An epic 100-mile ride through East Anglian countryside was a fantastic way to spend a sunny Sunday in August
There is something really quite amazing about knowing you can cycle 100 miles in less than seven hours. It’s a huge achievement and something I’m not ashamed to say I’m proud of.
The Only Way sportive is part of Wiggle’s Super Series of cycling events that take place across the country throughout the year. This one started and finished at the home of Colchester FC in Essex. I went to the University of Essex in Colchester so this was something of a homecoming for me.
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| Not my most flattering photo! This is just as we set off on our 100-mile epic. |
The event was billed as ‘a scenic, rolling course ideal for those attempting their first 100-mile sportive’. There were three rides to choose from, Short, Standard and Epic. This last was 100 miles and of course this was the one we went for. This was my second 100 miler of this year, the first being Wiggle’s Dragon Ride, which was my first and is generally described as challenging and not best for newcomers. I don’t believe in doing things by halves.
The Only Way followed a stunning circular route through Essex and Suffolk, via country lanes and villages. It was an absolutely beautiful day for cycling and Biking Buddy Claire and I had a wonderful time.
The route was incredibly well marked and at no point did I feel at all nervous that we might have gone wrong. There were three feeding stations along the way. We didn’t feel the need to take advantage of the final one, which was just 14 miles from the finish. These weren’t as well stocked as those on the Dragon Ride, but there were bananas, flapjacks, fig rolls, crisps and sweets to indulge in, as well as plenty of water to top up depleted bottles.
The Only Way followed a stunning circular route through Essex and Suffolk, via country lanes and villages – it was an absolutely beautiful day for cycling
We completed the ride in 6 hours and 54 minutes, according to Strava, or 7 hours 9 minutes according to the organisers. The latter includes stopping time, whereas Strava doesn’t. Both times represent more than an hour’s improvement on our Dragon Ride time and won us a Silver certificate. Most importantly, though, we had a thoroughly enjoyable day.
As well as the certificate, we got a medal and a finisher’s T-shirt.
My only criticism is that there wasn’t very much going on at the finish. Some food stalls, a bar and a cafe would have been a nice touch.
I’d like to take part in more of these events. I want longer and more challenging rides, as well as multi-day events. I also plan to cycle Hadrian's Wall Cycleway. But for now I’ll just quietly congratulate myself on completing this sportive and remember what fun I had on the day.
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| To the winner the spoils! A T-shirt and medal. The T-shirt is actually pretty massive so I've been wearing it to sleep in. |
