After Stuart had to very sadly pull out, 3 of us (Mark, Dave Booth and me) made our way to Heathrow at some ungodly hour on Friday morning, in time to have a huge breakfast and then we were off, on our annual trip to the Vatternrundan - a 300km ride around lake Vattern in Sweden. We had had a great year last year, riding through the day - and this year we decided to go for an earlier start time and ride through the night.

We finally got to the campsite, to find Magnus there with out tents already set up so all we needed to do was to build up the bikes, and head down to the town to register and get a big plate of pasta. The plan had been to have a bit of a rest, but there just wasn't time - all we could do was go back to the campsite, get changed and head back to the start.

Last year the weather was stunning - surely there was no way it could be that good again?

Out start time was 2150, and it was still completely light when we set off. We started off as a threesome (Magnus, me and Dave - Mark felt he wasn't fit enough to ride and enjoy it) but soon joined a group of riders who were being led by 4 Norweigans - who had no desire to let anyone else take a turn at the front - so we joined the group and enjoyed a fast, easy first 50km - averaging 20mph to the first feed stop. It was slightly annoying that hydrating just before the ride meant I had to stop...

Swedish bike rides are somewhat different in what they feed you on the way round - blueberry soup, Swedish buns, coffee and pickled cucumber things are the order of the day....at every feed stop! Meatballs supplemented this at one of the stops, and lasagne at another - but being overnight I couldn't quite face that. First stop was quick with a couple of buns and then we were off.

25000 people ride the Vatternrundan each year, being set off every 2 minutes throughout the night and into the next morning. The roads over there are smooth as silk, and all the junctions are marshalled and there is no need to stop. There is also very little traffic, especially through the night. As we set off from the feed stop we started to pick people off and overtake them...slowly but surely....and I was amazed at one point to look back to find I was towing around 50-100 people behind me. A couple of lads tried to take the wind at one stage but they just couldn't hold the pace and fell back - leaving me on the front again. It was such a buzz! I felt amazingly strong this year, and the conditions were perfect. No wind to speak of, until a little headwind for the last 40km. The sun went down around 11pm, but it was only completely dark for about an hour. Then the sun came up again! Amazing to see a sunset over the lake, then a sunrise a short while later. We stopped at most of the feedstops to regroup, as I lost Magnus and Dave a couple of times, but towards the end I made the decision to really open it out for the last 40km - it was the most undulating bit of what is actually a very flat ride, and I picked up a large group of riders who were more than happy to sit in my slipstream (and then overtake me in the last 1/2 mile but there we go!)

I managed the 300km (185miles) in a riding time of 10 hours and 10 minutes so an average speed of 18.1 mph. We did stick around at feed stops quite a lot which made my total time around 13 hours. The boys rolled in about an hour after me. If anyone fancies this it is an amazing ride - going through the night was not a problem, and it gave us lots of time to enjoy the atmosphere on the Saturday after the finish. I would be on for really pushing it next year to see how fast I can go, and try to stop less at feed stations - who's with me???

And as for the weather...it could get better! Of course it was cooler through the night, but with little wind it was a record breaking year...one team did it in 6 hours and 33 minutes - i.e. twice as fast as me.....

It rained on Saturday night!

So out of Andrews 12 hour TT, and Heathers 600km sufferfest through Wales I think I did the right ride...the only one that sounds like it may have been as good was the Velothon that ave Dyer and Rob Ingle did.