Guildford Cycle Challenge 2009 - Sunday 27 September 2009

Got a full morning's pass from She Who Must Be Obeyed to take part in the Guildford Cycle Challenge. This was my first ever cycle sportive and in honour of the occasion SWMBO got up before 7am to cook me a pre ride omelet. What a star! She could get a job any day as team support on the Pro Tour. This set me up wonderfully for the ride of around 90km - I had chosen the Challenge option rather than the Epic at 130km, not least because I had to be back in Forest Row by 2pm in readiness for a punter come to view the Yellow Peril - see my other blog if you need to know more!

I set off at the head of a group just before 9am at a reasonable pace and was rather hoping someone would have caught me up. Instead what happened is I missed a route sign and blithely carried on, with around 20 others following me like Lemmings. After about 10 km I realised something was wrong and stopped. My fears confirmed I then had to lead the group over an extra climb to rejoin the official route further down. After that I shot off like a scalded cat so no one would pass any further comment.

The first half of the course was gently undulating and the weather was superb throughout. After that the weather stayed the same but the course changed, starting with a vicious 21% sudden ball tearer of a climb and a number of other Surrey Hill climbs following. Stopped a couple of times on the way for refreshments and arrived back before lunch, just over 3 hours of actual cycling. Only one nasty accident seen and no aches to speak off - Definitely something I will do again. Maybe even the 'Hell of The Ashdown' next March!