28/6- HSLCC BBR- Pocket Rocket

Brief Stop At The Appropriately named 'Horse Walk'

With the the threat of showers, numbers at the BBR were a bit lower than normal. Ollie was there with younger brother Fabian. Unfortunately Ollie was sporting a cast on his right arm having come off his bike at some speed the night before when his front wheel locked up for some unknown reason. Numbers were not high enough to split into a faster group and a slower group  so we said we would take good care of Fabian and shepherd him round the official route with the rest of us. Fabian rode extremely well for someone so young, being only slightly off the pace on flat sections and blasting up the steep hills with Matt and Stuart leaving myself and Malcolm C floundering in his wake. The threatened showers never materialised , our biggest problem was getting around all the horses we encountered, I think I counted four in all.Our usual bacon butty at Chile farm had to be forsaken for the cafe at Pevenesey as the road through Rickney was closed for bridge repairs, hopefully it will be open in time for next week.

Skies Looked Threatening But The Showers held Off!

27 June HSLCC Fri Night Ride- Keeping The Flame Alive

Sub Four Minute Stonestile For Stu!

With many of us at Bewl water and with Simon G taking a break, numbers at the Friday night ride have been very low recently. Often it has just been Marcus on a solo ride that has kept the Friday night ride alive. Having been scared off by the threat of mud at Bewl , I had decided to do the road ride instead. Fortunately Simon had seen my email and decided to come along. We were joined by Stu Hodd who unusually was free of child care duties on a Friday. Stu was feeling tired so was up for an easy ride where he could make some alterations to a creaking saddle on his top end carbon racing bike. The roads seemed to be exceptionally quiet and we made easy progress up to Broad Oak before enjoying the sweeping descent through Brede and onto the Stonestile approach. Stu and Simon have not done this ride since the council carried out major patching work on Stonestile, and like me they were very impressed with the repairs. No longer will there be any need to keep dodging holes as you build up momentum for the climb. Despite saying he wanted an easy ride, Stu could not resist going for a sub 4 minute ascent on stonestile and sure enough he got it at 3:59 which was a PB and the 5th fastest ascent of all time! Whilst recovering at the top of the climb all three of us declared our love of the Friday night route, it really does have a bit of everything and finishes with such a great climb. I have decided that for every two visits to Bewl I will do one Fri Night Ride to help keep it alive over the summer.

Hastings Rye Hastings H&StL CC Club TT Wednesday 25 June 2014

All three HRH Classics this season have been run on fine evenings and with a hint of East in the wind the last evening looked set to produce some fast times. Conditions were similar to last week when six PBs were set, and this week the wind did not drop during the event, so the question was would In Gear's Pete Tadros break the incredibly quick 40 minute mark yet again? He was close with 40:31 but three seconds down on last week.


There were four PBs on the night, the biggest improvement being by 1:50 for Trevor Deeble (46:42) to win the club event. Trevor had set a PB last week after more than a month on a 12,000 mile tour of Europe. But it was by car as he and Hannah performed at festivals and gigs from Ireland to Norway to Italy etc. They had decided not to use their beloved VW camper van so Trevor had not been able to take a bike which makes his PBs on return in consecutive weeks even more impressive and indicative of all the hard miles he did before the tour. Check out: http://trevormossandhannahlou.com/


Malcolm (47:16) was second, with third to fifth all recording PBs. Nigel Tamplin (50:15) and Jon Stainsby (53:10) are not long back from some hard touring (by bike!) miles in the Pyrenees and bettered their PBs set last week by 7 and 9 seconds respectively.


Sixteen year old Ollie Chapman (52:04) fresh from a 10 mile PB of 25:25 at the weekend knocked 1:28 off his best time from last year to come in fourth.


Paul Butler (57:21) has been one of the bacon butty regulars this year but had not tried a TT until last night.  Sixteen year old Matt Edwards had contacted us earlier in the year but his studies and exams have kept him off the bike.  He got in touch again a few days ago and I suggested he dived in at the deep end!!!! I told him that if he spends some of his summer break the bike he will be at least a minute quicker than me over ten miles in the ESCA September 10. His Dad was going to do the Etape this year but injury has put paid to that, he ought to come out and ride with us too as part of his prep for next year’s Etape.


