Rapha Hell of the North

ugo.santalucia wrote:

itboffin wrote:

Mallorca in 9 days 8)

Club Tropicana?

18-30s / BCM

kudos to the author of this video of the route

https://youtu.be/27ytjEBe1GI

I managed to do this as it was a set of firsts for me. First time doing a 100km on an unsuppported ride and first time off road on my commuter.

My biggest issue was getting there, as I had to take the overground from Wilesden. I confess that I got to highgate hill and decided to walk up it. Started finally around 10am and finished at the pub at 4. I did have some food but just enough - 2 gels, cereal bar and a couple of kitkats.

I was slow, average speed around 11mph, but I loved all the off road bits and would like to do more light stuff on my road bike. I think I liked it as it meant I could go slow and not feel so bad about it. It would not have been as much fun had it been more muddy so I preferred the dry conditions. The wind was really hard especially the open field with the hard tracks and I got blown to the side for a bit. The last bit to the food stop was particularly vicious. I seemed to get overtaken loads of times by the same groups and once by someone well dressed and fast who I thought must have been Ugo.

Got lost around the A414 and it was not helped that there were 2 groups that I could see, one when straight and the other right. I was too far behind and got lost. Thankfully found my way back.

The food stop was a difficult not least because there was none left, a better strategy may have been to hand out tokens for one coffee and cake. Also it was a long way into the ride about 40 miles, but the coffee was good and I managed a cheeky but slow lap of the velodrome. No toilets did not help.

The last 20 miles were hard and there was one off-road bit which was narrow and steep and again I decided it was too much so walked up that, with a few others. I think also mentally I messed myself up as my commute is around 16miles so I thought it would not be too bad but it took nearly 2 hours for those last few miles.

Big up to the 2x Chris's from up north who kept me in their sights (although I was behind), but caught them up on the off road bits, to make sure I was OK.

I also got a bit deflated after the final off road bit when it said 5km to go. Thankfully it was mostly downhill.

By the time I got home I had done about 90miles that day and glad that I did it, as I had a lot of doubts about being able to finish it at all (as TimW may recollect).

So fun, and going to investigate riding those mix of roads again around where I live or Richmond Park.

Did put into doubt whether I can do a 200km audax as I was suffering a lot towards the end and it was only a 100km.

I passed one chap three times, the last time he was telling someone he's taking a shortcut to the pub, skipping pave sections all over the shop, so really what was the point.

I think some where getting lost and others had punctures, but despite that they were so much faster than me, that they could have 20mins off and still catch me. :shock:

"incidentally" I was wearing a Torm top, hence not featured in any photo...