The Cumberland Challenge

A letter to Sticky...

Stix,

Sorry for my offensive response to your text but you caught me at a bad
time when we seemed to be doing one climb after another and still
heading away from Brampton even though we had done 80miles! Route was
fantastic, you will love it next year - we think it was designed by
Plucky. Weather was shit for first half but then cleared up but wind was
a problem. Thanks to a bit of faffing from the Faffmiester himself we
missed the last group setting off and departed alone a couple of minutes
later chasing hard. After 1 mile there was an almighty rainstorm but we
carried on and just when I thought we had the group in site Tinner
decided he needed to stop to cape up which took about 2mins and that was
that for the rest of the day! Halfway to the big climb of Hartside we
were caught by Lewis, Reidy and another who proceeded to batter us until
we waved the white flag halfway up Hartside - you are in for the same
treatment during the cross season. After descending Hartside I got
really cold and the route took you back up another climb out of Alston
which started with a cobbled hill then back around in a loop to cross
the road you were just on, wind was bad in this section but then on the
road back up to Brampton we caught Buttsy and Geoff and then Lewis and
Co who had punctured but they soon sped past. About 10mile out of
Brampton the cross wind turned into a full on head wind which slowed you
to a crawl. When we got back to Brampton and the feed the sun actually
came out and we arrived a couple of mins after the Lunies had left so we
stocked up and headed off north.

The 2nd half of the route was up and down but the roads were very quiet
and mostly smooth. We caught the Lunies half way around this loop and
every time you thought you were heading back to Brampton the route would
go in the opposite direction and up another short climb - all the climbs
in the 2nd half were short and you could grind up them. Just before you
sent your text we had passed a sign saying 'Welcome to the Scottish
Borders". The route finally turned back south and downhill and after
another feed with 20miles to go it was a fast mostly flat route back to
Brampton via the Smithfields circuit were we caught and passed the Lakes
crew then ended up riding in with the Border City wheelers. Tinner
suffered in the 2nd half and didn't do a turn at all for the last
40miles but I was feeling good so it was okay. we finished in 6:18 but
the best news was that Gordon and Mal dropped Hass on the way in!

The organisation was brilliant with the route signposted all the way
around, loads of food at the feeds (tinner ended up with 6 Go bars) and
even showers and a cafe at the finish. Definitely one to do again with
better weather. Unfortunately I now have a sore throat and will probably
come down with a cold after shivering in the pissing rain ion just my
Giblet.