Project Ripped

Today brings me to the end of my Phase 1 – my first 12 weeks of body and health transformation. What better way to round it up with a challenging mountain bike ride.

Here is the challenge:

• Ride from the northern most tip so the southern most tip of the Isle of Man
• Where possible take an off-road route
• Try to follow as close as possible the competition route (that is happening tomorrow)
• The course has no fewer than 8 significant climbs
• The weather has been bad and there is a lot of thick mud, deep puddles and waterlogged ground

I tried this last year and got 1/2 way in 4 hours. I was exhausted and it took me days to recover. The only difference this year is that I have done some cycling during the past 12 weeks and am probably about 2 stone lighter than I was last year.

I have included a video to show the route I followed. The video makes it look a lot easier than it actually felt. Some of those climbs are long and steep (and stoney!).

A higher quality video is available on youtube.

The first 10 or so miles are relatively flat until you hit Ballaugh. It is at that point any sense of flat stops and it is a roller coaster of climbs and descents for the remainder of the trip. The weather was a bit overcast and cold at the start. I arrived at the Point of Ayre just after 9:00 am ready for the off.

 (you can click on the pictures to see full size ones)

It took me about an hour to get to Ballaugh and then another two hours to cover the hills to get to St. John’s. It took me 4 hours to get there last year and it took me 3 hours and 8 minutes to get there today. Nicola and the kids met me there and I stopped off for 10 minutes to have some lunch and refill my water bottles. As I descended down towards St. John’s the sun came out and it stayed out for the rest of the day.

After St. John’s was new territory to me. I don’t think I have ever cycled past 3 hours, especially on a course as gruelling as this. The first obstacle was Slieu Whallian, a steep climb up the side of a tall hill. This climb felt like it was going on and on for ever. After that was a descent down through a plantation which was enjoyable to ride.

There were many climbs and descents to take me to the bottom of the island but the best was saved for last with a road section to take you to the very southern most point. This road is extremely steep and long and for the first time in a long time my thighs started to cramp as I tried to get to the top. I did get to the top and enjoyed the final descent down to The Sound. I arrived in 5 hours and 48 minutes and was delighted. I had done it. I had doubts in my mind as I hit each new climb but I persevered and made it to the end.

Nicola collected me in the car and we drove home for a shower, I was very muddy, and then a long soak in the bath. I think that I must have caught the sun as I was scrubbing my legs trying to get the mud off what looked like a tide line where my shorts had been. It wouldn’t come off and it turned out to be sun burn. I was tired but I still managed my final daily picture of Phase 1.

Finally, thank  you to all of those people that have sent me messages to with me good luck with the challenge. I wonder how I will do next year.

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