£1,110 raised to date (including gift aid) for St Lukes and Jeremiah's Journey. Thank you very much. Both charities have lots going on at the moment, if you want to check out their websites:
www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk
www.jeremiahsjourney.org.uk
Here is a link to my fundraising page if you wish to donate:
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/StephenDilley
The Hammer Sportive in 13:
1. It's not clever to leave your post ride banana in your pocket as you drive to the event. It may end up mushy necessitating its immediate consumption.
2. What was once a free car park may since have been visited by the car park gremlins. They get everywhere and will make sure you can only pay with coins, not a note, your card or fancy mobile app. Don't forget your change as its embarrassing to scrounge from strangers, even if they are fellow competitors.
3. The South Hams really are lovely in the spring and one of the most beautiful parts was Slapton Ley.
4. It's trite law amongst cyclists, but jumping on the back of a chaingang really does give you an extra gear. I mostly cycle alone, so this was a welcome revelation. It was probably a bit rude of me to sit on the back and not take my turn.
5. The infamous "hover" may be your enemy in spin classes, but come race day it'll be your friend. I was definitely stronger up the hills this year. I left that handy chaingang behind on the climb up to Strete making it hard work the rest of the event! Stupid boy.
6. Bike handling skills are not my forte, especially the descents. Think my 2 year old on his balance bike could've given me a run for my money. Thankfully, I didn't crash and nobody laughed as they flew by. Frustrating though that it undoes my uphill work!
7. Belgian waffles are great fuel for a mid ride snack. I gobbled like a gannet. Shameless.
8. It may have looked like a nice day to you Mr Hemsley, but honestly the wind at times made me wobble.
9. People you meet on the journey are amazing. Take the veteran wearing a yellow Raleigh jersey (we'll imaginatively call him Raleigh man). I saw him pushing his bike up a steep climb off the A3121. As I drew level, Raleigh man explained that he could've ridden the hill instead of walk, but at last year's Hammer he'd had a heart attack at this very spot which put him out of action for 4 months, so he needed to keep his heart rate low. (He passed me again later. On a downhill).
10. Singing out loud through the pain towards the end didn't say much for my sanity, but it gave me a nice pick up: Nina Simone's Ain't Got No/I've Got Life and Frank Sinatra's My Way. Where did they pop into my head from? Best not dwell on it. Thankfully, I don't think anyone else heard.
11. Getting sponsored for Jeremiah's Journey and St Lukes definitely helped me dig deep.
12. The finish at Salcombe is like an alpine climb - 5 hairpin bends. Epic.
13. I think I need a new knee and someone to roll my back out straight, please.
Course completed in 4 hours, 42 minutes, phew.
The aftermath:
- Home made shepherd's pie for tea never tasted so good!
- Loped like a cowboy at work today.
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