0 - 100 in 6 Months - Part 2

At 06:15, fifteen riders headed out from Seaton TIC up Castle Hill and towards Beer. It is amazing how the sun can rise so quickly and how in just a few minutes darkness is replaced by a beautiful orange glow. The sun rise, as we climbed up out of Beer along Stovar Long Lane, was spectacular.

Our first challenging hill came after 18 miles; a 5 mile, 890 ft climb from Feniton, up through Penscombe Wood to Hembury Fort at the summit. After a much needed breather, we headed on and down through Blackborough to our first 25 mile cafe stop at Culmstock. The time was 09:00.

Handbag's cycle in AVP colours

The owners of the little Strand Cafe were kind enough to open early this Sunday morning and applied us with tea, coffee and cake in portions that many riders were able to keep themselves fuelled on for most of the morning. Having packed sufficient energy bars and a banana I was in need of no further fuel, although the strong black coffee was most welcomed.

Refuelled after our first cafe stop

Service was swift and we were back on the road before our legs totally cooled down and just as locals started arriving; perfect timing as we had previously taken up every table and square space available.

Continuing north, we crossed the M5 and rode following the course of the Grand Western Canal. This was a very picturesque and quiet route with next to no traffic. Although we did abruptly come upon a lady astride a horse, stopped side on in the road on a blind shaded corner which required me to slide, throwing my back wheel out, in order to bring myself to a halt before colliding with both the horse, Andy and Clive centimetres ahead of me! Much to the lady's distress, Clive called out to the remaining 12 yet to make the bend and was aghast to hear that there were still this number to descend on her! My new tyres now had a flat spot. I also think I had picked up a few stone shards as a further 5 miles down the road I became the first of our number to puncture.

Clive shows off his new gizmo while I attempt to store away the punctured inner tube 

Luckily,  I was carrying my spare inner tubes and was surrounded by seasoned cyclists who knew the drill as well as any F1 pit crew. Clive also got to use his new CO2 inflating gizmo to bring my tyre pressure up to 100 psi in a matter of seconds; much better than any hand pump would ever achieve in either time or firmness. Another purchase to consider!

A leisurely amble through Bampton

After the impromptu pitstop we had a leisurely amble through Bampton and remained on the quiet and free running National Cycle Route #3, heading further north via Morebath and Brushforth towards the Exmoor National Park, our intended halfway lunch stop.

While rain had been threatening as the morning had progressed, we were feeling luck was on our side as it always seemed to be falling out on the horizon and not on us. We reached our 50 mile marker at around midday, as we entered the National Park and the outskirts of Dulverton. This was where we had an extended stop for lunch. Some had loaded cake and sandwiches onto the support car, others went to a local cafe for what looked to me to be a full sunday dinner and I munched on another energy bar and shared cake.

It was during our lunch stop that the inevitable happened, the heavens opened!

More to follow in part 3 ....