Chiltens Cyclosportive Watlington (07/03/10)

Have finally got round to putting the race report on here. The event was a 77 mile cycle around the chiltern hills and was very well organised. I wasn't sure what to expect as I have never done a cyclosportive before but there was a massive turn out and I had a really enjoyable time. I set off at 9am and for some unknown reason decided to wear fingerless gloves... big mistake. After a few miles the pain gave way to numbess and after riding for a while with ice on the road the sun came out and I could concentrate on cycling rather than freezing. It wasn't long before we were confronted with the first climb and I felt like giving up there and then, it was enourmous. The climbs were relentless but I actually began to enjoy them. by the end. On the flats I was frequently overtaken by large groups of cyclists but on the climbs I worked my way back up the field. This is definitely my strength probably due to the fact I only weigh about 58kg. My nutrition strategy just held out too so I just have to make a few tweeks and it should be sorted. I cannot explain how glad I was to see the finish after 6 hours of cycling. It was a great event and one that I am very pleased to have finished. It was excellent training for the Ironman and doing a cyclosportive is something I would definitely recommend to people not just for training but for a fun day out and a real challenge.