I started the revolution! And I finished it!

What a great weekend that was! The London Revolution 192 miles, slightly further than advertised, circumnavigating London on a bike. I had been looking forward to this for a long time, it was the event that I first signed up to do as a taster for doing LEJOG in 2014.

The week started badly though, apart from the weather forecast which looked absolutely appalling, I had developed a condition that I won't go into, but lets just say that sitting was painful.....not good if you are expecting to spend 12 hours on a bike over the course of the weekend.

Staying off the bike for a few days didn't seem to make any difference, but a short ride on Friday told me that sitting on the bike saddle didn't hurt so it looked like I would be riding after all. Phew!

I packed my kit, double checked that I had everything. Sorted out my nutrition, I always like to have my own on top of what is on offer during the ride. It was going to be an early start so early to bed.......what a pointless exercise that was as I lay there thinking about the rides ahead.

5:00am and up for breakfast of porridge, toast and honey and a banana, one last check that I had everything before jumping in the car and setting off for Peruvian Wharf for the start. I arrived just before 7am parked up and went to register. Registration was very slick, numbers for the bike and overnight bag together with a wristband all colour co-ordinated in purple. After handing over my bag which I would hopefully be reunited with at Windsor it was back to the car to get ready to ride.

I had arranged to meet Grigor an ex-work colleague who "retired" on the same day as me back in October. We were at least going to start together. On the start line a couple of batches of riders had already been released and then all of a sudden we were off heading East out of London at the start of a 102 mile ride. Continuous stops at traffic lights and junctions thinned the riders out and ensured that the excitement and adrenaline didn't set us off too quickly.

 

Through the rolling hills around Epping and Hertfordshire past huge mansions in Brookmans Park and into the Cotswold's. The route from Chalfont St Peter is one I know quite well through Burnham Beeches down towards Maidenhead and Bray and then  last flat stretch to Windsor Racecourse. My cycling time for the 102.63 miles was 6hrs 2 mins 56 secs an average of just over 17mph which I was delighted with and bodes well for a fast time on the closed roads of the Ride London event.

Overnight was camping at the Racecourse. Checking in with the Tent Concierge I was allocated tent number 8 and set off to collect my bag, grab a shower, a massage, a beer and some food. One of the advantages of getting in early was not having to wait for anything!

I wouldn't say I got a great nights sleep but I didn't feel too bad. A nice cooked breakfast then packing my bag, vacating my tent and then reunited with my bike and I was good to go again. Day 2 was always going to be the tougher day, not only did I have over 100 miles in my legs but there were also some fairly challenging hills. The first 34 miles were similar to day 1 and then we hit Box Hill. I had been up Box Hill before so I knew it wasn't a hard climb but it is long, hitting a rhythm is the key I think.

After Box Hill there were some much tougher hills to climb over the North Downs until we started to get into more suburban areas re-entering London. South London is surprisingly hilly especially going up to Crystal Palace. I guess that's why they put the TV masts there!

The final miles were stop/start with numerous traffic lights until finally turning into Peruvian Wharf and the end and a great sense of satisfaction.

Bring on the Ride London 100!


To sponsor me for the Ride London 100 in aid of Prostate Cancer UK and to motivate me on those hard training rides then please visit my fund raising page.