Malcolm checked the weather forecast, and the four of us (Malcolm, Ivan, Baxter and Duncan) were on our way to enter the off road British Heart Foundation South Downs Way Randonee, starting at Winchester and finishing on Eastbourne seafront, nearly 100 miles later.
We left Eastbourne by train at 4pm Friday, and all seemed well until we changed trains at Brighton. We had all hoped to get on one train, but this large train is limited to just 2 cycles, and we were lucky that there were no other cyclists trying to get on the train. Two of us, Ivan and Paul, got on this train, and Malcolm and I had to catch a different train, getting us into Winchester half an hour behind the others. All we had to do now was find the B&B, but this was no problem for Malcolm who seems to have inbuilt GPS. Brilliant B&B for the SDW, and walking distance to the pub.
Race morning, got up at 4.15am, had a light breakfast and off to the start, where we enrolled and started the event at 5.35am, with probably 60 other early risers. The plan was for all four of us to ride together to the first checkpoint at 20 miles and then split up to allow the fast ones to put in a good time. This didn't happen, with Malcolm and Ivan saying goodbye after less than 5 miles, and disappearing into the distance. Paul and Duncan took the leisurely approach and completed the distance in just over 13 hours having enjoyed the good weather. Ivan and Malcolm rode together for 60 miles, but Ivan seemed to get stronger and rode away from Malcolm just before Devils Dyke. Ivan must have really got in the groove because he finished 1 hour ahead of Malcolm in 10 hours 15 minutes, and thinks he eas the third finisher. Amazing result for a first time SDW.
A really good event with a good evening in Winchester, and ideal riding conditions.
DF
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