The Macc Monster

This is the name of a bike ride I did with James on Sunday 10th October. Macc is short for Macclesfield where the ride started and Monster is an apt description of the ride. The distance was 100k and in that were 8 classified climbs totalling 7000ft of vertical ascent - some long and gradual, others short and steep. We went through the Goyt Valley and into the Peak District National Park - high and broad with exceptional views and the weather was glorious, so there were some compensations. James and his mates set a pace I found difficult and then impossible to stay with, so after four of the climbs I found myself on my own, glad to be able to ride my own pace. The only probem with this was finding the way to go. Markers were few and far between and in unfamiliar territory they were easy to miss. At one point I was taking the road to Leek when I noticed in the corner of my eye an orange marker which had blown over in the wind, pointing in a direction at right angles to the one I was taking. That happened twice - having to go back on myself having passed a turn. Eventually I found my way to the feed station for lunch in a lovely village called Rudyard. It was in the car park of the Rudyard Hotel, where I tried to stock up as much as I could for the second half of the ride. This is where I met up with James again and from here he cycled back with me, restraining himself to my pace. It was at 38 miles we came to the hardest climb, Thorncliffe, cliff being an appropriate term. It was a mile long and steep, and it came with a warning in the info pack - "a brute, featureless and open, broken many a poor soul" - so I knew it was going to be tough. If that wasn't bad enough as we started to climb we got the wind in our faces. If I have done a harder climb, I cannot remember when. What motivated me to keep going was the fact that I knew I wouldn't come back. I had to do it this time, it was my only chance, and I didn't want to have to admit it had broken me. Somehow I managed to crawl to the top. As the road levelled out I could feel my legs beginning to lock in cramp. I hoped it would wear off as the way became easier as it usually does. But it intensified, so I knew I had to do something as we approached the next incline. I told James I would need to stop to massage the muscles. As I stepped off the bike both thighs locked solid and I was stood in agony like a statue holding the bike, unable to move. Considering James is a doctor I was a little surprised at the lack of advice being offered to ameliorate my condition. At some point I managed to lay down on the grass verge, high in the peaks overlooking stunning scenery, which I obviously was not able to fully appreciate. James thought it would be advisable to phone Mum and Beck to let them know we would not be back by the estimated time, and I thought it might be advisable for them to stand by the phone in case they needed to come for me. I was somewhat disconcerted when Mum asked us where we were and James replied, "I don't know". Anyway, the cramp passed and I managed to get back on the bike and was able to pedal. The worst was over and I managed to limp back. Up past the (in)famous Cat and Fiddle Pub and down the long descent into Macclesfield - it was a nice finish. Mum and Beck were at the finish and I gladly fell into their arms, before having the after-ride meal. To save having to put the bikes in the boot of the car, having to take off wheels etc, we decided to ride the 8 miles back to Alderley Edge.