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Lizard loop 100
I like being in Cornwall and I'll make any excuse to
take the long drive there. This time it was to take part
in the lizard loop 100. Careful studies of the weather
forecast told us that it was going to be hot. In my mind
this meant only one thing, it was going to be a slow
ride. There is no point rushing around on a hot day in a
beautiful county. Today was perfect for courting time
limits.
We were the last people to arrive at the start. Everyone
else seemed to be rubbing sun tan lotion onto any bit of
exposed flesh. Within a few minuets we were off. Well
more truthfully they were off. If you're going to have a
slow ride there is no point starting at the front. It's
easier for the rest of the field to sort it's self out
without our interference. A little while later we ambled
out of the car park and headed in the general direction
of Penzance.
I know from experience that Cornwall doesn't do flat. It
hides dips and rises round every corner, but to
compensate for this she lays on spectacular views at the
top of ridges and an abundance of wildlife in the
hedgerows. Of course wonderful views have their dangers
like sparking a "debate" of whether we could
see the north coast, south coast or both. All kinds of
devices were employed to argue the case; the position of
the sun, lichen on rocks, something to do with watches
learnt in the scouts. In the end it didn't matter as we
dipped down hill and the view was lost.
I'm never sure if familiarity with a route is a good
thing or not. If you don't know a route it can throw up
surprises like the café at the first control. If I were
compiling a list of the top ten cycling café's this one
would definitely be in it. The size and quality of the
cake on offer was exceptional and it had the bonus of
being well stocked which meant that the cake shop locust
had not cleared the entire stock before we arrived. We
dallied with the rear guard over a cup of tea when just
in the nick of time 'Lost Boy' arrived.
"I got lost," He said.
"They told me you would," said the man at the
control.
He didn't have a route sheet, which explained a lot. We
gave him a spare and the gist of the route. Much to the
dismay of his partner he declined the cake and headed off
in a bid to catch a tandem.
The Lizard is the most southerly point in the England, so
on a normal map it's at the bottom. This must mean it is
down hill all the way. Radio installations are put at the
top of hills for some technical reason I fail to
understand. Goonhilly is a radio installation and the
route went past it. Maps and nature failed to coincide.
It was getting warm now we had reached that mad dogs and
cyclists time of day. Luckily the next control was not
far, which gave us a chance to fill up on ice cream and
water (tip: water in bottle, ice cream in cone; the other
way round is very messy). Just as we where leaving for
Truro 'Lost Boy' arrived.
"I got lost" he said "must have taken a
wrong turning"
His companion insisted on stopping this time.
The route back was a typical Cornish roller coaster of a
ride. Nothing really big just a continuous up and down
all the way to the end. We got back in the nick of time.
Nothing to do with the time limit but everything to do
with the tea and cake running out. We never saw 'lost
boy' again. I can only presume that he, well, got lost.
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