I came to Sheffield the day before the race so I was lucky enough for an evening beer with few riders, a good comfortable sleep, a nutritious and tasty breakfast, a midday nap, a second breakfast and a short ride before the start. I am almost certain that this move has had a very strong effect on the achieved result.

24.05.2019

The second half of the day was primarily the expectations, because the start was scheduled for 20:00. We were all wasting time as much as we could, because after the registration there was still a good few hours of so-called. free time. I still had to organize a pen (to fill the brevet card), a SIM card for the phone (after landing in UK my phone decided to stop cooperating with the Polish card) and cash, which I always like to have with me when I go on ride.

The start was very simple and fast. After the countdown at 20:00 we left the Heeley Institute and I do not really know when everything went. The first three intersections on the small narrow streets of the city and I was already alone, with anyone around me.

My plan was to take a bit longer route to the first checkpoint to save some hills for later, so there was no time for easy ride. Pasta with pesto which I ate an hour before the start seemed to be the ideal fuel so I rode well and easily kept the pace above 30km/h. So driven by the direction of the M1 motorway, I had a fairly flat road to get to the north from Leeds to Brimham Rocks. Along the way, when I was really turned on, at a large roundabout nowhere near the city, an older man waves to me and I could clearly feel that he needs help. I stopped and, as it turns out, he was traveling on bicycles with his daughter and he got a flat. I helped them deal with the problem, while talking about APN and persuading them to track the dots on the map, and then I moved on, hoping for a quick come back to the lost rhythm. Dozen hours later they found my profile on FB and wished me a good luck in the race. That was nice.

Along with the darkness, flat parts of the route ended, and the direction of travel changed from the north to the north-west. I knew that I am approaching the first goal. Along with uphills, the narrow, thickly packed roads began to appear. Moments after 23:00 I pass the first brown road sign to Brimham Rocks, and the climbs were getting stronger. That’s when my front derailleur decided to strike and did not want to throw on the big chainring. I touched the cable in the dark, and fortunately it was just loose. Comforting, because I would not like to beat the rest of the route on a broken cable, especially since this was just the beginning. I decided to check it out at the first check point, especially since according to my calculations it was only a few kilometers away. It is always the case about that this first checkpoint, which is a very important in the race, both physically and above all mentally. I passed another brown road sigh and I knew that I’m almost there. The road evidently changes from public to what we can meet at many tourist places in the world. In addition, the asphalt changed into a ground road, lightly uphill, and I was passing large blocks of rocks, which I could see only the contours, because the night has already completely covered the surroundings. A few turns and I reached the destination. I based my bike on side of a wooden shop which was obviously closed and I was looking for the answer to the first question. I took a picture of myself, sent it to Angela (the organizer) and took care of my front derailleur. The whole shifter got loose. It was dark and I did not have time to look for a reason. Without thinking, I pulled the insulating tape out of the front pannier and grabbed the shifter firmly with it. Everything worked so it was enough for me. I adjusted the front derailleur and into the road. Time was 23:55, which was five minutes before the planned time. I was very happy with myself.

25.05.2019

The next planned stop was a 24h fuel station 20km ahead of Haworth, the second checkpoint. The plan assumed that I will be there in about 1.5 hours, nevertheless the surrounding hills quickly verified my plans. The entire route was saturated with short (0.5-3km) uphills with high gradient (10-18%) and in fact the first several dozen kilometers from Brimham Rocks did not consist of any other fragments. Up, down, up, down. It was here, where I realized that most probably the whole race will stay that way. I also started meeting other riders. Of course, everyone was going in the opposite direction and either I was passing them, speeding down from some 15%, or in a turtle speed, climbing the next steep hill, while they were shouting „You all right, mate?” and disappearing behind me.

I arrived 5 minutes late to the gas station and I only refilled my water bottle, drank an extra bottle of water, put an ice latte in to my back pocket and went on. I had 20 minutes to be in Haworth according to the planned time and for a moment I thought that I may succeed. It was only few kilometers, but as soon as more hills started, I realized that this is not possible. Eventually, I got to the cobbled uphill in Haworth about 33 minutes later than I thought, at 2:33. At the top only formalities, photo, answer to the next question and on the way as the next point, Slaidburn was quite close and theoretically within easy reach. I arrived there a little over two hours later, enjoying the brightening sky in the northeast. It was 4:55 when I stopped under the obelisk, took a picture and answered the next question. These few minutes have made me realize how cold it has been in the last few hours. I have put on almost everything I had and went further, waiting for the sun to appear in the sky high enough for its rays to work in my favor. Fortunately, it did not have to wait to long for that.

