Thanks to Julian for this picture. Here we all are, in the B and Q car park at Crewe, about to start on the Cheshire Cat – well done Woody for getting us organised. From left: Dan, John Keen, Adrian, Elaine, Carol, Woody, Andrew and James Risk, me and Kev. Also riding but not in the picture was Dave from the Wednesday Wrinklies, and I think Chris Latter, Andy and Roger were somewhere out there too. Hopefully everyone will put a post on the forum (under Calendar) to let us know how they got on. The organisation was dreadful – lots of queuing at the start and finish – but once out on the ride I had a great time, latching onto various groups and I got towed round the whole route by faster riders. The first third was hilly (and pretty, over Mow Cop and the Bridestone, then through Danebridge and Wincle) and then from there on it was flat and fast, across the Cheshire Plain to Tilston then back towards Crewe. I’m not sure of my time – we’ll see what the results said – but I was out for almost exactly 6 hours, having stopped at all 3 feed stations – I felt good, I think the Llanberis weekend has done its job! Posted by Eleanor.
Cheshire Cat
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Great write up Eleanor.
This was my first Cheshire Cat, and I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge. The hills were fantastic (I luckily got quite a clear run up Mow Cop). For most of the way past Barlow Hill, I was playing Hare and Tortoise with a group made up of Man Tri and Seamons riders (faster pace than me, but they kept stopping 🙂 ). The chase is a good motivator for me, and this kept me going all the way hehe.
I will not be entering this again, as the organisation was shocking for a company who have been doing this for years. This was profit maximization in its purest form. I never bothered with the food stops, and the laughable food at the end (plain pasta, basically) summed it up for me perfectly.
Next year I will seek my revenge by running the course on my own. Maybe doing this for the next few years will eventually recoup the £32 it cost me.
Might look at doing the Kids Can events, and get some sponsorship…
Thanks whoever this is, (John, Kris, Adrian?) it says anonymous so I'm having to guess – if you want to let us know who you are next time you can click on Name/URL below and type your name in. Ref the queuing and poor organisation – I've just been looking at their facebook page, and the Cyclosport forum – literally HUNDREDS of comments about the poor organisation – I suspect they will be seriously embarrassed.
Hi Eleanor,
It wasn't me!
I did really enjoy it, i had lots of preconceptions beforehand, all of which were wrong. I loved the fact that it was basically an early season race; I didn't realise before hand just how competitive it would be. I managed to catch up with Kevan after the first feed but he jumped through a junction and away from me. I'll get him next year…
Obviously there are issues with the queueing at the start and finish (although that didn't bother me as i rode straight home to go to a party). Also i believe there were feed station issues (although i only stopped for 2 minutes at the third station to get 2 gels and fill my bottles). On the one hand 30 plus pounds is a lot for a day in the saddle. On the other hand you wouldn't get the same challenge just by riding around by yourself.
Beforehand i wouldn't have thought i would want to do it again but now i'm fairly certain i will, if, for nothing else, to beat Kev.
Hope you guys have a great holiday.
John, you did brilliantly – 5.42 – sounds like you're getting your old racing form back! I know what you mean about the fact that it was more competitive than you expected. The first one I did I rode on my own a lot, (into the wind) whilst on this one I managed to spend most of the time tagged onto fast groups and we were flying, it's a fantastic feeling.
I've been re-living it all week whilst stuck in the office!