Three of us planned to do this audax ride plus my hubby John. The other doughty pair were George and Andy E. We knew if the weather was unfavourable we would be unlikely to finish in time. The weather was distinctly unfavourable, the worst storm for 25 years due that night, gale force gusts already in action, but we were not deterred. We had all entered for the 8am start and we were there! Only George had done this one before, so some anxieties amongst us others.
After the start George and I rode roughly together only seeing John and Andy at the controls. They were generally leaving as we were arriving. We got to the first control at Drewsteignton with less than 10 minutes to spare, so a quick piece of cake and we were off again. The wind, rain and hail only really got a grip as we were cycling over the high moor, blowing us two lightweights about like litter. But we were well within time, until that is, until George punctured. He sought refuge from the low walls but found none. He sent me on and I arrived with 20 minutes to spare at the Ashburton control. Hot soup and rolls, delicious. But no sign of George. He arrived about half an hour later having struggled in the atrocious conditions to replace the tube. We deliberated. The easy option of cycling back to Bovey Tracey and the cars won the day. John meanwhile was at the Ashburton control re-building a back wheel which had been unwinding. He carried on, saying later that the ride to Princetown with the head wind was atrocious, he struggled to make the time. He'd passed Andy having real problems. In the end though they both completed, John finishing within the time allocated, but Andy returning to his car in the dark.
It was a dramatic day, which we all enjoyed, in retrospect! We were glad to have taken part and maybe next year . . . .
After the start George and I rode roughly together only seeing John and Andy at the controls. They were generally leaving as we were arriving. We got to the first control at Drewsteignton with less than 10 minutes to spare, so a quick piece of cake and we were off again. The wind, rain and hail only really got a grip as we were cycling over the high moor, blowing us two lightweights about like litter. But we were well within time, until that is, until George punctured. He sought refuge from the low walls but found none. He sent me on and I arrived with 20 minutes to spare at the Ashburton control. Hot soup and rolls, delicious. But no sign of George. He arrived about half an hour later having struggled in the atrocious conditions to replace the tube. We deliberated. The easy option of cycling back to Bovey Tracey and the cars won the day. John meanwhile was at the Ashburton control re-building a back wheel which had been unwinding. He carried on, saying later that the ride to Princetown with the head wind was atrocious, he struggled to make the time. He'd passed Andy having real problems. In the end though they both completed, John finishing within the time allocated, but Andy returning to his car in the dark.
It was a dramatic day, which we all enjoyed, in retrospect! We were glad to have taken part and maybe next year . . . .
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