After time keeping etc for all of 2013 and so far this season I was finally able to get a [slow] ride in (60:50) thanks to John Vidler doing the time keeping with Steve Butcher and Tom Norris marshalling at Rye.  Tom was a bit sneaky.  Having set a PB by one second last week he did not want to lower it any more so he has a better chance of another PB next season. Thanks also to Mark Ingram, Steve Denny and Tim Miles who have also been at Rye to marshal this year.


Club TTs are on the Pevensey course for the next two weeks:

 Wed       02 July   Pevensey 10    G10/83                    Meet 7.00 first rider off 7.30 late

Wed       09 July   Pevensey 10    G10/83                    Meet 7.00 first rider off 7.30 late

Wed.     16 July   Ninfield 14                                        Meet 6.30 first rider off 7.00

Wed.     23 July   Ninfield 14                                        Meet 6.30 first rider off 7.00

Wed.     30 July   Ninfield 14                                        Meet 6.30 first rider off 7.00


Sign on for Pevensey 10 will be moved to the same as used by Rovers: Starbucks behind the garage at Pevensey roundabout.  Please sign on as early as possible since the start is  several minutes away.  Results will be available at Starbucks afterwards.  Those that rehydrate will probably use the Oak and Castle in Pevensey (as we have in past years) since those from Eastbourne will not want come back Hastings / Bexhill way.


Remember that last year the start moved half way up the road to the bottom of Wartling Hill with the finish being Middle Bridge on the return from Little Common roundabout.


We need time keepers and ideally a presence at Little Common in addition to the race warning signs Stuart puts out.  Volunteers to Chris Parker asap, ideally several days before the event!!!!

Chris P

18/6 HRH Time Trial

Please see the table of Hastings – Rye- Hastings times.  It was a good week last Wednesday with 6 PBs and 2 SBs in the results.  It could be a good evening again tomorrow for our last HRH TT of 2014 so turn up and give it a go.

Chris P

Stu And Trevor In Racing Kit!

22/6 Linear Ride From Butt's Brow

Reaching Jevington By The Grassy Slope

Ivan Power returns!

Malcolm wanted to do the 60 mile ride from Butt's Brow to devil's Dyke and back as part of his preparation for the SDW in a day challenge (100 miles). This would be too far for myself, Paul B and Tom but at least we could stick with him for the first 15 miles before heading back to make a simple 30 mile linear ride. Ivan was also initially going to ride with us but Ivan power is at last flooding back into his veins and so he decided to do the stiffer challenge with Malcolm.Instead of the usual ridiculously bumpy ride down to Jevington I decided we should try out the alternative sweeping grassy decent a little further to the North instead. What a contrast, instead of body, bike and most importantly hands getting a terrible bashing, this decent was smooth fast and great fun, I wish I had tried this years ago. This will definitely be my default decent route from Butt's. Another new track awaited us at Alfriston where instead of the ususal ascent up the SDW Paul B led the B team up a 1.5 mile steep straight ramp instead before rejoining the SDW. It took all our strength just to keep moving but with great satisfaction we managed to rejoin the SDW just ahead of the A team . With a light tail wind we made easy progress to Folkington where we said goodbye to them. I was feeling good at this point and was feeling a bit guilty for not attempting the longer route, but as it turned out, thank goodness I hadn't. Passing through Rodmell, Paul informed us there was now a new cafe there, time to check it out! We were the only punters present and enjoyed tea and cake with only the shape of Rodmell hill looming over us to spoil the mood. Having hauled ourselves up the grassy flanks of Rodmell we were soon flying down the the Alfriston ramp at great speed. On reaching the bottom there was no sign of Tom. We were worried that he had fallen off on he decent but were relieved to find out he had  stopped for five minutes to admire the stunning views. From here everything changed. First we had to negotiate the very bumpy ascent from Alfriston up to High and over. From bitter experience I have learned that its best for me to get off and walk part of this horrible track rather than battle trying to keep the front wheel on the ground. From high and Over there is the incredibly long and steep ascent up to the top of the long man.

