I took the 16s and rode down with a small but perfectly formed really great bunch of people - Alan, Stephanie, Brian, Lindsay and Sam. I'd been coughing all week and had a sore throat (BTW I'm told it made me sound very sexy
) and I wasn't going to ride at all but I knew I'd feel worse if I didn't ride (you know what I mean... mentally: it really would seriously do my brain in to sit at home on a lovely sunny day when I could be heading Agreeably to the coast on the Bianchi).
I punctured (complete blow out front wheel) on a pot-hole on a fast downhill section before Haywards Heath - as I slowed I could hear Stephanie shouting in total panic "don't stop!!! don't stop!!!" as she nearly ploughed into the back of me at 40 mphs!! I kept going and she just manged to slide past me. Phew!!!
A slick, quick change of inner tube and we were on our way. We got 10 yds and I flatted again - this time problem with the valve - another slick, quick change and finally we got going but now well behind schedule. A slick, quick nature break at Ditchling (nice loos BTW) split the group as Steph, Alan and Lindsay decided to go on ahead so we didn't do the climb together.
Sam flew up Ditchling Beacon as usual - I took it easy and tapped out a comfortable, if somewhat slow, rythmn. Getting up there is relatively easy - doing it at pace is another thing altogether.
We didn't stop at the top but kept going as soon as I got there. Lindsay, worried that there would be no food left, set the tempo at the front and drove on to Brighton. Lots of cars getting in the way rather spoiled that fast descent off the downs - pity as getting to 50 mph definitely is one of the highlights of the ride!!!
We were one of the last groups to arrive at the restaurant - Sam had finished his plate of pasta and then finished off Steph's (salt free) pasta before I'd been served!!!! My sardines looked good but tasted naff - I sound like Gordon Ramsey I know - but they weren't fresh and tasted like burnt socks!! No more bourgeois pretentions pour moi - next time it's working-class cod and chips.