London to Brighton Bike Ride

Sunday saw Tom and I (and a couple of friends) complete the London to Brighton bike ride in aid of the British Heart Foundation. This was my second time on the UKs largest bike event, and it was Tom’s first. We caught the train up to Waterloo, then rode the three or four miles to the start on Clapham Common. The weather was perfect for cycling, not too hot, not windy and the atmosphere was pretty friendly.

The riders were a real mix of hard core cyclists for whom the 54 mile trek to Brighton was just a warm up, through to charity riders for whom it would be a real challenge. With so many cyclists, the going is always a little slow. However, this year was pretty bad. We ran in to at least 5 spots (mostly hills) where we had to get off and walk as people were queuing up the hill. The event organisers would have done well to have put marshals at the bottom of these hills reminding people walking to keep left and give room to those who wanted to ride up. These delays served to slow the pace down for everybody and that was a good thing as it meant people being forced to take breaks, giving the less well prepared a chance of making the finish.

I saw a few more accidents than last year – only one looked serious though – and there were plenty of people in fancy dress or on unusual machines. I particularly admired the unicyclist, the couple on the back to back tandem, and the people on roller blades!

Once again I managed to conquer Ditchling Beacon, where from the top riders can catch their first glimpse of the sea. And by popular demand, I did of course wear the full bright-orange lycra of the Euskaltel Euskadi cycle team, which drew quite a lot of comments. Maybe not for the right reasons though !!!!

We all made it safely to Brighton - a great achievement for Tom who isn’t a regular cyclist. All in all, a good day out and I was able to raise over £200 in support of the BHF thanks to all those people who sponsored me.

I’m now preparing for the London to Southend bike ride on 19 July, but I intend to ride to the start and then ride home afterwards, which will make it a round trip of about 100 miles. Wish me luck! And if you want to join me, let me know.

I made it!

Last Sunday I successfully completed the London to Brighton bike ride in aid of the British Heart Foundation. First off, thanks to all those who sponsored me – it’s a great cause and they need every penny they can get. You can find out more about how they use the money here.

The day was great. Perfect weather – very little wind, sunny, but not too hot. A great crowd of people (27,000 of us) and a great atmosphere. Exceptional organisation and great support from local people along the route. I completed the course in 3 hours and 50 minutes. Although the first few miles were quite slow due to stop start progress through traffic, once we hit the country lanes things moved much more freely.

It was great to see people on tandems, Choppers, roller blades and in fancy dress.

The highlight? Reaching the top of Ditchling Beacon – I was one of the few who rode all the way – and taking in the amazing views across the Sussex countryside.

Will I do it again? Definitely. I may even put a team together for next year.

Getting ready for Sunday

The London to Brighton bike ride is fast approaching. Just 2 days to go. I’ve been dithering over which bike to use. Should I go on the road bike, which is faster but which is harder in traffic because the brakes are not so good and I’m still getting used to stopping and starting with cleats on? Or should I go with the hybrid/commuter bike, which is a little slower but much better in traffic as I sit more upright and have better visibility? It also has much better brakes (V-brakes) and toe clips on the pedals which are considerably easier in stop-start traffic.

On balance, not knowing what 27,000 cycles going in the same direction at the same time actually feels like I think I’ll err on the side of caution and go with the hybrid bike. Next decision is what to take. Looks like rain, so my waterproof jacket will be a must, plus a couple of water bottles, phone and roadside repair kit. Maybe also a spare pair of socks and a dry shirt would be a good idea. I think that’s probably all.

If you’re doing the ride, good luck and do look out for me. I’ll be the confused one wearing number 16640, starting from Clapham at 8.00am.

Something Unexpected

On Saturdays I try to go for a long bike ride. Not only do I generally enjoy it, but it also helps in the build up to the London to Brighton bike ride on 15 June. This past weekend I headed up from the Kent/London borders to central London then south through Croydon and into the Surrey hills looping back home via Westerham. It was a round trip of 54 miles and the ride along the top of the hills was just terrific – magnificent views, made more pleasurable knowing that the longest and worst hills were behind me. This week however there were some unexpected pleasures. Firstly, cycling high up the hill above Westerham I passed a dedicated guy standing in a field practising his bagpipes. It hadn’t occurred to me before that finding a suitable place to practice that particular instrument must be tough at times, especially if you’re a beginner. Frankly, I could think of no better place than the middle of a field. There he was, in a field, the mist rising and the stirring sound of the pipes being sent down the hill for all to hear. Shortly afterwards, I was joined by a crow that flew alongside me for at least 2 minutes, almost with arms reach. What a beautiful bird. Amazing. Then I got brought back to earth with a bang – this time by a Currys delivery van that nearly knocked me off the bike because he didn’t look when he turned out of a side street. Idiot! Finally, I’m still getting used to having cleats on the bike – shoes which clip to the pedals. Sometimes you forget when you come to a stop. And when you forget you fall off. I fell off.