The Start Of The Endless 'Long Man' Climb!

This ascent felt endless today , it was all I could do to keep the bike moving for mile after mile. The decent from here to Jevington wasn't as invigorating as normal as the escarpments funnelled the wind into our path and we had to keep peddling to keep up a decent speed. All that remained was the long bumpy climb up to the top of Butt's brow. Settling into  'I am suffering but know that I can keep moving' mode I plodded my way up. Paul had been strong all day but finally seemed to run out of energy and actually stopped for a few seconds while Tom seemed to have gained a second wind and was as chirpy as anything. Finally reaching the top I couldn't help wonder what state I will be in on this climb in a few weeks time when we are riding the whole SDW over two days?

This Is Steep!

Message From Dan- Club Kit Delayed Until July

Hi Everyone With one thing and another the kit has been delayed - they have advised me that we should receive the kit by 1st July Regards Dan

Plug For Dunwhich Dynamo From John Stainsby

Nigel and I are going to do the Dunwich Dynamo night ride on 12th July. See the attached link to the Strava route. It's just under 180km/120miles and starts at London Fields park in Hackney and winds it's way out of London towards Epping and on through the Suffolk countryside to finish at the small village of Dunwich next to the sea. There are around 1500+ cyclists of all types taking part. It has no formal organisation and just works. You simply leave when you want in the early to mid evening and follow the endless stream of riders through the night. There is one arranged midway feed stop but this gets packed. You are self sufficient and ride at your own pace. It is not a race a such more a mass event. Think Gum Ball rally on bikes. It has been done on a butchers bike, Boris bike, bromptons, tandems, even a Penny Farthing and everything else in between! I will be riding with Nigel amd my brother to do a quickish run (limited stops but not a crazy pace) certainly no pub stops like a lot of people do but they suffer later. At the end the re is a pub that opens from around 5am and also does breakfast. There is also a cafe on the beach that opens early. Lots of people crash out on the beach waiting for lifts and so e even go for a dip to freshen up! We will meet at the start if anyone else wants in and then when it feels right leave. Dont bother to buy a paper route map they sell at the start you just follow the rest ad head east until you see the sea! There are coaches and transport for bikes that can be paid for to get back to London but I think these will be sold out by now. So the logistics of getting to London (train) and then back home are the main issues. If you can get someone to drive up to the end on Sunday whilst you snooze on the beach this is the best solution. You rest and they get there around noon. Other options are a 50 km ride to Ipswich for the mainline train. I cannot recommend this ride enough it is incredible to see an endless stream of red lights snaking ahead all night. The route is not hilly and only has the odd lump. People are really friendly and some are very colourful with lights on themselves and their bikes. There is a magical feeling about riding through sleeping villages in the dead of night on a journey from the 'smoke' to the coast. It feels subversive and that is liberating. http://southwarkcyclists.org.uk/introducing-dunwich-dynamo/ http://www.strava.com/routes/465225 John Stainsby

Hastings-Rye-Hastings Time Trial 11/06/2014

It was a fine Wednesday evening for the first of three Hastings-Rye-Hastings Classic TTs, bright sunny and warm with a moderate prevailing wind. With a PB improvement of over two minutes Stuart Hodd (45:20) won the event and 17 year old Joe Kingsman (48:02) put in a great time for second place with a PB by 42 seconds. Shortly after his return from an epic tour in the Pyrenes with event photographer and tour BLOG chronicler Jon Stainsby and friend from Cambridge Nigel Tamplin (51:06) was in third place just ahead of his usual Strava nemesis Kie Smith (52:37) who was making his TT debut. Also riding were: Jon Molton (53:08), Tom Norris (53:53), Greg Blackwell (57:04), Ivan Johnson (59:30) and Malcolm Daly was a DNF after puncturing at Winchelsea on the way back.

