My mate Dave picked me up in his van the bikes stowed in the back and we were off. We arrived at the hotel and it was immediately apparent that there was an issue. The guy behind the desk looked through some paperwork and then passed us onto his colleague. This guy was very apologetic when announcing that they had no twin rooms! He was quick to say that they would sort it and move is to a hotel just down the road. This new hotel was a higher price and parking had to be paid for but he went to great lengths to explain that they would pay any extra. He then gave us directions and a handful of cash to pay for the room at the new hotel and we were on our way!
So after some food and an early night the alarm went off stupidly early. Porridge and a banana was breakfast at 5am and then we were off to find our way to the Olympic park. It was quite obvious which way we should be going there was so many cyclists all going the same way.
When we got closer to the park we had to go our separate ways, Dave was at the Blue start and I was at the Black start.
Being part of team Skoda meant that I was lucky enough to have access to the hospitality tent at the start. I arrived and grabbed a coffee whilst overlooking the start line just as the first wave were being sent on their way. Back to the tent for a bacon roll, I didn't think it was the best breakfast but who can resist a bacon roll at 6 in the morning? So as I was sat at my table with my roll a certain Laura Trott turned up and sat at the table next to me with a roll of her own so if it was good enough for her I shouldn't feel bad!
Skoda were heavily involved with the event and had lots of riders taking part in addition to our own team Skoda. This meant that there were lots of cameras around and interviews being done. I duly did mine worrying that I would say the wrong thing, still they can edit any bits out that they want to! One of the main things I was feeling at this point was a mixture of nerves and excitement, would my legs get up all the hills and would they last for 100 miles? Only one way to find out!
Our wave was called to the start pens but the film crew were still attaching a camera to one of the bikes and we had also not yet seen one of the team. As they finished attaching the camera our final team member arrived and we moved off to the start.
The start process all went very smoothly and we were away at our allocated time I was very impressed.
Having been a bit late to the start line we were at the back of the queue so we were going a bit quick on the 2 mile roll out to the official start. Unfortunately this meant team Skoda became fragmented. I had managed to stay with Chris and Seamus and we were rolling along quite nicely averaging about 20mph according to Chris' iPhone. A number of people were latching onto our wheels as we rotated round as a Skoda train!
All felt comfortable until just before we arrived at Newlands Corner. The other guys needed to stop to make use of one of the portaloos on the side of the road. As we started off again my saddle suddenly felt a lot harder than it had before but after a little while I was used to it again.
Then we hit Newlands Corner and it was obvious that I had left my climbing legs at home as the other two scampered off into the distance. As I arrived at the top of the hill there they were waiting at the side of the road. It was a similar story as we reached Leith Hill which is where we passed Boris. As we trundled on towards Box Hill I told the guys that my legs probably wouldn't keep up with them much longer.
I had the same issue on Box Hill although I did manage to keep pace with one on the team freespeed triathletes in her nice Virgin Active sponsored kit. Once again as I hit the summit the guys were there waiting for me. We started off again together but once again I lost touch a bit, I was hoping that they would just do their thing and not worry about where I was, they did.
A little while after I caught up with Dave, his start time was a bit in front of me. We had a quick chat and then I carried on, a little further on near Leatherhead another cyclist pulled up alongside and said hello, it was one of the people I had met at the Skoda training day at Milton Keynes we had a quick catch up and then he was on his way.
At Leatherhead I stopped at the hub which provided food, drinks and toilet facilities, having made use of all facilities I was on my way again. This brief stop gave me a bit of a second wind and I managed to catch a couple of wheels and took turns for a few miles. As we went through Kingston the barriers and the crowds gave the road a real atmosphere like being in a race it was fantastic.
The last 10 miles through London were amazing again I had managed to grab a wheel but this time it was all I could do to hang on rather than take my turn on the front.
Then we turned the corner and rode under admiralty arch and on the Mall, what an experience, the crowds by the side of the road were amazing. Riding up those last few hundred metres was a fantastic experience, over the finish line and I had completed the 100 miles in 5hours 29minutes about half an hour quicker than I had hoped!
Having collected my medal, which is very impressive, my bag back from the lorry and my goodie bag I made my way back down into Green Park to find the Skoda tent. Having a few glasses of ice cold water I was just about ready to talk to the cameras again. I caught up with Chris and Seamus who had finished in a very impressive 5 hrs 7mins well done guys.
Just as I had finished my final interview with the camera crew Dave turned up so after a short rest it was time to find our way back to the hotel and onto home. Thames Clippers were putting on special boats, so we headed down to the pier and quite quickly were on board and away all very slick.
Ride London 100 has been an amazing experience but without so many people would not have been possible. Thanks must go to the following:
- Cycling Plus and Skoda without whom I would not have had the chance to take part.
- Skoda cycling for putting on the training rides before the event which taught me so much about riding in a group. Also for the hospitality at the start and finish areas we were very well looked after.
- Emma for the photo at the start.
- Stefan Wyman and his Matrix Fitness Racing Academy Team who were there on the training days for advice and support.
- Helen Wyman for lots of advice and also making me think about taking up cyclo cross again.
- Dave Hughes for getting me to and from the event, the logistics of this were no mean feat!
- Chris, Seamus, Hayley, Emma and Ben my team Skoda teammates for their support and encouragement over twitter leading up to the event.
- Special mention to Chris and Seamus for waiting for me at the top of each hill!
- Jonathan Durling for his immense amount of work not just with us as team Skoda but for the event in general!
- And in general all the supporters, organisers and marshals who made the whole day possible!
Now I just need to get the training in for Challenge Henley next month!
www.virginmoneygiving.com/andrewfountain1
