--- In audax@yahoogroups.com, Phil Chadwick <phil.chadwick@e...> wrote:
We had a very nice Arrow.....

Rick and I rode from home to Lutterworth (about 150 k) on
Friday to meet Neil and Tony and start the Arrow proper at
4:00 pm.

The wind was favourable for the trip to Lutterworth and the
sun shone (apart from in Oxford). We even got a bit
sunburned. We got to the rendezvous point with plenty of
time and had a long lunch and a relax before the others
arrived. Neil came first, then as the off-time approached
so did Tony. He'd punctured on the way, and as we finished
our drinks a very kind lady came into the cafe to tell us
that one of the bikes' tyres had just deflated suddenly.

Tony again, but he managed a rapid fix and we were off on
time. Neil and Tony did (I confess) most of the work on
the first 85k to St Neots but then the navigating was tricky
and they knew the route.....once there Rick and I had a pizza each
(there was
a deal) and we all set off into the dusk.

The next stretch was a long 110 k, in the dark, to Gonerby
Services. The wind was still behind us and the going wasn't
too bad, but Rick and I both struggled to stay awake at
times. We resisted seeking out a statute of the Blessed
Margaret in Grantham (I needed a wee but managed to hang
on)and got to Gonerby in good spirits, if a little weary.
After a meal we occupied the comfy chairs for a an hour and
a half's doze, then hit the road for Horncastle.

Only 62 k but quite hilly, and also quite wet, with a few
stretches into the
wind warning of what was to come. At Horncastle a market
was setting up but no cafes were open (7:30 am...).

The waether cheered up, but so did the wind and now it was
more head than tail. I recall a long main road drag out of
Horncastle then some delightful lanes round Market Rasen.
The last couple of 10s of km into Goole were tough - flat
and windy - and we were struggling a bit but still perfectly
on schedule with a 1 pm arrival at the last control. That
gave us one hour for lunch with a 2 pm departure for a 4 pm
arrival at York. Nice cafe in Goole.

That last stretch was tough. It was 38 km, which would be
OK to do in 2 hours normally but there was by now a very
strong headwind.

The team worked together superbly though, all taking a turn
on the front and pulling nicely out to rejoin the chain.
About halfway there I felt we had a good chance to make the
full distance, and by 3/4 I was sure. In the end we got a
finish stamp at York Cycleworks at 15:54. I think we did
almost 390 km. Plus of course the 150 to the start.

Rick and I had planned to ride back from York next day but
my knee (which I hurt falling off a mountain in Spain) was
playing up after the hard push into York, and common sense
prevailed. We had a couple of beers and arranged
alternative travel arrangements for next day.

The extra benefit of this was that I had been feeling guilty
about missing a family Easter Sunday, and now I got Brownie
Points by actually being there....

All in all a great ride, only really tough in the last 50-60
km. Many thanks to Neil for the team organisation.

The general level of abuse that we received was not
extreme, but it was more than I expected. Maybe that's a hazard of riding
through market towns on Good Friday night. Maybe it's
indicative of society's incomprehension of cycling, or just
distrust of something "other".

--
Best regards,
Phil mailto:phil.chadwick@m...
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