Our best ever turnout for a Hack bike ride (see photo).This included four hack bike newbies: Ben Corbishley, Steve Standen, Mike Crane and Steve Denny (finally riding clipless). Also joining us was Dan (the legend) Harwood who last came on a Hack bike ride about 5 years ago. We set off at 1:10 for our first stop at Loughton. The riding seemed easy as we had the wind behind us. After this was some fast very flat riding to Lewes where we decided to go down to pub in the centre of town by the river. It was exceptionally mild for the time of year (very different to conditions last year) so we were happy to drink outside. On the way to our next destination of the half-moon pub at Ditchling we were very lucky not to have a major pile up. Colin called out to turn left but some people (the two pints might have had something to do with it) didn’t hear, so there were some cyclists crossing left in front of others and to make it worse there was a van on the right. Miraculously we all made the turn (time seemed to slow down for a while). Ivan and Malcolm decided at this point that they wanted to ride back home rather than continue on to Brighton . The rest of us pressed on to the highlight of the route, the climb up Ditchling beacon. After Pete led us to the bottom it was every man for himself. Unfortunately on the way up it proved too much for Duncan’s chain and one of the links snapped. Ben was worried about the climb but needed have been as he rode it comfortably only a little behind me. Steve S also did very well and actually beat me up the climb despite his lack of training. Once Pete had managed to reconnect Duncan’s chain with a ‘missing link’ provided by Paul we proceeded to make the rapid decent down into Brighton. Myself and Colin were really looking forward to this decent but as so often happens on this hill, our glasses were completely misted up with the fog and all we could make out on the road were the central markings, so we had to take it easy. At Brighton we met up with Chris parker who had to come by train as he is still hobbling with his injured calf. This was followed by a very large curry and more beer before catching the train home. For some reason Pete decided it would be a good idea to buy a bottle of vodka for the train journey home. As most of us didn’t want any, this meant he got more and more drunk the closer we got to home. Thanks to all who came on the ride. We hope to organise a local one sometime between Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. See pictures on the slideshow.
S.C
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