Sportive numbero deux

Two weeks and 2 sportives!

Yesterday I did the 'Just Racing' Quattro around the hills of Northamptonshire. I have to say it was a lovely route, not the most lovely day though. A little bit overcast throughout the ride and as soon as I got back in the car...BINGO Sun out!

The exciting thing about this ride  was it was the first time I have taken the Go Pro for a spin...product to come later!

So....onto the ride.

The event was organised very well, with a map and natty waterproof pocket for it to go into dished out at registration (very sensible).

TOP TIP! Another grassy car park and I learned my lesson about walking on grass in my bike shoes and I brought 2 plastic bags to go over my shoes to prevent water to get in! I got a few funny looks and a couple of envious ones as others complained about wet feet!

There were plenty of signs throughout the route and it was very clear which way to go depending on which route you were on.

At the aid station there was lots of what you would expect, water, NRG drinks, gels, mini sausage rolls, sausages, flapjack, brownies, crisps and of course because its easter, hot cross buns!:)

My First Sportive

 Is it wrong to decide to do a sportive because it has cat in the name?

I was supposed to be racing the Elite Duathlon Champs, however with illness leading up to the event and some less than perfect personal circumstances I really didn’t feel in the mindset for a race with all the spotlights on! Also my first middle distance triathlon is most certainly looming on the horizon, now inside the month countdown! 

Apparently the Cheshire Cat Sportive or ‘The Cat’ as it is known to the cool kids is one of the biggest events in the UK, and is in fact the largest ‘season opener’, with over 3000 riders.

This is the first sportive I have ever done! Now I did really want to have lots of lovely pictures, however it was so wet, there was no chance I was getting my phone out to take any pics! I think It may have stopped raining for all of 10 minutes during the entire 80 miles!!

 I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it though. It was really nice to chat to a few different people, and join in some mini pelotons along the way. Despite the atrocious weather and the threat of the event being called off, it went ahead without much drama.

 The feed station was great. The mini ham sandwiches were a welcome treat and the flapjack was d-lish :) I have to say the freebies were ace too, AND 2 medals! 1 for finishing and 1 for conquring Mow Cop! The notoriously steep (25%) hill which is in the book ‘100 greatest climbs’ too!

As someone who doesn’t group ride often I really enjoyed practicing drafting a riding in close proximity with other riders.



Kind of wish I had ordered one of the jerseys now too….oh well. Ill have to do it again next year!