First big one of the year.

I did the Forest of Arden 60 miler today with Eva from work and Nic (Lambshanks) from the PHUK.dis Team. Simon (SBD) and Peter (Big Ears) also drove up and they did the 100 mile route. We all started together. Well, sort of, we were at the start together. A guy called Dave who is doing London to Paris also joined us. Me and Eva decided to start off a couple of minutes before them, took a wrong turn 10 mins into the ride (apparently a hedge cutter had trimmed off the arrow sending about 50 cyclists in the wrong direction) which meant the guys never caught us up and we missed the first water stop. Probably a good thing in the end bcoz I later learned that Nic got sent in the wrong direction at the first water stop adding 10 miles to his journey LOL. Mine and Eva's wrong turn knocked 4 miles off our route, but we still managed 60 (later heard the 60 is in fact 64).

Bumped into SBD and Big Ears at the 2nd water stop then unfortunately didn't see them after that. On our way to the 3rd stop saw those same little fat b*st*rd kids that I swear took the sign down last time when we got lost... and guess what... yep they were messing with a sign. Eva shouted "Leave that alone!" and they shouted back "We're putting it back"... yea, woteva! putting in back the wrong way no doubt!

When we got to the 3rd water stop Nic was havin a cuppa! so we rode the rest of the way with him. I think even Eva was slightly faster. She's pretty quick I can tell you and she did take off towards the end but I decided to let her go, although I did keep her in sight, but I was knackered, and Nic was kind of in the middle of us. And of course, they had to put one last hill in a mile before the end.

Was chatting with Nic and Oly (who works for Action Medical Research) at the end and then Nic said he thought he had seen "time trial" earlier (this total knobhead of a guy we know, "all the gear no idea" type) and did a double take. It wasn't him but lo and behold, while we are talking, the guy rides in on this bike and he was the spitting image! It was one of those classic "don't look now" moments when everyone turns round and bursts out laughing making it really obvious. Poor bloke...

Introduced Nic to Eva's husband, Dominic. Dominic is doing the dragon ride. Have a feeling that they might end up going together.

Have to say, Simon and Oly.... looking good Mmmm. heehee (",). That's the best thing about cycling... all the fit asses LOL.

So, stats for today are: 60 miles, average speed 14.5mph, 2962 calories burnt, total ascent 2289 feet.

I did wait round with Nic to see if SBD and Pete came in but Nic had to go at 4pm. I had a splitting headache by then because I'd been waiting round for 3 hours so I called my dad and he came at got me at 4.30. Found out the lads got in at 5pm but I think I would have been ill if I had waited for them. Saw Dave from work tho, he did the 100 and came in at 4.30 (he had started an hour earlier than us so the guys gained half hour on him. Dave did a 14.5mph average so I think he was pretty pleased with that).

So... next stop the 100 at Suffolk on 11th May. Watch this space.