Suffolk Punch: re-scheduled, 19 Feb 2012

This monument of the East Anglian Reliability scene having been postponed from the 5th of February still seemed well supported on the 19th. It was still extremely cold at the start of the day, as I rode in from Norton I thought that he cold was going to crack my forehead from side to side. There were patches of ice in the gutters of the road. I was not feeling like a 60 mile ride of any sort, let alone one as tough as Justin's masterpiece. Later on, I realised that I was being a bit hysterical and that there was no ice that couldn't easily be avoided on the route. The North West wind was something else altogether. The numbers on the Met Office site were around 15-20 mph, it felt even stronger to a mere human on a bike grinding to the top of the Hundon climb.

I had compromised slightly on my stated intention to ride fixed; I was on my best bike. That's a 100% compromise, also known as a u-turn. It didn't seem to help at all (except downhill). Even leaving Norton on the Thurston road, with its rise up to Great Green (my test whenever I set out for a club ride, how much does it hurt? How slow am I going?) the light-as-air Flandria feels more like Sir Jack (trade bike). At the HQ, where it was more sheltered, a jolly mood prevailed in the groups of cyclists standing around in the brilliant sunshine. Bikes leaned nonchalantly against the young trees. Justin moved among us, meeting, greeting and advising. Inside, familiar faces presided over the signing-on.

We were divided into small groups within our chosen challenges of speed and distance - I stayed close to Tom-Tom and Peter (Heath). We had planned to ride together. I seem to remember arrangements like this every year for the last ten or so. I don't remember very many that survived the course. Two miles covered, and Tom-Tom and I were slipping off the back before our group (60 miles at an optimistic 15 mph) had left Bury St Edmunds. The Cote de Westgate was steeper than I remembered - or the pace was brisker than we expected. Tom-Tom gave every impression of coping better than I was, but Peter looked perkier than both of us and proceeded to prove it as the ride progressed. I heaved myself up to Peter and (out of bravado, probably) rode alongside him, making polite conversation to prove that I wasn't totally out of breath. The rise on the road to Whepstead sorted us all out a bit further, then it was down to Harram Bottom and left towards Rede.  I was still with a few other riders by Hawkedon, but the tough stretch from there via Stansfield to Poslingford saw me distanced again. Back on by the time we reach the B1063 and heading north up to Hundon into the teeth of the wind, a group of 4 or 5 of us worked hard and went slow. I enjoy the downhill to Stradishall, using a big gear even with the headwind, and I caught up with Peter & Guy. I made a tactical error at the crossroads where we were to go straight over; I stopped to wait for TomTom. P&G went straight over at the first gap in traffic; the next time I saw them was at the HQ at the finish glowing with satisfaction at achieving 15mph average. Our group came upon Glenn Morris, sitting in the sunshine looking a bit dazed. Simon stopped to check he was OK. The word came back that he was fine "but he had experienced a mechanical which meant he went over the handlebars". TomTom said that I shouldn't hang about with them, but go ahead. When someone shows that sort of faith in my abilities I am generally foolish enough to believe them, so off I went, feeling quite the powerhouse that I am (not). 

This just isn't a good look

Ousden Hill, Hargrave, Chevington and Whepstead, down through Brockley to Hartest and left up the hill - feeling less than herioc by now. I haven't seen another rider since leaving TomTom. Down to Shimpling, right to Bridge Street (note, with sadness, that the Rose Pub & Café seems to be very much closed) Haul myself up the hill towards Lavenham and, just as I reach the summit TomTom drew alongside. We ride together for the remainder of the course. The final 4 miles were into the headwind again, and TomTom seemed to be on his second wind, attacking me a couple of times - and sprinting for the HQ. Note to self: adjust hat before anyone points a camera at me.

SJH