Club run reports - 11th September

Category 6 ride led by Mike East

The main category 6 contingent were cycling from Clapham Common to Brighton, heading directly thereafter to the Cliff Bathing Beach, in order to divest themselves of their lycra, and strut on those pebbles au naturel, tackle out.

Meanwhile seven others, including some who had taken their parrots off their shoulders, took on a ride to Vanstones, Codicote. Routine all round, until Hertford at the end, when the ride leader hit a kerb and was unseated. No serious damage done.

Category 4 ride led by Peter Bloomfield

With all the L2B shenanigans I wondered whether we would be low on numbers but with seven at the start and eight once Suj caught up with us a couple of miles up the road it was a fine group that rode off through the morning mist that was clamped over the countryside.  

Designing the route in a hurry I had managed to place most of the steep climbs in the first half of the ride, luckily the plucky team took it well and were still talking to me when we rolled into Cammas Hall Farm after 32 miles (another result of hurried planning - first “half” five miles longer than the second).  Service as usual was very quick although we did then sit chatting in the by now warm sunshine which was very pleasant but probably led to a later arrival back in Hertford.

We were back down to seven shortly after the restart as Andrew left us to head home to Buntingford since the route was cunningly constructed to take him ever further away otherwise.  The return was of a more rolling nature but still included one last sting in the tail with a big climb out of Hoddesdon up to Mangrove Lane before a steady roll into Hertford  -  59 miles and despite a couple of sketchy sections no punctures or mechanicals.

Category 6 team on the London to Brighton bike ride - Tony Dos Santos

Ten booked for L2B. The plan was to meet at Clapham Common at 6.10 for a 6.30 ride off. So myself Richard Hann (Kev), Leigh Pegg and my Neighbour Akilesh decided to ride the 17 miles to Clapham Common, setting off at 4.30. As usual Kev rocks up at 4.25, and we leave at 4.40; time was still on our side. Blah blah blah, we got to Clapham Common at 6.20. Job done. 

We all found each other pretty quickly, and there were 12 (including my neighbour and his friend). 
We left at 6:40ish and made good time. The weather was very misty and nothing could go wrong! Famous last words eh, I can’t remember exactly where we were, but poor old Leigh, clipped a cycle lane kerb and there he was sliding towards a post, I feared the worst. However, he just missed the post. We picked the bike up and Leigh and his leg looked like a car crash (pardon the pun), blood pouring everywhere, I feared his ride was over. After a couple of minutes, Leigh then checked his bike and in true Wheelers fashion, he advised he could continue. Amazing. 

We got to the first watering hole and Leigh went to the ambulance people and they alcohol wiped his leg. He came back but it looked even worse. Onwards and upwards, oh how I mean upwards. We were all now motoring along and got to the main feed station before Turners Hill. Now, we all know Carolyn is a retired school teacher and a tad regimented in her ways. We were just about to leave and Leigh said “I need a wee”, Carolyn’s face was a picture, he didn’t really need one, he just knows what Carolyn is like :-).  

Fed and watered we turned left and literally straight up the hill. It was a long drag and some were walking it, although obviously no one from the 4’s or 6’s were walking.  Elio was amazing today, considering he had a crash a couple of weeks ago and he was still hurting with his hip. Well done mate, I’m seriously impressed.

We were now a few miles from the dreaded Ditchling Beacon, so we had a little rest and went on to the one hill that everyone fears. 
We turned the corner, well I say “we”, for the other 11. I was miles behind as they all romped up the hill. Amazing one and all. 
We got to the top of the Beacon and obviously the ice cream was eaten with gay abandon. Personally  I was a gibbering wreck from riding up it.

All ice creamed up and raring to go, we dropped down into Brighton at a massive, no, immense pace that Lewis Hamilton would have been proud of. 

We got to the finish line and there was Kate crossing the line for her dad who sadly passed away exactly a year today; she was raising monies for Parkinson’s disease. Absolutely amazing Kate, and the money you have raised is brilliant. Kate shed a few tears and got me going. Luckily I had my shades on. 

We went and had the traditional fish and chips; it’s got to be done hasn’t it. We then went our separate way, except for Leigh who had a puncture. He obviously had pulled the “lucky” card today. Mended in minutes, we went to Marina and had a 5 Guys burger with Akile and Dani!

Now here’s the records you’ve all been waiting for:

Fastest Up Ditchling Beacon - Davina Gutteridge. 
Slowest up Ditchling Beacon - Ian Bailey and I 
Fastest speed of the day - Tony Dos Santos: 47.3mph. 
Unluckiest rider - Leigh Pegg.

Category 4 team on the London to Brighton bike ride - Lisa Ridoutt

The other half of the L2B crew met up in a hotel in Clapham the night before so we didn’t have to set our alarms at silly o’clock.

Six hours after setting off from Clapham Common in the dark, with a mist swirling around us, it was a joy to arrive in Brighton in hot sunshine, being cheered along the finish line by hundreds of well wishers.

To everyone’s delight we’d all managed to climb Ditchling Beacon with out stopping or walking. We’d also finally found a hill that could silence TDS as not a swear word was heard as he finished at the top!  

This ride was dedicated to Kate’s Dad and she did him and herself very proud on an emotional day.

Although L2B is quite a logistically challenge to organise it was well worth the bike swapping, bag/car drop offs, train journeys etc. as it was a great day out with with a fabulous group of cyclists.