Summary: An excellent day, excellent weather, excellent ride.
Or in long:
Eventually caught the train down from Three Bridges, as my mate The
Cheating Czech had misssed the original one further up the line. Off
at Wivelsfield and shot over to the start at Chailey. Quick coffee and
biccies were interupted by a smart looking bloke saying hallo. It was
MartinM of this very news group, organiser of the event and not
immediately recognised as he wasn't in lycra.
Eight thirty arrived and we departed. The bunch was soon spread out by
the first hill as The Cheating Czech and I got stuck into our own pace
passing the obligatory dead badger, quite smelly, near Buxted. We
arrived at the first check point, which was strangely deserted. A
couple of other riders were jotting down details of the post box as a
DIY info control, but we didn't bother and set off down the hill. An
approaching car flashed its lights at us. Not a road rage incident in
the making, but MartinM, running late, with control stickers. Next
came our only navigational cockup,. My fault entirely, caused by not
reading the whole of the instruction, so we missed the turn into
Perrymans lane. This became apparent when we went past a lane we'd
already gone down. A U turn and 1.5km got us back on track, with a
largish bunch. The next 10km or so were "interesting", as the
majority of them didn't seem to be follwing their route cards but
waited for others to point them in the right direction. Presumably
this is how Lewes Wanderers got their name.
The Wanderers wandered off at Weir Wood where we stopped for a bit of
malt loaf, and we were on our own. Soon we were at Cob Lane, nasty,
brutish and short. And steep. Two arrows on the map. Bang down into
the granny ring and the big sprocket and grid away, trying to keep the
front wheel on the ground and the rear wheel providing some traction.
The Cheating Czech got off and walked, while MartinM took our photos.
At the top a secret stash of water, squash, biccies and banananananas
in the boot of MartinM's car was most welcome.
More hills as we crossed Ardingly Reservoir then a nice drop down to
Staplefield and El Supremo catering. The Cheating Czech was suitably
impressed by the tardis like qualities of Dave's trailer, the contents
of which could have fed (and seated) a complete TdF. Suitably rested
we set off, with the hills behind us.
Lots of downhill, it seemed, as we headed south. We bumped into a
rider from Horsham (didn't get his name, sorry) and maintained loosish
contact for the rest of the ride. Past Hurstpierpoint College where a
young hockey player decided to cross the road without looking. However
being prepared for such eventualties averted disaster. Scoot along
the foot of the downs and across Beacon Road, thankfully not up it,
and then before we knew it we were at the finish. Coffee and rolls
and chat with MartinM about next years plans.
A quick interview outside by the survey man, who was studying riding
position and back pain. He has a Mercian too, and we agreed they're
the _only_ bike to have. We then sped (FSVO sped) back to Wivelsfield
where BEER was consumed, sitting in the pub garden, whilst we waited
for the train.
And so to bed.
Those stats in full:
Me: Pink (Flamboyant Magenta) Mercian, Tandem Club top
Cheating Czech: Trek 1000, rucsac, Discovery top.
111km plus the bit to and from Wivelsfield.
2 pints British Bulldog, Westerham Brewery Company.
Tim