So how would this work? A global pandemic basically shut down randoneering in March.
Some people took to turbo trainers, I was one of them. A lucky person who could cope with the online subscriptions and a 20% pay cut, bur kept having to work. Fuck.
Motivation delclined as the restrictions continued. No Audax would be run in the summer months, and a limited TT program, not enough incentive in my limited opinion.
À
The year started well, I had enthusiasm to ride long distance (200km+) again after the Paris disappointment.
In March I travelled up to Great Dunmow for Thomas Deakins calendar 200km – the Horsepower.
Spent the night in the community hall, and only later realised that I had shared a room with a trike 24hr record holder – Arabella did not mention it at the time.
200km should have been a normal ride, bit Covid was beginningtorearing its ugly head.
The 1st 50k was a big dreich, and spent on my own. I was lucky to hook up with fixed TT legend Rob at Laversham, and he basically towed me too and from Snetterton.
With better weather but worsening legs I gave Rob the freedom he deserved, and struggled back.
1week later, Covid hit UK. I feel lucky to have made that early season 200 which were part of my initiation into Audax mumble years ago.
2018 was my anus horibilis. 2019 was meant to be going to be great.
PBP Randonneur and a club team at the National 24hr.
2019 was another PBP year though, and lots to look forward too.
I commenced my qualifiers with a couple of 200kms in the S of England; the Kennet Valley Run from Reading was an exercise in aerodynamics. 100km straight into an early spring headwind, followed by 100km of very welcome tailwind as I was a bit worn out. Rode a lot of this with Xavier, who I met 4 years previously on the same route. (It’s a PBP cycle). Next up was the Kingston Wheelers “Gently Bently”. A huge KW contingent set a fearsome pace to the first control, which I had to let go for being too fast. But a quick control at Henley left me near the front of the field with a clubmate Mark. He kept me honest on the uphills and I kept the pace up on the downhills 🙂 Some random snow/hail showers reminded us it was too early in the year to be doing this sort of thing, but we were round in daylight and all in it was a good test for the next month’s plans.
Australia!
What an opportunity! Peter Donnan organised a 1000km from Adelaide to Geelong; the Geelong Flyer, and added some “shorter” distances in as it was a PBP year. Perfect as I wanted a 600km ride for the ACP Super Randonneur award. More to follow..
I’m now old enough to be a Vet. Injuries not withstanding, another club team was put together, with a similar support crew as 2017. Hector and Russell turned out great performances and I well and truly broke myself in pursuit of team success. No club record but I got over 700km again. We ended as 2nd overall to Arctic Aircon and 1st Vets Club team. A National (Over 40’s Club Team) Champion at last.
Fucking awesome. (maybe) if I hadn’t wrecked my legs and mental attitude at the Mersey Roads I might have had the will to finish PBP. But too much pain,and fatigue (mostly the pain) carried into the start ended with a blow up at Villaines.
I still had the will to enjoy all my friends finishing, and met some new Audax Friends who helped to keep my mind of disappointment.
Well it’s been a long time since I updated this site, having ticked off a lot of cycling targets. There were still a few outstanding challenges though.
TT
In 2016 I’d had enough of Audaxing, getting up at silly o’clock to ride arbitary distances within a fixed time-frame. So I thought I’d try TT instead. (Getting up at silly o’clock to ride arbitary distances as fast as you can)
Face, meet palm of hand.
There is one particular challenge I want to achieve. The BBAR: 50m, 100m and 12hrs, average >22mph for a certificate. I failed on the 12hr with mechanicals, after rides that put me in with an chance of getting that. ( Btw the winners average c. 30mph over all three distances). So I returned to the long stuff…
24hrs TT:
George Cory, me and Alex Kirk set the club team record of 1320.56 miles in 2015 on the Mersey Roads (National Championships), finishing as second team overall behind Arctic Tacx. Major thanks go to Martina Ben-Shaul who supported me and George single-handedly for the full duration of the ride. My distance that year was shortened by rainstorm and near hypothermia though. (As was Alex’s. George was far better prepared than either of us for the wet and cold)
Obviously I wasn’t finished with the 24hr, returning as a solo rider (supported by George) in 2016 breaking 700k with a to-date PB of 455.67miles and just outside the top 10 ( by about 1/4 of a mile), and 2017 with a club team. That failed miserably as a puncture and really horrific weather lead to me dropping out. It also put paid to a return to LEL although I was at the finish volunteering for >26hrs.
