Attempt at an Audax

Yesterday was our first attempt at an audax event. To say that we successfully completed half of the audax would be stretching the truth a little. We registered at the start of the race and followed the route of the event, but we were a long way behind the others and didn't collect any stamps on the way. My completely blank card will be going in my journal in the hope that one day I will look back and smile!

We arrived on time as planned, but by the time we'd put our bikes together (we have to take the wheels off to fit them in the car) and got to the registration point it was only 10 minutes to the start of the race. We let other latecomers go ahead of us as we knew we wouldn't be seriously participating at the same level as them. The organisers told us that the first loop would be less hilly and easier to complete.Kirby had told us the second loop was more interesting. I can only assume that by 'interesting' he meant more hilly and challenging! We opted to go with the organisers advice and do the first half of the route - but that meant setting off with directions only and no map. In place of Kirby's map with a cafe though, we did have a hand drawn map of where to find a pub!

After a bit more tinkering with the bikes we finally set off 15 minutes after the others. We weren't at all prepared for the event and didn't even have any way to display the route instructions so we had to keep stopping to work out where to go next. The first hill up out of South Brent was steep and seemed to go on forever. Ant's chain came off his bike, so we stopped for Ant to fix it. We walked quite a bit of that first hill and I was ready to turn round and go home, but Ant was determined we weren't going to pay £7 to cycle round the corner and halfway up a hill!

From there we had a relatively easy ride for a while and stopping to check directions every now and then we made our way through Ivybridge and over the A38 looking for the next signpost towards Yealmpton. I pulled over on a grass verge just after the bridge while we consulted the signposts. None seemed to be pointing towards Yealmpton. We took the opportunity to get the camera out and take some pictures while we contemplated what to do next. It was then that I realised we were standing behind a huge array of road signs and asked Ant to go and check what they said....and Yealmpton was clearly signposted! Feeling slightly silly but relieved, we carried on our way. Just down that road I spotted a sign to Smithaleigh. We'd been told at the start that the control point wasn't in Yealmpton as on our sheets but in Smithaleigh - unfortunately that was half a mile back in the direction we had just come. We weren't sure where on earth in Smithaleigh it would be so we decided to push on and follow the directions we had on our sheets.

From there we had a relatively good stretch to Newton Ferrers, stopping briefly for water and our first jelly babies! Arriving in Newton Ferrers and pulling over to check the directions we realised we shouldn't have gone all the way into Newton Ferrers. Retracing our route we were pleased to discover the turning wasn't that far back at all and we sped down the hill into Bridgend. This was very welcome as it marked the halfway point of our route and our lunch stop. The map drawn for us at the start of the event made no sense to me when it was handed over, but standing in Bridgend on the curved bit of road it made perfect sense. We took the hill up to the right (getting off our bikes and pushing towards the top) and then followed the road back down into Noss Mayo to find the Swan Inn. By now the sun was shining and I finally had to admit that my lovely new waterproof wasn't really necessary! We sat outside and enjoyed baguettes and nice cold drinks before setting off on our way again.

This was the turning point for me. A nice ride turned into a very difficult ride from here on in. After stopping for lunch my legs didn't want to get going again. We had to tackle a great big hill up out of Bridgend. We had been warned about this one, but that wasn't enough to prepare us for it! We stopped to walk for a while and then seeing the hill get a bit less steep decided to get back on the bikes and give it another go. Finally reaching the top we stopped to enjoy the views across the coast. My legs were really hurting by now and I was hoping for a long downhill all the way back to the finish!

We had a bit of a reprieve on a relatively flat stretch of road and we seemed to be making good progress until we started to doubt our understanding of the instructions. The directions said to go through a cross and then take a turning for Exeter at a cross. Having been a long way without any signs for Exeter and having already passed some cross roads, we couldn't decide whether to carry on or go back. Finally seeing signs for Yealmpton we decided to push on regardless as we knew we could get back from there if necessary. Fortunately we had been right and I was delighted to come across a busy junction with a signpost to Exeter!

Initially we had a glorious downhill section on this road, but turning off to keep following the signs to Exeter, the surface got rougher and exhaustion set in. Even on downhill sections of the road I seemed to be pedalling as best I could but getting nowhere. The sun was hot and I'd brought far too many layers of clothes with me which I now had to tie round my waist. We stopped off in a gateway by the main road to rest a bit and refuel. It didn't get any easier after that though. The road seemed to be going on forever and every time I got to the slightest hill I had to get off and walk. It started to feel like we'd never make it back. Finally the long awaited sign for our turning off back to South Brent, only 2 and a half miles away...but that still seemed a long way off. Straight away we were faced with another hill, so I was back to pushing my bike very slowly up to the top.

After that things improved a little. There didn't seem to be as many hills and we were finally nearly there! We stayed on our bikes down through a little lane and even up a hill, before rejoining a road we recognised from earlier in the day. We were nearly back - but not as close as I'd remembered! Feeling completely defeated I had to get off the bike and push again up the final hill in South Brent to the rounadabout, but then determinedly got back on again for the final flat stint down the road and back to the old school house. What a relief!

There were still just a few people milling around at the end, but given that they'd gone twice as far as us and taken less time, it was all rather humbling. Somehow we got the bikes back into the car and headed home again. I couldn't keep my eyes open and kept dosing off and was very grateful to get home and have a nice warm shower and a sit down. My legs continued to ache all evening and I can still very much feel them today - not painful as such, but I definitely know I've overdone it a bit!

So now my thoughts are turning to the Coast to Coast event which is only a month away. I'm very concerned that I'm just not ready for cycling over 50 miles in a day. Yesterday we did just over 30 miles. It took us 6 hours to complete and I really had nothing left in me by the end. I guess it was inevitable that the enormity of the challenge we've taken on would catch up with me at some point and it most definitely has. The next four weeks are going to be tough.

On the plus side, now that I've got my nice new his vis all singing all dancing waterproof, we're clearly not going to get a drop of rain!