Hastings and Back- Sunday 13th July

[George]

Andrew I'm dying to read all about this epic club run

I bet your probably fast asleep now, so I'll have to wait till the morning to read all about your exploits

[Roy Green]

You've probably been bored enough by some of my tales of 'epics' in the past. But this one puts 'em all in the shade. Chapeau!!!

[Andrew G]

Apologies in advance for the rambling nature of what follows.

5 little soldiers met up at GBs for a trip to the coast – Mark Mcl, Neil Mac, Ant, Dan (fresh from a 2am return from the pub), and myself.

One of the things I love about the English country towns and villages is the names so you’ll have to excuse my liberal sprinkling of them throughout. I’d plotted what looked to be a fairly decent run down with the advantage of being pretty simple to follow, boy was it undulating though! It was like being on a roller-coaster, I don’t think any of us can remember a bit of flat road .

Climbed up to Selsdon, Warlingham, and then on to Titesy to head out via Crockham. Now it was just straight “down” the B2026 all the way to Maresfield. This is a really nice road and we were all happily rolling along, up and down the lumps. The long climb all the way up through Ashdown Forest caught a couple out who didn’t know what was ahead of them . A quick regroup (waiting for me to climb a hill ) at the top where Ant decided that an ice lolly was just what he needed , so the rest of us enjoyed the spectacular views and did a quick map check for the next section.

From now on I didn’t know the roads though so I’d be stumbling across them for the first time too! Great decent off Ashdown to Maresfield, nip through Ringles Cross and on to the B2102 at Uckfield to start heading east. Another lovely rolling fantastically quiet country road took us through Blackboys, Cross in Hand, and then a dive over to the B2096. Through Punnett’s Town and we had a map/pee stop in Netherfield (I did warn you about the names). We decided here to not bother with Hastings as it’s not that special and we would be lunching in Rye. Hastings would mean A road to the coast and then A road along to Rye, not great after the stunning roads and lanes we’d been enjoying.

We headed for Mountfield next to hook up with the B road in to Rye. This was the only point we got a bit lost in the day. Not a bad getting lost though, we missed a very small right turn so ended up looping back towards Brightling but this gave us a ride along a glorious piece of narrow, well surfaced, deathly quiet lane round the Darwell Reservoir. One of my best getting losts .

We stopped at the next sign we saw which told us we’d gone wrong, As I was getting the map out Dan suddenly let out a cry and disappeared from sight in to the long grass . Once he’d stopped playing silly buggers (if you’re going to have a roll in the long grass at least make sure you’re not alone) we dropped down a great, narrow, tree covered descent to get to Robertsbridge and pick up the A21.

We had to have a drag along here for a mile or two to pick up the B2089 which would take us in to Rye. Unfortunately for Ant his legs fell off here and he had the mother of all bad spells as we drove up the A21 drag. Dan was on the front, which was a fairly common occurrence, and just has no idea how strong he is and was struggling reign himself in. We tied an anvil to his bike though and dragged Ant to the top so we could get to the B road and a net downhill run in to Rye.

On passing a signpost saying 11 miles to go, and with a slight tailwind, Dan got his tail up and just powered along towing us in to Rye at 25-27mph!

We rolled through Rye like a band of desperados, desperate for food that is. We followed Dan’s knowledge of Rye to an Italian restaurant and collapsed in to the seats in the garden. A shufty at the bike computer said 80 miles done – blimey on a CBC we’d be approaching Reigate on the way back at that point .

Excellent food as we all demolished a big bowl of pasta. Whilst sunning ourselves Mark suggested a different route back to the one I had initially planned as it was likely to be just as undulating as the run down, our legs would start screaming at us if we had to go straight back up the descent we’d had in to Rye in to a headwind, and none of us had lights . On consulting his maps a new route was plotted and off we went.

First things first – sweets! Back up the lane to ye olde sweet shop, a proper one with all your old favourites in jars , to stock up on jelly babies and fudge. Man that fudge was good, just melted in your mouth, it was a good job I didn’t have a bag with me or I’d have had a lot of weight to carry home . 2 laps of Rye first to soak in the atmosphere, and we missed the road out we wanted, and we were away...straight in to a 15% climb .

This HURT. I hadn’t really eaten and drunk enough on the way down so the pasta was heavenly but hadn’t had a chance to work its magic yet so this hill really had me grovelling.

Heading north towards Tenterden we cut over early at Rolvenden and then the B2086 to Iden Green and Goudhurst. More glorious lanes and countryside kept us company as we worked our way through Matfield towards Tonbridge.

