Up the Uts - 160 k audax from Ugley
Posted on Sunday 18 March 2007 by Nick Bloom
‘Up the ‘Uts’ - 160 km Audax from Ugley, Saturday March 17th
Forcing myself into action on a Saturday morning, I get to Ugley for 8am, parking opposite a twin of my Defender (so that they can have a nice chat whilst owners are off). The Comrades CC is one of a group of club huts in the area - hence the name of the ride. The 200 lot are just off as I sign in and grab a coffee, standing outside to acclimatise to the decidedly fresh morning, and to chat with some familiar AUKs. We’re off at 9, and I pass the CLCTC group riding up from the station for the 100k at 10.
The ride out is fast. With the wind on my back I keep a good pace, legs spinning wildly down the descents. The usual audax crisis soon occurs - chatting to a rider from Saffron Walden, we don’t concentrate on the route sheet. Luckily, we’re soon joined by a group from Islington CC, and we follow them. Unfortunately, they’re also off route. With a bit of joint guesswork, we get back in line, and Islington fly off at speed. After 10 minutes, they come up behind me again, a habit they repeat through the ride.
I make good time to Stisted, but the turn back to the start reveals the truth. A howling headwind, the fixers nightmare. No-one to shelter behind, pushing even on the descents, it feels like a 40k climb. At Thaxted I have to take a short breather (or my version of). I get back to the Hut just after 3pm, my legs are like jelly and I’ve got sore bottie syndrome. A few of the 100k group are back and ready to leave for the station - Kay thrusts a welcome cup of tea at me, and I revive. Then spend a while waiting for John and Camille, who had been abandoned by the rest. Decide I need to get going, as I don’t know what the last leg will be like, and somewhat reluctantly get back on the road.
Immediately, I have a complete mind-blank about direction, and have to stop to gather my wits. Off again. Thankfully, this 40k is easy - not much wind, lots of fast downhill. In the end I finish at about 5.30. Not at all fast, but at least I’ve manged my first 150 on fixed. Next week, Stevenage 200 - fixed again, or do I try these contraptions Monsieur Desgrange dislikes?