Sickness, crashiness and general can’t be arsed-ness left me in no state to race in 2018 either, but I’m not done with the 24 yet
Audax
AUK Super Randonneur in 2016 and came following another 400km Arrow and the 24hr attempt. The failed 2017 24hr shortly before London Edinburgh London also lead to me pulling out of that ride.
The less said about 2018 the better. I got hit by a hit-and-run car driver part way round a 300km ride. When I came round on the ground I couldn’t see out of my left eye. Luckily that was just due to the blood pooled in my eye socket, and not optic damage. A&E, torn rib cartilage major surface abrasions etc. After 4 months of recovery I took part in a track cycling race. Crash, broken ribs, major surface abrasions etc.
A last minute excursion to Blackpool for an end of season 600km ended as a DNF after 150km. With no other transport options I ended up riding back to the start after a sleep. 300km was pretty good considering the year I’d had, but the failure hurt.
A bad year.
2019 was another PBP year though, and lots to look forward too.
For the past four years I have been reminded of this event. My aim this year was (thanks to an inspirational rider (George Hanna) to go quicker. I provisionaly made a target of 70hrs and planned to start in the Veddettes grouping. This would reduce my time for completion from 90hrs to 80.
Part 1: Qualifers
To enter PBP you have to qualify by riding a Super Randonneur series of rides (200km, 300, 400 and 600)
Here’s mine:
200km – The Willy Warmer (Chalfont St Peter, January 2015)
A surprise turn out from my club Dulwich Paragon, and we rode as a large group round. We had icy roads to start, and some snow early on as we rode towards Marlow. Due to the size of the group, we bounced the first control in the interest of keepin moving. One of our group got brake-tested by an idiot car-driver; fortunately Libby’s escape into the ditch avoided injury to herself or bike. Before Pangbourne we suffered 4 punctures – two of them were mine 😦 Lucky for me The sun had woken up, and also Kat,Libby and Liam stopped with me as I fixed them. A pre-control lunch at a cafe in Lambourn a couple of km short of Pangbourne meant we could miss the queues at the Tutti Pole; on we headed towards Kingsclere. As we returned east towards Dinton I could feel my seat-post slipping, and rode into the control with my knees round my ears! Leaving in the dark, I advocated an alternative route out of Maidenhead after a bad experience on my first ride on this event. Even with 10 companions I felt better for avoiding Mill lane…. On the final approach we caught George C and Marcus JB who had opted to ride the route in reverse. All in, a good winter’s ride.
300km – Oostend-Boulogne-Oostende Green and Yellow Fields, April 2015
I had grand plans over Easter. Go out and ride the RvV sportive on Saturday, and nip down to Oostende for a 300km on Easter Monday, Unfortunately I got a stomach virus during/after the Ronde.
Back-up plan was the G&Y Fields from Manningtree to the North Norfolk coast, and back. With a 25kmh limit, the starting challenge was to stay within time. A fairly large group hindered in this process, and we arrived at the first control slightly early. This allowed for some faffing time, and on leaving we were in a slightly smaller group. Amongst us were my ex LBS staffer Philip, and RAAM hopeful (for this year, after having crashed out in 2014) Shu Pillinger. A decent group you’d agree. we soon made up the faffing time, and arrived to a manned control at Burham Deepdale 10 minutes or s ahead of time. xxx our controller was considerate, and we scoffed on cakes until we were officialy cleared to leave. Heading back I discovered a problem. My stomach problem from the previous weekend re-asserted itself, and all the cake just ingested came back up the wrong way. Fairly shortly it became clear the problem was in both directions, and I reallystarted to struggle. A brief respite at Derham where I popped into a Morrisons to clear a few issues. As I left I chanced upon George Hanna passing through the town, and we tagged along for a while, until Shu, Mike and Philip re-passed us having made a wrong turning. Shortly we arrived at Waitrose in Wymondham. Still struggling to eat any food, I soon ended up solo again, but pressed on to Needham Market where I was able to consume some elderflower squash and a banana. Stcve Beard from Dulwich arrived as I was leaving, and he dragged my weak body back raound to Manningtree where Tom (the organiser) was waiting to stamp cards. Not a pleasant ride, but an instructional one.
