FNRttC Brighton Edition.
Starting off from Liverpool St, picked up by Russ (Ross?) & Gordon and escorted over to Hyde Park and then on through the London suburbs over a couple of hills to breakfast in Brighton. It was harder than I expected not to peel off at Wallington to a warm bed, but stuck thought to the back of my mind and pushed on.
Slight detour for the armed response stop at Clapham, some later (police) entertainment just before Chipstead and then a few hills including the infamous Ditchling Beacon, first time up and all in one go... killer! LOL
Strong headwind on the way which didn't stop the hammer being put down at times.... when will I learn the lesson to take it easier and make it easier on myself!
Had to reset the Garmin half way round after it progressively started to loose sensors, first the remote then the DI2, and then ran the battery down without completing the route planning I had started at Clapham. So a whole section (about 25 miles) including the epic 39+ mph decent of Reigate Hill was lost. Luckily a spell on a battery tank at Gatwick got it back to 60% battery and normal behavior was resumed..
Ditchling was the highlight for me, I had spent the last week winding myself up comparing this with hills I had failed to get up and realizing it was steeper than the ones I had bailed on.... that just increased my fear. I almost gave up on the last bend (how I would have kicked myself if I did). It was hard but the reward was worth it. I exceeded my max HR and if it hadn't have been for Gordon in front providing a focus, it would have been a failed attempt. Thanks to Gordon for pacing and distracting me with "nice view to the left!", I must admit, I spent most of the time watching his peddles go round to distract me from the effort I was exerting. Every time I looked up, there was another climb to a bend which resulted in more climbing after that..... alternating between seat and out of the saddle with no more gears to drop down, after every steep bits the 11% less steep bits felt like heaven, then another and another..... it just kept giving!!!
I was almost in tears by the top but overjoyed to turn the corner and see the end. The final climb in to the car park whilst a drag was welcomed.
The downhill in to the wind run in to Brighton was punctuated by another climb, whilst it was a bind, it was not another beacon so it passed eventually. After a quick pic of the Pier to prove I had made it, we made tracks for the 'spoons and a large breakfast and a hot chocolate made the end feel better. Uphill to the train station, train to Croydon and a slightly misguided 5 mile ride back to the Mrs parents saw me in bed by 13:00.... 3 pints and half a bottle of red and I am half recovered! Overall, powered by 1 Mars bar, a blueberry Muffin, a coconut macaroon, a couple of jelly babies and a whole lot of cycling love. Wind 15MPH SW.
I tried to capture a few pics of the ride with my phone, tricky in the low light at times!
Pictures here:
https://www.cyclechat.net/media/albums/fnrttc-brighton-2015-edition.880/
And the one I am most proud of:
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