The Railway Touring Club - Downs Link Ride

Whats the bit like between Dorking and Gomshall on 22?

would you have changed your route out of London at all?

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Great. Just need to get some 28c tyres as mine are currently 26!

I’ll be on 25mm and fixed. Obvs if you want the extra comfort go for it but, part of the point of these rides is to just come on the bike you’ve got.

This

I’ll be on my singlespeed

The big question is what size of Carradice I should use

The one with the most pin buttons is the obvious answer.

You are so right

That’s tyres and saddlebags you’ve sorted for this ride so far. What’s next, bottle cages?

Will stick with what I’ve got then.

Hip flask.

You may have managed to fool mashton with the date, but your time says 8pm, and I'm not fooled. :)

Can you do this on a cool fixie with 23c tyres?

https://www.lfgss.com/comments/14783508/

I really loved the route actually. It takes you towards Mitcham and then routes westward along the Wandle trail, past little gardens on the edge of the river. It's really stunning in places. Then you end up on those weird fields at the edge of the downs with all the black-painted clapperboard houses.

It's by far the best route into the Surrey Hills that I've found so far.

All of the trails are hard packed gravel/sand or very easy draining dirt. As I got onto the downs themselves there was a lot more clinker/flint/gravel, but again not a problem. It was a bit "rooty" in places, but no worse than riding through a London park on the trails in Wimbledon Common for example.

I mean don't turn up on racing tyres with thin tread and sidewalls and you'll be fine.
I was riding a Michelin Dynamic on the front (it's their cheapest 700x28c tyre) and a Vittoria Randonneur at the rear (puncture guard and bit of tread), but again it's a £10 tyre!

I don't do fancy tyres.

I’ll probably be riding something low-30s but wearing a hair shirt as I spin (Christ, you all need to be kinder to yourselves...).

Am actually looking forward to this. I’ve only ever done the London Rd out of London, hammering it south as fast as I can. A meander through bits of south and south west will be marvellous. Am reading up on ‘hidden rivers of...’ right now : )

Yeah, but mine goes down to 23.

Cracking info, i'll make sure I align the routes, although I think they mostly are the same.

I echo your tyre-y sentiments.

We all know you can go a lot lower than that Oliver

Updated to Include @Alex_B 's route out

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29588574

I've pencilled this one in. The smallest tyre on a road type bike I have is 25c, otherwise it's a CX bike with 32c. Already planned to ride east to Hastings to make it easier to get back to sunny Kent via train, this does take in some gravelly steep climbs around Beachy Head, so might have to go with the CX bike.

I'll promise to try and keep it in one gear.

Not an organiser, but this isn't a fixed gear/single speed love in as far as I know. Gears more than welcome. Flaps and waxed cotton get bonus points.

This

Run wot u brung

Flaps and waxed cotton get bonus points

This is just a fact of life

Sounds marvellous - I can point out some half decent pubs on the way down of the mood brings us to beer.

it will, it will

Also pencilled in. The family will be away. Should I tell them - or just book the day off work and never mention it to the loved ones?

I thought our secret was safe with you, and now you've told everyone?

When you have a secret like ours, it seems unfair to keep it from the world

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AmJahiCsnw