With the double bank holiday, I decided to set myself the challenge of a mini slam weekend. 4 days, 200 miles, come rain or shine, and under slam conditions, so good food & a couple of beers each night!
Things began well on Thursday evening with a good fill with Mrs Y at the excellent Union Bistro in Clapham. Their cottage pie is just what you need when you are facing a good few hours in the saddle the next day.
Bright sunshine greeted me on Friday morning and I was joined by Dan (Stages 2 & 5) and Rob (Stages 1 & 5) for a ride out of Clapham to Windsor and back, via Kingston, Chertsey, Virginia Water, Windsor Park, Staines, Walton, Hampton Court and Wimbledon. With a top notch service from Mr Croker's mechanic (Ben & Cycleworx in Southfields) and a few new components, the bike felt great, as was the banter with the boys. A little under four hours and 60 miles in the bag. A great start to the challenge.
A large helping of Mrs Y's home made lasagne washed down by an excellent bottle of Vergegelen V and a relaxing Friday evening watching The Masters set me up nicely for Saturday. The weather was nowhere as convivial as Friday, but at least it wasn't raining. I followed the same route out of town to Virginia Water, before heading back via Chobham and Addlestone to the in-laws in Weybridge. Another 40 miles in the bag, knocked off in 2:20, and halfway to the 200 mile target for the weekend.
Saturday night and a substantial helping of pork belly washed down by a drop of Bordeaux, and day 3 of The Masters, before an early start on Sunday to get down to the New Forest in time to put a big shift in. Parked up at The Pig in Brockenhurst, our home for the night, by 9.30am, Mrs Y & I set off on a 68 mile round trip (provided by fellow slammer Andy Neill) through the highways and byways of the New Forest. An excellent route, reasonably flat, some great scenery, too many cattle grids, and all manner of wildlife. Having dropped into an excellent chocolate chocolate shop in Beaulieu to reserve an Easter egg for collection later, it was non stop to ensure that we were back in time for the healing hands of The Pig's resident masseur, Karen, and an hour's worth of work on those aching limbs, followed by the restorative properties of a couple of bottles of Little Willy from the Dorset Piddle brewery. 168 miles down and 32 miles to go.
Unfortunately, Monday's weather was very unfriendly. The heavens had opened, and the wind was blowing in off The Solent. The ride into Lymington was somewhat of a struggle, and the cobbles down at the quayside equally treacherous. Anyway, after two hours in the saddle, and soaking wet, I hit the 200 mile target for the weekend, and made it back to the hotel to dry off, and reflect on a some solid progress in the training regime. With only £100 to go to hit the £3k fundraising target, it feels like it is all coming together. Four weekends of training left, and then it's France here I come!
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