Now, we all know the Pros use the Giro D'Italia as a good warm up for the Tour de France. So, if the Brecon Beast is my Tour de France, I needed a Giro D'Italia ;D
On my way home from work this morning, at 8:50, I spotted a sign for a cycling event. I stopped and had a look and the sign said 'Tour de Berkshire'. A quick google found it was a 20 mile family ride starting a couple of miles away and looping around the area in and out of many of my training routes. Start time? 10am!!!!
Official Website Here
I hmm'd and arrghed and thought about it then thought why not! Talk about being prepared ;D
By the time I had got changed and got up there, it was 10am but they didnt let us go until about 10:15 anyway so panic averted.
I was a bit miffed that there was no great charge of the light brigade but two or three keen looking blokes with massive calves were off in front of me. I decided to bide my time and just settled into a nice rythym.
The only other problem was I'd come out with no liquid and didnt even have a bottle holder on the GT. Luckily, the route passed my house so I asked Sally to put me a bottle on top of the wheely bin so I could at least grab half a litre or so. UNfortunately, she hardly beat me back! By this time, i'd dropped two of the gnarly looking guys and was in the lead ;D
So whilst I was having a drink, another serious looking guy passed me. On the next long striaght, I reeled him in and passed him back and then lost time at the ford by getting off and walking over the bridge! (I know, but I had my iphone and Garmin ;) ) Once more I was following.
We were into the wind now, so I slip streamed him for a bit then passed him up a small hill. Tucking in and holding the centre of the bars, I just kept a nice rythym going. Then, a wheel appeared alongside but luckily, it was a local roadie training. I didnt want to chat but for once, he did and asked about what we were up to and rabbited on about some road race he'd done in Newbury last week!
We parted ways at the foot of a long steady climb into Yattendon and that just left me to keep plugging on.
The course was really nice with some lovely scenic roads that to be honest, i've never even driven down despite being five miles from my house.
I tried to mix things up, standing and powering up some climbs and steadily spinning up others.
Getting back to the Pub Garden we started from, there was a look of curious wonder on the faces of the ladies left to man the BBQ and finally someone came over to check me back in. Theres no officail timing or anything, but she did check my Garmin to make sure I hadn't cheated!!
Then it got surreal as a reporter from the Newbury Weekly News decided he wanted a pic of the organisers with the first one back!
Gurning like an idiot, standing alongside my shonky old GT, I was not rocking a good look ;D
So there you go, I'm now a local celebrity and reigning champion of the Tour de Berkshire ;D