The Poor Student 200

Comedy award goes to Jason for turning up for the ride with two left shoes.  You can't recommend to do such things, but look at Andy Allsopp who found himself at the start of LEL 2009 without shoes.  He ended up having such a memorable event that he wrote a book about it.  If you still haven't read it, get it now!: Barring Mechanicals

We were already in Chipping Camden when Jason and his buddy appeared, all happy and bubbly like they were having the time of their lives! Most people would have got back in the car and driven home.  People made for bigger things find the nearest bike shop and buy a new pair of shoes.  Chapeau Jason, it was wonderful to see you.

There were 82 riders!  I couldn't take any photos at the start, because my hands were having a good dose of Raynaud's syndrome.  Fortunately, I know it is only a matter of time, before the blood supply comes back, so I just have to sit it out.  But when it happened again in Chipping Camden I was more concerned.  There was a lot of braking and changing gears to be done - sitting it out to doesn't really help.  Still, I managed.  

Here are my companions for the day, busy repairing Louise's puncture while I was busying myself taking pictures:

Looks flat doesn't it? Well have a look at this photo:

Compton Abdale

Compton Abdale is a bailing point according to Louise: only 8 miles to Cheltenham where there is a train station.  The second leg in the Poor Student is hilly.  The last leg still has a few remnants also.  It is a fantastic route.  I love the Poor Student and it is a very good permanent option in the summer.

So, we have points on the board for 2012.  Next up will be the Willesden Willy Warmer 200.  In fact, that will be my last audax before the Southern Kiwi Hunt 1200.  Eeek, that focusses the mind!  I might 'go for time'.  At least I'm going to go for time efficiency, just to get my eye in again.  Faffing on an audax is like gravity, it is always there, you're constantly battling against it.  Take you're eye off and you're flat on the ground, with half an hour lost.

You might wonder what else I'll be doing before the Southern Kiwi Hunt?  The Surrey Hilly 50 and The Faccombe Haul.  Other than that, lots of work in the gym spin studio.

Big thank you to Iddu for organising for the first time since taking for from Dave Bew.

Photos are on the slideshow till the next ride, or here: Clicky

The Poor Student 200

Being able to turn down your car windscreen wiper speed from constant to intermittent can never be as enjoyable as when you're driving to the start of an audax. Earlier I had been woken up, before the alarm went off, by the sound of torrential rain. By the time I got to Oxford it had stopped raining altogether. Against all forecasts, we didn't get another drop of rain.

I detected many patterns on this ride.

It seems no audax is complete these days without the sight of MattC, at the start and at the finish.

MattC with DaveB at the start

Then, about an hour into the ride, as has happened on several rides, from behind me, comes my BCM 2009 angel Mel. We had a good chat, talked about PBP, of course. Then, he goes off into the distance, not to be seen again, till one hour into the next ride.

And just like on the Severn Across last year, about two thirds into the ride, I link up with Ray. Another of my heros. I love his audax and PBP stories, and his sense of humour.

Talking about thirds, this ride certainly was a games of three halves! During the first leg (Oxford to Malmesbury) there was a head wind. If, as forecasted, the wind was 23km/h and I'm doing 18km/h, I should be going backwards, right? It certainly felt like it! The second leg (Malmesbury to Chipping Camden) was hilly, not too bad, I didn't have to walk, but I was already sapped from energy from the first leg. Then the last leg was cold. At Chipping Camden, Ray gave me heat pads to put into my gloves. Brilliant, it certainly helped and I'll be getting some of those for myself.

I learned from Eddy Merckx' book not to look at average speed. But on this ride, I couldn't help looking at the stats my GPS was giving. Average speed was going down, down, down. And I don't know how long my distance stayed at 185km before it clicked to 186. It seemed like hours!

I've never drunk so much fluid on a winter ride, and weighing myself in the evening I had lost 1kg.

Still, I loved the whole day. Meeting up with known riders (like Manotea, LEE, Martin, speedy Howard, RichF, ...), meeting new ones like Tim and Emily, and Nick Windle. Heard a tawny owl, and a bird I couldn't immediately identify, then settled for the sound being from a yapping dog. The outdoor pigs were a wonderful sight. They were springing about like spring lambs. The herd of muntjac deer I had to wait for was another great sight.

There are a few more pictures on the slideshow till the next ride or here: Clicky

And have a look at these magnificent photos by underseer: Clicky

Its a great ride, and if anyone wonders what it would be like in the summer, here is a picture from a July version

The Poor Student 200

Thank you, thank you to the fantastic Fabulous Faccombe Four - and Mercury! No way would I have completed this ride without them! Navigation, company, chats, light! I have only ever cycled at night in a group: Dun Run, FNRttCs and this one, and although I love it, I also find it scary at times. The thought of night riding on my own scares me a lot. Maybe the Willy Warmer will provide me with an opportunity to overcome my fears?

It was a great route, weather better than expected, hills not as bad as expected. I am very pleased with how it went, but it was tough. Its only the first in the season, and fitness and endurance will get better. But for now, I don't know how I will ever do a 400.

We started at 8 AM, cycled from Oxford to Shrivenham, to Malmesbury, to Chipping Campden and back to Oxford arriving just before 9.30 PM. The final control closed at 10.25.

I am very tired. Didn't sleep very well - how is that possible?

The Faccombe Four






LEE and Mercury