Hilly Sunday Ride

[Marek]

Stu, Paul H, Max and I went out for an excellent ride today. Met up in EG and headed out towards Standen where there is a nice little hill to warm up on. We then headed out to the hill that leads up past the Bluebell railway. This is quite a long hill and is used for a time trial in one of the stage races that the Surrey League use. I set the pace going up here but soon Paul came past and took us to the top at a quite quick pace.

We then headed down into Sharpthorne, turned left at the Black Cat and then right just afterwards onto a narrow but fun descent. We then had a really long climb up out of Danehill and Chelwood Gate I think. Stu set the pace at first out of here and I was nearly dropped, Paul indicated he was finding the going tough as well. Thankfully Stu came off the front for a bit and Max eased us up to the top of the really long drag.

We then joined the A22 for a milisecond and then turned right down past the Ashdown Park hotel. A well deserved break on a great descent, but then it was time for the Wall. Stu attacked the bottom of the climb, I did warn him but he then realised it was going to be a slog. This is a really long climb and has a few corners on it so you are not too sure how long it is going to be. Paul got up the hill in a really quick time with Stu not too far behind then Max and then me dragging my fat butt up to the top. After a discussion on weight and giving Stu a chance to eat a packet of smarties we headed towards Edenbridge.

This is a 7 mile road but is pretty relentless, going up and down all the way. The first part is good for the climbers but the next section is good for the flat experts like me. So I went to the front and dished out a bit of punishment which was fun. We approached Edenbridge and umed and arhed about a cafe stop, instead we decided to go to Westerham via Toys Hill.

As we approached the hill I started to slow, just the thought of Toys Hill makes me go weak at the knees. We got onto the meat of the hill and I could see Stuart out of the saddle giving it some. The next look Paul had overtaken him and Stuart had started to go backwards. Max was in front of me but then he suddenly went backwards fast. The game of squash the day before was his excuse, he could not get out of the saddle as his back had seized up. I did not make too much ground on catching Stu and Paul whipped us to the top.

We then descended to the A25 and took this to Westerham for a well deserved cup of coffee and toast. Stu had an egg mayo sandwich, I stayed near the front for the rest of the ride as I was wondering what this was going to be doing to his guts.

On the stretch back to EG I know a few back roads which take you through Dormans which was again flat at first but then rolling. Then it was a blast down the A22 to my place for some more coffee and cake.

Great ride guys, not sure how far we went as no computer today but it felt like it was enough.

Cheers

Marek...

[Stu Merckx Man]

yeh cheers for that marek.
im so glad i bought the bianchi, theres no chance i could have got up some of those hills on the steel one, its got hardly any gears.

[quote] Stu attacked the bottom of the climb, I did warn him but he then realised it was going to be a slog

[Marek]

When you guys all turned up on your race machines this morning I knew for sure that I was going to be huffing and puffing up those hills on my Steel Pinarello with you lot disappearing into the distance.

Glad you enjoyed it, I think you are right about Toys being harder. I was not sure but today certainly made up my mind, I always find that 2/3 up I want to get off and walk as it just gets steeper towards the end, its horrible.

If I can get out next Saturday then I think the plan of taking in the Rusper road race circuit and doing it a few times prior to going to the cafe could be fun. We could treat the first couple of laps as a fastish paced club ride and then once everyone knows where they are gonig we could do a third lap at race pace to see how many of us can keep up with George. If we take it relatively easy to Rusper then we could take a few of the faster 19 guys with us and they could also use it as practice because it is a circuit used later in the season when some of them may be 3rd cats.

Cheers

Marek....

[Andrew G]

17.8 is damn quick going on that terrain, did you notice your max speed going up Toys?

Was out for a steady 40 miles this morning and it was one of my favourite rides for a long time. Crisp, clear winter mornings like today are what makes cycling so enjoyable.

[quote]When you guys all turned up on your race machines this morning I knew for sure that I was going to be huffing and puffing up those hills on my Steel Pinarello with you lot disappearing into the distance.

[Stu Merckx Man]

yeh i love those kind of mornings, in a strange way its enjoyable to dress up against the cold..i love going along the valleys and seeing the mist and frost across the fields

i didnt see the max, but generaly as i glanced down in pain, it was between 7-9 mph, and 5 on the reeeal steep bits. has it ever been on cycling weekly's hill of the week?

[Andrew G]

[quote]has it ever been on cycling weekly's hill of the week?