Polka Dot Challenge

Sunday morning and the sound of rain on the windows is pretty depressing, especially when you know you are set to ride a tough hilly sportive in the north. Driving through thick fog and driving rain to the start did littel to raise my spirits.
A quick text to Simon (of the Lamb love oils and most famous cycling blogger in the entire world) established that the Gazzetta team was primed and ready to ride.
We stood in the club house of a local sports club, legs shaved, oils with the new Rosso - the aroma of cinnamon emanating from our glowing thighs. After much chatter and bravado we eventually stepped out to brave the elements. Cold rain lashed at our faces, the waterproof qualities of lycra are not something to write home about.
Time card stamped, a briefing on the line about how this was not a race BUT a challenging bike ride and we were off.
We rode as a four some for while but a mechanical problem held back Marcelle, who bravely battled on in singlespeed mode. Simon, as director sportive of Gazzetta stayed back with her to help through the climbs.
The signal was given to Nick and me to ride ahead, so off we raced - in the not racing or being competitive way that cyclists ride with each other.
We took turns on the front of two man break away and chatted through the miles. The climbs were steep, some long and all clearly marked so you knew how much it was going to hurt. We passed numerous riders along the way, chasing down groups as soon as they appeared on the horizon. Nick giving a running commentary of every event on and off the road. His shouts of "Car Up!" startled many a small creature and quite a few cyclists throughout the day.
Through the highest village in England - Flash at a little over 1500 feet. Barrellling down the wet slippy descents made more dangerous by the gravel and mud to arrive at the foot of the climb to the feed station. Nick danced away up the hill, his voiceover getting gradually fainter as he bounced on tiptoes through the other cyclists.
Time cards stamped, we paused for food. Nick then started chatting to a lovely lady about the quality of her flapjacks. I waited, patiently. Then Nick announced that "we cant stand around talking all day, there's riding to be done!" Off we went up hill and down dale and into thick fog on a 20% descent, and to say think, I mean a real pea souper, brakes squealed as we slowed from 50mph to a very nervous 15mph as we approached every bend blind.
With about ten miles to go we decided to give full gas and burned the remaining watts of energy from our bodies arriving at the finish laughing in that delirous way that only exhaustion can explain.
Greeted by the finest cup of tea in the country, served by a lovely couple who smiled in at our madness and faces covered with the grime of three counties we recounted our personal takes on trip to each other and agreed to do it again next year.
A phone call to Simon and Marcelle to check they were ok, and they were Marcey battling around the course in one gear, Simon taking the earfuls of expletives that Lady M filled the air with but they both finished well.
It was lovely to meet and ride with the Gazzetta team and equally lovely to meet Nick's partner Gabby who had just got back from a stunning ride up Alpe d'Huez so missed the PDC because of her recovery program.

The PDC is a wonderful event, only marred by the weather this year. The organisers are friendly and helpful, the sign out is so efficient it would amaze the Germans. The whole route is well signposted and the all climbs are numbered and clearly marked. At the feedzones the staff who volunteered tp stand in the rain for eight hours were cheerful and full of encouragement, and the food supplied was excellent. I will eb back next year hopefully with the other Gazzetta team members. Thanks for a great day albeit a soggy one!
Check out http://www.polkadotchallenge.co.uk/ for details of next year's ride.