Last bank holiday weekend, I completed the Tour of Wessex, a three day event covering 335 miles, with classic climbs including Cheddar Gorge, King Alfreds Tower, Lulworth Ranges, Quantock Common and Porlock Toll Road.
I finished each day within the cut off time, completing the 335 miles in 21hrs 16mins, that’s 16 miles per hour! Whilst my legs were certainly sore after the three days, the big lesson for me was how mentally tiring it is to ride in close quarters with other cyclists for such long periods of time. It was very sobering to see the results of two accidents to fellow riders.
When not in groups, I was able to take in some of the sights and sounds of the West Country. Yellowhammers, cuckoo, red kite and wood warbler were the bird highlights and the heady smell of bluebells and ramsons in some of the river valleys.
Cycling across extensive areas of heathland in Dorset came with the distinctive and perhaps surprising smell of coconut from all the gorse in flower. And scattered here and there along the 335 miles of un-mown road verges, it was great to see large patches of orchids, most of which I think were early purple.
The Tour of Wessex was a great test of how my training is going and thankfully has confirmed that all is on track. Below is a pic of my finisher’s medal
With less than three months to the Haute Route, this is what I have planned:
June 14 – taking part in Velothon Wales which will be an incredible experience. I haven't ridden on a closed roads before (sorry for any disruption caused!) and the prospect of doing this with 15,000 other cyclists is very exciting and will be an incredible experinece. It will no doubt showcase the great sights of Cardiff and south Wales to an audience from far and wide.
If you would like to sponsor me and raise money for an important project please go to my fundraising page https://www.justgiving.com/Cellan-Michael1/
and follow me on Twitter #hauteroutecellan