400km – Baker Lake, WA, May 2015
As part of a vacation to Seattle, I entered the SIR Spring 400. The club president put me in touch with a member (Andy) who put me up on the Friday night and would provide transport to/from the start. Andy is a great guy and a cycle nut, with a collection of vintage derailleur mechs alongside his PBP and other long randonee medals. We left at 6am out of ………….
There has been renewed interest this year regarding two of the oldest records in cycling – the one year distance records, which were set in 1938 by Billie Fleming (nee Dovey) and in 1939 by Tommy Godwin for the womens and mens records.
Doing a bit of reading I came across a website set up as a tribute to billie with records of each days mileage and towns visited.
It sounded like my sort of idea, so I picked 26 April to ride on. Billie started in East Grinstead and visited Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone, Farningham and Orpington on a 72.3 mile ride that day in 1938. I put the word out in my club to try and persuade more to join me.
A drizzly grey Sunday (and by reports a few late nights) meant only 5 of us started. Fortunately Katherine is made of tougher stuff so we did have a woman rider among our 5strong team on the train down to East Grinstead.
The drizzle soon cleared up as we looped clockwise through the lanes and past green and yellow fields of rapeseed towards Hartfield before ascending Kidds Hill to the top of the Ashdown Forest. More lanes through Groombridge before we got to the traffic jams in Tunbridge Wells.
Once we got through the traffic we hit the Kentish lanes winding a back route to Maidstone and a welcome late lunch stop in a cafe at the end off the highstreet. As all good route plans go we left the cafe and started climbing out of Maidstone which soon warmed us back up again.
Rain started again as we approached Wrotham, and made a brief stop for rain jackets before a little routing error (leaving us facing a staircase – thank you Sustrans…) and a puncture set us up for a steep climb up Vigo Hill.
As we passed round the back of Brands Hatch the roads became familiar and we passed through Farningham and turned up the Darenth Valley towards Orpington.
A lapse of concentration in route planning on my part to us through the less salubrious outskirts of Orpington before finishing up at the rail station for some of us to catch the train back.
All in all a nice ride, some great roads and mostly quiet, punctured by some testing hills.
The winner of the 1891 Bordeaux-Paris G. P. Mills was a member of the North Road Cycling Club. (in fact the whole podium was) NRCC promoted the very first 24hr time trial too.
This year, the National Championships 24Hr TT was held on the summer solstice, and circumstance meant I was riding ‘un-supported’
Lack of prep meant I had a fairly late night after changing tyres, chain, jockey wheels on the bike. And an early start to catch the train down to Berwick (Sussex) At the sign in I met Marcus from Willesden CC who I rode a good proportion of LEL with last year. It’s always nice to recognise a friendly face, and he was also unsupported.
With no-one to hand up food and drink, my plan was to stop as little as possible, so I was carrying 4 large bottles (two behind the saddle), and a tri-bag for food to avoid loading my back. Lights were also attached so I wouldn’t have to stop early to add them.
Race numbers on two sets of kit, waterbottles filled, food/drinks/clothes box packed and handed over. I think I was ready to go.
My ‘day’ began officially at 12.45. I know I start faster than I ‘should’ but it works for me. Out past the Arlington Resevoir and up to the A22. This is the only bit of road I’ll ride once. A left turn onto the bottom part of the Broyle circuit triangle gives a rare opportunity to see the riders in front returning, as from then on it’s mostly one-way traffic on the circuit loops.
