12 hrs and 250 miles

After receiving kind offers of help from Phoenix colleagues my plans for a first attempt at the 12 hour were in place. Just the tricky bit of getting it past the missus who thought I was putting my life at risk. Only choice was to lie, tell her I'm doing the Wild Wales, hopefully she won't know it's cancelled and having done it many times before, in her eyes it's safer than a 12 (although some may disagree).

Even the gathering of 18 water bottles didn't give the game away. 12 was enough but I needed a plan B in case my helpers went missing or decided to have breakfast at the Raven Cafe before beginning their shift. Plan B was to stash some at strategic points on my drive out to the start. Getting out the house with 18 bottles, 2 bikes and a sack full of food did not give the game away. The idea was to own up to Ang if and when I'd completed the event (which I did on the Monday evening and she was glad I didn't tell her).

Confidence should have been high after a season including a 100pb, the Fred Whitton, Ventoux, Maratona, Dartmoor Classic and Pendle Pedal (both the weekend before the Maratona !!). Of course despite all this having never ridden more than 150 miles and people predicting I'd do 255 I was a tad nervous. Road bike was in the car in case the TT bike became uncomfortable which was not the case. I actually think the TT position proved better for the back. Surely riding over 200 miles on the flat cannot be as difficult as some of the mountains myself and Simon had conquered this Summer, (that was my motivational talk to myself. It was great being greeted by Ritchie at 6 in the morning at Prees, a real boost to morale. He took some supplies and told me where he'd be and even refused me buying him some breakfast. Although I did provide a food and coffee kitty to be passed on to all helpers, surely the least I could do for kindly dragging themselves up at a silly hour to assist.

Start time 6.38 and off I went. Sticking to all advice about taking it easy to begin with even though it was a downhill start virtually all the way to Christleton. On first return to Broxton met Ritchie for the first time for a new bottle and to take my jacket off, a sunny day in store. I Overtook a few but was then overtaken for the first time on the 2nd lap of Broxton by Neil Skellern, who went on to 1st place with 276 miles.

Seeing Dave and George for the first time on 3rd lap of Christleton which was a boost. I didn't expect to be one of the fast riders to be diverted and this was a bit confusing doing an extra lap of Broxton and then an additional roundabout at Market Drayton. I actually stopped to ask marshals and went around the roundabout a couple of times getting it right!! First 100 miles a breeze and not sure where my helpers were I reverted to plan B and a bag of supplies I'd left at Espley island for replenishment. Great shout of encouragement from the gathering there. Tackling the Shawbirch leg is always a drag because of the crap road surface and rolling terrain. Nice to see Keith on my return to Espley and my first attack of hotfoot. Sat down to remove shoes and back on my way. Now Approaching last lap before the finishing circuit and getting hot I decided to remove my helmet for comfort and cooling. Another attack of hotfoot and I waited for Espley to remove shoes again and have my feet sponged with cold water by a stranger!!. Camaraderie is second to none on an event like this.

Reaching the finishing circuit is great for morale and also seeing Docker, head the ball, Eddie, Mal etc. Funniest sight of all was seeing Dave Massen eating my food!!!! Now up on the drops and finish in sight as the 12th hour approaches, timekeeper shouts 'that's it'. Dave and Val Short (bless them) help me off the bike and give me a lift back to the car to meet Dave & George. I really wanted to go to HQ but time was getting on and Ang would wonder where I was!!

249.69 miles. A big thank you to all who made it possible.

Arthur