It must have been a good weather forecast, three texted me in the afternoon offering to marshal and one turned up on spec so there was a mini club run of four ahead of the field for a well marshalled turn at Rye Strand. Thank you very much to Derek Millgate,Tim Miles, Mark Ingram and Steve Denny. It is absolutely vital to have a presence in a yellow jacket to make drivers think about what is going on since they would not normally expect a bike to turn and retrace at a mini roundabout.

Fastest time of the night was a private time trial by In Gear's Pete Tadros (40.44). Peter has been under 40 minute in 2012 and for his course record of 39.23 in 2011 which was set on a better evening with some East in the wind helping the return to the top of Hastings. The moderate prevailing wind had given some assist on the mainly downhill run to Rye but provides something of a head wind for the return uphill return ride. Since Peter was bruised and shaken the day before when a motorist in a parked car opened their door without warning and had him off his bike his ride was an excellent performance. This acts as a reminder not to ride too close to a row of parked cars, nowadays doors are even more likely to be opened without a thorough check of what is coming from behind since many use their mobile after parking and you usually cannot see from behind if someone is sat in an offside seat in a car that has been parked there for a while.

Rye junior Michael Maxwell (52:53) has only ridden a few TTs but did a great time on a road that he knows well.

Please keep your cars off the main road, apart from a few officials cars that get there early and position their cars to keep the immediate start area clear of returning residents parked cars. Also please do not lean your bikes against the fence since the householder thinks that it may damage the fence, the garden hose was directed over the fence ...........

Chris Parker

14/6 Birling Gap Off Road

Good Old Birling Gap Did Not Disappoint!

Our off road  ride today was our favourite local one from Birling Gap. Early rain managed to put off Derek who decided to do the BBR instead but I put my faith in the forecasts which all said it would be dry. Sure enough by the time we got to Birling gap it was sunny and getting increasingly warm. Paul B was with us having come out of an unseasonal  period of hibernation but was in surprisingly good shape.I was also really surprised to have Ivan ride with us on a Saturday but this may well become a normal occurrence as Ivan exclaimed that he has had an epiphany and realised that life is too short to work on Saturdays . Good steady climbing took us through Cornish farm and up to the top of Butt's brow. From here there is the super fast  filling loosening decent down to Jevington. I really dislike this decent as its so long and bumpy my weak hands have trouble hanging on to the bars, so it was relief to reach the bottom and begin the steady climb up to the top of the "Long Man". Paul was feeling unusually brave today and so took the alternative grassy decent down to Alfriston with Malc,while myself and Ivan stuck to the bumpier but more straightforward decent down  the SDW.  Rather than take the easy way along the bottom of the downs to BoPeep, we decided to head straight up the steep chalky Kings Drive which gave our legs a better workout. Before long we were at BoPeep car park where our favourite decent began. Unfortunately we weren't concentrating enough today and spoiled the descent by taking a wrong turn and ending up riding through part of a golf course before having to retrace our steps. Rather than trying to navigate through the single track of Friston forest we used the boring but predictable family  trail instead. This just left the wonderful fast open decent past Crowlink and back down to Birling gap.
         The cafe has been repaired since the cliff erosion in the Winter with some new tables out side only a few feet away from the cliff's edge, we enjoyed well deserved tea and cake here but had to laugh at the incredible slowness of the staff working there who didn't

seem to have any sense of urgency whatsoever!

Bewl Season Off To A Good Start

Mark's  Voodoo May Be On Borrowed Time

Our Bewl Water season has got off to a good start. Last week the trail was surprisingly muddy for the time of year but thankfully still perfectly safe to ride. Despite commuting to work a few times on the mtb , it felt strange not to be riding on a road bike, I blame this and the muddy conditions for a really slow lap of one hour seven minutes.

