The Cheshire Cat Sportive - Failed attempt!

The Cheshire Cat Cyclosportive (Sportive ?)

I set off this morning eager to try and tame the Cat; I failed.
I ended up taking a massive shortcut home from Middlewich and missing out nearly half the route.




I rode out from Leek so I joined the Cheshire Cats route at it's most south westerly point at Rudyard. The first big hill of the day for me was Wincle bank. I was struggling already and I was only about 5 miles in.




I was soon dropping down into Langley and riding through Macclesfield forest. I failed to get up the next hill. I pulled my cleat out of the pedal, lost momentum then I just couldn't get back going again. I got to the top and looked at the road sign. It was only 18%. Only 18% and I had been walking! I had seriously better tighten my cleats and work on my hill climbing.



I continued along to Bollington where I accidentally went the wrong way around to Adlington. I think my way was slightly further and involved more climbing so this isn't a recommended short-cut!

It now started to rain (only lightly) and the wind was really getting up. I realised that I had only averaged about 13mph up to this point. At this pace I would still be out riding at 6/7oclock tonight. I had to speed up, so I put the hammer down. I ended up catching a club run up. This left me with a bit of a decision, do I pass the group or do I sit on their wheel? Thankfully I realised I was turning off in a few yards which made the decision easy. Pass them and then turn off before they give chase!



I got to Swiss hill and took my photographs while looking at the wet cobble stones. Ekkk!

Then a MTBer came along. He went two yards up the road before turning around and coming back down, He just said "Not today," before riding off.


I was now a little unsure if I should be attempting this or not. I gave the bike loads of wolley, sprinting hard up the first bit to gain as much momentum as possible. Only to find the hill was never really all that tough.

I pushed on to Knutsford, determined to up the speed and get back before nightfall. I couldn't be bothered to go all the way to the leisure center so I turned left at the lights straight onto the A50, and through Peover to Middlewich.





In Middlewich I locked the bike up to a lamp-post in one of the main streets and went for a hunt for a newsagents / cafe, anywhere I could buy a sandwich from. I was only gone 5mins but I returned to find a group of young lads all crowded around the bike (which was now on the floor). They worryingly all ran off when they saw me walking towards them in cycling gear; this couldn't be good!




I stood checking the bike to make sure everything was still there. It was, perhaps I was just worrying about nothing. I removed my lock, hung my pannier on the rack and tried to ride off. Only my back wheel wouldn't turn.

Not only was one of my spokes snapped the bolt holding my panniers and mud-guards to the frame was sheared. I'm guessing they tried to liberate my bike from it's cheap lock by yanking it free. In the process they had snapped my spoke and pulled my panniers off.



I managed to just about get my wheel to turn but I decided that I had better cut the ride short. I fired up Autopilot on my phone and asked it for the quickest way back. Which turned out to be the A54 straight through Holmes Chapel to Congleton. I didn't get to try Mow, cop and I didn't get to do 100miles.

At 68 miles, 15.5mph,
I suppose I can claim my 100km century though?