Isle of Man CC b Sportive With expansive views over the north of the island, the climb out of Ramsey snakes gently from (Irish) sea level to 420m TimeCyclist heads to to the Isle of Man to dispatch three laps of the famous TT course. Well, that’s the idea anyway… ManWords STEVE WESTLAKE Photography JUAN TRUJILLO AupNDRADES iming is everything. It’s 7.30am on a crisp Saturday morning in September and the sun is rising over Douglas Bay on the east coast of the Isle of Man. The wide beach stretches to a glassy sea and a few dogs and their walkers amble almost imperceptibly on the sands near the distant waterline. If this was TT fortnight (the two-week period where the world-famous motorcycle races take over the island) the entire 3km of Douglas promenade would be crammed with every kind of superbike, Harley-Davidson, trike and offroader, and the emerging day would already be revving with race fever. Now, though, it’s wonderfully tranquil. The peace is broken only by the clack-clack of my cleats as I totter down the eight steps of the Inglewood hotel, Cannondale SuperSix in one P 122 CYCLIST CYCLIST 123 Isle of Man CC b Sportive As it happens they needn’t have worried too 30,000, and a good proportion of them are much because a select bunch of only 13 riders already going about their Saturday morning The details are doing the three-lap option, with the same business. Soon I see Oliver in the distance and Get in training now number opting for two laps and 16 riders plus after a short chase I pull alongside. We fall into and you’ll lap it up a tandem signed up for one lap. easy conversation as I catch my breath; it turns ‘What’s your plan for the ride?’ asks Oliver, out he’s a Cyclist subscriber and is extremely who’s due to set off a few slots ahead of me. ‘I’m happy to be riding these famous roads. Two not really aiming for any heroics today, just to weeks ago he completed the Deloitte Ride get round really,’ I say. He laughs affably. ‘Yeah, Across Britain (Land’s End to John O’Groats). that’s what I’m thinking,’ he says. ‘But you know We roll along the A1, through Crosby and over how it is. Starting like this it’s going to be hard ‘Crosby leap’, so named because at 170mph the not to try to chase down the rider in front, and almost imperceptible crest becomes a nerve- to keep ahead of the guy behind.’ jangling jump. At a tenth of that speed our I’m last of the starters in this wave so my tyres certainly don’t leave the tarmac. back wheel is safe, but the nerves fluttering in The lap then forks right onto the A3 and my stomach confirm that a trace of involuntary climbs north through the gorge of the River Neb. competition is creeping in. My turn comes and I’m struck by the scenery, but more so by the fact Laura waves me off down the pit lane with the that I’ve been completely oblivious to it on my What Isle of Man CC grandstand to my left and famous TT leaderboard previous visits here on motorcycles. Where Douglas, Isle of Man and motorcycle refuelling rigs to the right. As the road climbs significantly for the Next one 26th September 2015 On a superbike and with sufficient skill, first time, Oliver drops back and I’m riding Distance 61km, I’d now be accelerating up to 60kmh in under tank-slappers caught on camera (YouTube: alone once more. The next TT landmark I’m 122km or 182km two seconds, but that’s a speed I’ll have to wait Paul Orritt), but thankfully the SuperSix feels anticipating is one that Cyclist’s Stu Bowers Price £35, £45 or £55 another two hours to reach. The initial plunge pleasantly stable beneath me as I spin my legs. has teed me up for in advance. ‘I hope you’re Sign up isleofmancc.com down Bray Hill gives a welcome velocity boost I’m already catching the rider in front, more going to pop a wheelie over Ballaugh Bridge,’ however, and the imaginary cheers of the crowd down to my willingness to overtake the cars that he joked on hearing that I was doing this There are no speed limits in my ears are soon replaced with wind noise. are slowing for traffic lights than any superiority sportive. So in honour of Stu, at 27.7km I hit once you’re out of town, although the headwinds In 1999 Bray Hill was the scene of one of the in the riding stakes. Douglas is the largest town the rise and hoick the handlebars a couple of on Snaefell impose their most spectacular and alarming motorcycle on the Isle of Man with a population of around inches into the air in a risible wheelie attempt P own restrictions As I plunge down Bray Hill the imaginary cheers of the crowd are soon replaced with wind noise P hand, helmet in the other, and clip in ready to pedal gently to the start of the Isle of Man sportive. I look left and right along the length of the promenade expecting to see other riders on the same mission, but I’m alone in the chilly air. It won’t be my last moment of solitude today. Three quarters of an hour later Laura Mearns, who organises the sportive with husband Joe, is getting the event under way. ‘Five, four, three, two, one, GO!’ she yells, but instead of a mass surge from the start, a single rider pedals briskly away to begin his three 60.73km (37.73-mile) laps of the course. We’re being waved off at 30-second intervals, but this isn’t an attempt to replicate the drama of the TT format (TT actually stands for Tourist Trophy not time-trial). Instead, the sportive is sharing road space with normal traffic today and the island government doesn’t want large packs of riders forming and causing problems. 124 CYCLIST Isle of Man CC b Sportive Left and below: The sole hairpin on the course comes early on the climb out of Ramsey Far right: The Creg Ny Baa corner is one of the most recognisable landmarks on the TT lap Right: Steve Hislop won 11 TT races, including an epic battle with recent ‘King of the Jungle’ Carl Fogarty in 1992 The lore of the TT The roads of the Isle of Man are used to slightly faster two-wheeled machines than bicycles P (search Google Images ‘Ballaugh Bridge’ to see The crazy appeal of motorcycle riders hurtling flat out along open roads through towns, clipping drystone walls, jumping hump-back how it should, and shouldn’t, be done). bridges and sometimes cartwheeling into the scenery with tragic The lap is building to the main event, which results has captivated fans since the first TT took place in 1907. starts just after the town of Ramsey. The Isle Back then, the winning rider completed the race at an average of Man TT route is officially called the Snaefell speed of 38.21mph. Over the years that has crept up steadily and Mountain Course – more often referred to as just the record now stands at an astonishing 128.9mph average for six the Mountain Course – and with 39km complete laps of the 37.7-mile course, set in 2013. The official record for a the first assault on its slopes begins. The climb single flying lap is held by Bruce Anstey, at 132.3mph, set in 2014. Between 1949 and 1976 the race was part of the official Grand kicks up to 10% on its way to the famous Ramsey Prix world championship, meaning the world’s top riders including hairpin, which is the solitary alpine-style legends such as Mike Hailwood and Giacomo Agostini took part, bend on the course. I attack the mountain and, but as the unavoidable dangers and inevitable fatalities became seeing another rider ahead, I take the bait and unacceptable for a global sporting series, the TT was dropped reel him in. I slowly catch him, say hello on the from the calendar. The race has retained its iconic status, however. way past, and make sure I put some distance between us as things very slowly start to level out. My combative riding will be punished later, The incline loosens its grip only very The rider’s ride Cannondale SuperSix Evo however, and this overtake will be exactly and Hi-Mod Dura-Ace 2, £3,499, slightly humiliatingly reversed on lap two. gradually, like a strangler who can’t cyclingsportsgroup.com Top of the island bear to let go of his already limp victim For now though, I’m full of the joys of autumn as Snaefell elevates me by 420m over 9km. As I start lap two I’ve been riding alone since ‘Oh,’ says Kieran, ‘I’m from Ireland.’ And The incline loosens its grip only very gradually, passing the rider on the mountain climb 20km with that he pulls in front and starts pushing so like a strangler who can’t bear to let go of his ago, so I’m pleased to see another rider backed hard I can only assume he’s trying to drop me. already limp victim, but finally the incline up at the Douglas lights.