I rode over to Dave's this morning for our 9 am departure and departed bang on time. (Jack pulled out last night so it was only the 2 of us).
Our goal was to average 15mph over the whole distance. It wasn't the warmest start to the day but we were both kitted in our winter kit layers and leggings. As we left i specifically asked Dave whether he had his keys, wallet and phone, "Yeah Yeah lets go"...more on that later.
Once we were moving we it was easy to roll along chatting and it didn't feel too cold. We headed from Surbiton through Esher to Cobham and through to Leatherhead. The road from Cobham to Leatherhead goes up past the Woodlands park Hotel and has on it a slight rise. The first sniff of an incline and I started to slow. What was going to happen when I reach the foot of Ditchling Beacon.
Before we got to the B roads we had to experience the cycle lanes of the A24 and they are awful.
Annoyingly we had to add a few extra miles to our original planned route as my navigation was up to its usual standards and I couldn't find a road that was supposed to be directly opposite us. This brief chance to stop allowed Dave to identify he didn't have his house keys. Doh!
Getting to the foot of the beacon we were making good time, all ideas of flying up a la Contodor were quickly left behind as my legs burned, burned, burned. Clearly not enough 'Steak' in my diet at the moment. Alas I had to admit defeat a couple of hundred meters from the top and push the bike.
 |
| conquered the beacon (ish) |
The Beacon took a hatchet to our average 15mph. But thankfully the rest of the route to the Pier was all down and we could make up the lost mph.
We Completed the whole route, 63miles in 4hrs 10m. Then had a beer before grabbing the train back. Cycling back from Surbiton station added the last few miles to my ride today.
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