Me and Bumble B arrived a little later than I had planned but its a pretty far distance from "The HiVE" to the start of the Thames Bridges start at Kings House Sports Ground near Barnes Bridge Station. Took me about 2hrs by train. I finally arrived at the start and got all registered. As always Bumble B causes abit of a stir when he arrives on the scene.
I was pretty much ready to go when a fellow Brompton rider Sylvia came up to me asking if I could help with her Brompton. Being the gentlmen that I am, I could never turn down a lady in distress.
Turns out some how the straps for the rear rack for wrapped around the rear wheel sprockets and locked up. Tried to undo it but it was so tangled up I had to take the whole rear wheel off. Just when I did that the rear sprocket of her 3 speed pretty much fell off in my hand. Got Sylvia all sorted ready for her ride. She was doing the 8 mile ride so me and Bumble B waved her off on the start line.
Sylvia getting ready for the off |
I didn't take many photos as I was mostly focused on making sure I was going the right way and cause there was a lot of other cyclists about I had to keep my wits about me so not to run into anyone.
Unlike other years of this ride, there was only 1 stop at around the 22 miles mark. Good supply of water, peanuts and other goodies for the hungry cyclist that has a few miles to go.
Refueling |
While we was there I met this gentleman who came up to me and told me that he had seen us on this ride before and the legend and I inspired him to do this ride on his 70s Bickerton no less. Kudos my man, KUDOS.
This kind of thing really makes the legend happy, inspiring people to do things they couldn't think they could do.
Legend inspiring legends |
I just put my head down & got on with it while eating and drinking as much as I could counting down the miles to the finish. I was on my own for a good few miles so didn't really have anything to distract me from the "bonk". Finally caught up with a few others on the ride which made me feel much better and the "bonk" feeling started to fade away & I felt stronger.
Saw the tents in the distance and knew we had made it so really pushed in on the final straight to the finish line to the huge cheers of everyone.
The legend had done it, which big smile and congrats from everyone for a good ride. All I wanted was FOOD and lots of it. I finally found the food stalls and ordered up a HUGE cheese burger with pulled pork. I didn't even give myself a chance to take a photo of it as I just wanted sink my teeth into the meat and savour the taste explosion going on in my mouth.
IT WAS GLORIOUS
Finally had to make my back to the HiVE. Just as I was exiting my station I unfolded Bumble B and heard a *ping* I thought what the hell was that? I started to roll Bumble B and noticed something was jammed up in the rear wheel, had a closer look and found this.
I know my unfolding skills are awesome but I didn't figure they where THAT powerful. Lucky I actually have a brand new rear wheel on order from Brilliant Bikes.
I'd like to thank everyone for the support and cheers as well as the organizers of the Thames Bridges Ride.
till the next ride, bee safe.....
Looking good “after all these years” :-)
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