Meet: Cutty Sark Gardens 09:00 map Ladywell Fields 09:30 prompt map

Distance: 60

Phone: Paul - 07957 209 322

This is a finessed version of the "Brighton for Smoothies" road-ride we did to Brighton last September but with a slight change to take us onto quieter paths. Short section of very mild off-road which may make it unsuitable for full on racing bikes although I will be doing it on a fast city bike with relatively narrow tyres. The route takes us over the steep Ditchling Beacon just before Brighton although we will wait for everyone.

Train back from Brighton.

Report

It sure looked like April fools as I headed for the Cutty Sark Gardens meeting point. The heavens opened as I passed through Deptford and when I arrived three were sheltering inside the entrance to the tunnel – they’d found out about the ride from the web and come over from Hackney. Others had come from West Hampstead and Notting Hill. 

By the time we left, the rain had stopped and the rest of the ride was dry and bright with lots of blue skies. At least one person had been put off coming by a pessimistic forecast. Just goes to show. If in doubt, get out – it’s rarely all that bad. 

Left Cutty Sark Gardens a bit too quickly and lost two in the one-way system. Found them soon enough but need to be more careful. Picked up another at Ladywell Fields and another at a specially arranged meet at Kent House down the Waterlink Way. Nine of us now– a good turn out for a fairly challenging ride so early in the year and with a none-too-promising weather forecast. 

The Waterlink Way makes for a slow meandering start but it’s always a good gentle sociable warm up before the exertions to come. Beware the ultra slippery bridge just after Catford – a real hazard in wet weather, especially as you have to take it at an angle. 

After Kent House, through the streets to Croydon, down the main road to Purley, then off up into the hilly suburbs to miss out the main road south. Slower and involves a bit of climbing but more leisurely and avoids the particularly deadly-looking bit at the beginning under the trees. We paused at Kenley station for a snack stop, three of us swapping baking tips and samples of a recently discovered home-made cycling energy snack. 

Past the Church with several RAF graves from the war and afterwards (Kenley Aerodrome is nearby), then back onto the main road near Whyteleafe South railway station and past the Ann Summers warehouse where we passed on the chance to explore the bicycle security possibilities of bondage gear.* 

We pressed on past the Betty Boop café and took the gradual climb to Caterham, followed by a steeper climb over the North Downs rewarded with a steep descent over the M25. Through Bletchingley and a straight run to Outwood where we ventured onto some moderate off-road to avoid a long drag through traffic and a particularly nasty bit of fast road. We all came through fine, then rejoined the main road to head for Turners Hill and lunch. A slow puncture hit a mile or so out but we pumped it up and carried on. 

I’d phoned ahead to the pub and the food arrived fast enough while the Hackney crowd attended to the puncture. Problem. Big problem. No way of getting the wheel nut off and no suitable tools. I’ve never fixed a puncture in-situ and was wary of trying on someone else’s bike. It looked like a slow detour to Haywards Heath for the train but after a struggle they found the thorn and repaired the tube in the tyre. Great work. 

After lunch we headed through Ardingly before heading back onto smaller roads pretty much all the way to Ditchling Beacon. The cars crawled behind us but to their credit none seemed to complain. Not many grounds anyway - anyone driving here is usually out for a scenic spin, not a fast A23-dash to town. All nine of us made it up without walking and it definitely does seem to get easier, particularly when you’re prepared for the psychological cruelty of the false summit. 

We’d faced a fair bit of wind all the way and it blew right in our faces once we’d crested the top. Once you hit the main A27 the only bad bit of the route awaits– a boring drag up a main road, then a barrage of traffic-lights pretty much all the way to the prom. 

The sea looked beautiful and the locals and students had come out in force to enjoy the sunshine and sit in the bars by the beach. Our usual stop, The Honey Bar, which often lets bikes inside during the day, was closing early (too early in the season I suppose) so we grabbed a beer at a nearby bar and sat by the beach. Fast train back to town and the eight remaining (Tim had to get back earlier) all managed to get the four-for-the-price of-two-deal. Great day out and will doubtless be repeated before the summer’s gone. 

* This stray comment should only mean something to regular readers of Lewisham Cyclists’ very own Boneshaker (or is it trembler?) featuring regular product reviews from our very own Mr Pendleton. If you aren’t a regular reader and this still means something to you, then you need serious counselling and probably carry suspiciously large numbers of spare inner tubes.