Wiggle Hell of Hexham

A Journey Too Far, Too High and Too Soon

Chris at the top of a long ascent

18 Miles in and enjoying it

Allenheads Feed Station

It all looked so good at Allenheads (above), 23 miles in to the 52 mile, 4,600 feet ascent of the Wiggle Hell of Hexham. Despite having to cycle into a strong headwind for the first 18 miles I was feeling up for it as Chris and I took on lots of  fluid and carbs at the first Feed Station.

The landscape of  Allendale, Nine Banks and the fast downhill to Allenheads was so familiar to me from several C2C cycle rides and also the Allendale Challenge, a really challenging marathon fell race. In the latter I had cramped up badly after Allenheads and knew that I had to be well hydrated to get round this course. So lots of isotonic drink was taken on board, as well as power gels and jelly babies. I felt fine and thought that I had actually held back on the climbs up to this point.

It is a very tough climb out of Allenheads, as the guy by the roadside had found in the first few hundred yards. Little did I know, as I passed, was that within just a few miles I would be in a worse state than him, much worse.

Having reached the summit it was downhill, fast downhill,  all the way to Rookhope and away I went, crouching over the handlebars and streamlining my body as I passed Chris and other riders without needing to turn the pedals. I was told afterwards that this was part of the problem, for, I should have kept my muscles moving. I only know that I thought I was having a rest as my speed got up to 40mph on this 4 mile descent.

Just before Rookhope the route turned onto Hunstantworth Moor, heading towards Blanchland. Within 200 hundred yards of the long steep ascent I was in trouble as my right quads cramped. As the muscle went into spasm I tumbled from the bike onto the road in agony. Is there any pain like muscle cramp? Maybe I am soft , actually I think that I am quite tough, but muscle spasm reduces me to a quivering wreck.

With 25 miles to go the question I faced was not could I finish, but could I get up and what next? Having established that the next feed station, at Blanchland, was 7 miles away I sent Chris on his way, saying I would get there. After pummelling the muscle to relieve the spasm I got to my feet and started limping up that never ending climb. Within a few hundred yards the left quads also went into spasm and I was down again. A support vehicle gave me more water and my my climb continued, on foot.

At the top of the climb I was able to get ack onto the bike and found that as long as the road was level, or downhill I could manage. What I could not do, was pedal up the slightest incline without cramping up again.

So it was that I made Blanchland to be met by Chris and fellow Tynedale Harrier, Steph Scott, who was manning the feed station. My thanks are due to Steph for her encouragement, and lots of energy gels. After sending Chris on his way, I was ready to try and finish the ride, starting with the climb out of Blanchland.

Unfortunately, my legs had well and truly gone, so it was another push up that hill and this was the pattern for the next few miles, on the bike for the flats and downhills, off for the slightest climb.

Into Slaley and with only seven miles to go I was finished. This was to be a first ever for me, I was giving up and asking for rescue. Dial Chris on my mobile, ring, ring, ring - leave a message, please. Knickers, I will walk.

Walk, pedal, walk,. Finally the long push up from the Dipton Mill pub. Onto the Racecourse Road and finally a flat, straight stretch which got me through the line. Amazingly, I felt fine when I got off that b. bike!

Any lessions to be learned from this painful experience? Yes, do proper training before taking on a new challenge. As to the cramps which I experience during a long period of exercise? Not sure, I used to think that it was simply dehydration, but I was hydrated. Is it lack of salt, or other minerals? I do not know, any suggestions?