Mille Alba 1000-2012

Well, that was the toughest thing I’ve ever done on a bike, no doubt. I’m not sure why (maybe it was the comment on the YACF forum a few weeks previous that Scottish roads go around the mountains instead of over them), but I wasn’t expecting so much climbing at all – 12800m in 1000kms. My usual problem struck on Thursday night with very little sleep to be had prior to the event. Headed off at 7 on Friday, and had an OK day, stayed with Kevin and Kurt until 80kms, but that was a mistake as they were too fast for me, so I dropped off the pace and did my own thing for most of the day (and night) finally made it back to Fordell around 1am. My Garmin had worked OK until 132kms, when the pink line vanished, I think I hadn’t given enough time for the files to download properly. In addition, I had forgotten to bring the mains charger, and was relying on a 2 AA Energiser thingy which didn’t seem to be doing its stuff very well, only giving around 1/3 of a charge on 2 AA’s. Hit the bed for 3 hours but could get no sleep with the bed creaking like mad every time Pat down below turned over, which seemed like every 5 minutes. My toes, feet, and down the side of my shin bones were threatening to cramp up any second, and I just kept tossing and turning. Saturday we headed off again around 7am, thinking – shorter day, should get back to bed a bit earlier, maybe 11pm or so and get some sleep. The climbing and the headwinds put paid to that idea, the Garmin had no track at all for that day, and I trailed around behind Eoghan feeling sorry for myself, and got a bad dose of the noddies over a never-ending rolling bog road, until we finally made it back to Fordell around 3am. Got some grub, and hit the sack for 3 hours badly needed sleep. I headed off on my own around 7.30 as Eoghan wasn’t planning on leaving until 8am. The Garmin was still stuffed, so I relied on the route sheet, and my watch to give me a rough idea of when to look out for turns. This was a bit slow, but worked OK, as I somehow managed not to get lost for most of the day. I leapfrogged Eoghan and a few others in and out of controls for the morning, until he finally caught me on the long drag after Comrie, and we stayed together for the rest of the day. Again the last stretch seemed to me to go on forever, especially crossing the ridges as we got back close to Inverkeithing. It was another tough day in the saddle, finally getting back again at 1am. Eoghan was keen to wrap things up, and planned to head off with UK rider Aidan on his trike around 1.30am. I needed a rest, and lay down with the phone alarm set for 4am. Yet again I couldn’t sleep, and after a while I decided I might as well be out riding the bike, so I got up early and headed off again for the last stint at 4.15am. I apologise profusely to everyone still in the room, as I left the phone under my pillow with the 4am alarm set, hopefully someone switched it off before it woke everyone up ! It was dawn as I left, and a lovely bright sunny morning. The climb wasn’t as bad as I had been led to believe, and I kept thinking there must still be a hard part coming up. Trying to get an ATM receipt at Falkland it took my befuddled brain a few attempts to realise that you have to request “cash and receipt” at the beginning, unlike waiting until the end when the Irish machines ask if you want a receipt. I headed off again along the next stretch of lumpy cycle route which felt like hard, slow work for some reason. I was a bit worried about time, as I had it in my head that this leg was 75kms instead of 65, and I was watching my average speed slipping down slowly. Around Kinross one of the earlier finishers came out to offer encouragement, and shouted there was only an hour to go after the next junction. As it was only 7am at this stage I was happy that I had plenty of time, and relaxed and rolled along for the last bit, until finally getting into Fordell around 8.15am.
A huge Thank You on behalf of all the Irish riders to organiser Graeme, and all the superb helpers who really went out of their way to look after the riders. In particular the crew at Fordell seemed to be on the go non-stop 24 hours a day, yet always seemed to be in excellent form, and always ready with a pleasant word of encouragement.
Highlights include some great tough climbs, some fantastic descents, beautiful scenery, excellent company, the onion, leek and cider soup at Bridge of Balgie, tomato and rice soup at Fordell, delicious Bridies (steak pies), and the team of willing mechanics at St. Davids, and Graeme being very understanding with some plonker who decided to leave his Brevet Card back at Fordell on Day 2 !
One sore foot, one sore ankle, one sore knee, two sore cheeks, and a windburned nose – could be worse. Well done to everyone who finished, and commiserations to those who had to pull out for whatever reasons.


Long-distance cycling in Ireland