For a long time I've been hesitant about entering a sportive. Not due to the routes or distance necessarily, although I rarely ride over 2 hours these days. Instead my bike riding is condensed shot of speed and fun about three times a week. So last Sundays Brighton to Brighton sportive would be something quite different. No tearing away from the gun. No hammering up hills to break away. No risky downhill action to try and catch back on. To be honest I've always struggled to see the appeal but I thought I should try at least one before I made any rash decisions.
Lea had to bail before the ride so my early plan of us sharing the pace for 100 miles instead became a one man time trail for 100 miles. And if there is one thing I'm shit at, it's time trailing. Still it was dry, autumn was in full swing showing it's glorious colours and the route was a familiar cracker. All my local roads so I plucked a random speed out of my head a decided to see if I could stick with it. 20mph average was the benchmark. With the absence of riding buddies I needed some objective. I hate plodding round so this became the stick.
All was going nicely for the first 40 miles and I was just shy at 19.9 mph. The sportive thing is all new to me so pitching up at the first feed station as I was nicely surprised to see a whole raft of pastries and sweets. Mindful that I didn't want to treat the village hall feed stop like a kids party, I made tracks. Okay, just one more sausage roll then . . .
My iPod gave me much needed company and motivation as my average started to drop and the legs started to feel leaden. I found myself struggling more on the flat due to the gusty wind than I did on the stiff climbs like Kidds Hill surprisingly. Seeing the horizon up above and bouncing up and down out the saddle, I could find a decent rhythm and stick with it. Unlike my riding on the flat, which left me constantly trying to find just the right gear. Up, down, up down much like the route itself. Talking of which there were some superb country lanes and some great vistas high up in Ashdown Forest. Enough to keep you engaged.
The second feed was just after halfway so mentally I was almost home. Average was now down to 19mph so I took a whole load more of the sweets and pastries to fuel the fire. It did the trick for a time but before long the zip was definitely going out my legs and even my arms started to ache, not helped by the 20% climb of Cobb Lane. At this point I felt quite numb. Not from a trouble with circulation. Just the non stop pedaling into the wind. Mentally I was beginning to drop off as was my average speed.
At the third feed stop I just filled up my bottle and motored on. Just wanted to get back now. Only 30 miles left, although this is the length of a normal ride for me. Seeing the South Downs appear always feels me with added motivation. I can see home already. Such was the focus just to get back and eat a shed load of oven food, I missed the 4th feed in Ditchling and climbed my way up the Beacon. Not too shabby although I'm used to hitting this climb with far fresher legs. High speed drop back into Brighton then up Bear Road for the final sting in the tail. Which it did. The legs were on the verge of cramp at this point so rolling over the line on the seafront I felt wasted. Average speed was 18mph. Got to say I was a little disappointed but knew I could not have gone faster and it's the first time I've ridden 100 miles with no chance of shelter from another rider. It makes a hell of a difference.
All in all it was a strange experience. On the one hand great to do something new. Get a good ride in and a superb route and organisation. You could argue, as many people do, that you could ride this route any time of the year, but just having a timing chip around my neck and some clear course marking meant I could focus on the ride rather than the route. On the other hand I missed the buzz of going full gas for an hour or so. The beer after didn't half nurse those aching legs though. Maybe I'll give it another go...