Imad Jalaly
Imad's page
Fundraising for The Children's Trust
Story
On Sunday 13 September I managed to complete the 63 mile course in the London-Canterbury charity bike ride organised by The Children’s Trust. Here are the photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kathyseiflow/sets/72157622250743731/
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This was the 6th year for the event and saw the biggest participation (180 riders), I don't have the stats on other riders but here is my story:
1. I was in the first group of starters, about 30-40 riders, set out at about 8:05 from Greenwich Park, I reached Canterbury at 13:45PM, i.e. after 5hr 40 mins.
2. I made 2 toilet/refreshment stops at 31 mile and 51 mile posts.
3. I was at 31 mile station at 10:25 and was told that I was about 10 mins behind the leaders,
4. At the 57 mile post at 13:05, about 1hr and 5min behind the leader, having slipped by about 1 hour.
5. I have good excuses for that, partly due to my two stops (the leaders simply didn’t stop) and they had better tools and technology (i.e. 30 year younger legs and lungs).
6. I dismounted 3 times and had to push, 1st at the foot bridge at Detling Hill, then 2 more times when my bike run out of gears and I run out of breath and pedal power.
7. It was hilly (over 5000 feet climb in total), undulating all the way, with some steep and long hills.
8. The most annoying thing I found was many down-hill stretches had quick right or left T-junctions turns where riders had to slow down (hence lose momentum).
9. The weather was little cool and cloudy with strong head wind in exposed places.
10. On the positive side the bike behaved well and I had neither punctures nor other mechanical problems.
11. At the 57 mile point there was a spilt either to go for the 63 mile route or the longer 78 mile. I was tempted but at that point I couldn't face another hill, energy pack nor does risk punctures.