As I lifted a stiff leg over the saddle this morning I wondered. Well, I groaned but as I groaned I wondered. Why was I riding 2000 km over 10 days? Why wasn’t I riding 1000 km over five days? Why wouldn’t the agony be over today? After all, people would be rightly impressed with the lesser distance. It has been hard work to get here. No one has said to me “why aren’t you riding 3000 km in 15 days?” And I’m sure they wouldn’t have asked why I was “only” riding 1000.
Still groaning I pedalled off through then light early morning traffic consisting, it seemed, mainly of bin lorries determined to force me to ride in their wake, inhaling as I did that distinct odour which seemed to stick with me for the rest of the day.
After a little while I reached High Beech. There is a drinking water tap at High Beech and each morning I make sure I finish one bottle before filling up there to ensure that I “pre-hydrate”. I also take a picture.
On I went. Checking my time at various points, I realised I was a little behind the pace I had set the day before. I wasn’t feeling as good as then and decided to accept a slight delay. I still had another five days to ride. No point burning myself out chasing a past performance and, in so doing, remove any chance I may have of ever bettering it.
As I closed in on Cambridge, I felt a little better but heeded the advice of a wise and experienced friend and avoided the temptation to push harder. Instead I enjoyed the views.
I have been asked why I take so many pictures of fields and roads, hedges and trees and not so many of picturesque thatched cottages, quaint Norman churches and pretty villages. The answer is, I am afraid, rather practical. I generally don’t stop to pee in villages or outside churches or cottages.
I will endeavour, over the next few days, to take the time to halt for reasons other than nature and share some scenes with you.
I will also, when the sun shines, take some pictures of the wonderful DNA Path. I was hugely disappointed to see that in Strava, the mile long segment is named “The Rainbow Way” presumably by someone who has never seen a rainbow and hasn’t worked out why the path has double helix sculptures at either end.
Into the Espresso Library only a little later than yesterday, I was greeted by John the proprietor who joined me as I ate my lunch. It was good to have conversation after a morning lost in my own thoughts. He isn’t just interested in cycling but a highly accomplished time trial list with a 10 mile PB under 20 minutes. A little different from my abilities.
As we chatted, a voice belonging to a man in Rapha cycling kit asked “Are you Clive?” I admitted it even though my kit was not nearly as snazzy as his. It was Mel. Mel had decided to ride out to Cambridge on a single speed bike to meet me and ride back with me. He had heard of my challenge on the London Fixed Gear and Single Speed website, a community of rather extreme cyclists who have been hugely helpful to me.
He ate drank and chatted and then we left. I was a little concerned. He reassured me that we would go at my pace. And off we went. We rode side by side chatting until we left Cambridge and then he rode in front of me and I had the joy, long deprived, of drafting. Life was suddenly much easier. We moved quickly. His legs were powerful from having just completed a five day ride, again on his single speed, to Edinburgh.
After 20 km we hit the climbs up to Barkway. I suggested that he went on ahead and wait for me at the top. I reached the top but there was not sign of him. I rode a little further and then out of Barkway. Still nothing. Suddenly he came from behind me. He had, with all the time available, popped into a petrol station to buy food and water. The man serving him saw me pass and he had dashed to ride me down. And so on we went.
Our conversation grew more fascinating and something suddenly fell into place. “We’ve met before” I said. He looked surprised. I then reminded him of a reception for diversity in insurance that I had attended a couple of years ago and where I had met him and his wife.
Then the conversation really flew. Sadly it flew too much as I missed a turn at Brent Pelham and only noticed 2 km later that we had entered Essex which we really shouldn’t have.
Back on course after retracing our steps, we move quickly over the undulations until Mel said that he would ride ahead as he needed to find a spot to pee.
I followed expecting to see him but didn’t. I came to a major junction and was concerned either that he had been so discreet that I had passed him or that he might have taken the wrong turning.
Riding on, I eventually found him. He said that his search had been frustrated by our entry to outer suburbia.
Along to High Beech for more water, we then hit the descent into London. I led. My legs had energy. We sped into the metropolis with most of the traffic, luckily, leaving.
Eventually we neared my home, said our farewells and I arrived at the same time as I had yesterday, having ridden four extra km due to my inadvertence in Brent Pelham. Feeling weak on the way out, I felt energised on the way home. A bit of company is wonderful for the soul.
Five more days to go. Your support and encouragement has been uplifting. Please donate and keep my spirits up but, more importantly, to help the kids that the Pace Centre helps.
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/cliveo2000ksin10days
2000 km in 10 days 