                  This week the conditions were far drier, the ground having been baked hard by a solid week of sunshine and above average temperatures. This brought out a larger clutch of riders of myself, Derek, Malcolm, Josef, Steve D and Mark all up for it. Riders now have the choice of a double lap or a single. Myself, mark and Derek were only up for a single lap but we were joined by Steve D who had already done a big combination of one lap of Bedgebury (across the road from Bewl) followed by one lap of Bewl. We set off at a stiffer pace than normal and round a blind bend, nearly crashed into a man and his son on their bikes who were going around anticlockwise instead of what we think is a more sensible clockwise direction. I wish the people who manage Bewl would do the same thing the managers of  Bedgebury have and decide what direction is best and put up direction signs to avoid this from happening. After this we were a little more wary around the corners and gradually became more spread out with Steve and

Derek takes A Moment To Pause Before the Off!

Mark pulling away from myself and Derek. With the far drier conditions I managed far more respectable time of one hour two minutes which was my third best of all time. Despite riding around the course at a good pace Mark is not happy with his recently purchased Voodoo banshee. After having a go on it I could see way, why do some of the manufacturers make mtbs with such short top tubes and sit up and beg ride position. Mark may well sell the voodoo and use the money to  tart up his beloved retro Marin this has  a much more aggressive riding position.
                  Following the ride we had time for our traditional pint at the John's Cross Pub where the landlord recognised us and exclaimed " is it that time of the year already?"

8/6 Butts Brow Bash

It was great to get back to some off road riding on the south Downs, starting with the Butt's Brow bash. As the name suggests this ride starts at Butt's brow car park but to avoid paying for parking we parked near the bottom of Butt's lane and so had to endure the seriously steep climb with cold legs before meeting up with Dave HH and Tom at the top. From Butt's brow the terrain drops off in all directions so it was easy riding down to Friston forest. Dave wanted to do some single track through the forest and thought he could meet up with us at the main fire trail. Josef was also up for this as he wanted to see what his new 29er carbon hard tail Willier could do. Unfortunately Dave had misjudged how fast the rest of us were and so we passed through the forest with no sign of them and so decided to ring them from Alfrison. What we hadn't considered is that being in a valley there was no mobile signal, so after a short rest we continued up the steep chalky Kings Drive on the south Downs way. There was some sort of cross country marathon running race on and so we had to dodge the endless stream of friendly runners as we struggled up towards Bopeep. Meanwhile Dave and Josef had successfully been tracking us by asking runners if they had seen a rider on a pink bike and yellow helmet (what is it about that shade of pink?) , so that by the time we rung them they were on route to meet us. Having finally all met up at Firle beacon car park it was fast grassy downhill through Black cap farm and down into Bishopstone.

The Red Team!

We have unsuccessfully navigated our way through this area many times and Malcolm held back expecting the inevitable back tracking but for the first time ever, I actually got it right and before long we were on my favourite part of the whole ride which is the loooong drag up to Bopeep. I love this ascent as its smooth, non technical and the view opens up before you as you climb.Fast riding on the SDW took us back to Alfriston where we had a leisurely stop for tea and sandwiches. To get back to Butt's brow from here involves two very large climbs. From Alfriston we headed up the SDW towards the 'long Man'. I really dislike this bit of tack as its steep, and full of large stones and tree roots. Being a heavy rider on a large bike every time I hit one of the obstructions my front wheel threatened to go go vertical and on two occasions I fell off, so in the end had no choice but to walk the steepest sections. Fortunately for me, Dave was struggling a bit so I did not hold up the others too much. The climb up the Long Man itself is steep but reasonably smooth. The sun was seriously strong today and the reflections from the pure white chalk on this section made us feel like were were being baked from top and underneath at the same time. After one more fully ridable steep climb from Jevington to Butt's brow and the ride was finished. A fitting end to our ffirst mtb forray of the season.

