Every now and then I get an idea in my head that sticks. It can be to make something, buy something, or 'do' something... It nags and keeps me up at night...it can frustrate Becky... It's wholly distracting...
There is a cure though. Unfortunately (for some) that cure is to just get on and do it!
This 'idea' was a bike ride (no surprises) - or to put it more specifically; two bike rides joined back to back.
People often commit themselves to the famous British Heart Foundation "London to Brighton" route, or to the lesser known BHF "London to Brighton OFF ROAD" route.
I had it in my head to do BOTH, in one go! About 135 miles. Hmm....
There is a cure though. Unfortunately (for some) that cure is to just get on and do it!
This 'idea' was a bike ride (no surprises) - or to put it more specifically; two bike rides joined back to back.
People often commit themselves to the famous British Heart Foundation "London to Brighton" route, or to the lesser known BHF "London to Brighton OFF ROAD" route.
I had it in my head to do BOTH, in one go! About 135 miles. Hmm....
Having played about with Memory Map over the preceding few weeks, I'd downloaded both routes from various places on the web, 'reversed' the traditional L2B route so that it ran North, and the joined the two routes (linking Clapham Common to Roehampton Uni). All in all it came out at just over 135 miles - doable me thinks...
The furthest I'd previously ridden was 100 miles for the South Downs Way, which was all off road. I'm currently feeling the fittest I've been in a long while, and with about 50% of this route being on road/flat gravel paths, I thought it's be a laugh to do it all in one go!
The furthest I'd previously ridden was 100 miles for the South Downs Way, which was all off road. I'm currently feeling the fittest I've been in a long while, and with about 50% of this route being on road/flat gravel paths, I thought it's be a laugh to do it all in one go!
With the GPS (Garmin 605) on the bars, I knew I needn't really bring maps etc, but I had printed out the BHF Off-road route handout, just as a backup - it contains a nice little map overlay so you can actually see how far into the return leg you've gone.
The plan was to give this ride a go during my week off (which was last week, though it did involve working on Wednesday...oh wells...), so I packed Bex and Miles off to the in-laws on Wed eve, so that I could mentally and physically prep for the ride (I'm not really sure what that would entail - a glass of wine and some naff TV is preparation I suppose?!). Pretty much as I'd expected, I was a bag of nervous energy all night, had naff all sleep (just like the SDW) and had random dreams that included turning up at the start point in Brighton sans bike... Odd.
I'd set the alarm nice and early, and was aiming for the 0630 train from Goring to Brighton - of course I was awake from about 5ish, so just faffed about the house, showered, then headed off - I scoffed my PB and nutella wraps on the train..
I set off from Madeira Drive at about 0720 - It was freezing heading from the station and along Brighton seafront, but as soon as I started climbing out of Moulscombe towards the M27 I hit my typical "freezing -> overheat" phase so stripped off the soft-shell and strapped it to the top of the rack bag (where it stayed for the rest of the day!). Annoyingly I also must have knocked the GPS and stopped the timer- only realising this just before Ditchling Beacon - not a big deal, but it missed a few km.
The views from the top, just before the descent, were ore-sum..
The plan was to give this ride a go during my week off (which was last week, though it did involve working on Wednesday...oh wells...), so I packed Bex and Miles off to the in-laws on Wed eve, so that I could mentally and physically prep for the ride (I'm not really sure what that would entail - a glass of wine and some naff TV is preparation I suppose?!). Pretty much as I'd expected, I was a bag of nervous energy all night, had naff all sleep (just like the SDW) and had random dreams that included turning up at the start point in Brighton sans bike... Odd.
I'd set the alarm nice and early, and was aiming for the 0630 train from Goring to Brighton - of course I was awake from about 5ish, so just faffed about the house, showered, then headed off - I scoffed my PB and nutella wraps on the train..
