Centre Parcs (Penrith) to Hyde (Manchester)

Today this ride was all about distance and Shap!

I have seen the hill so many times from a distance and even driven over it once or twice, today was my turn to cycle over it.

The ride started at the end of a lovely weeks holiday at Centre Parcs with my wife and kids. We spent most of our time swimming and having a great time. The kids have really improved their swimming and age just 2 and 5 they can now both swim totally unaided. They really are fish in their own right!

We did a little bit of cycling it's the girls too. A work in progress for that but we will get there. I would certainly love t take my kids out for a ride and something I look forward too, however I think it will be a few years off yet.

So as you can guess after much packing and shuffling backwards and forward to the car, I finally managed to leave.

I actually started from right outside my lodge and headed straight out. The first challenge being the escape from centre Parcs (as the segment is called). Goes to show that whoever has the KOM for that segment wasn't going for it as I just trundled down and got 5th!

So after riding out of cycling utopia I turned not the hell which is the A66. I was genuinely coecearned about cycling on this road. Even though it is a single carriageway people still drive at 70+mph along it. Lucky I managed to route myself straight off it after about a mile.

I turned onto a nice quiet country road then, ahh! The first hill nearly killed me!

Now for my weeks holiday, I literally have had a week off the bike, done no exercise and just eaten rubbish for a week! Clearly I was now paying in sweet and PAIN for my nice relaxing week off.

Thankfully I was able to fight through it and settled in to a nice relaxed endurance rhythm/pace.

As I made my way along the country lanes, the sun came out, the wind was whistling past my ears and I was really enjoying the ride. 

The miles ticked by as I headed towards my first goal. I wanted to join the A6 and head up over Shap. 

I never knew Shap was a village too! I headed through the village and it looked like a really nice country village. Shap even has an Abby just up from it.

Not the direction I was heading in though!

Heading south all the time now I rode up the gentle but steady climb up the mountain. To my surprise it was not as long or hard as I though it would be. I managed to get to the summit in no time at all with a reasonable average speed of 10.5mph too!!!

From the high point of the day it was literally all down hill!!! 

I was flying down the road to Kendal. Keeping low on the drops. Just touching the brakes on the technical descent down the mountain. 

I wound my way through some fantastic corkscrew bends. I could certainly see why this was chosen as part of the tour of Britain route. The only point I had to stop was for a section of roadworks on the long descent. It would have been a mega fast arrival into Kendal if they weren't there. 

I made my way though Kendal, mingling with the traffic that was quite light in comparison to what I am used too. Then I turned off the A6 and headed again down some country lanes. This time I was avoiding the dual carriageway out of Kendal as I really didn't fancy that for the day! 

I seemed to have settled at a nice cruising speed now, about 18-20 mph seemed to be just nice. I only dropped down for any slight inclines as I wanted to preserve my legs. I know over 100 miles I can really hurt and energy preservation is the key!

I only had water to drink today as I have run out of energy drink. I was already noticing the difference just drinking water. I was running out of energy faster than on previous rides and I could feel myself getting worse by the minute.

I rejoined the A6 at Milnthorpe. As I turned south once again I found I was being followed by a coach. Thankfully the driver was very considerate and didn't try and force his way past me but instead held back for a good 1/2 mile until the road opened up and he had plenty of room.

On the way down the road I passed another cyclist, this time a Lady on a bike. I was starting to think that I was really going badly when I noticed that she was riding an electrically assisted bike. I smiled as I passed her as I know she would easily be able to keep up with me. I still think it is cheating a bit.

I so want one!!!

I was picking up busier roads now as I headed into Lancaster. I was only a mile or two from the coast and starting to get hungry. Must have been the fresh sea air or something, plus my water just not filling the hole!
I was on the look out for a lay-by fat van or something that I could just grab something to eat at without risking leaving my bike outside to get stolen.

That is one thing that I have always dreaded when out cycling on my own. I stop somewhere to find that I am now no longer with wheels!!!

So onward to Lancaster and still no food! thankfully the traffic was proving to be a good distraction from the hunger and exhaustion I was starting to feel. It seemed that I had obviously hit the City as it was cramming all its traffic into one small space. It was mega busy. However the joys of being on a bike I managed to cut through it all in no time what so ever. I was in and out after about 45 minutes (at the most).