Finally At The Top Of The 'Long Man'

Pyrenees Trip Part 2

So we survived the ride from Foix and made it our b&b found via Google maps. It is called L'Ancienne Bergerie between Galey and Orgibet just off the D618.. This turned out to be a real find. It is run by an English couple Rebecca and Kevin Banks and was the most comfortable night with the best food. All locally

produced even down to the pork and wine. We all recommend this place. Check out their website www anciennebergerie.comSo tired and full of fine food with kit drying by the fire we planned for the next day of climbing. Now the problem with staying in a good b&b is you don't get upearly and tend to hang about whilst the day slips away. It was gone 11am when we reluctantly left and hit the road again. Straight onto the road used by Le Tour each year just below the Gite we soon began climbing our first Col of the day (Col de Aspet)Forgetting to take something for lunch from breakfast (2nd time this schoolboy error had happened) we were soon scouring for anywhere to get food. Shops were non existent but we found a cafe open so piled in only to find the chef had gone home for the afternoon.
We cleaned them out of crisps and chocolate and set off again and realising there was a long way to go before the day was done. Another long descent lifted our spirits and soon we were back in a rhythm spinning along quiet roads. We overshot our turn and had to go back up the hill a bit to find the sign pointed to a village called Ore ( definitely did not look like any part of Ore village!) across the valley floor for probably the only bit of flat riding lasting all of about 1 km. Then up,up up into the forest and the Col de Portes. This was the steepest yet and really tested us. Ramps and hairpins of up to 10 percent really had us standing on the pedals. Then we broke above the tree line and the views were breathtaking. Wild deer grazed below us and cows were silhouetted on the ridge with their

bells clanging across the valley. It seems almost every animal has a bell on it here.The final push and we layered up for another descent. When they say you should do something everyday that scares you, I had a lifetimes of scaring squeezed into one hair raising ride off that hill. When we regrouped there was still along way down but at a more gentle and relaxing pace. No more white knuckles just time to take in the views. It was getting late by now and we still had one last climb to make our Destination the town of Arreau. We knew it was going to. E a problem getting to out accommodation before the reception closed but luckily for us my friend who lives in the area had arranged to meet us and had collected our keys before the manager went home. We could now relax and focus on the last Col. The second puncture of the trip slowed us a little and soon the light was fading. We dug deep and pushed on for the summit. We knew that for every descent it was all clothes on to avoid the chill. As we started to pull on layers the rain lashed down from nowhere and

it became a dash for the bottom. There followed an Everyman for himself descent in the wet and dark.feet and gloves became sodden and it was hard to see as water streamed down our faces. If it was white knuckle on the last one this was like the new scary ride at the theme park. We hung in for the ride and rode our luck into town. It was the rugby league final and the streets were packed watching televisions in bars. Our pizza and beer hit the spot and warmth was restored quickly. The next day it was the big one - Col de Aspin and then Tourmalet. The sun had broken through for us and Nigel went for a breakaway on the Tourmalet. I could not match his pace and we settled into our own pace to grind it up. The temperature dropped as we saw snow ahead and although the road was clear it was banked at the sides near the very top. I arrived to find Nigel stood dressed as Scott of the Antartic and after the obligatory photos he told me to get covered up quickly. Wise words as I soon felt very cool after stopping the 2 hrs of climbing. Ahead our decent had a barrier blocking cars due to rockfalls and road slips. It had been a hard winter and a wet spring causing havoc on the roads. We picked our way carefully past the debris and then it was clear for the remaining
descent. Towards the bottom they had started to resurface the road and we had perfect tarmac on closed roads to finish an epic day. Earlier we had been told tha. The Col D'Aubisque was closed due to snow so wondered what our last day would look like. It was agreed we would do a loop towards the col and break off before. At the turning point the barrier was down and a sweeper truck busy clearing stones. We took refuge in the cafe and feasted on a chocolate waffle and coffee. I knew that we had gained almost all of the height and the summit was just around the corner. The lady in the cafe said there was a block of snow the size of a house on the road and we could not pass. I looked for ages at the road snaking across the mountain and desperately wanted to give it a go. How hard could it be really? The others were. I keen and wanted to take the shorter route. As the vultures came into land and squabbled like cartoon characters I saw a lone rider approaching form the summit direction. This was my sign and I approached hi for news. He was English and enthused about how it was passable and the snow was easily crossed. That was it I was doing it. After all it was the Aubisque and I might not be back foe some time. We agreed twith Nigel and Andy to meet up at the hotel in Lourdes and I set off with my friend Gary on the understanding that I would help him get to the end. It was an extra 40 km. We rode the ribbon of road along the clif edge and through the two tunnels to reach the snow. We only met two cyclists coming the other way and had another closed route, car free. Incredible riding and topped off with a final descent into the sunlit valley. We had a two up TT for 35 km into Loudres and got cheered on. With 'Allez' from an nun. Very surreal. Into Disneyland Lourdes as we dubbed it with

