Hell of the Ashdown

[Joe]

Nice photos!
I found a picture of me on http://www.philoconnor.com/sportivephoto.htm
I'm the guy behind the main guy on "white - 062.jpg"
On the final climb I think, I was really suffering at this point

-oh and I'm seen leaving the start line on the video on cyclosport.org!

 

[walker]

how did you all find star hill lane?

 

[Fixedwheelnut]

how did you all find star hill lane?

"Bottom of Polhill and turn right,,,, oh not what you mean't"



I was marshalling at How Green Lane warning for traffic on the bend, after that I rode back over Ide Hill and Star Hill where I took the pictures Zoom has allready linked too

I was on 66" fixed and found it ok but a bit tough at the steep bit, one guy did the whole ride on fixed 64" and looked ok at the finish

anyone else like hills? I am organising the 'West Kent Invicta Grimpeur 100km and Hilly 50km on March 9th from Otford Memorial Hall
1700m and 850m of climbing up and down the North Downs Ridge
see the calendar on Audax UK site.

 

[Zoom]

One here for the Invicta Grimpeur

ps will have some Grimpeurs du Sud badges FWN

 

[walker]

As long as I'm not racing I would like a bit of that. Keep us all posted here or a link to where we can find more details

 

[Zoom]

As long as I'm not racing I would like a bit of that. Keep us all posted here or a link to where we can find more details

www.audax.uk.net/cal

oops done it now mentioned the A word

 

[Steve Austin]

Anyone else riding this tomorrow?

Looking nice out there at the moment.

 

[Fixedwheelnut]

I am marshalling again
There is a revised route due to the impending weather to miss out some of the minor lanes that don't get gritted and may still be icy

R/L/SO
Into Road HELL of the ASHDOWN Challenge ‘110K’ (108.8K) Route




Leaving HQ – Jail Lane – Bear R – Down Berrys Hill – Climb Church Hill
[FONT=&quot][/FONT]R
At top of ‘Cudham Test Hill’ (Church Hill) – Dismount - CARE turning R

1.3​

1.3​

Cudham – Cudham Lane – The Nower

R
Onto Hogtrough Hill – DANGER steep descent – CARE at X roads

3.5​

[FONT=&quot][/FONT]L
Brasted – Station Rd/Church Rd - CARE turning L into High St.

5.1​

1st R
Chart Lane – Brasted Chart - Toys Hill

7.3​

Toys Hill -DANGER steep descent

7.7​

[FONT=&quot][/FONT]R
Into Green Lane – CARE at junction
B2042

9.2​

L
Four Elms X roads LInto Clinton Lane
B2027

9.7​

Bough Beech – Over narrow bridge
B2027

10.5​

50K riders bear left continuing on B2027 to take 1st Left into Bowzell’s Lane

11.0​

[FONT=&quot]g [/FONT]R
100K riders turn R at bridge exit into Hever Rd CARE

11.6​

Hever Castle

12.5​

[FONT=&quot]g [/FONT]R
Follow Hever Rd

12.8​

[FONT=&quot]f[/FONT] L
Edenbridge – Mill Hill
B2076

14.7​

[FONT=&quot]g [/FONT]R
Den Cross – Marsh Green Rd – CARE turning R
B2028

15.3​

Marsh Green – Moor Lane
B2028

16.0​

[FONT=&quot]f[/FONT] L
At bend -To Dormansland – Plough Lane

18.5​

[FONT=&quot]f[/FONT] L
Dormansland – ‘Hollow Lane’

18.7​

DANGER at sharp R hand bend at foot of Descent

20.8​

[FONT=&quot]f[/FONT] L
Into Holtye Road
A264
R
Into Edenbridge Road

24.0​

R
Hartfield – At ‘T junction’ -High St
B2110

27.4​

R
Bear R into Gallipot Hill/Cat St continue on
B2110

27.8​

[FONT=&quot]f[/FONT] L
Coach Lane to Colemans Hatch where bear L

30.0​

[FONT=&quot]f[/FONT] L
Kidds Hill – Hell of the Ashdown ‘THE WALL’

31.6​

R
At T junction – Chuck Hatch Rd – CHECK / FEED
B2026

31.6​

L
Ashdown Forest – HALF WAYTURN – Long Descent down Black Hill
B2188

32.5​

R
At T Junction– CARE - Groombridge
B2110

38.1​

Climb ‘Col de Groombridge’ (Groombridge Hill)
B2110
L
At T junction - Ashurst Rd
A254

39.8​

1st R
Fordcombe Rd - CARE
B2188

39.9​

Fordcombe - After Fordcombe CARE on narrow bridge over R. Medway
B2188
L
Penshurst into Penshurst Road
B2176
L
At top of hill -Station Hill / Morden Lane

L
Chiddingstone Causeway – into Tonbridge Road
B2027
[FONT=&quot][/FONT]R
Into Bore Place Road

1st L
Into Winkhurst Green Road


Past Bough Beech Reservoir
R
At T junction into Ide Hill Road
B2042

Climb ‘Ide Hill(Groombridge Hill)


At top of hill – Ide Hill Village Hall Car Park on left – CHECK / FEED
1st L

[FONT=&quot][/FONT]R
Ide Hill Village – R at Green/Roundabout

55.0​

R
Fork R towards SundrIdge – Church Rd

56.1​

[FONT=&quot][/FONT]SO
Sundridge - Straight overTraffic Lights into Chevening Road
B2211

57.3​

exit 1
At Roundabout turn L into Star Hill Road

59.7​

Climb ‘Star Hill’ 1st L
At ‘The Harrow’

61.3​

1st L
Knockholt Pound L at the village green into Main Road

61.5​

L
At Scotts Lodge t junction L into Cudham Lane

63.4​

1stR
Into Grays Road

63.5​

[FONT=&quot][/FONT]R
At Hawley’s Corner Spinning Wheel extreme R into Buckhurst Rd

65.0​

1st L
Into Berry’s Green Road (care Potholes!)

66.0​

1st L
At T junction then bear left at top of hill into Jail Lane

66.9​

FINISH
Charles Darwin School on R in Jail Lane

67.6​

(Mileage only approx due to last minute changes to route)

 

[itboffin]

Icy you say?
Hilly you say?

Can't say I noticed

 

[CotterPin]

Well that was fun!!!! I think.... Or as another cyclist said as they passed me through the snowy landscape, "This is getting a little surreal."

It wasn't icy - not on the roads the route finally took, but it was definitely hilly. And I was completely out of shape for it - my legs felt like jam most of the day and I confess I ended up walking up one ascent.

I was aiming to do it in 5 hours and I managed it in 5 hours... 59 minutes. Well, at lease I have something to aim for next year - 5 hours 58 minutes!

 

[Wigsie]

Hats off to the lot of you that did it! I grew up on the edge of the ashdown forest and driving up Kidds Hill used to make me tired let alone riding up it!

Maybe next year i will have a pop!