The route behind Slaidburn led through the Forest of Bowland, a fantastic place and one of the most beautiful one that I came across during this race. A long endless road up the Cross of Greet with an amazing views behind my back. This is one of those places that you can not just pass through.

A few more hills, narrow charming lanes and I found myself in Arnside. When I was passing the only open store in the neighborhood, I could see a group of other riders longing for morning coffee. I went straight to the Promenade where another checkpoint was located. Because my route led me back, next to the only store, I thought for a short moment whether I could do it like others and stop for a quick little coffee. Fortunately, I quickly rejected this thought and decided to continue and stick to my primary plan. I scored the fourth checkpoint at 7:34, 1 hour and 34 minutes outside the assumed plan and I quickly calculated that with such a progressing delay I will finish at least 7 hours later than I thought. This pushed me even more and I stood in the pedals and went to my planned breakfast stop in Kendal, where Costa Coffee „was waiting for me”. After a very unpleasant stretch of the A6 road, I entered the city and, according to the plan, I got to the cafe in the very center of the city, the Shopping Road. I got a strong good coffee there, a sandwich, brownie and a huge bowl of milk in which I mixed large portion of porridge and a portion of protein powder that I was carrying with my especially for this moment.

The next point was the Tan Hill Inn, a pub on the top of Yorkshire Dales National Park. I was very curious about this place and of course I underestimated this climb. Twenty-four kilometers gently upwards, after which the next twenty are a mix of short 20% uphill slopes with short gentle descents and long 6-10% climbs between them. It was the first checkpoint on which when sending a photo to Angela, I added a short comment: „it was painful”. Fortunately, there is euphoria and beautiful views next to the pain.

I arrived to Tan Hill Inn at 11:49 and lost a dozen minutes to find the answer to the question As it turned out I totally did not understand what the phrase „flagstone” means. We had to read the names written on the „flagstone” and so I was looking for names on stones arranged under the English flag that was stuck several meters from the entrance to the restaurant. As it turned out, flagstone is just a stone on the pavement, and the names were written right under the front door. I took the opportunity of being here and drank a glass of cola and ate a chocolate cake. I dressed my raincoat and headed towards the Pennines to the Great Dun Fell, the highest English asphalt as I was told,

When I found myself back down the valley, the weather was quite different from the previous one. It started to rain and it got foggy. The road at the foot of the mountain was quite innocen, but with time it was getting worst and worst. I am not sure if it was because of my fatigue, but Great Dun Fell was another climb that I underestimated. A dozen-kilometer straight road up with a constantly changing slope from 7 to 17%, sometimes even 25%.

I entered the radio station at the top at 15:11 and went straight down to the bottom of the hill, because it got cold, wet and very windy there, and the visibility was dropping every minute. Fortunately, I quickly reflected what is going on and before I got cold, I was already under the mountain again. The rain did not stop and accompanied me until the next, northernmost checkpoint, Kielder Castle. On the way I stopped at the service station at A69 (another scheduled stop). It was really tragic stretch of road, just trucks and heavy car traffic. I got off this road into a forest stony path, and going a little on the azimuth, a bit by the map I managed to ride around this dangerous road, using some smaller lanes.

Last kilometers to the Kielder Castle, was the most mysterious place from all checkpoints, and it has about 15km of gravel section on the way, that I did not know before. I met another rider before it, going the opposite direction. Unfortunately, I do not remember who it was or the cap number, but I know that we were both soaked, he was a little cold as he was going downhill recently. He only warned me with the words: „watch out, there is a quite long gravel section along the way.” I looked at my Hultaj bike and replied: „Great, I have a gravel bike!” We left soaked and smiling.

