Tour Of Wessex - Somerset & Wiltshire (28 Maio)

Sábado foi o primeiro dia do Tour Of Wessex. 160km e 2290m de desnivel acumulado eram o programa do dia.

Acordamos cedinho para o pequeno almoço antes das 8h, pois ainda tinha de fazer o registo e conseguir arrancar antes das 9h. Como ficamos em Street, a ligação foi feita de carro.

Ao chegar tudo muito bem organizado. Vários elementos da organização estavam no parque de estacionamento (um campo relvado) a organizar e fazer fluir o estacionamento. Rapidamente montei a bicla e tratei do dito registo. Estava no arco das partidas antes dos primeiros sairem.

Arrancou-se em grupos de cerca de 50, com a dispersão a dar-se rapidamente, cada qual foi no seu ritmo logo cedo. Ainda tentei achar companhia, mas era muito cedo para tal.

Com a primeira subida digna de nota apenas após os 80km tentei não abusar e apanhar algumas boleias, foram mudando com frequência, pois mesmo se eu abusar continuo a andar melhor a subir que no plano.

Aos 80km chegamos à Cheddar Gorge, uma estreita garganta, que percorremos a subir (a dita primeira subida do dia). A paisagem bem boa e a subida também, distância e inclinação q.b.

No fim desta o primeiro abastecimento e pouco depois o meu engano do dia... Não vi a sinalização e segui em frente em vez de seguir para a direita num cruzamento, resultado final, 7km de borla... Na verdade nos 175km reais acaba por ser pouco...

O percurso começou a ter um relevo algo mais ondulante e encontrei-me com alguns londrinos conhecidos a caminho do 2º abastecimento, onde parei para umas sandochas (havia bastante variedade à escolha) e para atestar o bidon. Ia nesta altura com 3h desde o arranque.

Saida de novo sozinho para a estrada e continuamos na chapa ondulada, levando com um belo aguaceiro em cima. Felizmente vesti o impermeável mesmo a tempo, não está frio, mas mesmo assim saberia mal...

A 2ª subida grande do dia foi algo inesperado para mim, com a inclinação a aumentar gradualmente e no final já maldizia ter mudado a minha cassete para o 11-27, aquilo doeu...

O cansaço começava já a sentir-se mas havia ainda mais de 1/3 para fazer. Ainda consegui algumas boas companhias nos planos, pena que nas subidas tenha o problema do costume.

Já nos últimos 20km sou apanhado por um grupo com que segui quase até ao fim. Bendito foi pois o vento fazia-se sentir bem, estava mesmo de frente e suficientemente forte para 20bpm a menos quando atrás de outro ciclista...

Amanhã há mais, vamos a ver como se portam as perninhas, que elas agora estão cansadotas...

Glastonbury Tor, Somerset Levels, Cheddar Gorge, Burrington Combe, Mendip Hills, Wells Cathedral, Alfred's Tower, Stourhead House.

Saturday was the first day on the Tour Of Wessex. 99,5 miles and 7512 feet of climbing was the ride of the day.

With an early awakening for our breakfast, I had planned to get to Somerton before 8H30. I still had to register and get to the start gate before 9h. As I'm not sleeping in Somerton still had to do a short car trip.

At the event's HQ it was all very organized. Several members of the start were controlling the traffic and parking of the cars so that everything would flow. After that quickly put my bike together and did the so said registration. Still managed to get in the cue to the gate before the first ones got out.

We were going out in groups of 50 and quickly dispersing. Everyone was going at their own pace for the start. I tried to get some company, but it was too early for that.

As the first proper climb was only at km 80, I was trying not to push it too hard and stay in a bunch. Managed to ride with a few groups but it kept on changing as my pace on the climbs does not match with the one on the flats...

When we did get to à Cheddar Gorge the route was straight up it. Great scenery and a good climb, long and not too steep.

At it's end we had the first feed station and shortly after that I made my wrong turn. Or in this case didn't. I missed the signs and went forward instead of turning, ended up doing an extra 7km... If you take into account the overall distance it's fairly little...

The route started to turn more hilly and I managed to meet some Londoners on the way to the 2nd Feed station. There I did a lengthier stop (not much) for a couple of sandwiches (there was plenty of variety) and refill my bottle. I had already 3h of riding by this point.

So I was starting alone again on the undulating road. We had our first shower, luckily I put my rain cape just in time...

The 2nd big climb of the day came as a bit of a surprise. It got steeper and steeper and at the end I cursed the day when I decided to change my cassette form a 12-27 to a 11-25. IT WAS PAINFUL...

I was starting to feel tired, but still had over 1/3 of the day to go. Managed to get some company on a few of the flat sections, but it was the usual problem on the climbs.

The last 20km were done in the company of a bigger group that caught up with me and it helped a lot with the strong head wind we had to face. The difference between driving the pace and sitting on a wheel was of 20bpm...

Tomorrow is another day, hope the legs pull back together. They are pretty sore at the moment...