Well it was an early start on Sunday for two of Mid-Oxons finest as Andy Johnson and I set off for Great Missenden and the start of the Chiltern100 leaving at 6:15 from my house.  Having agreed the previous day that the weather was not going to provide an excuse for us to avoid the long ride, we realised we had no choice but to have a go at the "Gran" (107 miles) rather than the "Medio" (60 miles) Fondo.  The day was superb for riding, after an initial debate, arm-warmers were discarded and steeds readied as we jostled for position to be in the first pen of 20 riders off to start.  At first this seemed like a good ploy until it dawned on us that we were unlikely to pass many slower riders as the gap would simply widen behind us but were going to be cannon fodder for the quick boys and spend most of the day being passed - not good for the morale!

With cut off for Gold being a swift 6 hours and Silver 6:45 the pace started off quick.  The worrying thing was that it didn't seem to get much slower either.  As Andy remarked the profile looked more like a saw edge and he was not wrong.  Right from the start we went up the very first of many hills - without boring you too much the route zig zagged up and down the same Chiltern hills from different sides, some remembered fondly form Sunday Club runs eg  Watlington Hill, Chinnor, Stokenchurch, the elusive Fingest and other new ascents such as Whiteleaf Hill, Ivinghoe beacon etc etc and I mean etc.  This was HILLY!  You couldnt help noticing that we were never very far from Great Missenden as various signs would remind you but oh so far...strength sapping extraordinaire...I reckon that in any 5 mile stretch you spent 3.5 descending/flat and 1.5 climbing - suffice to say it took a bit longer to climb.

The splits were definitely negative - mainly due to over vigorous attacking of the hills in the first half, only to find the hills in the second half were even tougher...Andy and I parted company inadvertantly after the first refreshment stop and Andy, lacking any recent mileage, recognised his first instinct to opt for the Medio Fondo was the right one so corrected the decision and completed a Medio Fondo Al Fresco.  I foolhardily, with the UFWC coming up, staggered on to the end and was grateful to a strong rider from Princes Risborough who, although having blown up earlier in the ride, was getting his second wind (which I suspect was much faster than my first wind) and he towed me home.  A respectable silver standard finish but probably helped by a slight detour that 25 or so of us made in Tring due to some local yob removing the sign no doubt.

I am pretty certain the route was designed by a sadist in the Verulam Club (England's first martyr apparently - name another martyr I say! - apart from the 150 riders on this event...).  Anyway a cracking ride but very tough...makes the Tour of the Cotswolds (ex. Bishop's Cleeve) look like a walk in the park....with a bike...and a helmet....

Ian