These cyclists don’t half like to give themselves a hard time. Happy hour turned into a trip to the local bar (til closing), turned into a return to the hotel bar etc etc... Sambucas were even mentioned at one point. Still, by 3.30am everyone was finally in bed, just in time for the 6am alarm call.

7.30am and they were under starters orders, at the magnificent Mennin Gate in Ypres. Fifteen cyclists began the 173 mile route – how many were to finish?

For the first 65 miles, all fifteen rode together. The side wind was the cause of a few complaints back at base and apparently Paul “Sherman” Danisz described the route as flat, a description some cyclists would disagree with. Especially Jason, who found the incline so bad he fell off his bike when stopped at a red light. Andy W also took a tumble and “doesn’t mind admitting it”, while also blaming a “technical hitch”...
 

At 65 miles time to stop for a break, and the decision for everyone to push on a little bit longer, despite the wind.
 

Will and Colin were concentrating so hard on the ground, they lost sight of the riders in front of them. With no sat nav they had to wait for the group behind. Who should appear but Jason Fall Guy, Gary Hamster and Andy C Nesty, who found themselves forced to weigh up the pros and cons on the hill in front of them and the pub at the side of the road. Hill vs. pub. Pub vs. hill. Gary led them inside for a swift one. Then two. Then the tears started.
 

The short riders pushed on through the wind, reaching 70 miles before calling it a day and climbing aboard the bus for a stomach churning drive courtesy of Paul “Spec Savers” Ramsey – helped by a few more stomach churning energy bars .
 

Stuart, Colin and Will managed to get lost and ended up covering a few extra miles going the wrong way down a one way street to make it to about 75 miles before joining the fun bus. The family on the pedestrian crossing were apparently lucky to survive the journey back.
 

Meanwhile, the intrepid long-haulers battled through the wind to encounter a bit of a problem at about 80 miles – the end of the road. It’s not surprising to hear the sat nav was to blame. A poor workman and his tools..... Karen, Chris, Andy, Damian, Rick and Stuart decided to ignore the road block and push on through. As the tarmac got stickier and stickier, a road roller appeared over the horizon, forcing our Intrepids off the road and into a farmer’s field, complete with farmer and tractor. Finally a house with no way round made a sheepish u-turn inevitable.

The final riders made it in after a mammoth 120 miles (or was it 125?). Did they mention how bad the wind had been? They were the last to join the queue for physio magic from Ian and Lucy, when Ian’s notorious thigh massage “absolutely ruined” Rick, but Ian couldn’t do a lot about Rick’s stubble rash.

An evening of home made apple pie and the first Kangaroo Court at a local hostelry beckons...
 

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