GR20 2009

This weekend over 40 GigRowers took part in GR20, a charity bike ride that took riders along Cornwall’s south coast past 20 Gig Clubs & 140 miles to raise money for Shelterbox.

The ride started on Saturday at Fowey as riders set off in freezing rain, a westerly gale and ice on the side of the road -- there was a little stunned silence as on the way to Fowey at Truro there was a hail white-out. Conditions failed to improve as riders passed Par, Charlestown, Mevagissey, Gorran, Roseland, Truro, Devoran, Mylor, Penryn before stopping for lunch in Falmouth.  The event was always supposed to provide a challenge and that it did as the hilly route and harsh conditions took their toll on all the riders.

The afternoon took riders past Helford, Coverack, Cadgwith and up onto the exposed Lizard where riders battled with the gale force winds to get to Lizard Youth Hostel, cake & tea. The climbs around Mevagissey, Caerhays, Mylor, Coverack and Cadgwith were particularly notable -- steep, brutal and twisting and turning. Climbing School Lane in Coverack at the end of the day really wasn’t what I wanted to do at the time especially as there was still Cadwith to come.

As if the climbs weren’t enough, the windy blasting “fire-hose” of ice and rain experienced in Falmouth due to a particularly dark and foreboding storm cloud was something that sent the riders scuttling for shelter (I ended up in a bus stop but was thoroughly soaked by then). The weather wasn’t finished with us and the final run across the Lizard brought gale force sidewinds that are always a challenge!

After a hot shower, a great dinner and a few beers at the ‘Top House’ (8 pints of Rattler for Uncle Andy) morale was back up as riders tucked into bed in the storm lashed hostel.

Storm force 10 winds put paid to the planned second day route and so after a early morning reroute the riders were bused to a point between St Ives and Zennor and then rode back to Lizard via Mounts Bay and Porthleven (well, very near Porthleven) for a Sunday Roast before heading home for a hot bath. The 30+ mph tail wind gave all a fast and exciting finish into the carpark at Lizard.

A big well done to all riders, I’m off for a bath now but add a comment to this post with your version of the weekend.

:: Stats ::

Day 1 (Fowey-Lizard) : 78 miles (125km), total climbing 5714ft (1742m).
Day 2 alternative route : 32 miles (51km), total climbing 2181ft (664m).
Totals : 110 miles (176km), climb 7895ft (2406m).
Day 2 full route 52.4 miles -- (Trevor and Daniel -- who were able to hit the day fresh having not done day 1).

If you have any pics please send them to toby@gigrower.co.uk so I can add them to this post.

Plannning for the next GR-ide is already under way!

A BIG Thank You to:

Garrick for getting out of bed at 4am and driving the bike trailer across Cornwall
Dave the Bus for getting us there
Kim for her brillllliant chili
Hutch for his world class coleslaw
Esther for her tasty crumble, bread & butter and cleaning x
Jeremy, without all his help the whole thing would have gone horribly wrong, cheers J
Ali’s Mom and Sally for the mountain of cake
Tommy from Shlterbox for helping out over the weekend
Polly his girlfriend for providing tea and cake on King Harry
Neil for proving that little people really can do great things
Greg for his porridge
The Riders, for getting involved and raising so much cash

Trevor Richards and Daniel Oates completed the full route on Day 2 into the teeth of storm force winds, well done chaps, here is the email from Trevor and some pics.

”Big head wind all the way, completed the full course as per the map 54.2 miles at an average speed of 9 mph and went over the finish line in Hayle at 4p.m. Thanks for all the hard work you and your team have put in over a long period of time and I am pleased to confirm The Handstand appeal and the Coverack Gig Club Junior section will benefit 50/50 from the £750.00 raised.  Daniel raised money for Cancer, so along with what other money that was raised this weekend and the improved fitness levels it has got to be a win win situation. ”

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See comments from 2009 here

Quote of the weekend:
Worst moment:
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