Yes I had to walk the bike through the Ditchling village fête as well. I too stopped at Turners Hill, but for a flapjack rather than a pint (shame now I think about it). And the Ardingly road did indeed have those hills that you warned about.First I forgot to thank @Flying Dodo for anther innovative route. However good the previous ones, a change is almost as good as a new destination. Particularly as it featured my favourite exit from Croydon. (Next time in the light I'll check if that third 'Crystal Palace' tower really is 'that new bloody block in the middle of Croydon').
T'was Farthing Down that the clouds began parting transforming a heads-down ride into a sit back and enjoy. Enjoy on Brighton rides is always tempered by the dread that this may be the year the Beacon beats me. That's now postponed to 2017. Phew!
Yes Brighton's Greens appear to have perversely turned all lights to red. It can't be coincidence that we all independently had the final miles annoyingly extended. And as for the condition of the tarmac on the final stretch - is this to remind us of third world conditions?
The train glitch persuaded me to ride back. But slowly. I started with Rob but I let him go at Ditchling and settled into doing my own thing. This included having to walk through Ditchling village. The road we had taken a couple or so hours earlier had been closed and transformed into a heaving celebration. The other highlight was adjourning to my favourite country pub - the Red Lion @ Turners Hill. No, not the awful one at the top, this serves Mild and Pork Scratchings ... but I digress.
The journey ended by Freedom Passing the Coulsdon Flyer for the final 10 miles home. So a respectable 107 on the clock and oblivion in bed for a couple of hours. And no rain at all on the return. Enough was enough.
I was thinking the same thing!This is a classic FNRttC situation, in which I had no idea I had spent the night with @newfhouse! Which one were you? I do sometimes ask people if they are on CC, but almost always seem to pick people who have never heard of it and look at me as if I am mad, so I mostly tend not to bother . (And one person at Whitstable refused to tell me who he was on here, preferring to remain incognito which is fair enough.)
I think many Friday peeps have spent the night with people without finding out their names.This is a classic FNRttC situation, in which I had no idea I had spent the night with @newfhouse! Which one were you? I do sometimes ask people if they are on CC, but almost always seem to pick people who have never heard of it and look at me as if I am mad, so I mostly tend not to bother . (And one person at Whitstable refused to tell me who he was on here, preferring to remain incognito which is fair enough.)
... I inadvertently caused a slight delay to a few riders when I took the trousers off (that really was it, not a mechanical or health issue!) ...
A few photos ...
... all lights to red ... And as for the condition of the tarmac on the final stretch - is this to remind us of third world conditions? ...
... I think for me the section before the halfway stop is a bit too long (I do understand that wet-weather punctures held us up a bit, but in mileage terms half way wasn't really half way) ...
Middle aged bloke on a bike. Probably doesn't narrow it down muchWhich one were you?
Bugger. I've just seen how close I was to my first 200 kms.122 miles on the clock
Yes, but I want to become a serious cyclist.It is only a number
You'll have to do fewer miles than that thenYes, but I want to become a serious cyclist.
+1. I do lots of big mileage rides. I refuse to do it seriously.....I don't. I have just seen people doing the BHF L2B on full on time trial bikes, and I don't want any of it.
Yebbut it is a nice round one. The first time I rode 100 miles, I did it almost by accident, having looked at the map and reckoned it would be about 90. When I arrived (exhausted) at my destination (Edmundbyers in Co. Durham) my computer was showing 98.9 miles, so obviously I did a few laps of the village to make up the ton. I reckon it made the beer taste better.It is only a number
I've ditched it now, but I enjoyed having one for a while...All the more reason not to have a computer