the neon lights and ornate church. Everywhere we had to dodgy the pilgrims going about their business. We booked into our Faulty Towers hotel and found the others to devour pasta and pizza like it was our last supper. We had posted our bike bags to the hotel en route but they had not been delivered. They were tracked down to the PO and retrieved in time for our TGV to Paris. This was very easy and comfortable and we would recommend it as a fast way to get around. At 300 km an hour you hardly heard a hum. At Paris we had to cross town to the Gare du Nord and this is where things went a bit wrong for me as I got my rear wheel bent by a car on a junction. Luckily it was at slow speed and I escaped injury. I had a John Cleese moment with the car and then disappeared into the crowds dragging my battered bike along. I then had a 1km march with bike and pack on my shoulders to get our Eurostar in time. It was chaos at the station and took a while to find where to book in the bikes.

 After this it was easy but our plan to ride from Ashford was scuppered by my wheel and misinformation which meant we could not take the bike off until St
Pancreas. Nigel's girlfriend kindly came to collect us and we avoided having to wait for a train to Hastings.

All in all this was an truly epic trip with superb riding in amazing scenery. The options for rides are endless and it is so easy to get to but be prepared for a few
adventures along the way.

Below is a link to some photos to wet the appetite. Enjoy and be motivated to plan your own adventure.

https://flic.kr/s/aHsjYDohx7

Jon S

1/6 Eastbourne Festival Sportive

Excellent conditions prevailed for the Eastbourne Cycling Festival sportive. Hastings & St Leonard's Cycling Club were there in good numbers, bringing both quality and quantity to the proceedings. The forecast was for an increasingly bright day with light winds - what more can a cyclist ask for?

Most of us worked in a group that reportedly dwindled only when the long grind up High & Over finally sorted the strongest rider from the bunch. In-between times, we made good progress across the Marshes, up and down to Bodle Street Green and on to Rushlake Green. This is where I was dropped, settling into a steady solo rhythm of around 32kph along roads I know really well. The first half of the ride would be the fastest as all the big climbs were after 55km or so.

A hardcore group sped onwards, doing a good impression of the Wednesday night chaingang, but without the wind and rain. I knew there was another group with Steve Curtis and others behind me, and that Wednesday night feeling was then complete - I was riding between the two groups, as usual. But it felt good - I knew I needed to keep a consistent good pace to get round the course in under 3 hours 40 minutes. I hunkered down and spun my pedals as smoothly as I could.

Various others joined in along the way, coming and going according to the angle of the road and their relative strength. One such gent rejoined me near Cowbeach, riding with prayer-position TT bars. Mr TT sped past me on the descents, but fell behind on the lumps and bumps on the road to Magham Down. Just as he was starting to get on my nerves, seesawing back and forth, he took the turn for short route and I was finally alone - just me, the bike and the road, rolling through East Sussex's glorious fields and woods.

Our Illustreous Author Is ready For The Off!

Other riders were few and far between from Grove Hill to the turn at Horam. There followed from here a generally fast section of short rises and drops that took me south to the A22. A quick left and right at Golden Cross took me onto similar roads and over the 50km mark, through some of the county's best countryside. I stopped with a motorcycle marshall at the Selmeston level crossing, before reaching the A27 and wriggling through the traffic for the lane leading to Bo Peep.

This was the first of the four big hills on the day and, in my opinion, the toughest! Bo Peep - sounds sweet and innocent, doesn't it? An image of a young lady in a bonnet with a shepherds crook looking for her lambs, hiding behind a hedge from her.

