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Audaxers_who_Came_in_from_the_cold 14_04_12 |
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The Audaxers Who Came in from the Cold
The plot was hatched at the end of the month during that brief spell of warm weather and it was to ride the Lakeland 300k (186mile) Audax on the weekend of 14/15th April. Naturally as soon as the plan was agreed, the weather took a dramatic turn for the worse. Nevertheless, the usual suspects signed on namely, Malc Heathcote, Allan Taylor, Steve Ginty and me.
In the week leading up to the ride, the weather was grim, wet & very windy. The Met Office forecast was consulted and it was obvious that Sunday would be the best day to ride with predicted sunshine and low winds, as opposed to Saturday with a strong headwind, gusts up to 25mph in Cumbria, low temperatures and showers. So obviously we went on Saturday because we are Audaxers who by definition are perverse, ride through the night and sleep in bus shelters. The added bonus was the chance to ignore the hype surrounding the annual horse slaughtering contest at Aintree and some local football kick-about that was supposed to be quite important.
Departing at first light we made good progress to stop for a brew in Kendal after a detour to Forton Services on the M6 to get “proof of passage”. (Cue strange looks from motorists wondering how the heck we got there.).
Leaving Kendal it was not long before we started the long ascent of Shap Fell. We decided to send Allan ahead to check out the road whilst the rest of us plodded up the climb against a strengthening headwind. With each metre of climb the temperatures dropped with the result that we were “perished” at the summit. Our reward for this 7 mile climb was to be greeted by flurries of hailstones & even stronger winds. A rapid descent followed and a combination of “hunger knock”, frozen fingers, and impending hypothermia meant we decided to take lunch early and sought refuge in the Shap Village Chippy/Café. Sadly however the quality of the food would not rate a mention in Pete Leonard’s definitive Café Guide (see website). The amiable proprietor was however considerate enough to have turned off the heating in the establishment so that we did not face the usual dilemma of leaving a warm cosy café to return to face the elements outside. In fact the only thing colder than us in the café, were the chips.
From Shap it was clear that the predicted 20mph gusts had arrived so we decided to follow the time honoured club guidelines in these circumstances and put Steve on the front whilst we hid behind him for the next 10 miles until the wind turned in our favour.
At Penrith we turned south along the rolling road to and alongside the beautiful Lake Ullswater where the sun started to make an appearance. There were however murmurings from the peloton that the long hoped for tailwind was conspicuous by its absence.
After 100 miles we arrived at the foot of the Kirkstone Pass and again decided to send Allan up ahead to check out the road. We three then plodded up the climb. Those who know the Pass will recall that after a mile of fairly stiff climbing the gradient ramps up to 20% for the final metres to the summit. It was just at this point when you wish you had a “dinner plate” sized last rear cog to come to your rescue, that the tailwind miraculously appeared to usher us to the top. There followed a glorious 6 mile twisty descent into Bowness. Yet again we decided to send Allan ahead on the climb out of Bowness before joining him on the undulating road through the Lyth Valley, the acclaimed centre of the universe in the world of Damson growing. Now the Webmaster tells me that these articles should be broken up by photos but unfortunately none of us thought to take a camera. So I thought I would improve things at this stage by having a photo quiz.
Above are photos of a plum and a damson. The winner has to identify which is which and the prize is the chance to accompany us on the next running of this ride with the once in a lifetime opportunity to visit the Damson Day Celebrations in the Valley. Answers should be written on the back of a £10 note and can be handed to me in Fettlers most Tuesdays, Thursday or Saturdays.
Back on the A6 at Carnforth it was hoped that we could “big ring” it home in short order but unfortunately one of our party was suffering badly with cramp so we took it steady for the next 25miles. As the sun set the temperatures dropped even further and it was slightly disconcerting to be overtaken by the gritter wagons approaching Preston. At Penwortham we decided once more to send Allan ahead up the hill to check out the road and having rejoined him we were able to up the pace on the final leg home.
A grand day out as they say, if a tad on the chilly side. Chapeaux to Allan who dominated the King of the Mountains contest all day, although I managed to outwit him on the final climb of the formidable, Rose Hill/Ash St Bridge to consolidate my 4th place secured on 2 previous Majorca trips. Also to Steve who, despite doing no riding of any significant distance since Christmas, made it all look effortless and to Malc who after a 6 month Sabbatical following Paris Brest has now completed 2 x 200k’s and a 300k ride in a fortnight.
Pete Gawthorne Posted 15/04/2012 |
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