Ride of the Falling Leaves

Greetings folks,

Well what an epic day yesterday.... I got to the start at Herne Hill to find it a sea of cyclists ready to take on the Ride of the Falling Leaves... As always it is a really well organised ride. I was given my ' electronic tag' which made me feel ASBO tastic, a few greetings exchanged, a beep or two as I passed the gate and then out on to the roads for the challenge...

It is a really lovely route out of Baby-london. Dulwich, College Road, Crystal Palace, Anerley, Elmers End, West Wickham, then out in to the countryside.

The weather was a bit hit and miss, I felt as if I was in some rapha advert with all gritted teeth into the driving rain, though for me it has the added look of a blue plastic bag on my head - well it is the accessories that make an outfit after all... I took it pretty leisurely last year just wanting a nice day out in what was lovely weather. Yesterday however was different - I just wanted to get around asap and get back home into the dry again.

As Woldingham approaches you realise that this is a challenging route, especially fixed. I do have to walk up the middle bit of this climb. At the top however two young lads in VCL tops were giving it some, followed by their Mums. As the hill leveled out the two young lads were trying to mix it with the big roady boys infront and were doing fine. Their Mums could not stop laughing as they were struggling to keep up with their young boys.

After Westerham you start to feel as if things are perking up as you are heading home again. Between there and Sundridge Hill there was a section of cyclocross with a few miles of completely muddy road. This bit was the 'Hell of Kent'.

Now then who says men can't multi-task.... I cannot get up Sundridge Hill without walking so I decided to eat my lunch as I walked to save some time and keep on movin' ...

Before Keston there was an incredibly steep and slippy descent. A young lad behind me fell off fairly noisily and spectacularly. As is the case with this ride, everyone mucked in, got the lad sorted, bike working again and then off he went as if nothing had happened. I love reaching Keston as I know we are then close to West Wickham and then it feels as if you have made it to the home straight. The weather had improved also, so the bag was off again and I was feeling good all round.

I got back to the Dulwich sports club to find a lot of tired, muddy but happy riders basking in the glory of what they had achieved. The weather was so wet, my electronic tag fell off my bag, so no chance of a finishing time, e-mail, or web hosting glory. I will probably get an e-mail in a couple of weeks with riderhq wanting to know how far round the course I have got...?

I met many familiar faces, and it was good vibes all the way... Big shout out to @jonny and his team, and all others who said hello.

Got home with 57.26 miles on the clock. A hot bath, then later washed the bike down and here we are again after a great weekend ride.

I am gonna try and do this ride annually / er Anerley...

Peace and love,

Tim

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