100 Mile Club
The inaugural 100 mile Keyo cycle sportive took place Saturday 1st October 2011 in the glorious North Lincolnshire sunshine. Starting at Carl Cav Strong's house in the exotic port of Grimsby, Gaston Wiggi Baugh and Cav enjoyed a pre cycle breakfast of croissants and espresso. The Peloton (of 2 riders) set off at around 9.00am at a blistering pace of 16mph, surely we could not maintain this pace.
The temperature soon reached 30 degrees and left us looking for fresh supplies, coming across a farm shop, the owners were honoured to provide free cognac, figs and beetroot juice (radical stuff). Bidons replenished we came out of the flatlands to the first cat 5 climb of the day into the famous Lincolnshire Wolds. The switchback began and the villages slipped away below. Farmland and fields carved out of the shape of the mountain, with sturdy-footed sheep clinging to the slopes of steeply angled fields. With not a single car snaking its way up or down Blue Stones Heath Road near Tetford, the only sound, other than the whistling tailwind, was the occasional tremble of Cav Strong muttering the mantra "pain is temporary quitting lasts forever" he was a man on a mission. The switchbacks reminded us of Alpe d'Huez. Reaching the summit, we briefly paused as we soaked up the beautiful vista of the hamlets, corn fields, hills and landmarks of the area. By early afternoon we had reached Horncastle and the pace just wasn't easing up.
At 65 miles we reached the picturesque village of Tealby and a well-deserved rest at the Kings Head.
The final 30 miles of this epic ride was not without its drama, a rear wheel puncture and the absence of Mavic resulted in the riders making their own repair and inflating the tyres with the all new CO2 canisters, minutes later the wheels were turning again. The final section took us onto a screaming descent down to the coast which eventually gave way to the crystal blue waters of Cleethorpes.
We eke out every ounce of power we have left for the final fast "time trial" section. Such is the fatigue now setting in that only pure determination can get us through. Finally we get back to base after nearly 7 hours in the saddle. Forget the Alps this country offers some of the most incredible rides you could ever hope to undertake.
Later, getting interviewed by Sean Kelly, the pair were overheard saying:
"Its's got the makings of a classic. It's got twists, turns and some surprising challenges you'd usually find on the Tour de France. Three cat 5 climbs and right on your doorstep - it's one not to miss next year."