Full marks to Mark for this alternate way back as it was a cracker. In to Tonbridge centre as we all wanted to refill our bottles. I’d make the cardinal sin of forgetting to get a pork pie the day before too so grabbed one of those in the fantastically expensive shop. Mind you by this time (6pm) choice was limited on what was still open. I’m sorry to report the pork pie was of a very poor standard, but I still had some fudge left . I broke it to the others that they weren’t going to get back for the Tour highlights , I was alright I’d set the video.

We came out of Tonbridge up the KOM climb used in the Tour last year and then hooked right to head for Penshurst. Back on familiar roads, well for some of us anyway, others were still blissfully in the dark. Just after Penshurst and we had our only puncture of the day when Dan hit some broken glass in the road.

Onwards and then Mark and Ant shot passed the left turn we wanted, I shouted and Neil managed to stop in time, Mark stopped and shouted again at Ant who’d got carried away at going downhill . After a quiet moment he reappeared and we were now on the final run in. At Four Elms we managed to avoid the temptation of Toys Hill and climbed the Pootings drag to Crockham, up the first part of the hill before turning right to carry on climbing before the drop in to Westerham.

The final arse hauling to be done now up Botley’s 3 steps and then the vat of tea and sofa was in sight.

Thanks to Neil, Mark, Dan, and Ant for a great day, one of my favourites on the bike certainly. It ended up a really nice route down and back and we were only on a vaguely busy road for about 5 miles in to total once out passed Selsdon. Topped off by great weather that kept us all warm and dry. A few PBs toady I think, my longest time on the bike in one day (distance:150 miles and time:9 hours) I know, and at a decent pace all the time - the undulating roads bringing the average speed down to 16.5mph

Home and huge quantities of tea were drunk and the 13" pizza and garlic bread never stood a chance while I watched the Tour stage

I took the Garmin watch so I’ll put the map in the Routes section once I’ve had a chance to download the data, if anyone fancies a nice 150 miles of undulating terrain .

If you're still awake, well done .

[Snoop Doug]

[quote="Andrew G"]13" pizza and garlic bread never stood a chance.

[Andrew G]

If I'm honest Snoop I didn't measure it but the menu said 13" .

Forgot to say Dan kept up with his tradition of a coastal beer at the lunch stop .

[Antloony]

Great write up there Andrew though no amount of words can convey what a truely brilliant day out this was. It had everything, rolling hills, big climbs, fantastic decents, near misses, laughter and almost tears (mine ) fantastic weather and some of the most beautiful countryside views you'll ever see from a bike and all this was topped off with lashings of great company and a great laugh. (esp once the wind picked up ) You just couldn't ask for more from a bike ride.

I did blow up in the most sectacular fashion about 15 miles or so outside Rye, I have never experienced this before and I honestly thought I wasn't going to make it. I really did hit a wall and I had nothing left in the tank. Luckily my energy sweets came in handy here as I stuffed a whole packet in my mouth at once and drank near a bottle of drink in one go. I must say a huge thanks to you guys for waiting and helping me get through this bad patch, without your help and encouragement I would have given up.

Once recovered it was a quick last 10 miles to Rye, the thought of food egging us all on to get there asap and fill our faces. Great place to eat Dan, think we were all glad of the plate fulls of spaghetti presented to us knowing we were only halfway through the ride with just a mere 80 miles covered , just the right amount to feel full and fuelled up for the merry jaunt back.

Quick 2 lap tour of the town and a bit of shopping as Mr said and off we went...straight into the clutches of a 15% hill....so much for avoiding any nasty climbs on the way back

Feeling far better than I had been just 2 hours before I managed to keep going well up the hills and believe me there were enough of them, as I said to the others I didn't recall seeing the word 'hilly' in Andrews advertisement of this ride. We had a few stops to check the route, at one point I commented that I needed to be back before August though as my mum was coming to vsit me. Route back was great though, not getting lost once or having to back track.

Its odd that after 130 miles in the legs we were all feeling pretty strong and the pace really picked up once we had the last of the hills behind us (though Dan was a monster on them all day and just kept riding away from us closely followed my Neil who was riding well, there was very little between them) and flew back into the outskirts of Croydon were Dan and Andrew left us after a quick chat all agreeing what a fantastic ride it had been. Shortly after Mark left Neil and myself, we bid farewell and with just the two of us left we headed back towards Sutton and a well earned sofa session. Neil left me at the Purley way to head back via Wallington. I just kept hammering it then for the last few miles back home still feeling oddly but satisfyingly strong.

