Cycling Sportive Review : Tour of Wessex - Day 1

So, the Tour of Wessex - This was sold to me to be quite a hard sportive but nothing that wouldn't be that bad, but I have to say whoever it was who told me that was telling a couple of fibs!

As you might be able to guess the majority of the cycle event starts off in the South West of the UK and takes in some of the lumps and bumps that the Somerset, Dorset and Devon countryside have to offer. According to the website it is "one of the biggest multistage cyclosportives in the UK" and it is certainly the biggest cycling event that I have ever taken part in with over 1,400 people taking to their bikes this year.

The 2014 event took place on the 24th - 26th May and there was certainly some mixed weather over the late Bank Holiday weekend, for those who weren't lucky enough to be in the area during the time, it rained all day Saturday!!

Creative Commons Attributes : Rain View

This is basically all I could see through my glasses the whole of the day, which is some ways was a good thing, at least I wasn't able to see all of the hills that were coming my way although on the downside I wasn't able to see when the top of the hill was coming up and therefore when the pain was about to end!

Day one, as with all the days, started off in Somerton in Somerset and headed out North West towards Bristol and Cheddar Gorge, anyone who hasn't visited the gorge really is missing out as it is a lovely place and even the climb on the bike makes you really appreciate the scenery and makes it feel like a weird and special place to ride in. This day though, it was less of the pain in the legs due to the climbing and more of the riding as hard as possible in order to ignore the damp and chill from the rain!

Creative Commons Attributes : Cheddar Gorge

A big-up to the chap also on the event who had obviously used washing up liquid or some sort of soap to soften the chamois in his shorts - whilst this might be a brilliant idea for most rides, when it's raining cats and dogs and you know you're going to be out on the road for at least four hours a foaming arse due to soap suds probably isn't the best of ways (but it certainly cheered me up at that moment and made me chuckle for the rest of the day!)

Once over the top of the gorge, the route then took us to the first feed station of the day and then past Wells and towards Shepton Mallet before tackling the next couple of climbs of the day. It was one one of these that we were all reminded of the limits that we cyclists push our bodies to - we were passed by an ambulance and then passed the scene of a participant receiving CPR. I never knew what happened for this or after they were taken away by Air Ambulance but I do hope that they were OK and are making a full recovery.

Not long after this the route split, with the riders on the shorter (sensibler) route starting to head back towards Somerton, and the mad-(wo)men set off up the steepest climb of the day - King Alfred's hill which takes you up to King Alfred's Tower on the Stourhead Estate which is owned by the National Trust.

Creative Commons Attributes : King Alfred's Tower

After a nice decent off of the hill it was time for the second of the three feed stations - a savoury bite to eat was very welcome at this point as I was really starting to struggle with the weather...

If I'm honest, I am struggling to remember the majority of the rest of the ride, which is a little scary as it is nearly 100km that I don't remember! I will admit that was nearly being pushed along for the final 32km (from the last feed station) and was a real miserable bloke to be with at that point - but as any good person will, I blame the weather!! Whilst the picture below may be a (slight) exaggeration, this is how I remember the conditions, so please feel free to leave your sympathy in the comments below! :)

CC BY ND : CX Nationals 40-44

This really was one of the worst days I have ever experienced on a bike, and I very nearly didn't take part in the next couple of days! I was so exhausted that evening that I couldn't eat, and anyone who knows me will confirm that's a sign that you really need to start to worry...!

However, I did get back on the bike the next day, so keep your eyes peeled for my review of the following days!

For more details of the route, have a look at my Strava data here

We did this ride in support of Shine Together, a charity that supports the Frenchay and Southmead hospitals in Bristol. If you'd like to read more about the charity, or would like to donate then please click on the link below.

Robin & Rob - Tour of Wessex : Just Giving page

Until next time!

Keep 'em Spinning!!

Robo