Norwich 100 - the report

First century ride of the year - the C2C team re-united, plus others seconded in, or were we seconded to them - hmm - anyway there was a posse of 6 that started the event at circa 7.15 yesterday morning.

The lads from London, had confessed their desire to do a sub-5hr, and although a reasonable start, they soon got itchy feet and took off, a couple of miles before Reepham, but we were progressing well, and despite forecasts of a 25km/h NE wind, were hitting some decent speeds and consistently overtaking riders without being overtaken ourselves, a brief stop at around 30 miles gone, at Hindringham before pushing on to Sheringham High School for the compulsory lunch stop at around 45miles gone - who eats lunch at 10am in the morning? 18 mph average to this point, so all good (the sub-5hr boys were ahead, but still around 10mins off schedule)

'Lunch' consumed it was on round the coast for what was to be the fastest stint of the ride - easy to say looking back through the old rose tinted specs, but we were flying, it wa like an express train powering round the coast road, pickig up ridersand leaving tehm in our wake - in fact we were only overtaken once on the road by a group of club cyclists just prior to Sea Palling. Arriving at Horsey Mill, and a welcome cup of coffee and comfort break, before hopping back onboard for the final push for home (25 to go) - at this point a sub 5.30 was more than do-able.

With wind favourable now, yet strangely had not felt it truly behind all day we clicked off the miles before it was evident that my rear tyre was getting breathless around Coltishall. Admitting defeat at Spixworth, a quick inspection confirmed a slow puncture but with 4 to go a quick blast of air and back on. now intermingling with the 50 riders too we were again able to pass people at will, and arrived safely back at the cathedral in 5hrs10 for the start to finish of the route (98ish miles), with around 5hrs 17 being recorded for an actual 100miles.

The Bromley boys done good with 4.57, but being only 13 minutes back felt pretty good.
It remained for us to pick up our certificates / medals and soak up the atmosphere in the cathedral grounds. All in all, 2011 - a good year!

Same again?!