The latest of the challenges was completed yesterday and I must say I really did feel good, a bit concerned that I had gone off too quick but fortunately that wasn't the case as I completed the 100 mile course in 5hrs 52mins (moving time) 6hrs 24mins (including stops).
This meant an average speed of around 16.8 miles per hour which considering that's through peddle power for 100miles is pretty pleasing!
Although the route wasn't as hilly as previous challenges there were constant up and downs and a nasty head wind especially during the section between 50-78miles!
So after a 5am alarm call which gave me enough time to get some breakfast down and the bike loaded on to the car I set off for the start.
It was pretty grim at that time of the morning as it was still dark a sign of the changing seasons.
I got to the start at about 6:40 so I had enough time to register and do my final preparations before starting at around 7:20.
Although I started at a steady pace I soon got with a group of riders and the pace started to pick up which still felt comfortable.
We got to the first checkpoint (24miles) in around 1hr 23mins but as with events like this when you stop and you're not with friends you tend to lose the people you were cycling with.
This was the case for me so I set off again on my own but it wasn't long before meeting up with a guy called Peter.
We got chatting and he told me about doing to Ride London event back in August where he finished the 100 miles in under 6 hours and he wanted to do the same for this one especially at it was hillier than that course.
At this point I didn't want to tell him that it took me over 8 hours to do the Castle 100 in May!
So I stayed with Peter and we kept a really good pace, I was starting to have real concerns that I was going to blow at some point but we reach the halfway point in just over 3hrs.
This was the lunch stop and Peter didn't want to stop for long but I needed to get some more substantial food on board.
To be fair we didn't stay too long and he stayed too which was good.
So feeling refuelled we set off again and this was when we hit the headwind. This was definitely the hardest section of the whole ride.
It was during this section that Peter left me as I once again found a couple of hills that meant my pace dropped to a crawl..damn you hills!
However once over the hills I was able to get back to my previous pace and to both mine and Peters surprise I was able to catch up with him.
The final checkpoint (78 miles) came around surprisingly quick but also at the right time as it gave me the final opportunity to refuel with jelly babies and chocolate bars which was just the boost I needed for the final 22 miles.
So we set off for the last leg however a couple of miles in to the last section Peter started to cramp up and needed me to nurse him in. This meant staying in front of him so he could draft off me, previously we had been taking it in turns but now he wasn't able to take his turn.
So for the last 15miles I lead him back, fortunately he had recovered enough to do the last couple of miles as I was now feeling the burn!
The end finally came into sight and boom we were done!
It was a great ride and I want to thank Peter for getting me around especially that middle section.
This is Peter the machine!!
The unexpected early finish also meant that I got extra time with the family too when I got home.
James had decided that for my reward I could have a fry up for my dinner, there's no mistaking that he is my son!!
So as I said at the start only 4 challenges remain in the Average Joe Challenge in aid of Springboard Opportunity Group.
Here are the remaining challenges -
15 September - London Duathlon
26 October - Snowdonia Marathon
30 November - Winter 100 (100 mile run)
14 December - Row the channel and back on a rowing machine in Borough Parade Shopping Centre in Chippenham.
I now have 2 weeks to get ready for the London Duathlon which means my focus will be back on running as I think cycling over 240 miles in the last 2 weeks I might have done enough training on the bike now!!
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