What is it with this ride? There’s always something. This year, I was a bit late leaving due to having the Willesden CC club dinner the night before (3 trophies this year – score!) so on arrival at the HQ there were no 100k routes left, only 55k – no thanks. There were already 200 riders doing the long one. Doh! I decided since I’d already ridden the 30k out I would just do the equivalent distance to get my hours done. I had my GPS so I could ‘get lost’ without too much worry.

I started out following the tyre tracks of the previous riders (found a wireless cycle computer right near the start – contact the organisers if you lost yours) and saw a sign for a hill so headed in that direction. Eventually I spotted a couple of riders and followed behind them for a bit trying to work out if they were doing the course or not. If not I was just going to stick into the GPS some of the hills I remember doing in previous editions. We came upon a HHH signed junction so I decided to stay on the course – save using my brain for route making.

A couple of other riders went by while I was taking it easy and before long I recognised the fencing going up Bison’s Hill. Obviously I have to represent in club kit so upped the pace and was looking forward to decimating the few riders ahead when I see two of the guys stopped, one holding a chain. Whoops! I rode past apologising for my lack of chain tool and carried on past Cervelo guy who’d stopped for a breather. He offered words of encouragement (I think) which was nice.

It’s all a bit of a blur now – just riding and turning if I saw a course sign. I remember starting to ride up Ivinghoe Beacon (I think) and remembering going wrong here last time so asked one of the many riders who’d hit it coming from the other direction if they were doing the 100k. Nope, the 55k, one of them said. So I rode back down and carried on.

I was stoked to start seeing (and of course passing more riders – yeah, I’m like that) on Aston Hill. I was enjoying the descent and noticed one of the group I’d passed had given chase. I eventually eased up and low and behold it’s Ludwig from LFGSS! He says there’s a whole bunch from the forum back there and they thought it was BMMF in Grupetto kit flying by. Ha! Maybe if BMMF grew a foot or two in all directions! We all kind of rode together after that – respect to Jonny on SS and Joe riding fixed – mentalist! Again, I lose track of where we are and what’s going on, it’s just a nice day riding around some nice places. Tear off to the finish to hand the computer in, the others go to the pub and I head home with 100 miles in the bag.