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Aberystwyth to Carmarthen. Day Two

By Black Sheep Cycling

September 29^th, 2017

MAN RIDE 2017.

Everybody hurts is apparently not just a song made popular by REM in the early Nineties. This morning, it's a fact. Or perhaps it's just in your head. Your brain conjures the worst scenario imaginable to make Day Two seem as difficult as possible, but the reality is much different. Today is no better or worse than every day will be this week. We're all fine and will go on to be rewarded for our heroic efforts the previous day – if 200k is ever a gift.

Beautiful rollers (that felt like climbs). Sea views. Country lanes. Near perfect weather. Breathtaking hilltop passes. Great camaraderie brought medicinal bouts of laughter and some incredible teamwork and patience ensured everyone made it home just as the day's light was disappearing.

Large parts of today were spent is a single file for safety. It allows for a significant amount of self-reflection. The pendulum swings from good to bad; bad to good. It's an entirely mental game. Sometimes you're winning. Sometimes you're not. But today was Ian's day.

Ian Whittingham is a director of Sigma Sport – one of Britain's largest online and offline bike retailers. He's neither the youngest nor leanest rider within our now tight-knit group of eight. But already he's showing his mettle. Having swung off the back for most of Day One, today he has one agenda. Be present. Be in the bunch. Do what it takes to stay put. All 200k

"It's a hard slog. Fucking hard. But it's such a blast. Made so by the people. Not just the 8 riders. But everyone. The support. The media crew. The people you meet along the way. Day One still resonates and will continue to define this trip until we reach London. And beyond." – Ian Whittingham

You could almost hear him thinking. 'Stay on that wheel. 140km to go. 120. 100. 80. Stay on that wheel'. It's these acts of human defiance, which inspire us all beyond our obvious fatigue. No cadence is comfortable. Things you wouldn't normally notice hurt. Things that wouldn't normally be cause for annoyance are massive frustrations. 'Why is the bottle cage of the person next to me rattling so loud?' 'Why are these country lanes so full of holes?' 'And how could it possibly take that long for lunch to come?' In all honesty, it was a fair wait.

But maybe the BBQ Beef Brisket that Ian made a last-minute split decision on was the right one. Because in that recurring horrible last 60k when it feels like your body's about to give up and you'll scream if you see another hill, he was still there. Making the most of the descents. Battling the short, sharp, kick you in the nuts, rises. Thankful he didn't have the fishcakes.

The light was fading. Our final visual treat for the day. Lucy, a staff member of Ian's at Sigma Sport, was in a battle of her own. Teamwork got her home. But everybody hurts.