Little Lumpy. 19 May 2019

I really like this event! The organisation is good, the food - all hand made by volunteers - is excellent and the scenery on the Sussex Hampshire border and the South Downs National Park is wonderful. Thoroughly recommended! This year the weather did not quite match the unbroken sunshine of the previous occasions but is was decently warm with light winds and the cloud was high enough that it didn't spoil the views. The route is hilly from the start beginning with a long descent from Haselmere. Its then up and down some short, sharp hills through woodland before the countryside opens up and the hills become longer but less steep. The only really serious challenge in this phase is the second climb of Butser Hill which goes up the steep side with gradients of above 15%. After about 75 miles there is 15 miles of respite from the hills with some nice well-surfaced flat(ish) roads. Look to the left though and you will see the ground rising sharply towards Haselmere. That descent at the start has still to be paid for and the price is high. The road goes steeply up interspersed with irritating descents. The surface is dreadful. At the top you find smooth flat roads until, in the last mile, the road dips sharply then rises with another 15% gradient. It's not what your legs want at this point but once you manage that it is a short ride back to enjoy the free chilli con carne to complement the bacon butty you ate at the start.