Day 1 – The Land of the Thistle

Day 1 is done and dusted! Let me tell you a little bit about it.

So as I mentioned in yesterday’s blog post, there was a killer hill that we drove down and was around 13% gradient. This hill was on my mind all night after I posted the blog post. It was still on my mind first thing, as I knew it would come around 60 miles into the ride.

Based on the length of time it took to get to Wick yesterday, I didn’t want to rush too much this morning to get going. Well that attitude came back to haunt me didn’t it. I forgot my Garmin device (yes the one that will give me all the stats over the week), we had to drive back to get it. Then once at the start, there can’t have been any signal as the Garmin couldn’t connect with my phone and use the navigation. Good thing the whole 120 miles today was on the same road! I had also forgot to apply my chamois cream first thing, so was without that for the first 45 miles!

It’s amazing just what can go through your head when you spend 8 hours cycling. I had “It’s coming home” stuck in my head all day, I get the feeling there could be more of that throughout the week!

Today was very very windy, a south easterly wind which was hitting me side on and in the face pretty much the whole day! Every time a huge lorry went past it sent me moving all over the place! Don’t think my deep rims help in those situations but hey ho.

The northern parts of Scotland is pretty much all fields with odd houses and farms scattered around, reminded me a lot of scenes from Sky Fall, especially with the overcast weather first thing.

So although the hill had been on my mind all night, when I got there, I had a nice little 10% climb to warm me up and then the 13% one. Made me think of a comment from a friend Richard Moore, keeping one in the locker. We refer to this about not going into the lowest gear and keeping one there for when you really need it. I kept one back for the 10% yet had to use it for the 13%.

Another thing I forgot to do this morning was spray myself with jungle formula, I didn’t realise how much I needed it until half way up the 13% climb and averaging 5 mph, they were everywhere! As soon as I managed to pick up speed they seemed to drop off at 10 mph! Something to take note as I go past the lakes tomorrow. You will see a bug count on my stats, this is for every bug that hits me in the face during the day. It has to be a head shot to count though! At least it wasn’t a wasp sting this time!

At 45 miles in the old folk managed to catch me up, as soon as they did the heavens opened and I got soaked! They said they would pull into a lay by and put the kettle on. Well 2.5 miles later and 5 decent opportunities to stop, I eventually find them! Typical Dad thing!

As I write this blog, we have been out for dinner, I went for Lamb, we are now back in the hotel room where both of Mum and Dad are snoring like it’s going out of fashion. There was me thinking I was meant to be the one tired! I am feeling ok, legs feel very heavy at the moment, think I may have pushed it too hard trying to catch up on the delay from this morning. Garmin tells me to have 4 days rest, well I got 12 hours so….

Here are the stats from today’s ride.

120.3 miles
7:43:02 riding time
31 mph top speed
15.6 mph average speed
91 rpm cadence
5731 ft of climbing
5762 calories burnt
5.2 litres of water

Bug count = 7

I also took note of the food that i managed to consume along the way, porridge with honey, weetabix protein shake, salted peanuts, 2 chocolate digestive biscuits, 3 energy gels, ham and cheese roll, omelette, beef pie and 2 bits of malt loaf!

I am now getting myself an early night as I want to be out on the road at 6:30 tomorrow! Look out for the live for 5!

Nessy i’m coming for you!