I set off from Madeira Drive at about 0720 - It was freezing heading from the station and along Brighton seafront, but as soon as I started climbing out of Moulscombe towards the M27 I hit my typical "freezing -> overheat" phase so stripped off the soft-shell and strapped it to the top of the rack bag (where it stayed for the rest of the day!). Annoyingly I also must have knocked the GPS and stopped the timer- only realising this just before Ditchling Beacon - not a big deal, but it missed a few km.
The views from the top, just before the descent, were ore-sum..
Pretty quickly I'd dropped down through Ditchling, past Burgess Hill, and through Haywards Heath. After these villages/towns, the route was pretty much through the countryside until passing through Crawley Down. I'd drank most of my first bottle by now, and been snacking on the way, so stopped at a little store to get more water - topped up the bottle, and carried a spare (third) bottle in the back of the jersey.
For the next few miles the route travels 'alongside' the M23, and once you cross under it, there's the mental 'boost' knowing the M25 isn't too far away!
The rape fields near the M23 were beautiful.
For the next few miles the route travels 'alongside' the M23, and once you cross under it, there's the mental 'boost' knowing the M25 isn't too far away!
The rape fields near the M23 were beautiful.
After crossing under the motorway, there's a bit of a climb towards Nutfield Marsh., then you drop down under the M25... Knowing it's only about 16 miles to Clapham from here is a good feeling!
It's surprising the differing 'vistas' this route offers, as cycling inwards from the M25 really shows the 'spread of wealth' this country has - you ride past trillion pound houses with iron gates, and then you're 'locking your rack bag' and avoiding eye contact as you pass through more 'densely populated' high streets (you know I'm only making a comment regarding the 'spread of wealth' here, rather than a "classist slur"..!!)
After not a great deal of time I'd made it to Clapham Common, and popped into the cafe on the green, and had a crap cup of coffee, a greasy breakfast roll, and an OK shortbread...
The fair wasn't yet set up..which was sad..
It's surprising the differing 'vistas' this route offers, as cycling inwards from the M25 really shows the 'spread of wealth' this country has - you ride past trillion pound houses with iron gates, and then you're 'locking your rack bag' and avoiding eye contact as you pass through more 'densely populated' high streets (you know I'm only making a comment regarding the 'spread of wealth' here, rather than a "classist slur"..!!)
After not a great deal of time I'd made it to Clapham Common, and popped into the cafe on the green, and had a crap cup of coffee, a greasy breakfast roll, and an OK shortbread...
The fair wasn't yet set up..which was sad..
The 'middle' leg of the route was about 5 miles between Clapham and Roehampton uni. Not much to say about this bit of the ride. Erm, I didn't get knocked off by a lorry or bendy bus perhaps?
Anyway..once I'd passed through the Uni, you get to the beautiful Richmond park, packed with walkers, deer, and uber keen MAMILS on time trial bikes... And me, on my heavy old DrFine!
Anyway..once I'd passed through the Uni, you get to the beautiful Richmond park, packed with walkers, deer, and uber keen MAMILS on time trial bikes... And me, on my heavy old DrFine!
Having ridden the L2B off-road route in (maybe) 2009 I could remember most of it being pretty easy in terms of flat/gravel roads.
The Thames Path things was lovely to ride along, and was a very pleasant way of getting the miles in without too much trouble.
The Thames Path things was lovely to ride along, and was a very pleasant way of getting the miles in without too much trouble.
You follow this sort of terrain for just shy of 10 miles, before coming 'off' at Weybridge and heading on road towards Byfleet, then you cross the M25. I got a little lost traversing through Ockham Common, but made it through and plodded towards East Clandon. There were some 'easy' gravel paths, and some harder, loomy boggy routes through the woods. Although the weather was great, as these were mostly shaded, they were still pretty damp and sticky - fine on a light 29er, but a chore on a heavy 'Alfined' bald tyres commuter type bike!
There's only really 2 climbs on this route - the one just before Shere, and the one at Beeding at the end.
I'd just climbed up and over into Shere, so stopped for an espresso and some more water (I'd also had a coffee and filled up water just past Weybridge too..)
