Dartmoor Classic 2012

Sunday 24th June

This was my third 'classic'. Having had two previous attempts on a mountain bike and my trusty hybrid, I'd resolved to do it properly this time on a bike with drop handlebars and everything. I'd even bought myself a shiny new road bike for this purpose and done some training. However, all this effort changes the game from 'happy just to get round' to 'need to get a really good time' - I don't know if this makes it more enjoyable.

After a week fretting about weather forecasts suggesting high winds and driving rain, the forecast for the day had finally changed to heavy overnight rain, clearing in the morning with lighter winds. As I struggled to put the bike rack on the car late on Saturday evening, I could definitely vouch for the heavy overnight rain. The river was pretty high the next morning too, but the rain had definitely eased off. I picked up Paddy from the Towers and we were ready to go. Paddy's impressive training regime consisted of borrowing Greg's road bike a week previously. On the way back down the hill and onto WP to pick up Fraser's bike, we noted the substantial amount of debris left on the road by the rain. Should make some of those scary descents a little more challenging!

On the way over, as Paddy was a first-timer, we were discussing how to tackle Holne Chase -the big hill about a quarter of the way in. I'd even done a sneaky recce ride the week before. All this inside information and training was to turn out to be completely useless as the overnight rain had brought down a tree, blocking Holne Bridge and causing the route to be diverted through Dartmeet.

Normally the GOWCC boys are eager to get in the first pens to depart as early as possible. Whether it was the persistent drizzle or just some general apathy, there was definitely a much more relaxed atmosphere this year as we got ready in the car park. I checked and re-checked my bike endlessly for no good reason, stuffed some those unpleasant energy gels into my back pocket (for emergencies only) and then we ambled across to the main event. Again we were still in no rush, plenty more faffing as we stuck on numbers and ate bananas. Looking round, the field was starting to get empty and we realised it was ten to nine already. Just then the announcer said last call for riders and we hurried to the start line. We didn't even get a chance to line up in a pen - the marshalls waved us straight through. Even though I'd been 'getting ready' for the best part of an hour, it was at this point that I decided I was already too hot and needed to shed some clothing. Everyone sped through the (rather muddy) gate and when I emerged 30 seconds later they were all gone. I put on a bit of a spurt but those blue and yellow jerseys were nowhere to be seen - already sprinting for the hills! Never mind, having a target to chase down is supposed to be good motivation. Having ploughed a lone furrow into a headwind for the next ten minutes I decided it wasn't very motivating.

Then I saw David, who was cruising along nicely as we approached Bovey and steadily heading for victory in the President's challenge. After a quick chat, we parted as the road started the first big climb up towards Manaton. Still pretty wet on the roads, but definitely not raining anymore. I passed a guy on a Brompton on the way up - 65 miles on wheels the size of a dinner plate is impressive - then met up with Gidon a little further along. Onto Manaton, where I met Colin. He'd sensibly decided the others up front were setting off rather too enthusiastically and was wisely conserving energy for the remainder of the ride. I didn't see him again but he put in a particularly fast homeward leg and secured a fantastic gold medal time.

Up onto the moor, I caught sight of the air ambulance coming to pick up a rider who'd crashed on a cattle grid. Personally, I'm terrified of crossing wet cattle grids on tiny road bike tyres. I think this one caught out several others too. But then, I caught sight of the leading group of GOWCC riders; Paddy, Fraser, Julian and Gidon's brother in law - Michael. It had taken me at least an hour to make up that 30 second deficit and from the way my legs were feeling it probably wasn't worth it. I mentally relaxed, started to eat a cereal bar and promptly lost sight of them again. Eating whilst riding quickly is definitely an acquired skill! Then past another stricken rider, who appeared to have been knocked off by a car. It certainly makes you think twice about taking risks on those narrow lanes.

