One challenge at a time

A few weeks ago Bikepacker UK kindly wrote a post about me entitled 'A not so Rookie rider'. ( the post can be found at http://bikepackeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/a-not-so-rookie-rider.html?m=1) So firstly a big thank you to them for the shout out and please check out their page if you can and give it a 'like'! But it got me to thinking... a lot and with 2 weeks till the Grand Depart (GD) of the Tour Divide (TD) and 4 weeks till I fly out and chase the other riders down the trail .. I am probably overthinking. A friend (who also happens to be riding the TD .. only on the GD) said that he underestimates the difficulties and overestimates his ability .. which is what got him into this CraZy ride to start with and I wonder if a) Im guilty of that too and b) does it matter (there goes the overestimating again). As Bikepacker UK rightly pointed out... im not a Rookie to this long distance thing. All my rides have been self supported and I have always carried all my kit...

.... is running out .. FAST. Not as fast as for those who are starting on the Grand Depart... but fast enough. So I hit the Ridgeway again. Certainly the best training out there for a tough ride. The Ridgeway at this time of year is mud free which leaves a whole new set of challenges. The hard packed chalk and flint is a bone rattling experience with the ruts and furrows adding a new level of danger. .. But more of that later. The sun was shining brightly as I headed out of the door and drove the familiar route to the start point. It was still slightly chilly and I was wearing the layers that I will be wearing in the race... a baselayer (merino wool so it doesnt walk away by itself after 3 days) cycling shorts with cargo shorts on top... my LHS cycling jersey and my down gillet on top. I got out of the car and preceded to load up my bike with all the bags.... it took 20 minutes to set up. My new bottle holders on the underside of the down tube and on the top tube were firmly fixed i