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06-15-08, 10:27 AM
Not much of a report but ride done and a few pics. 5.30am start from home and we got to the start just after 7. 18 in the group and is the contingent from The Local Council. Team name- which was very apt- was "Wealden Wobblers". Unloaded and onto the start lane(s). Pic of the jersey And of the Lanes- before you get to the start line. Bit crowded as you can see. This is not a serious ride- and some foolhardy souls think that 54 miles is an occasion for dressing up- as you can see from the girls. Nothing to do with me or my group but I thought they were balmy enough to show you the typical riders we get on this ride. (Complete Lunatics).
There are quite a few stoppages on this ride on the country lanes- and this was one of the traffic jams. Looking forward- and back. No accident this time- it was to allow some semblance of normality for the Car drivers that wanted to travel the same roads as 33,000 bikes. With that number of bikes- the roads are crowded. No chance of any real speed but a shot of one section of clearish road up a slope.You can see the nimbers of riders as this shot covers about 1/4 mile of road. And on those slopes- you get walkers up the minutest of uphill.
Now the one thing most dread on this ride is Ditchling beacon. The village of Ditchling is at the base of the South Downs and is very picturesque. But then there is the hill. I thought it was a 10% average for a mile and that is what it is----BUT- it is an old Stagecoach road and there are Flat areas to give the Horses a rest up the Extreme hill. So if it is an average of 10% with many flat bits in it- This hill in places is steep. It is at mile 45ish on the graph- and the Over 30 % bit is an anomoly that I can understand. I got knocked off By another rider and It caused the anomoly. While I was recovering- took a shot of the Walkers and of the riders. Quite a surprising number riding it this year- but perhaps the walkers had not got to it yet.
So ride done in a ride time of 4hours 10 minutes- but that does not include the Pit stops for traffic or the coffee I manged once. 2,865ft of climbing- and on a distance of 54 miles.
Incidentally- Got to Brighton and rest of the wealden Wobblers were phoned to find out how long they would be. It was going to be a long day for them as the had only just got over halfway. So me Martyn and Mike went home.
Edit addition--Those T shirts worn by the "Wobblers" is a colour that stood out a mile. Perhaps because no-one else was brave enough to wear it but you could definitely pick out the team. And on the regional new tonight- there was an item about the L to B ride. They show one or two riders and there was Martyn- sitting on the Curb relaxing drinking a bottle of water. Had 4 people phone me up to say "Did you see it" and Yes I did.
Extra edit- Martyn on the TV- is also eating an egg mayonaise Baguette. No wonder he puts on weight on rides. And the rest of the Wobblers came in 4 hours after me.
There are quite a few stoppages on this ride on the country lanes- and this was one of the traffic jams. Looking forward- and back. No accident this time- it was to allow some semblance of normality for the Car drivers that wanted to travel the same roads as 33,000 bikes. With that number of bikes- the roads are crowded. No chance of any real speed but a shot of one section of clearish road up a slope.You can see the nimbers of riders as this shot covers about 1/4 mile of road. And on those slopes- you get walkers up the minutest of uphill.
Now the one thing most dread on this ride is Ditchling beacon. The village of Ditchling is at the base of the South Downs and is very picturesque. But then there is the hill. I thought it was a 10% average for a mile and that is what it is----BUT- it is an old Stagecoach road and there are Flat areas to give the Horses a rest up the Extreme hill. So if it is an average of 10% with many flat bits in it- This hill in places is steep. It is at mile 45ish on the graph- and the Over 30 % bit is an anomoly that I can understand. I got knocked off By another rider and It caused the anomoly. While I was recovering- took a shot of the Walkers and of the riders. Quite a surprising number riding it this year- but perhaps the walkers had not got to it yet.
So ride done in a ride time of 4hours 10 minutes- but that does not include the Pit stops for traffic or the coffee I manged once. 2,865ft of climbing- and on a distance of 54 miles.
Incidentally- Got to Brighton and rest of the wealden Wobblers were phoned to find out how long they would be. It was going to be a long day for them as the had only just got over halfway. So me Martyn and Mike went home.
Edit addition--Those T shirts worn by the "Wobblers" is a colour that stood out a mile. Perhaps because no-one else was brave enough to wear it but you could definitely pick out the team. And on the regional new tonight- there was an item about the L to B ride. They show one or two riders and there was Martyn- sitting on the Curb relaxing drinking a bottle of water. Had 4 people phone me up to say "Did you see it" and Yes I did.
Extra edit- Martyn on the TV- is also eating an egg mayonaise Baguette. No wonder he puts on weight on rides. And the rest of the Wobblers came in 4 hours after me.