Earlier in the week I put a short post up to explain how tired I felt after last weeks ride. Here's the extended version.
Sunday April 1st - April fools day........so Neil and I set off on a circular route as we'd decided not to risk taking the campervan out with all the fuel shenanigans going on. Neil knew a route that took us down through Cheshire into Staffordshire and back through the Peak District. I felt quite good after our previous weeks ride up to Knott End on Sea. I knew I was capable of 80+ miles in a day so was ready for a hillier challenge. What I didn't bargain for was a raging headwind for 35-40 miles once we turned for home. It was just brutal.
76.4 miles and 2400m of ascent
looks like a Tour de France profile.........ok it doesn't but I have to cling to something.
I felt fine all the way to Leek. Neil, as usual was trapping on at around 22mph. I am sure this is just too fast for my comfort zone. I can hang on but am obviously using up more energy than my body is happy with. I am having to try and drink water as we motor along and I just can't get used to it. I feel as though my stomach won't take any fluids as it is under load (or that is how it feels) Anyway once out the other side of Leek we hit some steady climbs that seem to just go on and on. They really took there toll on my legs and I began to get weary. My neck starts to ache when I get tired and slowly gets worse and worse until I am desperate to stop. I have had neck problems ever since my little helicopter trip in the Alps. It just mentally saps all my strength and I get quite low with it. I am sure this and my poor fluid intake are responsible for my lack of energy. Luckily we got to a nice cafe on the Manifold valley trail, where I could do some stretches and get lots of sweet tea, cake and crisps in me. I don't know how Neil does it but he seems to be able to exist on a brew and an eccles cake for the whole ride. Maybe it's because I am a big lanky herbert that I need more fuel and water
Sites like this make my heart sing
Local landmark - Thors cave on the Manifold valley trail (there is actually a cave in that hillside - I'll have to sack the photographer)
Neil had to drag me out of the cafe. I knew we had another 35 odd miles to do and it would be quite hilly. We set off and I actually felt ok for a while. However we rode through the picturesque town of Hartington and turned north down the limestone valleys of the white peak. As soon as we changed direction we got the strong headwind roaring straight at us. It was like riding through cold treacle. I was really grovelling to keep going. My legs were burning and every turn of the pedals got more and more difficult as we slowly climbed along the straight roads that cut through the peak. Neil knew I was struggling and slowed the pace right down. Even then I had trouble keeping with him. I had to really dig deep. It was at that point I started to think about Janet and Erika. It is amazing how your mind controls your physical condition. I was telling myself that 'the suffering I was feeling was nothing to what my sisters had to go through. I could stop whenever I wanted. No-one was making me do this. But Janet and Erika never had the option of a time out'. I seemed to get a small lift and a bit of energy as we rode towards Harpur Hill. Neil kept coming back and encouraging me. He told me to remember why I was putting myself through this, which again picked me up. Eventually we rolled into Buxton and stopped for a chance to rest my legs whilst we decided which way to go.
I love Buxton - its a beautiful town
The options were (a) long route through Dove Holes and Chapel en le Frith or (b) shorter hillier route over Long Hill. Long Hill is a grueller of a hill but once you are at the top its 5 miles of down hill towards home. We went for the Long Hill option (have a look at the contour above and you will see the last big hill). Suffice to say it was hard but I managed it and rolled into Hayfield very tired but really pleased that I had managed to keep it going. Neil then told me he had been grovelling too but didn't want me to know. I think he would make a good poker player.
Anyway the ride was 76.4 miles. As we freewheeled down my road, we saw Nick Craig and we stopped for a chat about the ride. Apparently during Nick's professional riding days, he used to use the exact same ride for training. He told us that it was a very tough route and was probably worth 100 miles of normal roads, which made me feel really good. However he poured cold water on my pride when he then told us that during his training routines, he would ride that route ten times in eight days. Some people are just sick!
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