London to Brighton Itinerary help?

[adamclipper]

Hi,

I am looking to do a L2B charity ride with some inexperienced cyclists from where I work.
Can anyone give some helpful tips, and provide me with a decent inventory so we are prepared for the worst?

I am a pretty experienced cyclist but have not really done any longer rides and this will be the start of many longer distance rides with the one after being planned from Scotland to London.

Any help and knowledge would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Adam

 

[BigonaBianchi]

I suggest you prepare for the best first.

Its going to be fun.

Inventory...erm..


Rain jackets
Lights
helmets
spare tubes and puncture kit
Map
avoid ditchling beacon
pick a sunny day

 

[musa]

Do ditchling. There will probably suffer but its right at the end so a nice picl up macho dog eat dog attitude

Or huff and puffs and groans of i hate you you (insert required words)

But the basics. Enough food snacks fruit

 

[vernon]

Don't forget a pump and make sure that the glue in the puncture outfit is runny.

 

[srw]

Have someone at the front to lead and someone at the back to sweep up, assist with mechanicals and keep in touch with the front. Have some taxi firm numbers and know where there are railway stations for emergencies.

There are plenty of routes online. The FNRttC route is probably a good one for daytime with the exception of the M25 junction above Reigate, but there are alternatives to that. Do a route recce first if you can.

Do Ditchling - it's the iconic bit of the route. But approach via Streat rather than the dull runin via Ditchling village. And take care on the hill - traffic can get impatient. Single out and space yourselves well. And keep off the road at the top when you stop to admire the view and each other.

Do a bike check-over a few days before you set off - apart from punctures most problems can be avoided by riding well-maintained bikes.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

depends.

how inexperienced are the inexperienced riders and do they have decent bikes? Some bicycle-shaped objects, and some poorly maintained decent bikes, have been known to die horribly on that journey and that can disrupt the mood no end. whilst ditchling is a wonderful experience if you can get up it on your bike, it is a flippin' long and often unpleasant walk during the day, if you can't. so be prepared for tears and swearing.

I confess I'm not huge fan of the FNRttC route day times once south of Gatwick. It is excellent at night but the traffic on it is a very different beast in the day time. Day light routes I'd go with the CTC LGBT 'ride to pride' route masterminded by Dell a few years back.

And, please, please, DO NOT RIDE on the main carriageway of the A23 anywhere south of Pease Pottage.

Let's see if we can rope @dellzeqq into this thread to give some route advice....

 

[musa]

Theres the BHF route i did for my first attempt to Brighton solo

 

[StuartG]

Best tip you will get here: The Red Lion @ Turners Hill
(fork right as you ascend the hill. It rejoins near the top).
It's halfway or thereabouts.

I would do the ride first before you plan to lead a group of inexperienced. Its a great help knowing what's coming. I'm sure if you say when here someone would be pleased to buddy you. Oh and the return. Southern do incredibly cheap fares if you book well in advance. Otherwise Group Save on the day halves the price for each group of four. But doublecheck your ride does not clash with any of the other major Brighton rides which causes Southern to panic and ban bikes for that day.

 

[Cycleops]

You're only going to Brighton, not the south of France. There is plenty of food stops on the way and imagine all those cycling know-alls waiting to help you when you break down. When I did it last the return train was pre booked, or if you are really tough cycle it! Saw someone jumping up and down on someones chest half way up Ditchling Beacon.

 

[arallsopp]

Where are you based Adam?

 

[CopperBrompton]

Saw someone jumping up and down on someones chest half way up Ditchling Beacon.

Impatient driver who'd got fed up of waiting behind them?