PTW

Well what do you know, It was a lonely weekend Squadra Chrono this weekend. No one in the Ludlow ten on Saturday and only yours truly out in the WCA 12hour on Sunday. But there you go it was still quite a successful weekend, while Dan was out Gaining National Honours, I was out getting some miles in........

6:17 is one hell of a time to start a TT but, none the less, There I was facing the timekeeper. The feeding plan was a camelback full of carbohydrate and electrolite and the biggest bottle of water I could find, A pocket full of gells and off I went hungry for the miles before me.

A quick wave to Alf as I flashed past the A40 Roundabout (What time did you get up Matey), and off to Hereford we go. My target was to get my average speed up to 21.5 MPH. for the first hour and let it drop slowly through the day hopefully ending up with about 20.3 MPH at the end. Assuming I stop 4 times or that I would be staionary for about 20 minutes, that should mean about 240 Miles... Simples....

Now I don't know how many have ridden up to hereford before but it starts off at a bit of a drag. bloody hell, 21.5 MPH is hard work.. but none the less I kept trying.

All was going well, Hereford came and went, and after two laps of the chainbridge loop I went through 98 miles in 4:35:28, 21.4 MPH smack on on Target....yippee.

At 124 miles I was 5 minutes up on target, Legs were hurting but still averaging 21 MPH and even at 150 Miles I was still averaging 20.9 MPH on the Garmin.... Pit stops are working .............. all is well in the camp.

As you may know, it was a nice day sunday, a bit too nice and despite drinking gallons of water and electrolite, between 150 miles and 174 miles the cramp started....... The back of the legs went first meaning, I couldnt pull upwards, then fronts, then the calfs...... Nice... on the flat bits the calfs were pinging, on the climbs the hamstrings, if I stood up the thighs went bang........ my arms were aching my Ar5e was aching, someone had been at the backs of knees with sandpaper..... my kneck, ribs and chest were aching but I went through the 205 mile mark at 4 oclock ish so despite everything, beating my previous best of 226 was still on the cards.

5:17 came and went, and as Spot said it would, The sight of the finishing line looms and you pick up again... the garmin showed I'd got passed 226 with about 15 minutes to spare........ if I can just do evens I'll get over 230........

Up to Timekeeper 9 and 231:487 yards...... Bugger, didn't get Andy Evs, 232 of two years ago.... Oh Well, Heres to next year

Well done LES, when you see the brain consultant at the Heath , tell him i am still waiting to hear from him!

A bloomin' good ride Les. Well done mate. I felt for all competitors in that heat, I was sweating cobs just marshalling!

Yes, that road to Hereford is dead isn't it?

Oh, and it was 04.30hrs but I only did half a shift!

well done Les. Thats some mind set you have to be planning your ride. Something i know i could never do.

Well done and to say you want to go back again next year..............mad!

Well done Les and good report too. You must be nuts.

Hiya Les, Just checked my certificate from 2009 for the 12 hr, I did 231.761 miles. So that means you missed it by a huge 274 yards!!! hahaha

just think, about 20 seconds off your last pee and you would have done it mate!

I'll be there next year matey!

well done again!

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Was this the last one?!

50 volunteers?