Wylye & Ebble Valley 200km

THe temperature was hovering just above zero at 6am on the morning of Sunday 18th October as I drove over to Denmead to meet the other riders for Paul Whitehead's Wylye & Ebble Valley 200km Audax ride. Due to roadworks and a mass of marker cones on the M27, I missed the A3(M) turn-off and did a loop of the M275 before I eventually arrived at the Kidmore Lane car park 15minutes before the start. Thankfully, daylight had arrived before the start but I had my headtorch and a front light just in case. After a quick cup of coffee, I got kitted up and joined the other 24 entrants just as Paul gave us the 'off.'

I had plotted the route earlier in the week on MemoryMap and noticed that a lot of 'B' roads were used so straight out of the car park, we cycled up the B2150 through Hambledon to Brockbridge. In this first 9kms, we split up into the usual groups with a bunch of fast riders at the front and the rest in twos and threes down to a few stragglers. After crossing the River Meon, we headed north-west to Morestead along a series on undulating lanes where I settled into my usual position of around the mid-field along with a couple on fixed who would leave me on the climbs and then I would fly past them on the descents.
Nearly overshot the junction to Twyford where I noted the 'Info' and then set off west over the River Itchen and the M3 to Hursley on the A3090. Leaving the main road behind, another series of lanes through Lower Slackstead and Braishfield to Michelmersh and the A3057. The road surface on the main road was terrible with lots of rough chippings that made everything on the bike rattle and I was really glad to get off onto the lanes over the River Test through Mottisfont to the B3084. This 'B' road went all the way to the A303 through Broughton, Over Wallop and Grateley but just before reaching the A303, the route detoured through Cholderton in order to cut down the distance on the main road. Taking the slip road off the A303 to Amesbury, I threaded my way around the town to the Friar Tuck cafe where all the other riders were tucking into platefuls of eggs and baked beans.
The temperature had just reached double figures by now but the sun was struggling to make an appearance - my jacket over a short-sleeved top with a base layer and longs was the right choice. After a lengthy stop due to the usual cock-up with the service, I was the last of the bunch to leave but just as the first of the stragglers arrived. From here on, I was on my own which is how I tend to find myself on all my Audax rides so I just kept on spinning as I followed the River Avon south out of Amesbury down to Middle Woodford where the route turned west again. A long uphill drag took me over the A360 and then it was down to the Wylye valley where I followed the railway line all the way to Wylye and the last 'info' before turning south and starting on the first serious climb of the day. One kilometre at 16% was too much of a shock for my legs so after about two-thirds distance, I got off and walked to the top. Two kilometres further on, I was confronted with another 15% climb which I managed OK and was then joined by a cyclist who was not on this ride but was just out for a Sunday jaunt. As we rode together, I told him of the route and he confirmed what I already knew - there were quite a few more big climbs ahead! Apparently this section is used on the 'Porker' after about 300kms - at least we only had 100kms in our legs before tackling them!
After the climb at Dinton, I crossed the River Nadder and cycled up to Fovant where my colleague went on ahead. A right and 1st left at the A30 took me to the next big climb up the side of Fovant Down which I struggled up at a steady 6kph before descending to the Ebble valley. Still heading south, the route crossed ridge after ridge including two more 15% climbs before I finally reached the B3081 at Sixpenny Handley where I turned south-east for Cranbourne. May's tearoom at Cranbourne Garden Centre was packed with lots of elderly customers staring amazingly at many brightly-coloured lycra-clad 'athletes' who were tuckling into sticky toffee puddings and cakes.
After scoffing down a big slice of fruit loaf and an enormous cup of coffee, I left fairly quickly and now heading due east, I was on the last leg of the ride. The route now followed the B3078 for 20kms through Alderholt and Fordingbridge where I made a brief detour as I made a wrong turning but I soon realised my mistake and quickly got back on track. Climbing out of Fordingbridge up to Deadman Hill, the route now crossed the New Forest where I had to dodge around quite a few horses as well as noticing a group of asses and a couple of pigs - adds a bit of interest to a long boring stretch of main road!
Turning off the B3078 for Bramshaw, I pressed on along a series of lanes heading north-east to circumnavigate Romsey and cross the River Test again before cycling on to the outskirts of Chandlers Ford. After crossing the M3 and the River Itchen near Otterbourne, I joined the B2177 and cycled on towards Bishops Waltham. Energy levels were begin to flag so I ate a couple of fruit bars from my back pocket and washed them down with a couple of big gulps of my energy drink. Turning off the 'B' road at Waltham Chase, I was on the last few kilomtres of country lanes to Newtown and the finish at The Fox and Hounds just outside Denmead after a distance of 205kms.
After handing in my brevet card to Mark 'Hummers' Hummerstone, I tucked into a few bread rolls and a fully-deserved pint of shandy. I had made it back just inside an overall time of 10hrs with a ride time of 8hrs 50mins and I was the eleventh finisher - I said I was always around the mid-field!
David