Hills Are Our Friends!

Discipline: Bike
Distance: 32.25 miles
Time: 2:34

Whoever said that must have had friends that made them sweat profusely, pany breathlessly, and generally push them through the pain barrier. Yesterday, I went out at around 3pm and met two new "friends", plus an old friend with whom I'd become well acquainted. It was intended to be about a 25 mile ride, then I decided "what the heck, let's go out to 50km and do 31 miles, and then I got lost! Here's the route. I somehow mucked up starting the Garmin, and stopped it when I should have been starting it, and who knows what!

I say three "friends", but actually there were a few more "friends of a friend" in there! To start with, the climb up from NESCOT up College Lane towards Epsom Downs. This was straight into a headwind, and for some reason took a lot more out of me than it did last week with Greenie. Maybe it was the body pump class in the morning?

Then it's out towards Tadworth, which in itself has a few climbs, and then on the full route it would be head to Box Hill, but instead of heading down Chequers Lane, I turned left towards the A217, and then across the roundabout and headed out towards Chipstead. This stage took a lot longer than I imagined, and although there were more hills, I was pleased to find that the road was generally decent. Then up the by now familiar How Lane (it seems to be getting shorter?), and then down towards Markedge Lane. It's been re-opened since my last ride. This was all pretty trouble free - but I was now into fairly new territory - although I had riden it in L2B. Across the dual carriageway (on it for 100 yards) and then left up Rocky Lane, a fairly minor climb by comparison to some of the others!

I then took a left, followed by a quick right, and then another left. This is where I departed from the L2B route - at this point you go right through Nutfield, but I was heading out towards Bletchingly and Hilltop Lane, which Smiffy had talked of in legend (okay, on the forums, he's not that old). Anyway - after a few more turns, I reached it. It was certainly steep, and I found myself coming out of the saddle. It seemed rather short though, and before long the road flattened out. "Doddle!", I thought, but then kept going, and there was another rise!

That bit wasn't too bad, although it did leave me breathless, but even then it wasn't over - after a short flat section, the road carried on climbing, including one turn that really should be outlawed! A view through the trees to the left showed how far I'd climbed pretty quickly.

A nice descent followed, although at times I had to hit the brakes to avoid going onto the opposite side of the road, which with cars coming in the other direction would be dangerous! There was gravel in the road, and the occasional branch sticking out, so it was, all in all, a bit nervewracking! Anyway - after not much bother I reached the A23, and turned right, looking for Church Lane. This turned out to be a no entry, so I kept going and looked for Star Lane. This was a short, steep climb, and once again I was out of the saddle, my legs somewhat wobbly by this time. It was relatively short though, and I crested it without too much fuss. Then a sharp descent down a one way road (Castle Lane), and then back on the road towards the A217 that I had come along some fifteen or so miles earlier.

I should probably have headed home at this point, but decided to carry on through Headly and back the way I'd ridden with Greenie last week up the back of Epsom Race Course. I actually think I did it right, but was slightly unsure of the roads, so I may have slowed a bit.

At this pont I realised that I was going to struggle to get to my A2 biology class on time, so I sought a quick way home, cutting through to the A217 again. I fluffed it terribly, and would have been quicker going the way I knew. I even tried to take a right hand turn at speed at the last minute, hit the brakes, skidded, and realised that road bikes don't lean as well as scooters with fat tyres! I came off the brakes, went up a kerb (ouch - might hasten the need for new wheels - must take care not to do it again!), and then headed down Nork Way. If only I'd taken the simple route home back past NESCOT!

Anyway, it's all miles in the bank, over a third Ironman cycle distance, and this morning I have lost precisely nothing in weight! Same as yesterday, in spite of exercising for three hours in total and probably not eating enough as I did rather throw a bagel down when I got back from the ride before dashing out to college!!