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1000 Xmas Kms: The Final Kilometres

Door Graeme Raeburn • 13th January 2010 11:32am • Gepost in Misc

WEDNESDAY 30th DECEMBER

Distance: 92k + 5k = 97k
Weather: Rain, rain and rain.
Route: I was planning a long night ride, but the weather is looking dismal so fitted in laps of Richmond Park early to pre-empt the shorter night ride…

…Which ends abruptly, when a motorist cuts out of a side road and I collide with the side of his moving car, sending me over the bars and into the wet road. My immediate concern was I'd damaged the Enigma - I currently had no spare bike - but it escaped with knocked shifters and bars (still a worry!). I rode back, doing the maths for the following day's milage.

High Points:
Sitting in the park cafe watching the rain come down, but enjoying a coffee knowing I'd cracked it…

Low Points:
…Until that evening when I lost out on 45kms!

THURSDAY 31st DECEMBER

Distance: 85k+39k = 124k
Weather: Cold, occasional drizzle, clear night.
Route: I head into Kent, to the North Downs, to churn out the km's.

I'd pretty much given up taking photos by this point, they all showed the same dismal grey scenes. Doing sums all the time, I calculate the bare minimum I can do, knowing I'll make the total when dropping into New Year's parties in the evening…

High Points:
Crossing the 1000k point in the dark, sleet coming down, smiling inside.

Low Points:
Waking up aching from the crash, knowing I'd lost out on my 'easy day' and plodding through the kilometres. The bike is beginning to show the strain; skipping, clicks, slow cables, all make me wince and wish for a service.

Grand Total: 1005km

Opmerkingen

Chris Tree

13th January 2010 02:15pm

Glad you and the bike are OK. Great work on making your goal!

Richard Bravo

13th January 2010 02:53pm

Well done!

karl andersson

13th January 2010 03:18pm

Bravo!

Tim Faia

13th January 2010 04:19pm

Nevermind the bike, they're replaceable! The fact you're OK is the good thing.
Nice work, impressive and motivating!
Tim

Chris Myers

13th January 2010 04:51pm

Congratulations! I am sorry to hear about the incident with the car thoug, Fortunately you and the bike are doing well.

Fabio Albertoni

13th January 2010 07:05pm

Good job!

Rob Saunders

13th January 2010 07:25pm

Inspiring!

Tim Cox

14th January 2010 01:26am

Well done, Graeme! Hope you and the bike are on the mend - it could have been much worse. I have fond memories of Richmond Park - used to live nearby - but now live near San Francisco (and occasionally ride with Michael Robertson, with whom I believe you are acquainted?).

Graeme Raeburn

14th January 2010 10:17am

thanks again for posting all the messages folks.

It was an interesting end to the week, not the early and comfortable coast across the line I had planned, but hey, where's the fun in that?? It was a great way to spend that week, maybe a few less kms next year though…

Tim, you featured in Michael's recent post on the ride to the observatory, right? I love his work, the photography is stunning, and that particular post just made me want to get out and ride. I'll be sure to look you guys up if I'm ever (lucky enough!) to be in the area with a bike.

Gem Atkinson

14th January 2010 01:43pm

fantastic work Graeme!
so sorry to hear you were in the wars a bit, but great to see you smashed a VERY hard target. Nice one!

Gem

Kevin Bennett

15th January 2010 09:59am

Well done - great achievement!

Michael Robertson

15th January 2010 04:27pm

Big numbers… but I figure in the summer you could polish off the 1000K in three good round the clock efforts ;-)

Glad you're in one piece after the crash.

Stefan Rohner

16th January 2010 09:47pm

cool, you made it!

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