The Great Manchester Cycle

Well it was an early start today and as I got out of bed this morning at 0530 even the dogs looked at me as if to say what are you doing you madman!!

Today was the day of the 2013 Great Manchester cycle and I had myself booked on the 52 mile route. Anyway as Lynne and the kids went up to Newcastle yesterday it gave me chance to totally strip down my bike and make lots of mess cleaning the drive train and getting everything in great working order for the ride in the morning. With my attached to my bike and my chest number pinned to my jersey I was all ready and raring to go!

So early to bed and a good nights sleep then up early and out the door (after walking the dogs etc) by 0645.

I rode my bike up to the start of the event so before I had even started that was just over 8 miles in the bank.

As a British Cycling member I get priority start too so along with several hundred others i got the opportunity to start at the front. I was about 30 minutes early so when they said start at the front I really did, right at the front!!! that is until team Emmerdale (non of which I recognized) slotted in in front of us.

Anyway once the flag dropped the horns came out and for about 10 seconds I was leading the field with a big smile on my face. My first lap was very fast even though all that happened was I got passed by just about every man and his dog. Lots of the riders from the start set off at about 30 MPH and kept it there. I settle down to around 20 MPH as i knew that 4 laps of the 13 mile course would take its toll on those that start too fast and push too hard. Besides its not too often you get to ride around Manchester on totally closed roads and not have to worry if the next car that passes you will hit you!!!

So after a good lap of the city taking in the Mancunian way, Old Trafford and lots of other sites I had my legs warmed up and felt really good. Bring on lap 2.

I kept the speed up for this lap and found that I was already starting to pass a few of the now knackered riders that had stormed past me earlier on. Going past the feed station at Old Trafford I could see that people were already stopping for food and those around me started to look tired. I was very aware at this stage that this is when people make mistakes. I was very careful when drafting onto the back of another rider to give myself escape options plus let the rider know that i was right on there wheel. You see Pro racers do this all the time and it really does make such a difference to the amount of effort you have to put in. The big danger is though that you clip the wheel of the rider in front and as I saw happen so many times today it sends you crashing out with a hard hit and a badly damaged bike. so many riders in the next few laps would find themselves on the deck loosing skin and if they are lucky just have a bit of gravel rash. The other great danger came from other riders passing too close or just not giving slower riders no room. I saw the aftermath of one poor chap having gone into the barrier on the dual carriageway thanks to the inconsiderate cycling of others. Makes you realise that even BMW drivers can ride bikes!!!

So Lap 3 began to make my legs hurt a bit and I could feel my energy reserves getting low. I downed one of my ever disgusting but essential energy gels and took on some more fluids and after about 10 minutes had a huge burst of energy! Thankfully they really do work.

The 4th and final lap. this was starting to get hard but I pushed on determined not to let anyone else pass me. as I came around to start my lap I realised the finish line wasn't open yet which meant I hadn't been lapped yet. I was surprised at this as I was sure that I was riding far slower than I really was. So gritting my teeth and having Sergeant Major Matt going bonkers (in my mind) constantly screaming "Don't even THINK of stopping" and "Catch that man in front, he's soft and you need to crush him". My alter ego obviously hates civilians and and sign of weakness! I got my head down and pushed harder with every pedal stroke. My legs by this point were burning and each hill seemed steeper, even though the course is practically flat. I made a conscious decision not to stop at the feed station mush to the pleasure of Sergeant Major Matt. No big slap on the back and well done though just more "Catch that man" to spur me on.

Eventually the Manchester City Stadium came into view and I even managed to stay in the right lane to head for the finish not go for another lap (I could have done another lap though). I picked up my goody bag being handed out and stopped my Strava app. To my surprise I had finished with a time of 2 hours 33 minutes according to Strava. But the same app also had the distance at just over 50 miles not 52 like the organizers said it was. Hmm which is more accurate I wonder.


After a short ride back home of 8 miles I had finished the day with just over 66 miles in the bank and slightly sore legs.

My bike still felt great and the irony of it all was that I managed to get a personal record on the hill up to my house after nearly 66 miles of riding! That made me laugh when I looked at the ride later on.

It was indeed a Great ride around Manchester and I really enjoyed it.

It is up to this point the furthest I have ridden in one go and will only be surpassed by next week when I am going to ride the Cheshire Cat.This is a 100 mile ride with some real monster hills, that tend to eat up riders and spit them out again. I don't think I will be getting any personal records after riding that one on the way home. With a really good day under my belt and the fact I am really knackered,  I now have an overdose of cycling to with as the Tour de France is currently on TV too. Oh the joys!!

It will obviously be a 100 mile+ week next week. Only question is how much + is it going to be??

I will keep you posted. Cheers.