Originally Posted by
Mark Smith
IDP, your article may have saved my bacon today, thank you.
I attempted the Fred Whitton ad set off from Coniston at 5:45. At 6 the rain started but it was light and so I thought the wind/shower proof jersey would've sufficient. By the time i got to troutbeck it poured then briefly stopped so I left off the rain coat as I felt good. As I climbed it rained and blew very hard and I descended right into the teeth of it into pattedale. I didn't want to stop on that descent and didn't feel cold. The wind and rain scared me to death on that decent so I stopped and put the coat on and pushed on the Keswick. I stuffed some jelly babies down and a gel and climbed matterdale end feeling ok and pushed on to Keswick where i pulled into a cafe and got a coffee and bacon sarnie. I couldn't face the food so downed the coffee and sat by the heater.
Suddenly I started shivering like mad. I felt pissed off and decided to bin the ride. I had no dry clothes so bought a cheap fleece in the shop next door and put it on and replaced the wet top stuff. The shop assistant asked if I was ok and then it hit me. Wet, cold, coffee, heater, denial and anger. I looked in the mirror and almost passed out. I ate four gels and half a pack of JBs and thought id sorted it.
bike and I got the bus to Ambleside and I started nodding off on the bus. The old dear opposite asked if I was ok and commented that my legs were soaked. I hadn't bought cheap trousers or a towel. I fought to stay awake and sneakily put my feet on the seat and could not stop shivering but I knew i was in trouble.
I had to get another bus to Coniston, a smaller one upon which they won't allow a bike. I went into a solicitors office by the bus station and asked if they could stash my bike until I drove back from Coniston in my waiting car. They asked if I was ok! I ignored them and got the bus and almost passed out. I hung on to Coniston and got into the car. Stripped off, towelled down, heater on but not too hot, more gels and the headache started and the sickness. I was almost sick but fought it off.
I drove to Ambleside, got the bike and drove home tomwrexham with a splitting headache and tiredness. I sipped energy drink all the way and got REALLY angry whenever there was a queue.
Home now and had a doze on the sofa. Drank some diarolyte and ate some chocolate.
In Keswick, in that shop, I remembered the article. Not all of it, but enough. The word I remembered was INSIDIOUS and it was. I thank goodness that I'm fit and able to fight off dozing on that bus...
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