PTW

Hi gang, just dried out having completed the Autumn Epic.
Wot a day! Having travelled up from Swansea on the morning of the event arived in a very wet & misserable Knighton at about 8.00am. I quickly changed into my gear only to realise i'd forgotten my overshoes but more importantly my GLOVES doh!!! This was going to be a grueller.
I set off at 8.40 and soon settled into a steady pace. Weather still belting down I passed a few riders but ther seemed to be more going in the opposite dirrection back to th HQ than the way i was going, anyway 1hour or so later i was freezing to say the least, I couldnt feel my fingers and was soaked through to the skin I felt like crying. But i've been there done that remember KEV!.
Anyway on I soldiered. Now i've been watchin that Bear Grills bloke on the telly lately good job too.Imagine if you wood the scene, MILES FROM HOME,FREEZING COLD & DYING FOR A PEE there was only onething for it remember my hands were like blocks of ice.(i'll leave the rest to your imagination).
It seemed to do the trick . with renewed vigour but slightly smelly hands I continued on my adventure.Half way round I bumped into TIM & CHRIS fellow soldiers of the road who looked like they had gone through their own private hells.I stayed with them for a bit before ploughing on ahead alone.
Only about two hours left now & I was actually starting to enjoy myself, then it happened! I rounded a corner only to greated by what I can only describe as a lake blocking my path. The motorbike outrider there warned me "carefull mate its a bit deep" DEEP !! before I knew it I was up to my knees in water but i couldn't stop or i'd drown serously!!!!!
Out the otherside i looked like something from the Normandy Landings coming up the beach .Anyway not long left now I made my way clunking,squeeking & knocking my way to the finish.In the last 6hrs 31mns I had experienced every emotion I thought possible but I'd made it.
Finally WELL DONE to all those who finished & to those who turned around or packed in the words of SKIPPY "WIMPPS!!!!!"

Great write up Andy!! Sounds like the most arduous 6hrs on a bike possible - I wimped out on the morning after getting a soaking the day before.

Well done lads!

Well done Andy. Great write up too - I've never known you to say so much !!!!
Hmmm , Maybe we should save this story for ther club dinner......... could be a nominee for the rider of merit ( ... or is it Pete's pot ?? )

Andy, regarding your novel hand-warming technique, are you taking the p155?!

Nice little write-up Andy, that Autumn Epic was bad enough for me on a dry autumn day it must have been torturous on Sunday. A big well done for completing it. Yes, I do remember that dark day on the road to Northhampton and a grown man crying is one of two things I never wish to witness ever again, the other one being two women brawling in a public house,Oh yeh! and that 60+ years of age gent prancing around the national pool last night in his speedo's(wrong in so many ways), but I digress,it's nice to see someone else other than the usual suspects contributing to the site in a positive way, maybe we can hear form other club members on other club activities i.e. The last of the summer wine ride boys 'n' girls,The Sunday club ride, Will and Dai Triggs and their adventures and even the saturday bash. If you're prepared to sit and type it, I for one am prepared to sit and read it.For those out there who think what I write on here is c$*p,don't worry it won't stop coz I'm full of it! and perhaps we can here from SITE members on non-club related topics.

Thanks for the report Andy.
I could not face writing about the ride it was tortorous for me.
I had not ridden for 4 weeks before this ride and was hoping all
week that it would be cancelled.

But as Andy said, yes he did pass me and Chris on the ride, and if
it was not for Chris's support I doubt I would have made it. He insisted on waiting for me on every slight incline, (he would have done it an hour quicker easily if he had left me.....big up to Chris)
including the 2 I walked up (25% and 20%)

Yes it was very wet and windy on the first half, but sunny and hilly
on the return leg.

I managed with Chris support and encouragement to drag myself round in
7.5 hours (felt like quitting after 4). The last 30 miles were really dragging
and I had to dig deep to finish.

Excellent run event , with plent of food (mmmm Jaffa cakes)
with vegatable bean stew, cake and tea at the finish.
New bottle and multitool in the goodybag

I will be back next year to conquer those 2 climbs

Well done Chris and Tim, tis a tuffy and if it's any consolation Tim,you still managed to beat my time by 15mins and I had quite good weather(dry at least).I know we live in an Eco friendly society but Andy's taking this recycling thing a bit to far!. I wonder if anyone shook his hand at the finish .