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Cheshire Cat Sportive ride report
Mark, 26/03/07
25/03/07 - 102 miles on the Cheshire Cat Sportive, the first of the season.
The day begun even earlier than the scheduled 5.45 wake up due to the start of British Summertime that night, this meant a 4.45am effective wake up, in the dark and feeling groggy. But, it was now officially summertime, it was the first sportive of the season and I had some miles in the legs - let's get involved !
I picked Matt up from his house and we were on the road heading to Knutsford in Cheshire, about 1.5 hours away, mostly along roads with no speed cameras (I'll leave you to figure out if that made a difference or not).
Anyway, the number of cars with bikes in the back increased as we approached the event HQ at a leisure centre and nerves started to kick in a little. One of the beauties of Sportives is there is no real pressure, there are no reputations to uphold, sponsors to please or contracts to keep, but you still get a little nervous for some reason, I suppose it is fear of the unknown, thinking that everyone is better than you etc, although I've done enough of these things to be pretty comfortable by now.
We were a little early, but collected timing chips and had a leisurely bike set-up phase that also involved the increasingly race proven PB&J sarnies, as well as bananas that were forced down despite inevitably not being hungry.
Nervous riders await the off
One of the more incongruous sights when preparing for an early morning bike ride near an urban centre is seeing people returning from a night out when you are busy getting ready. This morning was no exception and someone demonstrated the classic 'walk of shame' past the car in socks, high heels being carried to make it home a little easier. At first I wondered what she was doing wasting her weekend like this....and then realised she probably thought I was too and probably had stronger argument.........let's move on.
The riders were set off in groups of 20 in 5 minute intervals, Matt and I were in around group 6, having to wait a while whilst sensing the scoffing as other riders clocked our his 'n hers matching bikes (nice). We eventually set off at a slow pace (no-one wants to give the impression they are interested in time at this point), but gradually we sped up until we were safely near the back of a bunch travelling at a reasonable speed. We must have been going ok, because soon we joined stragglers from the bunch in front.
The terrain was flat, so inevitably the big bunch caught more riders in front and soon we had a mega-bunch that didn't leave much room for any cars, I love it when that happens just as much as white van drivers detest it, and one soon made his displeasure known with some vigorous horn blowing as he went past.
I was at the back avoiding trouble or responsibilty, but then noticed that Matt had sneaked off up the outside and was near the front in a pretty good position. I looked up again and noticed that the front of the group was now about fifty metres in front of me and I was blocked by some slower riders - this could be bad ! I re-appraised the situation and then timed my attack with surgical precision. A quick glance over the shoulder to check for any more overtaking white vans, a covert selection into the big ring and suddenly I was gone, like a coiled spring I unleashed several hundred watts of savage power round the side of the bunch and within seconds I had cleared my group.
I passed Matt at in a blur and noticed he was looking now looking a little stranded in between two groups. The front of the bunch had split from the rest and Matt was stuck in no man's land, in neither group.
Matt on Mow Cop
My immense surge of power launched me right up the wheels of the break away. I later learned that Matt didn't make it across and was left dangling amusingly in front of the slower group for some minutes until he was inevitably swallowed up and then spat out the back like a piece of flavourless chewing gum. (Some of the above is true, it's just I got a little carried away, not sure if you can tell).
The groups stayed pretty much as they were until the first couple of small hills, and then immediately the selection began. It always amazes me how enormous bunches can stay together until the first slight rise, then bang, straight away people start going backwards. I ended up near the front with a rider in a Caisse E'pargne jersey who was pretty much the same standard, and we took turns until the first feed stop after about 28 miles.
The middle part of the ride is now pretty much a blur despite writing this only 24 hours or so later, all I know is I rode some of it alone until I caught a couple of riders, one in full Saunier Duval kit complete with yellow bike. I rode with them and pulled hard at the front until we joined a slightly bigger group with whom we arrived at the second feed stop.
The same group re-formed for the next section to the first climb and the pace slowed down a little, which I think everyone was thankful for. The castle of Mow Cop loomed on the skyline as the group headed towards the foot of the climb and I mentally and physically dropped down a few gears in preparation.
The early slopes were pretty steep, but nothing compared to the top section which is just a wall in front of you, 25% gradient for about 50 metres. The other riders who hadn't been shelled already were now struggling on large gears up the pretty ludicrous gradient and I felt a little guilty on my triple chain ring which still kept it rideable. Stronger riders than me were forced to walk up in their SPD's and I managed to win the Polka Dot jersey by getting to the top first. Who says triples are for wimps ? There were also some spectators on the side of the road giving us some encouragement, this was a first for England and it reminded me of cycling mad Flanders. That joy to come in two weeks.
Switchbacks on Mow Cop
There was little respite and the road carried on little further, but was soon swooping downhill again, to the third feed-stop. The stop was little controversial in that a number of riders then got lost shortly afterwards, I was no exception and found myself with another bloke clearly on the wrong road, it was fairly obvious by the increasing number of large trucks that now seemed to be thundering past and lack of event signs. This little detour added about 5 miles to my ride, but the legs felt pretty good and I was actually glad in the knowledge it would take me over 100 miles by the end. The next climb was fine although the legs were beginning to complain a little now.
The rest of the ride involved me taking turns with another (whippet looking) chap as we kept a decent pace all the way back to Knutsford. 102 miles was on the clock as we took the right to the finish and I had my transponder cut off the bike frame whilst being given a complimentary water bottle. 5 hrs 41mins, although listed under the short route results for some reason. Matt rolled in around an hour later, a strong ride from him.
It was a good ride, flatter than most but I was quite satisfied with how my legs felt and the average speed of over 18mph for 100 miles, and some steep hills. The weather was perfect for late March, even managed to chill out on some grass and catch some rays at the end. Almost like summer.
However I was extremely tired last night and was in bed by ten.......I look forward to the next one already and we have several planned for the next few weeks, Flanders, Hereward the Wake (or something, bit wierd) and some ridiculous Lake District climb-fest ride that involves 3700 metres of climbing in only 80 miles - that is pretty extreme. Full reports to come.
Mark on Mow Cop
Link to official review http://www.everydaycycling.com/news.aspx?fid=665
Link to photos from British cycling https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/lei/News2007/20070325_cheshire_cat.asp