A wet day out

Richard Hannaford and Phil Haygarth
Originally uploaded by Phil Haygarth.

On Sunday I took part in the first ever Dartmoor classic, route of just over 100 miles circulating and crossing the moor. Long term friend from school days Richard Hannaford was adown from London doing the event, so we met on Saturday afternoon at check-in with Liz and Isobel, followed by a play in the park at Bovey for the children. Sunday morning was simply slashing with rain, stair rods is no exaggeration. It reminded my of the weather when I started the End to End 11 years ago to the day, riding from Stickepath to Cheltenham with Tim Legg. Richard set off in the ‘7h’ group about 5 mins ahead of my ‘7.5h’ group, but we were soon together and plodding up the Teign valley chatting about old Little Boogie Machine tunes and other rock and roll memories (we used to play in a band together – our other life). Richard, (being a relative butterfly) left me (being a relative buffalo) behind on the first climb to Docombe, but he had the misfortune to drop his specs on the descent and we got separated until the first check point at North Tawton, after 30 odd miles, averaging about 17 mph. Anne and the children were there to greet us and I took advantage and changed in to some dry clothes. I paid the price for my over exuberant start and suffered for the next 35 miles to Tavistock, digging in and spinning smaller gears whilst the Butterfly nursed me up the climbs. A tonic to see Tony and other Okehampton CC club mates at Bridestowe – thanks chaps. Devon bread pudding sorted me out at Walkhampton, before we started the climb to Pincetown. I told Richard to ‘float’ on ahead, wishing him well, not expecting not to see him again. I felt good over the moor, there was no wind and I had my legs back, at least until the climb from Postbridge to the Warren House Inn. For some reason at this point my legs decided to jam to a stop with cramp and I lurched off the bike and rolled around like a dying fly. Others were also doing the dying fly on the side of the road at this point, seemed to be the norm to suffer the indignity, as Sunday drivers purred past staring in wry amusement. After a brief walk I recovered and was soon retracing back towards the Docombe climb, having picked up some water from Colin Lewis at Moreton cross roads (thanks). The last climb was good and steady and I exchanged a few pleasant words with a chap on a Dawes who owns the furniture shop in the Aracade in Okehampton and used to race in the 60s, then picking up the wonderful 3 mile descent down to the Teign. On the descent I caught up with Richard who had unfortunately suffered a puncture, poor soul, such cruelty within a shout of home. The ride down the Teign Valley I averaged 24 mph into the finish at Kingsteinghton, where Liz and Isobel were there to greet us. I reckon my official time was about 7 hours 5 mins or so, but my time on the bike was 6 hours 25, with an average speed of 15.5 mph and a maximum of 50 mph. Not bad for a buffalo! Great day Richard, thanks for your company and helping me up the climbs! Thanks also to Mid Devon Cycle club for some excellent organization.