Up to the Little Horstead circuit. I know this bit is lumpy from training, but it’s different on the road. At the end of the first lap I spot the ‘riders feed’ where my drop box will be, but I am well loaded and make a mental note only. There is a burst water pipe on the circuit with temporary traffic lights. It’s about 50/50 whether I stop at them. on my second? (these things eventually roll into one long lap) circuit I see Simon and George who I rode with on LEL who are cheering riders on. It’s a good lift. There is a car crash at the end of the circuit. People are trying to rip the door off one car to reach an elderly lady, but there’s lots of people around to help, and me stopping won’t make matters better. Round again. At the end of the next lap they are transferring riders to the Broyle circuit. The drop boxes have already gone.
Down to Halland and onto the Broyle circuit I spot the second ‘feed’ just after Ringmer. Next time round I’ll have to stop as I’m almost out of water after close to 100 miles. A bottle jumped out of the cage on my saddle on a descent. Fortunately I had a spare in the box. Bottles are filled already so I swap everything out and grab a couple more bars to replenish the tribag. On the next circuit I spotted my bottle on the road so made a brief stop to collect it and shove it up my jersey to dump back at the box. Round and round I go. I have lost count.
At some point we are transfered to the ‘Night’ circuit. It is still light enough to get one clear lap in daylight, and spot the hazards for later on. It is a mixture of A-road/dual carriageway, and steep pot-holed lanes. Rob from Catford CC catches me on an ascent riding an 80″ fixed. Unluckily for him, there are a few big descents coming up, and my freewheeling capability keeps me in touch. Past the Night HQ on the first time around I mark it on my Etrex. This one is about 25miles/lap, and as I have lights already on the bike I can continue. Round again. Lights go on. I’m starting to run low on fluids but determine I can reach 300km before stopping again.
Next lap round I have to stop. I got some water from another riders support RV parked up and filled 3 bottles. The 4th with coke. More food went in the tri-bag and gels in pockets before donning arm warmers, gloves and gillet and setting off again. More laps. I started getting sleepy on the A roads – hypnotised by the white lines and spot light. Caffine and a brief pull over to let it kick in and I was back. Hot foot struck several times and I had to ease off a bit. It was starting to become a compromise between bum and feet hurting most. The sections riding through woods were lovely – the heat radiating from the trees kept the night warm for these sections, but the cold dips and hollows took my breath away. Somewhere around 3am dawn starts to break, but it remains cold. It’s around this point you start to realise how much longer is left – another 1o hours. It’s soul-destroying. I get one more lap in daylight, and I’m rationing my water. My second stop at Night HQ and half the boxes are already loaded into the van. Esther the organiser opens the hall back up so I can get some more water in two bottles, and I refill the 3rd with more coke. At least I know it’s my last time round on this.
Back up the A22 to the Little Horstead circuit. Still ages left. Pedal. Keep pedaling. Tell my body that it can hurt later, as long as it keeps going now. I’ve decided to hate this circuit, with its hilly sections, and am relieved when I get moved off it and head to the finishing circuit. The sun is up properly now, and it’s starting to get very hot again.
8am. I have 3 bottles left. There is no water at the box drop. Can I keep it going for another 4 3/4 hours. I’m beginning to crack up I think. Timekeepers are setting up. By now my default response is to shout “45” at anyone in a hi-viz vest. I forget how many laps I’ve done. At about 9.45 I pass 600km. Fastest 6 I’ve ever done, and still 3 hours left. I start estimating how far I can go. 25kph seems reasonable for the last 3 hrs, so all my focus is poured in to that 675km target. It’s about 4 more laps. Have to force myself to keep eating.
At around the 400 mile mark, I am on the verge of tears as I climb up past the Wok Inn, where most spectators are. 24hrs is so bloody unreasonable. Properly losing it now, but if I can keep it going I’m going to set a PB. George and Simon are still out on the course encouraging riders as we turn back on to the A22 and snap me back into the race. Another lap. Or make it two. Time is finally down to minutes as at last I pass TK6 for the final time and get told “2 minutes” left. Emptying whatever I’ve got left onto the road as final distance will be averaged between this and TK1 at Halland roundabout depending on how quick I can cover these last few miles. TK1 and it’s with relief I shake my head at the marshal on the roundabout immediatley after. I am done finally. Climb off, lay the bike down carefully onto the grass verge and collapse almost hyperventilating onto the ground into as close a fetal position as my aching body can form. I think I’m crying, but I don’t know if it’s pain or relief.
