No pain no gain

Last Sunday I struggled through the 88km version of the Burgess Hill Springtime Classic sportive around my usual haunts of the Ashdown Forest. - started off well enough, in my new cold weather gear, but from about the 50 km mark I started suffering badly from cramp in the thighs. Most unpleasant, as every time I got out of the saddle on an incline, my legs basically locked. Climbs such as that to Goat I was struggling up at only two thirds of my normal pace. Not sure as to the cause, as I had certainly taken plenty of fluid and food on board.

Very frustrating though, as is my general lack of early season fitness. Carrying a few more pounds than I should be does not help. Need to up my game considerably in my preparations for the Alps in August.