I arrived to the castle at 21:16. Once again I took a quick photo, I found the answer to the question and moved on, glad that I do not have to go back the same way, but a beautifully paved road ahead of me, towards Newcastle. It was the longest distance between checkpoints, 190 km and the second night on the road.

Riding through the night always brings an element of adrenaline, so any possible drowsiness is sent back for later. I assumed that I had to get to the planned stop in Hexham, which I managed to do without major problems. My speed wasn’t the desired one, but I was consoled by the fact that it is only 40 km, and after a short break, the pace will surely increase. A moment before Hexham, however, I stopped at the bus stop for a 12-minute nap on a wide wooden bench. Thanks to that, my visit at the station in Hexham was very short. I filled the water bottles, ate a chicken wrap, drank some protein milk and went on. The next planned stop was already a morning coffee in Stockton on Tees, but on the way I paid with my muscles for the lack of so-called local knowledge, having to climb a few 16% hills. This kind of climbing takes its toll, and once more, just before sunrise I had to repeat my 12-minute nap. This time it was not so convenient, but the emergency blanket on the ground at the bus stop was comfortable enough for me to fall asleep in one second.

26.05.2019

In Stockton on Tees, I drank my morning coffee, ate a quick breakfast, and set off towards the coast. A dozen or so kilometers before the Whitby Abbey, Ashley Sharp joined me and we got to the checkpoint together, passing each other every now and then. It was 7:31 in the morning and I had about 5 hours of delay in accordance with the planned time. I assumed that I stick to the original plan and go to the last checkpoint without any interruption, and only then will I decide what the end will look like. It was a good decision, because the road to Flamborough Lighthouse was not so demanding and after three hours of riding I was there.

I sent a picture from the last checkpoint to Angela at 10:42 and I received an immediate response: „Ian Walker is just 30 minutes behind You …” and this was it. My plan for a delicious cake and coffee in a cafe in front of a lighthouse, overlooking the waves crashing on the rocky shore had to be postponed for another time. I turned on my heel, switched off the phone and hurried toward Sheffield.

150 km to the finish, so in Flamborough I found a tiny cafe on my route. I jumped in there in a hurry, and asked for a pint of Coke and a huge piece of chocolate cake. After two minutes I was back on my bike on the exit road from the east coast. The last 7 hours were great mixture of physical and emotional ups and downs. All the time I was directly under a strong gusty head wind. Some moments, even standing in the cranks, it was difficult to maintain the speed of 17km/h. Passing through Doncaster, where every minute I had to stop at a red light was probably more tiring than all previous climbs. What else? My feet started to bake and poke me at each pedal stroke. I stopped because I thought that I have stones in my shoes (both?), but as it turned out, it was the result of heavily soaked feet after yesterday’s day and night.

In spite of this rather dramatic ending, I repeated to myself that I am already so close to the finish line, and others certainly pass through similar problems, and are equally tired and have the same wind. That’s why the harder it was to maintain reasonably good pace, the more I pressed the pedals harder and stood in the cranks. I decided that I would not give up to the very end.

When I entered Sheffield, I had to hang around the city for a moment to get to the already known Prospect Road, from which only one short climb to the Heeley Institute was left.

As it turned out I came first and it took 45 hours and 28 minutes for me. I did not expect this and it was very nice feeling.

I must admit that northern England was much more demanding than I originally assumed and once again (just like in Ireland in 2018) the Islands have not let me down with their beauty, difficulty and of course great organization. I spent two days on the finish line, with organizers, volunteers and other riders who were arriving every now and than as tired and hungry as I was. We were fed there, we were provided with drinks, beer, coffee, tea, food, sleeping, shower, toilet, massage and great and superb company. These were wonderful moments to which I will come back many times.

I send a big thank you to all the people of The North who created this race and helped with its great organization and hosted me there. It is definitely an event worth coming back to.

ps: my winning cup „Yorkshire Legend ” in some magical way changed its appearance in the plane and when I took it out of the box in Poland, the inscription on it sais „Dancing Queen”.

ps2: Ian Walker told me later on that he did get a text from Angela also, saying: „Pawel is only 30 minutes ahead of You…”. Yes right, this was not a race. 🙂

ps3: my ride on STRAVA: https://www.strava.com/activities/2399482996