For the third year in a row UOBCC took part in Ignit10n, a University wide charity event raising money for above and beyond, Bristol's NHS foundation charity. The donation pages are still live, so if you're feeling generous head over to https://ignit10n-2016.everydayhero.com/uk/uobcc_tour_de_burrito to help a very worthy cause.
Sixteen UOBCC riders lined up for the third annual Tour de Burrito. With 2500m of climbing spread out over the 200km route it was never going to be easy. The day started early, 7 am outside Park street mission burrito for photos and group sorting. Then we were off for the 80km leg to Cardiff. Despite a Watt-sapping headwind the first leg was covered quickly, allowing an appetite to be built up for the first burrito of the day. Every bit of fuel possible would be needed for the next leg, 105km to Bath taking in some serious 'lumps' on the elevation profile. At least the headwind was now a tailwind.
Progress out of Cardiff was slow for the second group, however, they were soon out into the countryside and well on the way to their second burrito. More by luck than by judgement the steepest gradients of the day were downhill, making for some nerve-racking and brake-pad destroying descents. As the day progressed the kilometers ticked by, with some snow on the higher hills on the way back to the old Severn bridge.
Once back in England the end was in sight, with only the imposing Lansdown hill standing in the way of the warmth and food of Mission Burrito Bath. At the top of this it seemed that nothing could stop us. Then, as if from nowhere, a giant fissure in the Earth opened up, causing a quadruple puncture incident in the leading group (The large crack in the road may or may not have been there before our arrival). In the fading light cold hands scrambled to fix punctures, with just enough inner tubes to go round. Then the chilly descent to Bath for a Burrito.
Finally, it was out into the cold one last time for the victory parade along the Bristol-Bath cycle path. To celebrate, it started raining. After eight hours in the saddle the whole squad rolled into Mission Burrito Bristol for a well deserved beer and final Burrito. A massive congratulations to everyone who took part, and a huge thank you to Mission Burrito for supporting us along the way.