Early season riding is a bit of a paradox. You spend more time on the bike through the winter months so you can enjoy the summer even more. But the winter is cold, grey and dreary. It is quite nice to have something to break the monotony, and that is where the Wiggle No Excuses sportive steps in. Providing a nice winter test of form, this sportive gives you something to aim for before the fun and (hopefully) sunshine of spring.
Starting from Huntingdon racecourse in Cambridgeshire, the 'epic' distance, 80-mile route takes riders west to Kimbolton and then north to the picturesque village of Thurning before heading back south to the banks of the Grafham Water reservoir.
As it is mid-February one should not expect the weather to be fantastic, but thankfully the rain held out until the final 10 kilometres. The wind, on the other hand, was not to be abated. The rolling agricultural countryside funnels the wind to you like the tributaries of a river joining up with a central powerful torrent. In many spots, particularly in the middle of the course, gusts thrashed at us unrelentingly. This provides a good test of early season grit as well as a good assessment of one's ability to duck down into the aerodynamic position for long periods of time.
The bullying wind's redemption came in the last 25 kilometres, where it pushed homebound cyclists along and made legs feel like they could go a little longer. A 42 mile 'standard' route was also offered with much of the same rolling farmland on offer, so do not feel that in going on the shorter route you are going to miss out on some kind of topographical gem.
Winter wind and rain brings the added treachery of debris-covered roads. Some parts were particularly bad, with the roads descending into a Strade Bianche level of gravelly goodness. Just make sure your tyres are in good condition before the ride and bring two or three inner tubes.
If you are looking for spectacular vistas that would make Wordsworth blush then this ride will sadly disappoint, but the quiet farms and villages have a hibernating quality to them in the brisk winter wind, that makes the ride all the more rewarding. You feel like you are getting the jump on the rest of the world in your quest to be fighting fit for summer.
As per usual with the UK Cycling Events, this sportive was smoothly and superbly run with great signposting and marshaling around the whole route and a couple of well stocked feed stops too.
Overall, the No Excuses sportive is a thoroughly pleasant and rewarding way to spend a chilly February morning on a bike. It is a good test of form or a nice way to blow off the cobwebs if you have been neglecting your pedalling over Christmas and the colder months.
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