From here the route would normally head down to Holne Bridge but instead we were diverted up through Ponsworthy to Dartmeet. It turns out this route was a little shorter but it has several very steep hills. These roads were really narrow and it was a real squeeze with a constant stream of cyclists and cars coming in both directions. Up from Ponsworthy is particularly steep, with a reasonably deep ford at the base of the hill too. This road was almost at a standstill, as most cyclists walked up and around the odd car smelling of burning clutch that stood embedded in the cycle traffic. I'd caught up with the others at this point and we proudly persevered uphill using pedal power - although it was probably easier and quicker to walk.

The descent into Dartmeet on wet roads was pretty scary - for me anyway. Paddy blasted past me at top speed at the bottom of the hill and then immediately pulled an emergency stop to avoid taking out a gaggle of slower cyclists and an oncoming car. He later insisted he was riding responsibly and was just trying to carry some momentum for the oncoming climb.

We pretty much stayed together for the slog into the headwind up to Princetown, although we lost Julian to a puncture at some point. Julian had some bad luck this year with another two punctures and had to resort to an emergency patch to get him home in the end. After his storming ride last year, I'm sure he'll be back to smash the four hour barrier next year.

We zoomed past the loyal GOWCC supporters club at Two Bridges, an impressive turnout once again especially given the rather miserable weather. I was better prepared this year and tried my best to wave back - in previous years I've failed to safely take my hands off the handlebars at speed and ended up veering sideways alarmingly. Then Fraser, Michael and I arrived at Princetown for a rapid pit stop - eat flapjack, fill bottles, visit toilet and off within 3 minutes. Paddy arrived as we were about to leave, managed to eat both quiche and flapjack and was somehow ready to go before we were - impressive work! The four of us headed out together to Postbridge - thankfully away from the wind.

A dropped chain and a derailleur adjustment briefly held up Fraser and Paddy but they were soon back on the pace. I last saw Fraser streaking downhill away from us around the Warren House Inn. He put in a storming run to the finish but another dropped chain and his youth cost him gold by a couple of minutes. It was around this point that I got the first twinges of cramp in my thighs - definitely paying for the early pace.

The sun came out as we headed through Moretonhampstead and onto Doccombe, the last big hill. At this point in the ride, the hill does seem to go on forever and I was really suffering with cramp. Fortunately, I was joined by Michael who also had cramp and we suffered together on our way up - yelping occasionally with each muscle spasm. As we neared the top, I reached down and realised I'd found another gear. Not metaphorically, I'd just not changed down properly and suffered all the way up in too high a gear. Hmm.

From here the route sweeps downhill and is then flat for the last 10 miles along the Teign valley. My legs appreciated this. Paddy raced past at some point with about five miles to go, having shamelessly followed the wheel of two stronger riders all along this home straight. Myself and Michael also decided that this was a good idea and followed suit, although I never quite bridged the gap. Five yards became ten then twenty and my aching legs just couldn't respond as I was left behind. I even resorted to eating/drinking/slurping my energy gels. Still I was probably in better shape than the guy we passed at this point, who suddenly leapt off his bike, yelping and clutching his cramping legs.

We crossed the finish line in glorious sunshine, although the run-in was still on muddy grass. Fraser was there already but had just missed out on gold. I'd also just missed out on gold but was pretty pleased with my time nonetheless. Michael had an anxious wait in the queue as he'd attached his timing sticker to the wrong side of his helmet, but all was OK and both he and Paddy achieved the gold standard! A spectacular effort, particularly from Paddy who'd probably only racked up an hour or two of road bike miles before taking on the event. We were quickly joined by Colin, who also picked a gold medal and then Gidon who came in for a silver, but with a substantially improved time from last year. Gold next time! Special mention too to Martin's other half, Vicky, who raced round in a fantastic time. In fact she was so quick, that none of us saw her - I assume she must have finished early and left before we arrived back.

We hung around for a bit, hoping to catch up with the 100 milers as they got back. It was a sobering thought that they'd probably started an hour or two before us and were still out there on the course somewhere as we packed up our bikes and headed home. Much respect to all of those completing 100 miles - especially as their times to Princetown and back were at least as quick as ours, having completed an extra 40 hilly miles somewhere in between. Personally, I can't imagine how tough this must be. Maybe one day I'll be crazy enough to find out.

Reporter: Glen