Jodrell Bank cyclosportive - 12/03/2011

Wow, what a day!

I was really worried about entering this event, especially as I was doing it on my own and it being the furthest distance I have attempted.

Still up at six in the morning, bike and kit into the car and off.

I couldn't believe the amount of people there, over 500 riders so much so I had to park in a housing estate nearby.

Registered with race control, got a free goody bag, kitted up and made my way to the start.

I wasn't sure what to so just jumped on the end of a group of 5 or 6 and headed out.


Stephen Scott rider number 242 who had never been on a road bike a month ago heading out to do 50 miles around the Cheshire countryside...... to say I was nervous was an under statement.

I soon realised that the group were much quicker than me, so I let them go and settled into my own pace.

I soon warmed up and 'the jam' on the ipod helped me to keep a good rhythm going. It was reasonably flat for the first 25 miles and the food stop soon came up.

I had managed to complete the 25 in 1hr 38 Min's with an average speed of 14.7mph, I was chuffed.

I felt good, no aches or pains and tucked into a hot cross bun, a banana and a flap jack. I set off on the next 25 full enthusiasm and got my head down to try and keep up a pace.

I knew that in the last 10 miles it was generally a climb so I tried to conserve some energy for that.

Problem was that the climbs started pretty much after 30 miles and we had turned into the wind.......

For each climb there was a descent but I was finding it much harder to recover so I decided to stop at 37 miles and have a break.

I must say that at this point the sun had come out the tour around Jodrell bank had been great and the scenery stunning.

So after a quick 5 minutes I set off again, my average speed was dropping all the time, I still seem unable to keep the momentum going in the first half of a hill and then it's just pain till reach the top and everyone overtook me.... ARH!!!!

Never the less I just gritted my teeth and got on with.

I had to stop a few times half way up but the the most thrilling section was out of Macclesfield, probably 2/3 miles all down hill.

Now going downhill for me at speed seems to be a forte for me!

'Tuck in and make the most of it' I thought and forget the brakes...... 38.4 miles an hour - fantastic, I overtook most who had over taken me.

Then the final climbs through Prestbury out to Bollington through country lanes near Adlington and back to the lesuire centre at Poyton.

I was ecstatic.... I really had done it, my first 50 miler.

Average 13 mph, 50.24 miles result.

It took everything out of me but I am so proud of myself as it feels I am making real progress.

Roll on the miles now !

Ste.........

P.S. check out the web site below, results will be on there soon, probably last but I don't care

http://cyclosportivejodrellbank.blogspot.com/