Stats for the day for me

151 miles
16.6 average (had to calculate that as I pressed the lap button on my computer by mistake)
Av heart rate 139
max 185
7835 calories used...no wonder Im scoffing my face so much today
2 knackered legs
1 sore hand that stood up to the ride really well.

Been for a 2 mile walk early this morning, I actually feel great today, hardly an ache anywhere.

Cycling for me just gets better and better, its days like this that just make all the effort, pain and aching limbs more than worth it knowing what you've just achieved. Considering this is still my 1st year of cycling I feel im still going well but its going to be a hard one to beat pleasure wise.

Thats me done, time to go and lay down in the garden for an hour or 5 in the sun.

Once again thanks chaps for a great day out. Long may they continue.

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

Excellent ride mr sounds great from the report. Sad to say I only did 100 miles yesterday Would have enjoyed yours a lot more. Most of your return route was the way I snuck back from Dover (until To9nbridge that is, when I opted to go the slightly less severe route via Sevenoaks.

[quote]others were still blissfully in the dark.

[Neil Mac]

Excellent write ups chaps, leaves me very little to say other than thanks to Mr Green for organising the day, and thanks to every one else for the company. We were all still laughing right to the end. I agree with Ant it was odd that after 130 miles we all seemed so strong, but it really did seem that way, probably had something to do with Dan taking to the front like a steam train.

All in all, a top day out. and a personal first I've never topped 150 miles in a day before.

[Andrew G]

I did say it was undulating...4,910 metres of climbing Magic watch started and stopped at Selsdon lights so a complete loop, if a long one.
[url=http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/chart/get.mb?xy.domain=totalDistance&xy.ranges=elevation&xy.histogram=false&xy.legendVisible=false&xy.primaryRangeAxisVisible=true&xy.secondaryRangeAxisVisible=true&xy.rangeTitlesVisible=true&xy.domainAxisVisible=true&xy.plotForegroundOpacity=0.75&episodePk.pkValue=6245961&xy.plotForegroundOpacity=0.75&xy.autoFit=true&xy.width=1000&xy.height=450]Profile map here[/url]
The map is [url=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=http:%2F%2Ftrail.motionbased.com%2Ftrail%2Fkml%2Fepisode.kml%3FepisodePkValues%3D6245961&ie=UTF8&z=9]here[/url] and also in the Routes section.

[Antloony]

wow I thought we seemed to have our front wheels pointing at the sky a far amount, intersting profile map there Andrew.

I love the route map too, esp the little detour down by Battle.

Forgot to add in my post this was my longest ride as well beating my old record by exactly 50 miles. Whats next...anyone for a 200 miler this weekend

[mark mclaughlin]

Big thanks to Andrew for instigating a truly epic ride.
As Ant said it had about everything you want from a ride.
Rye has always been a favourite place for me with fond childhood memories of my parents setting off in the early hours to drive us down to Camber sands every summer and Rye being a great place to explore.
So the chance of riding there was not to be missed.

Great route down despite the many lumps, trouble with that map Andrew they don’t show the contours! Don’t think I’ve used my gears to such effect.

Time we got to Rye I had 5hrs riding time and 80miles. Great lunch with a very tasty carbonara and the sun was warming us nicely.
As tempting as it was for taking a siesta in the afternoon we had the reality of getting back!

Ok so the thought of retracing Mr Green’s route back was draining to say the least, so having a cunning plane and OS maps I suggested that we head further north on the return.
Great, only there was this big climb to The Stocks that didn’t seem to show any arrows? Big clue it said Watch Tower!

No one was talking too me for a while? But given time, as the roads seemed to be running in our favour it became far more agreeable.
Time we got to Tonbridge we were in various states of euphoria at the thought of getting nearer to home.
Bit of a detour and we were running along towards Penshurst, I persuaded Andrew that as much as everyone was up to climbing toys hill Westerham was a better option.

Once we were over the last climb the pace hotted up again with Dan and Neil showing now signs of fatigue!
The last climbs home didn’t seem too bad with a great feeling of satisfaction of being part of a truly epic day in the saddle.
Thanks to Andrew, Neil, Dan and Anthony for making it so.
Home 8.45pm, approx 155 miles as my computer was worn out!

[Sylv]

Wish i'd come with you guys, when's the next one?
(better sooner when days are long!)