Cyclists: Emma, Hels, Dan, Stav, Mat, Anna, Charlie
Estimated miles: 110
Estimated arrival time: 6.30 pm
Actual miles: 113
Actual arrival time: 10pm
Average speed: 10.7 mph
New bikes 2: Em’s sparkly new Trek, Charlie’s Dawes Galaxy
Mountain bikes: 1 Dan – but he did have a fetching BMX helmet to complement
Weather: Cold, wet and very windy….
Numbness rating: 5/7….all hands and feet at some point (except Mat and Anna – well preprared with new neoprene overshoes)
Route: Leicester A5199 to Creaton, cross country through Sywell, to A509 at Wilby to Bozeat. Small roads through Harrold to Bedford, A600 though Shefford, Stotfold, Baldock, Buntingford, A10 to Harlow, A414 in dark to North Weald.
We were setting off in 3 groups and planned to meet up at the destination point, North Wealde, Essex. Em, Dan and myself were cycling together, and met at 8am to start Day 1. It was cold, and windy and threatening to rain, and I was running at about half-lung capacity and wheezing well. Obviously it was not an option to be too ill to cycle to Paris, so popping lemsip capsules and puffing away on an inhaler, we set off out of Leicester on the A5199…..Em and Dan cheerfully optimistic and me feeling like I should still be in my sickbed. Ohhh well…it’s only just over 100 miles today….
It wasn’t long before we all had numb hands and feet with the cold, so after around 25 miles, we treated ourselves to a hot chocolate in Harold. We saw Stav and Charlie briefly in Harold (and they had set off around 9.30….) After several more miles in the cold, blustery wind, we had our sandwiches in Baldock with 5 minutes of sunshine. We were running a little behind our time schedule and had heard Mat and Anna were near Beford. We needed to crack on so back on the bikes along the A507 through Buntingford, and a short stretch along the A10, a fast, horrible dual carriageway towards Harlow. It was now around 7.30 pm and only a few miles to North Wealde. With fading light, we seemed to take ages making our way to North Wealde, much checking of the map and stopping for dextrose tablets! Finally we arrived at the Little Chef to meet our friends, and snaffle a plate of fish and chips, thanks to the exceptionally cheerful, uber helpful staff member, who seemed very happy to serve us a few minutes after the official closing time! Thanks to Phil, Jo, Sharyn and Mike who had come to meet us and offer encouragement on the first gruelling day and persuade the Little Chef to cook us some food.
All still smiling, although there was mention of a ‘little train’ option for tomorrow….
