The Castle Ride: 100 miles in Kent

My very first cycling event and a journey into the unknown.

The Map to the left shows the six castles en route. Simply wonderful. Click on the image for a larger pic.
The Castle Ride was a brilliantly organised event and my thanks must go to Mike Trott and all the team at Action Medical Research.
I must admit to approaching the event with great trepidation as I'd been rather ill over the previous weekend and had, as a result, missed almost a weeks training. Having received advice ranging from 'don't ride when ill from Sue and John (runners extraordinaire),' go for it, it's not a race (typical PE teacher talk, Mr. Dainton!),' and 'you must be bloody mad! (my mum)' I decided to indeed go for it and packed my bag with my poshest Lycra (10//2 if any fashionistas are reading, vintage 1995) and as many energy gels as I could carry.
Team Dey (sponsored by Gregg's pies and Alan Perkins who gave me some Jelly Belly beans - I assume no sarcasm was intended, Alan) left N E London thanks to domestique #1 Keith Bullen (Winner: Le Tour de Tesco, 1959, The Giro d'Pizza Express, 2007) who provided luxorious transport (complete with school chair) for which I was very grateful. With domestique #2 David Barnes (Winner Le Grand Stag night and runner up in the classic 'Paris-cafe in Paris'; who provided the stale whiff of fine wine and granite-esque brownies, along with a plethora of mumbled promises about a future embracing only temperance, prayer and more than 4 hours sleep, safely strapped into the passenger seat, we made our way through the emerging buildings of London and onwards towards Tonbridge castle.
This was 6 a.m. and I was not impressed, although this silly emotion was loosing the battle with that of growing excitement!
Having arrived in Tonbridge and having all changed into our sexy Lycra in a car park, to the cheers - or should that be jeers - of many a shopper (it was cold!), Team Dey, with a green-hued David in tow, headed for the start line and event registration.
The level of organisation and the splendour of the medieval castle walls and grounds proved only to enhance the positive emotions of the morning, we were itching to get going and we didn't have to hang around for long. What an amazingly friendly bunch cyclists are and what a pleasure it was to finally meet the AMR staff face to face, busy as they were.
What a magnificent setting from which to start a sportive.
About twenty five cyclists, from the gathered five hundred or so, set off in a group at around 7.30 a.m. Keith is in yellow, I'm looking down.The plan was to take it easy, to do a pleasant 25 km/h until we had warmed-up and had more of an idea what to expect. So much for the plan. We averaged over 40 km/h for the first few kilometers! Freudians please comment here on the male ego! This was 8 a.m and not only was I bitter and twisted about being dragged from my bed, but now I was also unduley fatigued knackered!) We still had a daunting 95 miles to go!
The first hill ...
A sharp right led us onto a seemingly endless incline that caught out a few, myself included. David had long since vanished into the distance, and Condor-Keith was battling to stay with the mighty '06 Madone 5.5! Foolishly I decided to 'have a go' at the hill. Predictably I was found, a few kilometers later (having thought the hill was a few hundred meters long) slumped over the Bontrager bars about 20 meters short of the summit! No comment needed from the afore mentioned Freudians! My entire body seemed to be bursting with lactic acid and I'm sure I could tast iron.
The next 40 miles were not too pleasant as my body struggled to recover from the minds misplaced, and definately unrealistic, enthusiasm - four months gentle training do not a Lance Armstrong make! David, like the good domestique he is, was found waiting for his elders by a field full of gently swaying corn, basking in the sunshine of a glorious morn, sipping from his designer bidoin. The swine! We cycled together for several miles in a peloton of ever changing dimensions and met and chatted to several cyclists about life, the charity, Le Tour and the road ahead. A pleasant morning it made for all concerned. Thanks to the chap from Sevenoaks (Dulwich CC?) whose wife went to the School I now teach at (small world) and whose advise probably got us, or at least me, through the event. He left me for dead up the hills though. The route seemed to get better and better as the sun shone. Some of the scenery was stunning and he roads seemed almost devoid of trafic. Bliss - if it wasn't for the burning lungs and legs!
Campag Chaos ...
With each pedal stroke inducing spasms of pain and discomfort Keith and I were focused only on luncheon and recuperation. Unfortunately about 10 miles short of the fine Tavern, restorative pasta, banana's and peace, KB's Campag decided to trap his chain between hub and cassette. Interestingly my sexy shimano Dura-Ace was performing perfectly, as expected! With the aid of a very kind motorcycle steward and protected by a deliberately parked ambulance we spent a good half hour with the Italian beastie before we could resume. Thanks to the steward and to the Ambulance crew for their vital help. After about two miles it was decided that I 'race' ahead and meet David at the lunch stop. Keith assured me he, and his beloved Condor/Campag would be OK. He was.
Until ...
You don't want to fall off here - not with everyone watching!
David, who'd arrived about an hour earlier, and I were dining heartily when we saw a little mishap right in front of the gathered throngs of Castle riders. An 'unnamed' cyclist had taken a tumble whilst coming to a stop... Was that a Condor bike? Isn't that Campag? Who was this mysterious rider? Thankfully nothing more than pride was bruised and about twenty minutes later we got underway.
Unexpected fun ...
The next fifty miles were a distinct pleasure. I'd be very grateful if anyone could explain why I only managed to average a painful 20-23 km/h for the first 50 miles and then an easy, pleasant even, 31 k/h for the next 50, despite the unfriendly undulations? I'm at a loss. I can only put it down to fuel, rest a gentle stretch and a grupetto going at a pace I could cope with. David again vanished into the distance (EPO and 'dopage' have been mentioned on the continent!) and Keith and I decided it would be best to go at our own pace. it made for solitary cycling at some interludes but it also made for a splendid afternoons cycling most of the time. Tagging along with small groups and individuals I was rarely passed and owe a debt of gratitude to the gentleman who urged me along for the final undulating 20 miles, without his support, dragging me up the climbs at a pace far greater than I would have managed alone, my average for the final 50 would surely have plummeted. I'm afraid I didn't catch his name so if he's reading this please say hello. A big thanks to Helen from AMR, whom I met at an isolated feed station and whose encouragement was far more important than all the sweets on offer, and also to all the folk who gave up their time to run the event. Special thanks go to the Halford's mechanics for a free tune up. Should anyone ever read this then I most heartily recommend the Castle Ride as a superb days cycling.
Can't wait until next year. http://www.castleride.org/.

This image is courtesy of Keith Bullen and his funky Garmin-Memory Map duo. It is the actual route Keith followed - we did a slightly shorter one as we didn't get lost - enjoy the hill KB!!!

If Garmin or Memory-Map are reading this then sponsorship would make my life a little more fun, I'll even add your logo and link!!!

Cheers Keith.
Left-Click on the Map to see it in all its glory. Brilliant stuff, and this is the basic version.