I am out of breath, sweating, my heart racing as I scan the scene ahead of me. It is still ten hours until I get on the bike but I just know I have forgotten something!
The night before any long ride is always an odd affair. Excitement and nerves in equal measure and aside from the obvious carb loading and getting enough rest it is always spent running around making sure you have the right kit.
Of course once we got to the start point this morning for some ceremonial photos with the team it became obvious what I had forgotten.
It was really nice to see so many friends and family there for the send off as the team prepares for the journey to Monter Carlo ( or Paris in my case) and the memory of that will be useful motivation in the coming days.
The team rolled away from the office a little so that we could make a rolling start past our friends and family in a Tour de France style.
And they're off... Their bikes.
It's a little known fact that in his victorious Tour de France year, Chris Froome fell off his bike before the race officially started. Two of our members, who shall remain nameless now share this accolade.
It is a rite of passage that when you get into cycling you will buy the kit, with the shoes and the pedals that you clip into like a ski boot. It is also a rite of passage therefore that you will fall off when you forget your foot is attached to the bike. It has happened to all of us.
You slow to a near stop and suddenly realise you weight has shifted past a point of no return. To take out another member of your team in a scene like a Domino Rally is unfortunate. For this to be caught by somebody else's video is doubly unlucky.
However we are pretty confident that is another £250 for charity when we send the video to a TV accident clip show.
Take two
Actually rolling past all of our friends and family will stay with me for a long time. People lining the streets, cheering and encouraging you in it genuinely felt like a pro race. Even more so because Nick and I who are not going to Monte Carlo hung back a little and ended up following a car after the main group.
Nick is also not going the full route and was riding with us for 50miles today and spent most of his time right at the front. Taking the brunt of the wind allowed everyone else to have a easier ride whilst still making great time. He also provided another service when a border collie appeared a full speed through a hedge barking. Nicks change in direction, sudden acceleration and look of absolute terror was very funny for the rest of us.
Thereafter we headed down the A49 toward Leominster in what was a relatively uneventful part of the ride. When we did get to Leominster there was a notable change in the air; the temperature dipped a few degrees and the breeze freshened. It was about to rain!
Like white Knights riding over the hillside Barry and Bob passed us in the van with all of our rain kit. Normally cyclists go out prepared but with a van following us on route with a supply of everything the amount we need in our pockets is drastically reduced so left on the van. You can imagine the elation at seeing it and the disappointment that it was not in the next car park we passed! However it was in the next lay-by which was a fantastic relief.
Last twenty miles
As with the Land End John O Groats ride we did the last twenty miles are by far the hardest. My dear Sherlock however did you come to that conclusion? Well no prizes for that I guess, but as maintaining the same pace becomes more difficult and muscles start mutinies at being asked to climb small hills this is the part that to me is why I am doing this. Nobody said it would be easy and the last hour of each day certainly won't be.
So a Friday night in a new town. The possibilities are endless.. Providing you mean sleep
Route map for the day
