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06-09-05, 03:32 AM
I do a ride each year that is my epic ride. 100 miles offroad, 10,000ft of climbing, only 15 hours of daylight and is a challenge that pushes me right to the limits of my endurance. It is an Organised ride run by the British Heart Foundation, and is the South Downs Way in one day. I have attempted this ride 8 times and only failed twice. I last did it in 97 and after a couple of serious medical problems, tried it again in 2003, but on the Tandem. As I was informed at the start, several Tandems had attempted this ride before, but none had finished, and those tandem teams were younger, fitter and more accomplished than we were.
Suffice it to say, in 2003, we were the first tandem to ever complete the Organised ride in one day. We did it again in 2004 and in an hour less in 12 hours. I do feel that this is an accomplishment for an older pair of riders, and actually an achievement for a Tandem to have finished. Incidentally, of the 400 starters each year, less than 50% will complete the ride, so that is why the cheap plastic trophy given at the end in 97 takes pride of place on the Mantlepiece. All it states is
"1997, South Downs Way Randonnee, SURVIVOR".
Extra Training has been going on since January, because at my age, I cannot rely on natural fitness. It has been hard, but that training has paid off this year. Then the bombshell came last night. My Co-rider has caught a Viral infection and is laid up. We will not be doing the ride on Saturday. To say I am gutted is to put it mildly, but there is no way I can do this ride with anyone else. I do have a couple of spare riders I could use, but although they may be fit enough for a 40 mile ride, there is no way they have the endurance for a 100mile slog on what must be the hardest off road ride it is possible to do in the UK in one day. There's always next year,or even later on this year, but we are already looking for entries into the Road 100 milers that are coming up from September onwards, as that is the date that Stuart reckons he will be over his illness.
Suffice it to say, in 2003, we were the first tandem to ever complete the Organised ride in one day. We did it again in 2004 and in an hour less in 12 hours. I do feel that this is an accomplishment for an older pair of riders, and actually an achievement for a Tandem to have finished. Incidentally, of the 400 starters each year, less than 50% will complete the ride, so that is why the cheap plastic trophy given at the end in 97 takes pride of place on the Mantlepiece. All it states is
"1997, South Downs Way Randonnee, SURVIVOR".
Extra Training has been going on since January, because at my age, I cannot rely on natural fitness. It has been hard, but that training has paid off this year. Then the bombshell came last night. My Co-rider has caught a Viral infection and is laid up. We will not be doing the ride on Saturday. To say I am gutted is to put it mildly, but there is no way I can do this ride with anyone else. I do have a couple of spare riders I could use, but although they may be fit enough for a 40 mile ride, there is no way they have the endurance for a 100mile slog on what must be the hardest off road ride it is possible to do in the UK in one day. There's always next year,or even later on this year, but we are already looking for entries into the Road 100 milers that are coming up from September onwards, as that is the date that Stuart reckons he will be over his illness.