This has been on my radar for a couple of years - Michiel & I had been keen to tackle the Mow Cop KILLER MILE. With the clocks going forward & an early start I decided to drive up in Ruby the night before. Strangley (!) Crewe doesn't have many campsites so I snuck into a quiet corner of the station Car Park - pulled the curtains round and fell to sleep (easy as I'd done the Friday night shift zzzZZZZZ!!!
Woke to a beautful morning as fellow cyclists arrived & unpacked their bikes. When Michiel arived I had tea bacon & sausages ready. Once registered (at Crewe Alex. FC) we even had time to return to Ruby for a cuppa before the off.
What a fantastic day - cool & bright without a cloud in the sky & light breeze only...perfect cycling weather!!
We sped out of Crewe and within 15miles the Mow Cop Folly castle came into view. I'd heard about the killer mile with it's leg sapping climb leading to the viscious 25% section past the pub. I kept as much reserve as I could & Michiel sped on ahead. With 2/3 of the riders stopping to walk I gritted my teeth and with much gurning wheezing panting gasping & groaning I MADE IT!! For a minute or two I just couldn't get enoug air in my lungs but I recovered quickly & soon we were over thge top and whizzing down the other side. My rear brake was closing but not opening so I kept the speed down as we zoomed over genarally crappy roads with rough surfaces & lethal pot holes galore. There were 3 more hills to climb so at the 37m halfway point we had climbed 3600ft. The second half was a magnificent fast journy back around to Crewe and a welcome cup of tea - and the MOW COP MEDAL!
77.1m 5h27m @14.1mph 4995ft 483m for 2012
http://ridewithgps.com/trips/564684
