Four Redhill riders were up at 6am on Sunday to get to Reading for the Woodcote Sportive in the Chilterns.
A final total of 540 riders competed in this awesome event over three distances, 85, 58 and 43 miles in glorious sunshine and stunning countryside.
The 58 mile route was fantastic, through vast forests, pretty villages, across landscapes we just don't get in Surrey. But oh the hills...there were some long, long monster climbs...and it was hot. I even managed to get stung on the cheek by a wasp!
Being poor gentlemen, Stuart and I left Lisa to her own devices in the sea of riders but she had her revenge as we managed to mess up the divide of the long/mid routes and pedalled off up the wrong hill for a few miles before realising our mistake. That cost us our gold category and enabled Lisa to breeze back comfortably, the first Redhill rider to finish and in very good time. We all got silvers.
Maria had a great day on the 43 mile ride, still a very hilly event and was just one minute short of getting silver. A great effort.
We were all relaxing in the sun at the finish before 1pm. One small question: why didn't more Redhill folk enter this?!
More chances soon with the Dunsfold, Petersfield and Burgess Hill sportives, to name just a few. These events are great cycling adventures on a huge scale!