We did it!!!

Man what a rush! I have completed a 5 month journey from February to June, the quest to complete the 100 miles from Winchester to Eastbourne in one day.

And I have done it.

Lets start from the beginning - what I can remember of it anyway.

Got some amazing news during the week, I was quite concerned at the fact I would have to try to complete this on my own. Nothing like a bit of company to help out. So the bike god sent me Damo!
















Damo is a XC whippet and needed a good training ride, so he contacted me during the week to tell me that he was going to do the ride as well!

Amy dropped me off the start at about 0530, and I farted about a bit and was horrified that there was about 200 people who had been on carbs and energy bars and one working toilet - nice start to the day.
















Damo pitched up and at the 6AM start off we went, but it was quite woody and foggy at the start and neither Damo or I were particularly familiar with this end of the SDW.
















Consequently we were cautious for the 1st 20 mile leg to 1st Checkpoint at the Queen Elizabeth Country Park to avoid wrong turns. I would like to explore QECP at somepoint as it looks like there are some good trails, anyway, we stopped and had a chat with a XC whippet who was having a fag, and he was still lightning quick!
















As you can imagine, over a 100 mile ride things kind of blend into a blur from here; but we laughed at people going the wrong way and going down massive hills only to ride back up them. Also the huge number of punctures people were getting - one guy had 2 on the way from the B&B to the start, but in the end we left the woody end and began to recognise things, we had reached Bignor Hill, the most westerly point of my training runs.
















This was a pleasant feeling, but also I knew that I had two fierce hills in Amberley Mount and Cardiac to come.
This is an elevation profile showing the size of the hills in the 1st 3rd

Once we hit the open downs and the fog lifted the Sun came out - My god it was hot yesterday, and balancing the weight of water vs hydration became a major consideration.
















At we blazed through 35 miles at Cocking (tee hee) as I needed to meet Amy at Devils Dyke by 230PM for my lunch but by the time I had walked up Amberley it became apparent that I wouldn't get there in time.
















Change of plan and I met Amy at Botolphs Checkpoint and wolfed down some pasta and refilled with additonal shot bloks as I was now on 6 Per Hour. Time for a quick hello to the kids and off again up Truleigh Hill and on to the 65 mile point at Devils Dyke where I was supposed to meet Dan, my paceman for the last 35 miles.

The 2nd 3rd gets slightly worse!
















He found a puncture so we would eventually met him at Pycombe Golf Course, and it was great to see him as by now I was in a pretty dark place. I know myself pretty well, and I had mentally prepared myself to have to dig deep and grind out the 30 or so miles between Botolphs and Itford. These are the hard mile where energy is low and you are are not close enough to the finish to get excited, and i was getting a little concerned at this point as cut off for the Itford checkpoint was 630PM and I had about 2 1/2 hrs to cover some serious miles. But meeting Dan at Pycombe, nicking his banana and laughing at his lycra shorts and sun visor strangely lifted my spirits and we got there in 2hrs.
















Damo was taking some family time at Ditching and caught us up at Itford, leaving about 45 mins after we did. show off.

We were 16 miles from the fisnish at this point, but just what you need after this is to go from sea level to 651 feet 3 times in 12 miles - this pain is the Firle Beacon/Bostal Hill combo into Alfriston, Windover Hill and Jevington. I had tales of these 3 killer climbs, but I was prepared for them, and Dan was a great source of encouragement as he had only ridden about 15 miles.
















At this point I started to become quite stunned at the number of people who tried to wing 100 miles. I was talking to a guy who had driven down from Yorkshire who was really struggling at Southease. He had a bad back, sore knees and he had left his car in Whiteways car park which locked at 9PM, (this was at about 6).

Also stopped counting at 27 punctures - I estimate that at least 10% of the riders had punctures - Stans might be a pain in the arse but it works. The Dark Phoenix Steed cruised it, and after 84 miles the fact you can just point it downhill and it does the rest was well appreciated.

Also - some people were taking it way to seriously, especially the prick herein known as "Mr All The Gear But No Idea" who muscled past me on a single trail in his matching kit and bike whilst muttering something about my pace. Pity I saw him at Itford loading his bike into his car bandaged up and a taco'd front wheel, obviously his pace was a little hot for him. Cock.

Anyway - everyone told me about Firle and Jevington - but Windover Hill was absolutely brutal! Definately the worst climb of the lot and by now my Shot Block intake was 1 pack per hill, and I had 1 pack left for Jevington.

By now our "Paceman" Dan was feeling the pace a little, and 2 months of the bike highlighted a small fitness deficiancy. Bless him. Anyway we all cleared Jevington hill, and at the crest....
















Eastbourne

Damo took over and tried to get us into Eastbourne in 12hrs riding time, but we got lost and I finished in 13hrs 15 mins riding time. The kids and Amy were waiting and they ran over for hugs as I collapsed on the grass - a real emotional moment for me, and I collected my medal. Even though he didn't enter I got one for Damo as well, but Dan will get his next year.
















Thanks to everyone for the support I have had - this has been a great journey for me, but what now?

Well, there is this thing called the South Downs Double - Winchester to Eastbourne and back again...200 Miles.....24 hrs......


Maybe........?