You forgot to mention your sedate pace on the way back, so sedate that it enabled myself and Mike to go up a few hills in the opposite direction, take in some cross county mountain biking, a fast descent off road, a fast descent on road and then catch the four of you just as you walked through the back gate - that was a fast ride back that even Mike was uncomfortable doing 23 mph on m'bike tyres on the flat!

I must be mad because I did the same hills again tonight and the East Dean rise (Berling/Beachy Head loop) with an elite time trial rider from the local club, that was even quicker, but we were on road bikes!

C'mon Stapfam if you want to do the 71 miler you need to up the mileage - you can't use those newbies as an excuse! ;-)