Last Weekend Michelle, Bruce and Nick went to do the Tour of Wessex. B&B accommodation was arranged at the All's Well Farmhouse where there were some very stark warnings against intruders but Maureen, Dave and their 2 Jack Russells proved to be excellent hosts. Michelle was not cycling as she was saving herself for the Norwich 50 the next weekend so after the chaps left at just after 7am she had 3 breakfasts every day!
Bruce has done quite a few long rides with Nick and Matt though mostly with Nick over the last few months when he has been a great help as a training companion particularly on the epic rides to the Butt and Oyster in Pin-mill and the Downham Market loop. This was Bruce's first trip to the ToW and he was very impressed with the organisation but as the long hilly days wore on his enthusiasm wained. He expressed concern about what drives all these cyclists for endless miles, over hills, hills, and more hills, sustained only by crap food (actually the food was good for such an event).
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| Cycling food! |
He spoke in hushed tones (unusual for him) about the poor impression given of cyclists by grown men relieving themselves in bushes along the route and he did have a point. Nick felt the food did the job, the sandwiches at lunch with a cup of tea really hit the spot and the jelly babies were very handy when sugar was getting low.
Without question the Tour of Wessex offered spectacular challenging cycling with three hundred and fifty miles going through beautiful scenery and over some of the toughest hills England has to offer. Stunning views of Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire and Devon rewarded the gut-busting effort of climbs like those through Cheddar Gorge and up the New Toll Road at Porlock.
The last day took in Exmoor with its highland cattle, wild ponies, belligerent sheep and howling desolation; this day was certainly challenging but not so pretty. For anyone thinking of sampling the ToW the chaps recommend trying one of the first 2 days, the last day (according to Bruce) is for brain dead socio-paths - that would be Nick then!
See picture of cyclists sporting Tour of Wessex medals below (Bruce is the photogenic one with the Frankenstein like scar on his forehead - incurred on a recent climbing holiday).
Most days they met up with other Tour de Force riders all out to cement their training before setting off for the big ride towards the end of June. The riders are a very mixed bag some are clearly very young and fit with obvious cycling credentials and at the opposite end of the scale we have Nick - well he tries!
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| TDFers on the starting line -first day.- Fashion tip. White Nora Batty tights are not a good look! |
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