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Kurai
On the topic of the solstice anyone want to post a ride report here!?
I’ll go first.
Followed a route I found on Komoot leaving London and heading via box hill area down to the downs link. Really lovely start to the ride not too many main roads, the off road sections where in surprisingly good condition as well even with the rain we have had for the last few days. Nettles and thorns were out in full force mind you, luckily I had a long sleeve shirt and trousers on or I would have been buggered.
Now the first 50 miles being the route I got off of Komoot it had been previously rode and I had no issues here. Now comes the part where some issues arrived. The route Komoot gave me round Horsham and Crawley where not as bad as I thought they would be though the latter city wasn’t that scenic to say the least.
I then came to what was my first real struggle, being around the 8 hour mark of riding at this point I was definitely not in the strongest mindset. This is where the not so lovely barely cared for bridleway down the side of the m23 really got me down and to add to that a puncture! Okay so puncture repaired but as I went on knowing that there really wasn’t a way around it at this point the mud seemed to get thicker and more clay ridden as I went on. Okay so pushing the bike it is and a mile or so later back on the open road I was!
Onto the next field that was also even more so clay ridden so another pushing job (Thanks 2.1 gravelkings and my stupidly minimal clearance)
The ride was at this point taking its toll on me my sweets that were the glue keeping me together were running low. A few more roads later and I was onto Caterham lovely area I’m sure but yet again my Komoot route that seemed all to perfect on my computer let me down yet again! A wrong turn into a industrial area that on enetering I hadn’t twigged had a coded gate that was open. A mile or so up what was the steepest gradient of the ride and a dead end! My Garmin was telling me I could continue on but the steel spiked fence was saying otherwise. Back down the hill I go only to find the now 8 foot gate shut and only a coded panel to open it. Luckily after wondering if this would be my final demise a very confused looking worker turned up (not due to me they were just luckily heading back to their lockup) and without hesitation I bolted through the gate!
At this point I was really feeling down and wanted more of those lovely bridleways I had 30 miles prior. I headed on only to get even more lost further up in what was essentially a huge valley I had to go down into and up over the other side. Oh joy and when I got here a barbed wire fence, bike was quickly thrown over and on I headed down into the horse farm slightly further on. At this point I could see the road I was trying to reach earlier on in the industrial area.
At this point I was seriously considering switching out the route for my Garmin to take me straight home, I preserved on for a little longer and took some lovely bridleway just off of Woldingham golf club, at this point what was originally supposed to be a solstice ride due to the longer sunlight had faded away and sunlight was no more. It was time to switch my route out for the most direct road only route home and finally I arrived back, 14 hours after I originally set off and 102 miles under my belt.
Can’t say I’ll be attempting at again anytime soon but it was an adventure for sure!
(Sorry if this is a big of a slog to read)