Things I learnt at the Southern Sportive

1. Not sleeping (again) before a long ride is not good preparation

2. Driving through London and out into Surrey at 5.45 in the morning is the best time to commute (and to see the mist hanging a few feet above the fields)

3. It is now autumn (as the shivering masses will confirm)

4. Hampshire / West Sussex, although quite pretty, is the road kill capital of England (I have never dodged so many flat pheasants in my life - it's a pikey's feast)

5. Do not panic when your old chap resembles a compressed air capsule - it's in their somewhere but VERY traumatised

6. Headwinds for 5+ hours do not make an enjoyable days riding

7. Sachets of High 5 powder are difficult to get into a bidon when you are in a hurry. I looked more like a Colombian drugs mule than a cyclist by the time I had finished

8. Don't be so cautious!

9. Running a red light isn't always a bad thing. What got me DQ'd from the Dragon Ride gained me the time to get the Gold standard (just)

10. Never, NEVER, save a Zipvit orange(?) flavoured energy+ gel as your final booster. After 5 High 5 gels I thought the change would be a little 'final push' treat. WRONG! Truly the most disgusting tasting thing that I have ever tasted. They must have decided to call it orange by picking flavours out of a hat

11. I need to get my bike fitted properly - sore back and an arse that is still on fire 36 hours later

12. Active recovery sucks. Today's commute literally brought tears to my eyes (though this may have had more to do with the fact that I am breaking in a new Prologo saddle on the Moulton. Intended for the Colnago but I'm secretly loving it where it is)

13. Riding a bike should be a pleasure and only a pain if you are paid to do it

Here endeth the lesson(s)