I must say thought that the roads aren't that bad (surface wise), but the bus drivers just force there way through and just don't seem to care. Now I know where London bus drivers go to retire!!!

After doing battle with Lancaster I continued South still down the A6 (you starting to see a theme developing here!).

I saw the Trotters Independent Traders Yellow Robin Reliant parked up at the side of the road (very random). Must be a collectors piece or something. However I just couldn't help but laugh and then had the "Only Fools and Horses" theme tune stuck in my head. I still needed food!

I must have been on the only stretch of road in the country that doesn't have a fat van. If this was Manchester there is one on every bend with a big fat trucker working on a heart attack parked next to it!

Then behold! I finally came across a Chippy (not a fat van) at the side of the road. I just could resist and also knew that I wouldn't be lasting much longer unless I stopped.

Once I had stopped I instantly ceased up. I shoved chips down my neck as fast as I could before I was unable to ever move again. At this point I was just over half way with about 60 miles gone.

My next goal was to be Preston. I had ridden as far north as this before when I rode to Blackpool (see the blog about Blackpool and back). So I was heading into an area that I already knew the road in. Not too bad and as I was recording the ride on Strava I would be able to see where I was faster or slower. This will be why I have 88 cups against the ride too.

Most of them are 2nd best times through the segments in the area. But a few are PB's. So not all bad really.

I did seem to fly through Preston quite well heading towards Chorley, Adlington and Blackrod. I finally again hit the Blackrod by pass, not my favourite bit of road in the world as it does just seem a little too fast and with no speed control for cars! I just kept to the left and hoped not to get hit.

The road itself goes on a very gentle uphill before finally levelling off just south of Blackrod. It then remains flat and straight for what seemed like forever!

I needed sugar now and was starting to think of stopping at a garage to get a can of Red Bull or something along those lines.

I finally caved as I was passing Westhoughton. I saw a Tesco Express and pulled in. The car park looked busy enough so I took the gamble.

Thirsty and exhausted I dashed into the shop, grabbed a can or RedBull, a bottle of Lucozade and a bag of wine gums ran at the till, paid then dashed back outside before my bike ran off without me.

Gasping I threw the can down my neck faster than if it had vodka in it on a Friday night.
I ate the wine gums and emptied the lucozade into my water bottle. Chewing on my final few wine gums I set off again.

I now had Manchester firmly in my sights!

Bumping along down the not fantastic roads in this area I was chewing up the miles with no problem at all. I had certainly had a massive hit of energy from the drinks and sweets. I just hoped it was enough to get me all the way home.

Again traffic was getting busy. I can't believe sometimes how localised some traffic jams are. Usually because someone at a set of traffic lights sit in a yellow box ablivious to the miles of tailbacks this causes. This is the sort of thing you see on a bike as you can cut through the traffic and see the problems from the outside.

Ducking down under the M60 and into Salford. I was not exactly speeding along but I was still going at a good pace. The roads are still quite tight around there. Then almost with a POP! as I found myself riding on what I initially feared was a motorway, but it turns out it is a three lane dual carriageway heading into Manchester centre. Just keep left and ride as hard as you can!

I picked up signs for Chapel Street as the last time I rode down here I got a little lost. Then I headed towards the universities and Deansgate. The Hilton was the landmark I was heading for as I knew my way to the office from there then obviously follow the much travelled commuter route home.

I knew now I was only 9 miles at the most from the end of this long journey. Even though it was all up hill it was a road I knew very well and I was looking forward to finishing.

I arrived home 7hours 40 minutes after starting my ride. I had tired legs. I was thirsty, hungry, tired but elated to find that my family had just arrived home safe and well too.

No rest for the wicked. I had a car to unpack and lots of jobs to do before I could finally relax for the day.

Once I had showered and had dinner etc. I filmed this...

I was certainly happy to have achieved a good run out again.

Next time I think I will be taking energy drinks and more food with me.

I am thinking of going out on a 200 mile ride some point soon as to ride for 7 hours is one thing. to ride for 12 will be another.

This is or course all training for the 310 mile 24 hour ride in August that will really hurt.

Lets just see what happens. I know one thing though and that is I will make it one way or the other.

Happy cycling

:)