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GUEST BLOG: Ride With Brad

by Emma Osenton of Kinesis-Morvelo

www.bradleywigginsfoundation.org

Essentials:
Date: 19th August
Distances: 160km and 100km
Start: Barnoldswick
Catering: Event Village
Participants 1360
Timing: Chip Timing
Roads: Quiet
Support: Full mechanical support and a broom wagon

The Ride:
Cast your mind back a few months, back before the Olympics and Le Tour. A tweet pops up announcing the Wiggo Foundation, its aim is to encourage the nation to get fitter. To raise money to help kids get up off the sofa and do sport, not just cycling but anything active. Brilliant I thought.

One of the events they had planned was a Ride with Brad Sportive. Ali and I entered when it opened. It's only over the hill from us and for charity. I don't mind a big event when the proceeds are being put to good use. Then along comes le Tour. Ali did still not quite understand my excitement, then as the three weeks passed Ali's excitement grew too. We pedalled along outside, we pedalled along inside on the sofa watching, we cried and we cheered. Even the cats joined in. Ok so I put that on Joss!

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Feline Tour Fever

Then a Twitter competition pops up to win a place on the sportive. It wasn't that I needed to win a place; I just thought my answer was funny. The question was: "Tell us where your water bottle was today?" I'd done the Bowland Badass the day before so replied with "It's in the sink, it's tired, and it did 170 miles yesterday" however I'd won a place. Hmmm, I asked if I was allowed to transfer it, they said yes.

Which got me thinking, who to? It had to be someone who'd been as excited by the tour as me. It's quite a special time for British Cycling. At the time Brad hadn't won yet and there were still a few voices of doubt so it couldn't be one of them. I'd noticed that our friend Brant had been getting rather animated about the tour. I know he comes from a long history of riding with his Dad as a kid. It was also close to his birthday. Perfect, apart from the fact that he's a mountain biker who doesn't ‘do’ events! You can't refuse a present though, right?

Slightly scared and slightly excited, Brant has appeared on our doorstep with a selection of prototype bikes from where he works at Planet X, each one we were assured would be fasted then the last one. He's been Retul fitted, got a new outfit, Tigger shoes and matching socks; we've even been over and done a TT. I'll save you from a picture of the vintage purple skinsuit.

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We Registered The Day Before

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Start Line Smiles

Wiggins is on the microphone, not reading the raffle this time but telling us a little of the work the foundation will do, Ali is transfixed. Quite a turn round and wonderful to see. This year has changed cycling for the better. There's a great enthusiasm. In the park behind us all manner of events are happening for kids and families. A real day out for everyone. Wiggins rings the bell and we're off!

Up and down and round we go, it's quite hilly round the Lancashire lanes, we'd all agreed to go Ali's pace round. She fell out with her bike a bit after all the training and doing the Fred Whitton. Whilst she has done rides they've all been a bit shorter so she wanted to be conservative and know she had the legs for the whole distance. We met up with some friends from the Lakes, Steph and Shelagh, they've recently done LEJOG for Alice Escapes and this was their first sportive.

So the Ride With Brad turned into the ride with Brant with his peloton of ladies! Steph and I chatted a little about how we were out numbered by men. Ali and I have spent ages pondering the same. We wrongly assumed that it was due to family commitments, but no, Steph rides loads and has two children who also have loads of hobbies. I wish I could think of a way to encourage more women.

Into the first feed we go. Bottles filled, snacks eaten. Just as we're about to leave and there's whoops of excitement behind us. The man himself is here! He rolls in inches in front of me, Ali is grinning with glee. She high fives him, grinning from ear to ear! "I'm never washing this glove" she exclaims.

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'Never To Be Washed'

On we pedal; a slight muddle of Garmins and signs causes us to stop for a moment. Along comes the Brad train, Brant realising it's his one chance to actually ride with him pedals forward. After he excitedly tells us that he rode on the mudguarded wheel of the guy on Brad's wheel. The hills were not taking their toll. We’d now covered more distance in one go than the whole of Brant's training! Still it hadn't fazed him (he has been super fit in the past with MTB races). All still smiling we pedalled on.

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Brant

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Genuine Excitement

It was so nice to see folk out cheering on the roads, to see farmers decorating the fields with banners and bikes all with genuine excitement.

We came into the last feed stop to find the route had merged with the 100km. Gleefully bounding up to us was a friend from our running club, Todmorden Harriers. This was Mel's furthest distance on a bike so far. She'd come along on her own, managed to get a photo with Brad and was delighted with herself. It's moments like this that make me happy.

The Huge Pendle Hill Artwork

We passed Pendle Hill with its commemorative artwork marking 400 years since the Witch Trials. A few snappy climbs and we sailed through the finishline.
What a fabulous day out. Well organised and a great route. What marks it out though is Brad Wiggins being a top bloke. So nice to see so many people inspired by his achievements and long may it continue.

A special mention must go to Bradley’s good lady wife Cath who also rode the whole thing. Alas Ali didn't get to high five her too. She's as much of an inspiration as her man, managing to race herself, balance a family and organise the women's races at the Saltaire circuit.