Version of this ride report with pictures at: http://www.sandbenders.demon.co.uk/cycling/manc100.htm
Manchester 100 ride 2005 The Manchester 100 bike ride is an annual event in September offering 100km (63 miles) and 100 mile routes. In March Audrey wondered if she was capable of getting fit enough to do it. Steph responded with the challenge of "If I can, you can". We could, and we did. Our scheduled start time was 8am, with what seemed like about a quarter of the almost 4000 riders entered milling around in Wythenshawe Park. The day got off to a very bad start when Audrey had a puncture before reaching the start line, but fortunately that was the only mechanical problem all day. Our one and only successful overtaking manoeuvre of the day was achieved just a few hundred yards from the start. There were about three other groups keeping pace with us, but we were some of the slowest riders out there. The route started by going from Wythenshawe into Hale Barns, a very expensive Manchester suburb, inhabited by the least courteous drivers on the entire route. One driver honked when I took the lane at traffic lights which were too narrow for her to pass me, so I gave her a cheery wave, which seemed to infuriate her even more. From Hale Barns we went over the M60, through Ashley and past the Rostherne entrance to Tatton Park (stately home). This is a route that Audrey and I have done often on our regular Sunday training rides, but always in the other direction from Tatton towards home, after tea and cakes at the hall. The road along the wall of the estate is long and straight so the cars go rather fast. I'd rather be going faster down the hill than up it. By now the riders were quite spread out, so it seemed like we were on our own, but at each busy junction where there was a few seconds pause to get across a group of at least 10 cyclists formed in seconds. After going over the M6 by bridge at Tabley Hill the route crossed the busy A556 just south of junction 19, and on regrouping at the other side we had our first food of the day, working on the eat before you're hungry theory. 16 miles of ride done, and the legs were feeling as fresh as if we'd only just started. Quite a contrast to our first ride at the beginning of March, when I needed two hours in the bath to recover from only 13 miles! Still on familiar territory the route wound past the entrance to Arley Hall into Great Budworth, sadly too early for the ice-cream farm to be open. Up to this point the route had been flat apart from one climb in Hale Barns, so the 1 in 10 out of Great Budworth was a nasty shock. A flat few miles through Comberbach and Anderton to recover, then it was on into serious hills in Northwich. The Mossley Cycle Racing Team children's section had the right idea, peeling off for a cup of tea at a garden centre in Northwich. Very embarrassing to be burnt off by a bunch of 8 year olds when they passed us again later. We carried on up and down through Northwich, but the last 20 yards of one steep hill up to a junction were just too much, so I got off and pushed. Just outside Northwich the rides split, the 100km riders turning south to Whitegate while the 100 mile riders continued east towards Norley. The marshall at this point was telling 50 mile riders to turn, which given that the distances were 63 miles or 100 miles was not exactly clear. Later we met one unfortunate woman who had signed up for 100km but got misled by the 50 mile instruction into doing the 100 mile route. Near Whitegate we met Rob from the Dawdling Doctors cycling group, whom we ride with once a month. Rob kindly took this photo of us at about the halfway mark, still feeling quite good, even though the terrain had become rolling rather than flat. The day had been sunny from the outset - look at the shadows in this shot - and from here on the temperature was rather hotter than we'd have liked. There weren't many opportunities to take photos, as I didn't want to stop, but here's one of Audrey womanfully cresting one of those rolling hills. During the day we saw one recumbent trike, one upright Longstaff trike, one trailer bike and several tandems. Most riders were on touring or racing style bikes; mountain bikes were definitely in the minority. Every set of riders who were struggling, whether it was with mending punctures or blowing up because they'd set off too fast, were on mountain bikes. Rolling hills soon induced real hunger, so once we were able to find a shop in Winsford with cold drinks we stopped for lunch and attacked our sandwiches with gusto. But oh dear, getting back on after even a short stop was hard work, especially slogging up hills in the heat. It would have been better to get a bit further to Middlewich where the route flattens out again, but we were just too hungry to wait. Church Minshull comes to mind as a place with some particularly vicious hills, where we got to know several groups of riders who went at around our pace, stopping for breathers at the top of the hills. The only official stop on the 100km route was a pub in Middlewich, where we had a long cold drink. Some shade to cool off at this point would have been wonderful but there was none around, so I settled for washing my face in cold water and reapplying sun cream again. The pub was struggling hard to cope with so much custom; next time we'll follow the example of other riders and stop at a different one. Leaving Middlewich heading towards Lower Peover we met a traction engine slowly puffing its way downhill. No picture because I was more bothered about getting to the top of the hill, knowing that if I'd stopped halfway up I'd have to push the bike from there. On through Byley into Lower Peover and there were road signs for Knutsford, which is almost back on home territory. Our spirits were lifted by meeting the Dawdling Doctors out on their monthly run who rode alongside for a friendly chat for a bit. When I saw the first road sign that said Wilmslow, I declared time for food again. We hadn't felt hungry at this point, but I knew I needed some reserves to get me up the hill out of Wilmslow, so I ought to eat. And after two bites of sandwich I felt ravenous, so it was the right decision. The Dawdling Docs passed us while we ate, and then we passed them when they stopped for a pint. A refreshing cold drink was tempting, but I knew that getting started afterwards would be painful, so it was better to press on, having already got past the point of our previous personal best for the year. Wilmslow featured the only traffic jam on the ride, at 4pm on a Sunday afternoon. The ride followed the pre-bypass route of the A34, swooping down to the station and then back up the hill towards Handforth. My heart sank when I saw the marshall sat at the turning for the B1566 to Styal. This has a fast downhill, followed by a right hand bend and then up a short but very steep hill into Styal. This hill is my particular bugbear, costing me great effort to get up it when fresh. Could I cycle up without pushing after 60 miles? Well yes, but only by trying every trick I know to take my mind off the pain and effort. I was motivated by the idea of being able to say I'd cycled the entire route, having by this point entirely forgotten that I'd got off and pushed in Northwich. >From Styal it's pretty much all downhill through Gatley, past a group of three people sat in a drive in deckchairs. Wow, we had spectators. Just a bridge over the M60, then a bridge over the railway, through Northenden and we were back at the park. Audrey's partner Rob snapped the moment of triumph as we crossed the finishing line, to a round of applause. This wasn't quite the end of cycling for the day, as there were another 2 miles home from Wythenshawe Park for me. We each did 68 miles, my personal best for 9 years and Audrey's personal best ever. Next year, 100 miles? -- On the other hand, you have different fingers. Stephen Wright Steph Peters, Manchester, England [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
