200km - fixed

I had it in my head that I wanted to do a 200km ride, it would be my furthest ride and its a nice round number. The weekend was the ideal time for it and I had a number of plans, then Ali suggested going to Cambridge and maybe I could ride down. It turns out I had plotted this route previously and at over 300km it was going to be a little long. Ali wanted me to spend some time with her and her mum once I got there. So I plotted another route which came out at 206km, ideal. We had planned to leave our house at 6am, instead we got up then. Something to do with me being out late the night before. So it was 9am before I started pedalling.

On my way and it seemed a little hillier than I was expecting, I was wondering if I had made the right choice to try and do my longest ride ever fixed. But the riding was lovely, little country lanes, hardly any traffic and hares in the fields beside me. Soon the layers were coming off as I warmed up. Through the centre of Newark and I knew it was all villages from here on, not that Newark had been that busy unless you count the huge club ride heading out in the opposite direction to me. Somewhere after the outskirts of Grantham I realised I was getting low on water but I thought it would be fine as one of the villages would have a shop. Before that point I had passed a few. But no this was when I started going through villages with no facilities except pubs that were shut. My next thought was to ask the next person I saw gardening, but no they had all disappeared as well. A look on the map and I decided to divert to Bourne as it looked a reasonable size on the map. Stocked up with water and headed back on my way, past an open pub, village shop and petrol station! So I would have been fine. Still on such a lovely day who minded an extra few miles?

At this point I was down to wearing my shorts and jersey, unheard of for me in April. I was amazed at how much stuff I actually got in my rear pockets! I was to find out later that when I put my suncream on I hadn't considered that I would actually take my knee-warmers off and so ended up burnt between my shorts and my knee on the right hand side. It seemed no time at all till I was in Cambridgeshire, fortunately I am all too aware how long a county this is so I didn't think I was nearly there.

I spent most of the time in my own bubble, waving at the odd cyclist who was taking advantage of the weather. Until just before Earith where two cyclists went past me. No one to not take advantage I got onto the rear wheel and stayed them. Some chatting about if I had come far, as soon as they heard they had lots of questions, some chatting about cross racing and that five miles flew by. I was feeling strong now so I decided to push a bit. I was hoping to do the 200km in 10 hours total time, I had my garmin on continuously so my average speed was the overall. Even with the extra distance I could see that 10hours was a possibility. Last stop and text was sent to Ali saying I should be there by 7pm and on I went. Pushing on through the villages I recognised from riding round here previously. Before I knew it I was pulling into Harwick and waving through the window. 15minutes before my 10 hour cut-off. 

Then it was time to go out for Pizza amazing I didn't feel that tired!

So total stats:

Distance: 217.31 km
Elevation Gain: 603 m
Moving Time: 09:01:07
Elapsed Time: 09:53:02
Avg Speed: 22.0 km/h
Avg Moving Speed: 24.1 km/h
Max Speed: 46.5 km/h
Avg HR: 124 bpm
Max HR: 172 bpm