Tour Of Wessex 2013

Did all 3 days but a little disappointed with my times. Day 1 and 2 I did to the best of my ability, which isn't going to be very good. I averaged about 15mph on both those days but was aware it was three days so kept something back. I did the event in 2009 & 2010 and hadn't completed either without walking so that was my target for this year after taking a couple of years away from training to study. I started training again in February so wasn't expecting the earth.

Felt ok on the start of day 3, led a group of about 25 out from the start which was exhilarating but in retrospect, stupid. Heart rate was up in the high 140s (day 1 averaged 142 and day 2 134) for an hour and by the time I'd got to the first big hill i was averaging 19mph (I know that's not quick but it's a lot for me into a headwind!) struggled up the first set of hills and was glad to have them out of the way. Was fairly confident my objective of cycling the lot was going to be achieved after that point. The long 4 mile drag up to Exmoor was fine and i was chatting and enjoying the view.

The next 40 miles after that were ridiculous. climb after climb, then the rain started, then the wind was in my face and more and more people poured past me. I averaged 8.9 mph for 20 miles! Then my head started to go and I started to get a bit miserable and frustrated. I finally got to the 'easy' last 30 miles that starts with a 17% mile long descent when half way down my rear tyre exploded. I had to wait 30 minutes for a replacement tyre (not a complaint, they were really responsive and helpful, I understand that phone reception can be sketchy) and by the time I got going again I was shivering, despondent and going to miss getting an official time. Managed to get a final bit of energy from myself for the last section.

They'd taken down the timing stuff by the time I got there but the guy kindly took my number and added me to the results. I think I pretty much came last over all for the whole three days.

Give me something to aim for next year - to try and complete it in less than 24 hours!

I'm not experienced in group riding so don't like to get to get involved in case I do something stupid, I'm not happy descending (quite flat where I live) and I'm too heavy to climb effectively. Those things plus more endurance base are all things to work on for next year. I did a wiggle ride the week before in Essex where I managed to get round with an average of 19.5mph for nearly 80 miles so I've got some kind of fitness but a flat 80 miles isn't a hilly 330 over three days!

On the plus side I'm strong mentally (there was no way I was getting in that sweeper van), I love long distance cycling and I've got some good mates to train with.

Apologies, that first post turned into something of a self help session!

Exmoor is a tough place to cycle for sure. Well done to those who completed yesterday especially those with back to back centuries already in the legs.

Slightly off topic but here's what ex US pro Jered Gruber had to say about riding on Exmoor in Peloton magazine after a ride I did with him on an icy December day:

"They say Belgium is a crucible. They say that Belgium makes hard people and harder riders. They say that the cobbles and the weather and the wind toughens the skin and resolve and that out of the other side of the muddy assembly line, a flahute is born.

If Flanders serves as a crucible and womb for hard men, then Exmoor is where they made the crucible, where the mother of all tough was born. The weather and the wind are worse, the terrain is infinitely harder, the daylight that little bit shorter in the winter, the moors desolate, unforgiving, forlorn, but beautiful."

© Jered Gruber. Peloton. 2013.

The full 10 page article is in issue 18.

This was my first sportive (talking about diving in at the deep end, eh!) but I was dead impressed with the quality of riding throughout the 3 days. Any time I'd join a group, either by catching one up or getting caught by one, the group would naturally start working together doing turns on the front sharing the work load.

I'd say my favourite climbs were Whiteways and Porlock Toll road, though special mention to Cheddar Gorge. That was pretty awesome. The descent down into the first feed station on day 3 was insane. My Garmin maxed out at 57.9mph down there! There was a moment going up the first climb on day 3 (around the 25 mile mark) where I really questioned whether I'd be able to do the rest of the 85~ miles.

My main goal was to finish the full three days, second goal was to not let any hill beat me. Having achieved both, there's a massive sense of achievement that I think will last for a few days. Will definitely be back despite the agony (I secretly love it). Can't wait for the photos!

Mendip rouleur wrote:

Has anyone looked at the times on Pendragon website? Mine are missing, even though I know I "beeped" after every timing checkpoint in 3 days, bit frustrating if there is no official result after all that effort!

Yup, mine are missing too. I'm wondering if that is because they haven't yet processed them all - I was signed up for all three days but had to miss the first day due to injury, so they will only have clocked me on days two and three.

So far they don't seem to have posted times for people who did single days (or for any of the climbs), so let's hope when they tidy up the data they will find you and me.

Gutted - looks like they have me down as a DNF for Day 2 and 3...and I mostly certainly wasn't! Maybe if the timing chips hadn't been so flimsy and a pain to attach? I much prefer helmet stickers...or the tag/bike number combo.

Did all 3 days and full 330+ miles.

Found it all ok. I rode within myself on day 1, rode with some slower friends on day 2, which meant I have good legs for day 3.

Day 3 was tough accross Exmoor with that headwind, which I seemed to do all on my own. But I got back well before any rain so pleased with how I went.

I have to admit, due to not riding my Cervelo since last Oct my 'seat' area was not used to 330+ miles on that particular saddle :shock: legs held up fine though.

All good training for Geneva -> Nice in July