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At last I got to do the Isle of Mull sportive. 410 rides some did the short course about 45 miles, most did the round island course of 87 miles.
Had a job getting to the island the Clansman ferry is broken so had to wait until 8pm to board a different one. i arrived at Craignure about 9.15pm & put my tent up all the while being attacked by midges. Had to have wine inside my 2 man tent not ideal.
Early start Sunday up at 5.30am for the sportive in Tobermory at 8am. it's was a headwind for the first 35 miles with heavy rain. We rode through Salen where a herd of 4 red deer could be seen. Next village was Craignure the first descent was really scary in the wet & wind. We then hit the mountain road to Pennygeal. Low cloud & mist at the top was the first feed just water, bananas,& chocolate bars, so had a banana & topped up my bottle.
There was a long descent to Pennygeal crossroads before the turn up the mountain road towards Loch Na Keal loads of mountain streams where flooding the roads. Good group of Scottish lads & lasses riding with me, the rain had eased & the wind was behind us as we rode around the outside of Loch Na Keal.
On the other side you start the bottom gear climb of the black shoulder before the drop into Ulva ferry where the second feed was. After one more banana & a top up of water the real climbing started with a bottom gear climb before Calgary was passing tired riders now with 20 miles to go. Passed Calgary which has a golden Sandy beach the killer climb of Delvaig is next it's bottom gear 34/28 in my case and twists up the mountain road when you think your at the top think again I thought I was going to have a heart attack.
I thought that was the last climb wrong one more before the finish back at Tobermory 87 hard miles in 6 hours 30 minutes ave about 13.5 mph. It's got to be one of the UKs hardest sportives, no medals but a chicken wrap & a warm coffee at the finish & a smart bandana so I can now do a good Marco Pantani impression.
Happy Cycling!
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