We originally looked at doing London to Brighton but the offer for the there and back ride was too tempting to say no too, or so we thought at the time. The ride was a total of 120 miles or 200km setting off from Smithfield Market in Central London all the way South until we hit the coast at Brighton, before cycling all the way back again.
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| Pre ride happy photo. |
Before we set off it was time for a few photos, last bike check, some food, hydration and a little panic about what we had signed up too. At about 11pm we set off and it had to be said cycling out of London around midnight really wasn't simple, I thought the traffic would have died down slightly but it really hadn't. The roads weren't the best and I was one of many who had a light on pop out of it's holder and onto the road, thankfully everybody on the ride was really friendly and helpful and they all had their lights returned. The first rest stop was at 17km so not far but it was just out of London and a good point to meet back up with Rob and then time to set off again.
Once out of London the temperature really dropped cold but the roads improved and it was nice to be away from traffic lights. The next aim was Tulleys Farm which was around the half way point to Brighton (57km roughly). By this point we were both feeling confident about the ride and we became very happy once we got into the tent and saw the food they had put on for the riders. It was time to get some carbs in the system to help keep us going on the ride over night. Once we had used the facilities available it was back on our bikes and off to the next rest point.
Oakmeeds Community College was the next stop off point around 80km and it was really cold by now. I had to warm up in front of one of the heaters in the sports hall, after about 10 minutes I could feel my toes again and my socks had warmed up nicely to put back on. After warming up, refilling our water bottles and a handful of sweets to keep us awake we set off once more, next stop Brighton.
Well Brighton is the next stop but first we've got to get up and over the Ditchling Beecon. We have both cycled some nice hills around Belper and surrounding areas in preparation knowing they weren't anything like Ditchling but still some good hills. All I can say is I'm so glad we cycled up there in the dark so you couldn't make out the gradient. At first it wasn't as bad as I was expecting but it soon became a relentless uphill challenge. I could hear one of the guides encouraging a woman behind me and telling her "the more you cycle the less you need to walk." it made me laugh but also helped me keep focus. This was my challenge within the challenge, don't walk at any point on the up hills. I have read other blogs and it gets mentioned so often that this is the point to walk. I refused to do that and powered on to the top! BOOM I had done it!!! Ditchling Beacon conquered, happy days.
The video below is taken from YouTube to show what it's like the cycle up there. There was no point using my GoPro as in the pitch black it would have recorded nothing.
From here we were informed it was downhill all the way to Brighton, well in a car it may seem that was but it really wasn't. We eventually made it to Brighton as the last few people were leaving some of the bars and had some original heckling of "look it's the Tour de France.". It was nice to eventually make it to the Brighton rest stop and go to the toilet, get some food and drink. It was however depressing watching people get their medals for cycling to Brighton knowing we had to return to London to get ours.
When we set off the sun was just coming up but it really didn't warm us up. The trip back to the top of Ditchling Beacon was a long long gradual incline but once at the top the views were amazing. I did get a photo but there was some sweat on my phone so it looks a bit blurred - Instagram.
Now after cycling up the Beacon it never crossed my mind how fast it was going to be to cycle back down it. According to Robs Garmin we hit 39mph and that was while breaking most of the way down it. All there was to do now was cycle back to London and finish! This was only a matter of another 80km to get there. By this point it was the longest bike ride me and Rob had ever done and there was a long way left to go. Each rest stop seemed to be absolutely miles away and the small hills on the way seemed like mountains now.
As the minutes and then hours past we got closer and closer to London. First passing Gatwick Airport which passed a few minutes watching the departures fly over head, then it was the first time I've ever been happy to see the M25 as it meant we were one step closer. Once past the M25 we had less than 30km left to cycle. That last 30km took us over 2 hours as our legs were spent, traffic was building up and traffic lights took away any momentum.
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| Our route including elevation. |
Eventually at 2:30pm we finished!!! I could hardly keep my eyes open and walking felt odd but who cared it was over! Time to go back to the hotel have a well needed shower and sleep.
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| DONE!!! |
So you may ask why we did this, well two reasons:- something big to aim for on a personal level for us both to work on our own fitness, push ourselves and see what we could do. Secondly to help raise money for Cancer Research UK.
My JustGiving page is - www.justgiving.com/adamfretwellpt
Robs page is - www.justgiving.com/Rob-Marron
Please visit and donate to either page.
Bring on 2016 and maybe the Leeds to Manchester ride with another client for a challenge.
Thanks
Adam
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