After Shere there's a fair sized wooded area, which again was a bit of a chore, but I knew Cranleigh wasn't too far away. Not that I like/dislike anything about Cranleigh, but I knew the Downs Link kicked off from there..
On most days the Downs link would win the award for 'most boring trail ever', but it's pancake nature was seeming very appealing at this point today!
Turning off the road and onto the old railway line was a 'big point' in the day. Yes, there was still about 33 miles to go from here, but it's as close as being 'on road, but off road' as you can get!
It was just a case of mashing out the miles from now, and although at no point was I threatening my Downs link KOM, I was enjoying the ability to simply sit and pedal!
Although my legs weren't 'tired' per se, my knees were killing my, but brufen and co-codamol got me through this final leg!
I'd just climbed up and over into Shere, so stopped for an espresso and some more water (I'd also had a coffee and filled up water just past Weybridge too..)
After Shere there's a fair sized wooded area, which again was a bit of a chore, but I knew Cranleigh wasn't too far away. Not that I like/dislike anything about Cranleigh, but I knew the Downs Link kicked off from there..
On most days the Downs link would win the award for 'most boring trail ever', but it's pancake nature was seeming very appealing at this point today!
Turning off the road and onto the old railway line was a 'big point' in the day. Yes, there was still about 33 miles to go from here, but it's as close as being 'on road, but off road' as you can get!
It was just a case of mashing out the miles from now, and although at no point was I threatening my Downs link KOM, I was enjoying the ability to simply sit and pedal!
Although my legs weren't 'tired' per se, my knees were killing my, but brufen and co-codamol got me through this final leg!
Here's the first glimpse of the South Downs by Brighton again.
Those who know the route, know that after leaving the Downs Link, there's a fairly hefty climb up Beeding Hill - it was fine today, but it would have been 'more fine' if I had a slightly lower gearing on the Alfine!).
At the top were a few riders (I think one of the Pivot Boompod chaps was there too?), and we all headed up towards Truleigh Hostel (not like that..)
At the top were a few riders (I think one of the Pivot Boompod chaps was there too?), and we all headed up towards Truleigh Hostel (not like that..)
Once at the top you 'turn right', traverse along a bit, then drop down over Southwick Tunnel, and to the harbour.
Then it's just a case of pootling along past Hove, and back up to the station for the 2003 train back home.. (your journey may vary..).
The whole Strava ride is here, and according to that it was 212km in just over 10 hours moving time. According to my watch it was about 11 1/2 hours from start to finish, with numerous lunch/photo/coffee/pee stops. If one wanted to, this could be a real 'smash it out' challenge, but you'd be better off on a specific CX bike, and having that sort of attitude - I just wanted to enjoy my day off on my bike!
It's great having the fitness to manage this sort of thing - I felt much 'better' after this than the SDW, and although it was 'pain' rather than fatigue in my knees, I still felt good the following day.
Plus - the great advantage of knocking out 130+ miles is that you can eat like an absolute pig for the following day...and still be hungry!! Awesome!
For those interested, the .gpx links are here (right click and save as, or else you'll just get a page of text that unless you're Neo, will be useless..):
Use something like biketoaster, or spend some money and get the very good Memory Map to make them work/play about with, and generally give this a go!
The whole Strava ride is here, and according to that it was 212km in just over 10 hours moving time. According to my watch it was about 11 1/2 hours from start to finish, with numerous lunch/photo/coffee/pee stops. If one wanted to, this could be a real 'smash it out' challenge, but you'd be better off on a specific CX bike, and having that sort of attitude - I just wanted to enjoy my day off on my bike!
It's great having the fitness to manage this sort of thing - I felt much 'better' after this than the SDW, and although it was 'pain' rather than fatigue in my knees, I still felt good the following day.
Plus - the great advantage of knocking out 130+ miles is that you can eat like an absolute pig for the following day...and still be hungry!! Awesome!
For those interested, the .gpx links are here (right click and save as, or else you'll just get a page of text that unless you're Neo, will be useless..):
Use something like biketoaster, or spend some money and get the very good Memory Map to make them work/play about with, and generally give this a go!