I do know it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done on a bike.
My longest day lasted 24hours 4 minutes
There’s still the matter of the club team record.
Or completing Bordeaux-Paris-Roubaix
Not many are aware that Paris-Roubaix was first promoted as a warm-up race for the then more established Bordeaux-Paris, to be run 6 weeks in advance of B-P. Here I was, trying to ride it 6 days after finishing Bordeaux.
An inauspicious start with thunder and lightning cracking the night sky, and a rainstorm opening up as we approached Bohain.
Full night/wet weather gear on, we entered the hall to sign on and set off into the night. Dawn broke about ½ an hour into the ride with cloudy skies to the east, but it continued to rain on us. The first cobbled sector at Troisville (named for Jean Stablinsky) crept up without warning. Left turn off a main road and bam! Things were going OK up to about a kilometre in, the sound no one wants to hear. Puncture on the first sector. It didn’t see to be deflating too quickly so I pressed on until it was necessary to stop, about 40m from the end. Quite dangerous to stop of a wet pave descent, so I walked off the cobbles to fix it.
Two new inner tubes, a 10 dinar note tyre boot, and 1 patched tube later, I was on the move again, but a long way behind the group now. I think it was Quérénaing that did for my seat-tube bottle cage again, snapping the tab off the cage bottom.
There was a team of frenchmen riding the route on oldschool bikes and kit. Brings a real sense of the history to the race:
The rain and mud made these early sectors slippery, it was a fight to keep the back wheel following the front. The Bernard Hilnaut sector at Maing commenced with an entirely flooded section so it was pick a line and hope for the best.
By this time the rain had stopped, and the heat of the day started drying everything out. The last section before the second feed station at Wallers is a 2.5km **** rated brutal road that never seemed to end, but eventually I pulled into Wallers.
Here I met Alex and Rich from the coach – Alex had also suffered 3 punctures already, but more were to come as we entered the Tranchée d’Arenberg [History note – this sector was ‘discovered’ by the same Jean Stablinski above who had previously worked the mines below the trench, and first introduced into the race in 1968] It is a 2.4km long *****rated sector, and Alex was about to find out why. About 1/3rd in, there was a bang, and Alex swerved violently to the right as the puncture caused him to lose control, ending up in a ditch on the other side of the cinder track. WIthin a few minutes, two more riders suffered the same fate in exactly the same spot, one ending in the undergrowth to the left, and the other managing to stop on the cinders. The delay while we fixed Alex’s puncture enabled Rich to finish the sector and come back to take photos
Alex suffered another puncture before exiting the trench too, and the combined 6km of Mons-en-Pevele, Neuveau Monde and Bar saw him riding with a 20Euro tyre boot in his back wheel after he punctured for the 6th time.
The pain in my arms was such that I was reduced to the gutter for many of the remaining sectors, though I managed to tough out Carrefour on the crown before taking the pro line through Gruson.
Hem, then a sprint round the velodrome to finish and shower. I got Josef Fischers cubicle (the winner of the first ever edition) and am very happy to have finished!
 | cyclamour on The Longest Day |
 | Jeremy Beswick on Bordeaux-Paris |
 | Alistair FitzPatrivk on Bordeaux-Paris |
| Alistair FitzPatrivk on Paris-Roubaix x 2 |
 | tom c on Paris to Paris? (2) |
| cyclamour on The Longest Day |
| Jeremy Beswick on Bordeaux-Paris |
| Alistair FitzPatrivk on Bordeaux-Paris |
| Alistair FitzPatrivk on Paris-Roubaix x 2 |
| tom c on Paris to Paris? (2) |
Riding History 