Why on earth did they name this beast of a hill after a soppy nursery character? Wolf Hill would be more apt - sharp slopes and turns bite your legs hard, rip your lungs from your chest and your kneecaps from your legs. It's hills like this that make me wish I had a compact chainset; I was at the limit of my strength, honking uphill in a 39/28 gear. The sun was hot and all i could think about was taking my arm warmers off. Keep going, don't get distracted! I arrived at the top, panting like a bulldog, slumping over my handlebars and shaking from the effort.

"Pah, Gold Is Too easy for Me!"

The feeding station was a very welcome sight and here also were some of the fast group. Would I join them again? Maybe... I needed to eat. 60km and nearly two hours in and I was ravenous. Cake, flapjack & jelly babies were stuffed into my mouth and pockets, before making a careful descent of a gravel-strewn upper section, hairpin bends and rutted lower section. One down, three to go.

Safely over the A27 again and I was into a lovely, swift, sugar-fuelled blast to Arlington, past the only horse riders I saw all day. Back over the railway line and thankfully I crossed the A27 for the last time, before pressing up through beautiful Wilmington. This lumpy section gave way to a fantastic descent of Chapel Hill, before ramming the brakes on to follow the understated sign to Alfriston.

I was preparing for the next big hill - High & Over - forgetting there is a short, sharp slope before this and then a lovely steep dive down, hard right at speed and sweeping left before mashing up to the sharp right turn. From there, it's apparently only 0.8km to the top and the fast drop into Seaford. It felt a lot longer, the final kick upwards getting me out of the saddle, but I was safely up and onwards. I passed a police speed check on the edge of town, before worrying I'd missed a turn. All was well and I was heaving up Exceat before I knew it. More cyclists appeared, one just ahead of me managing to go backwards for a couple of feet on the first and steepest ramp, before making a big effort and heaving forward, to my relief.

Further on and I was behind traffic. A couple in one car were having a row. Windows down, she was crying her way through an explanation of why some bloke had been in her bedroom... She and her (ex?) boyfriend paid me no heed at all. Perhaps we really are invisible to some drivers.

Kie And david About To Set Off With The Fast group!

Then I was behind another cyclist who with legs of iron was pushing the biggest gear on the cassette. What was he doing? It was our Simon Grogan, riding with a broken dérailleur cable. True grit, the man of the ride and recognised as such on the festival organiser's Facebook page. The cable had broken on High & Over but Simon carried on.

The drop to East Dean led on to Birling Gap and into a light headwind. This was good news - I'd get some assistance as I turned and cranked up Beachy Head. And I reckoned I was on for a gold time if I could make it up in one piece.

Tired legs pressed on. I saw a rider without a helmet. Not a good sign, I thought; this rider was struggling. It was a fellow club member, 'bonking' badly. I passed him a trail bar and carried on; it wasn't my fastest ascent but I wasn't bothered. With the pub in sight, I knew I'd made the last big hill of the day.

Good Introduction To Group Cycling For Duncan's Pal

Then some bloke caught me up, saying he'd been chasing me since Bo Peep... He'd finally caught me after more than 20 miles. I waved him on - he had more energy left than me - and settled back into a fast rhythm along the top. I made good time down the zig-zags and along Holywell to the finish. There waiting were the fast boys, recently arrived, hanging around for other Hastings finishers. Our bonking friend arrived, looking better and relieved to finish. Simon Grogan came in after his gruelling but determined effort. Malcolm, Tom, John and a couple of others had gold times; Malcolm was, I think, first rider home for the club.

Sportives bring Out The Best In people!

What a great ride. Four really good hills, fabulous scenery and perfect weather. The sportive was well-run, as was the overall event. There were loads of attractions - I loved the penny farthing race - a good competitive races. I hope the event was a financial success and I'd recommend the sportive for next year. Most enjoyable sportive I've ridden, in my admittedly short sportive career!

After food and a shower, I noticed on Strava a large variation across the riders I follow in the metres climbed on the same route, from 1,057m to 1,302m. What's that about?