click to enlargeI'v ridden the cat'n'Fiddle & Wild Edric (run by kilotogo) and we plan to ride the Cheshire Cat in March, and the monster 154mile Flat out in the Fens in June.
These free 'rideouts' are test events over a simplified part of the main course.
Up early in the dark & loaded Belle up. Driving through Brum as the sun rose in clear skies was quite special as I listened to 'War Horse' audio book - a pleasant uplifting & sad WW1 story.
Arrived same time as Michiel and we were off in the first group at 0900.
I was chatting to a fella from Stoke who said he was along with his 63y old F-in-Law. Talk about commentators curse...we were just talking about falls & helmets when behind us..CRASH...said F-in-law came off as the 30 strong pleton slowed to a junction. he was ok & I agreed to change the subject! A mile further on some twat in a Focus came at us with great speed forcing us to move sharply left - his ugly grimace of 'cycle hatred' was clear to see. Then CRASH2 as the said old gentleman came off again as the nutter came straight at him. The driver got out all guilty & sheepish..if I was a tough guy (!) I'd have hit the prick. Unfortunately the old chap had twisted his ankle & decided to head back to the start.
The first half to the 'turn' at Brockton (nice pub on the corner THE FEATHERS) was hilly...Shropshire hilly...ie big bastard hills and the peloton got away from this puffing (53y next Wed) bloke but I caught up on the fast descending downwind section to Morville.
earlier we had crossed the famous Iron Bridge (I spotted a Sunday lunch pub alongside for the future..The Woodbridge Inn.)
The climb out of Bridgenorth was long & hard and again the peleton sped off. I got in 6 mins after Michiel who had raced the GIANT-BIKE chaps from Warrington. Quick coffe & home a really nice ride in a new bit of England for me! Good time considering the hard early climbs
50.6 3h11m @15.9mph 2930ft climb
