Ok, it wasn’t a “proper” ‘cross ride given that half of it (or more) was on roads, but I did manage 46 miles. The route went kind of like this – Prestwich/Radcliffe/Ainsworth/Bradshaw/Edgworth/Strawbury Duck/Edge Lane (running)/Whitton Weavers Way/A666/Belmont/Winter Hill (running)/Rivvy/Hordern Stoops/Belmont Rd/Bromley Cross/Turton/Affetside/Walshaw/Back home. 1600 metres of climbing and about 3.5 hours in total. I went out before tea and found out that a litre of energy drink and 2 gels were no substitute for a good meal.

Anyway, I only started to get blurred vision once I was back in Whitefield so no real harm done. I did spend a good hour eating the contents of the kitchen when I got back though. I had planned to go from Turton over to Crowthorn, past the maggot farm and over to Holcome Moor, returning home via Ramsbottom too, but I guess I didn’t realise that the route was so bloody long and decided not to. I had to be in work early this morning and I thought I was going to be shot to shit as it was, without being out for another hour or so.

It was a lovely night last night. I couldn’t work out why I only saw two other cyclists, given that summer has momentarily arrived.

3 Peaks next week. I’m feeling quite ready now. Even so, ‘GULP!’

I didn’t bother riding last night, I’d been for a run at dinner with Adam again and was feeling a bit tired so I opted to get an early night and then rode this morning at 5am. It was great, in a damp and dark kind of way. No cars at all really, not until about 6am anyway. I followed my usual Holcombe Moor route, getting home ready for a big breakfast.

The brake pads on the CX bike are still not working as they should be. They’re getting better though – maybe they just take ages to bed in properly.

I’ve ridden the MTL a few times in the past. It’s a big loop (47 miles), 90% offroad and there’s loads of big hills. The last time I rode it I was on a singlespeed and I managed 5:20-ish. That was some time ago so this time I was hoping to improve on that time. Oh, and this time I was on a geared bike.

I lined up at the start on the front row. After the contdown from 10, we were off. Or rather everyone else was off – for some reason I couldn’t clip in for a few seconds and I was monging around like a..er..mong. I lost about 20 places at the start! Doh! Simon came over to wave me off and I’m sure I could hear him chuckle at my less-than impressive start 😉

It was a nice day but the persistent rain in recent weeks meant that there were plenty of big brown puddles; after 2 miles everyone was covered from top to toe in gloop and cow poo. Apart from that, it was the MTL. Up, down, up, down, up…etc.

The results will be out later this week but those that were counting said I was 6th or perhaps 7th, with a time of 4:50.  I’m chuffed. So chuffed that I’ve treated myself to a chippy tea tonight.

One of their writers did quite well (8th in the solo) and there’s a nice article about the race in this month’s mag. I only knew about it when a triathlete at work told me about it. It’s a typical triathlete’s perspective I suppose, loads of “keeping it under level 2” and that, but it’s good coverage and we’ll probably do them a banner or something at the next one.

Buy it. But don’t blame me if you max out your credit card on a 9K Serotta shortly afterwards.