now this wasnt the ideal preperation as I had a sportsmans dinner to go to but been super nervious about the ride and not wanting to mess up I stuck to J2O and enjoyed the night but my mind was focused on getting my kit together and the forthcoming ride. Got home got all the kit layed out, Gels, food, bottles and powder all there - check. Bed time and wait for the morning!!

06.15 up and all stuff packed - checked and double checked!! Porridge eaten and a slice of toast now I am ready and waiting for my to mates to turn up and load the van with the bikes. At this point we are traveling up to Penrith which is an hour away but the talk turns to times and bravado as both the other 2 guys are strong riders and me being a novice so I say say 4.5/5hrs for the 60 miles (approx 4000ft) when really I was just thinking I hope I finish it, as I have only done 1 previous 60 miler but not with that amount of climbing.

We arrive. book in, get changed and join the line for the start. Got to say I was in awe of the bikes and some of the kit people had but the bike fashion police must have a field day at one of these events . We set off and stuck together as we make our way out onto some open road where the pace picks up but I feel ok, people on the side of the roads, clapping and cheering...........I like this I thought!!! As the ride went on and the hills started to roll in my 2 mates made there way up them considerably faster than me and the ineviatable happend and I couldnt catch them back up but I didn't mind as it was me vs the course and boy was I loving it!!!

Having riden in the Lakes the views on this ride were equally as good and the roads were very quiet and time flew but as I reached half way I thought it would be a good time to meet up with my mates at the stop and have a brew and flapjack before tackling the next 30. As I arrived at the stop I filled my bottles up again and looked for my mates but couldn't see them so I didn't hang around and off I set. The next 10 miles were a complete grind and felt as though my wheels were in quicksand and at this point I was wondering if I would finish in my 5 hours - (I have to say I was to afraid to look at the time or the mileage on the computer till I got till 45 miles) as the road flaterned out I started to pass a few people and got my tail up this made me feel so much better and I got my second wind.......flying wasn't the word - I was enjoying it again!!!

Then the Final hill - b'stards is all I can say who thought that was a good idea after 55 miles!!! After dragging my 18st frame up it and making my way over the finishing line the sense of pride was overwhelming I had completed the course and done it in a time of 4:20mins (which having looked at the results gave me a position of 338 out of 935) which I was OVER THE MOON with. As someone who only took up cycling 6 months ago and is a 'big lad' I am overjoyed.

10 mins later my friend turned up after waiting for me for 1hr in the food stop although I think they just like the sandwitchs and biscuits too much ) Tortoise and Hare springs to mind!!! hahaha

Only downside was the guy who had come off his bike with a serious health problem which my friend had stopped to help along with the 3 doctors and ambulance service, my thoughts are with him and his family!!

Sorry for the wall of text but this is one of the single greatest acheviments in my life!!!

chrisaonabike

BigDaddyG wrote:

Sorry for the wall of text but this is one of the single greatest acheviments in my life!!!

Very well done indeed. As another recent roadie convert, I like reading these accounts too, so thanks for posting.

supermurph09

Nice post and well done on your achievement!

elderone

Brilliant write up and well done.As a newbie aswel I really enjoy reads like this and wish more people would post there achievements and rides.

BigDaddyG

Cheers guys, I am still on a high and wanting to go out tonight but my legs are screaming something different at me )

Mikey41

Well done indeed!

#david2012

Like others have said well done! I did my first 66 miler a week ago a great experience!

canny_lad

Well done, great effort. Decent read as well too

Guanajuato

Well done! I've not got that kind of distance done yet - only done the Rivers Ride from Keswick last year. Great fun, and so relaxed.
Have you entered the Kendal sportive / Wheelbase Spring Classic in three weeks time, seeing as its fairly local to you. I have to give myself an early target. Did a reccy of the 1st & 3rd thirds of the (shorter) route at the weekend. I was dreading the climb from just south of Tebay up to Grayrigg - 500ft in 2 miles. Turns out its not half as bad as I thought. Still to tackle the climb up Barbondale (~600ft in 3 miles ish).

bianchimoon

very nice write up, sounds like you had a great start to your sportive career, as you say shame about Michael Bonney MD of orange mountain bikes who was the guy seriously injured, fingers crossed he recovers

BigDaddyG

Guanajuato wrote:

Well done! I've not got that kind of distance done yet - only done the Rivers Ride from Keswick last year. Great fun, and so relaxed.
Have you entered the Kendal sportive / Wheelbase Spring Classic in three weeks time, seeing as its fairly local to you. I have to give myself an early target. Did a reccy of the 1st & 3rd thirds of the (shorter) route at the weekend. I was dreading the climb from just south of Tebay up to Grayrigg - 500ft in 2 miles. Turns out its not half as bad as I thought. Still to tackle the climb up Barbondale (~600ft in 3 miles ish).

I haven't as my friends are doing the Winlatter challenge on that day, but I did see you can enter on the day so I will probably make a decsion the night before. I am thinking of doing the Bay Dash from Lancaster but I will be putting my name down asap for something as it keeps me on track with the training and give me goals.

I read the BR article on the unfortunate incident with Michael Bonney and a friend sent me the link on FB to the Orange page as well, I hope Micheal has a speedy recovery and our thoughts are with his family.

Thank you all for your kind words regarding my blurb, as I said I enjoy reading peoples accounts of rides and acheviments, as a noobie it always gives me a boost.

BigLee1

A good read and you were right, that hill at 55 miles was a bloody killer!!

themekon

Enioyed reading that. You are a lot fitter than you thought you were then?. Well done.

BigDaddyG

themekon wrote:

Enioyed reading that. You are a lot fitter than you thought you were then?. Well done.

Even though I am a big lad and carrying a bit of timber I have put in the hard winter miles and training with a few guys who are super fit and are training for the Fred Whitton and it seems to be paying off.

I have got my fitness upto a level up to be able to keep up with those guys which is pushing my speed and endurence level more and more, I struggle keeping up with them when we hit the bigger climbs (and in the Lakes where I live there are plenty) and then while I always get up any incline I do it at a pace that allows me to do it and not at there pace.

For me it is about choosing a route/sportive that will challenge me at the ability I am at at that time, for instance The Eden Vally epic was right at what I thought was my maximum but digging in and really enjoying it showed it was well within my capability..........so on to the next.......The Wheelbase Sportive, which I signed up for yesterday.

Guanajuato

Have you had the confirmation that the Wheelbase Spring Classic is postponed until May 5th?
Probably for the best - the snow hasn't settled in the valleys, but the dampness is already turning to ice.

Bit of a bugger for me as I can't do the new date. Trying to work out if I can do the Mill Hills in October. I think the other alternative (Tough Trough) is too much for me. If there was a shorter route that'd be a possibility.

durhamwasp

Think I'm doing the 2015 event on March 22nd, looks a good route!

What do you get for your £20?

juleswill1

Thanks for writing this has made me aware there may be hills and as a beginner it's best to know ahead. Reg cyclists see hills as nothing so I am pleased I read this