The BHF London to Brighton

Good work 6pt! I will see how I get on, I will try and find a gap so I can have a bit of space. I'm determined to make it to the top :).

C_T, apologies re reading my post it sounded a bit offish. I was trying to say that I would imagine slim chance of getting a free run at Ditchling on this event. Perhaps save it for another day and just enjoy the atmosphere. Either way have a good ride

C_T, apologies re reading my post it sounded a bit offish. I was trying to say that I would imagine slim chance of getting a free run at Ditchling on this event. Perhaps save it for another day and just enjoy the atmosphere. Either way have a good ride

No worries, no offence or the like taken. I think that I'm going to have to accept that reality, it should be a fun day regardless! Thank you :)

I'm walking up Ditchling.*

Quite appropriately, I'm currently limping after twisting my ankle at the I.O.W. Festival so have a genuine excuse. Obviously I would have sliced my way through the pack viciously on my heroic ascent were it not for this injury.

*pride may take over when I get there.

@ chris_tim
I did it last year on a similar gearing (50x19) without bursting any blood vessels. The advice about an early start is the important bit though. My wife did this last year, starting at 8am - it was so busy that she couldn't actually get on the bike and ride for about an hour! Dichling was walking only unless you had the skill, power and tenacity to weave in and out of all the nodders!

I, on the other hand, drove down there with fixy in boot, and went for a fantastic ride along the A259 coast road to Worthing where I had a pasty and a pint before returning to Brighton - Fab day for me, infuriating day for Mrs Conker!

^^ I said I would walk up Ditchling the whole way there but as I got closer and closer and not being able to see the whole way up due to trees I just though fuck it and put my pedal down! Bet you do the same.

I'm hoping a 7:30 start will be early enough if I power ahead at any opportunity and stay ahead of the pack. I have every intention of riding up, i'm pretty good at weaving uphill as there is some hilly bits that are prone to traffic on my commute. I'm preparing my loud voice so I can use it to shout at nodders blocking the way!

I haven't been able to get hold of a lever for my bike so i will be brakeless, am I likely to have issues at the start from the marshalls?

I'm hoping a 7:30 start will be early enough if I power ahead at any opportunity and stay ahead of the pack. I have every intention of riding up, i'm pretty good at weaving uphill as there is some hilly bits that are prone to traffic on my commute. I'm preparing my loud voice so I can use it to shout at nodders blocking the way!

I haven't been able to get hold of a lever for my bike so i will be brakeless, am I likely to have issues at the start from the marshalls?

It's a bad idea to do the BHF L2B brakeless.

I got up Ditchling a couple of years ago on the BHF ride on 67", but I was shouting at people to move out the f*cking way.

yeh they should put a fast lane on the BHF L2B Ditchling hill because the people take up the whole fucking road when they walk up - a right pain in the arse

It's a bad idea to do the BHF L2B brakeless.

I got up Ditchling a couple of years ago on the BHF ride on 67", but I was shouting at people to move out the f*cking way.

I know, I had planned on getting a brake but I have been so busy I haven't been able to sort it out.

they might not let you start but ive never seen anyone actually checking the bikes over.

It would be a shame to ride it brakeless...you wouldn't get to enjoy the glorious descent into Brighton as much.

^this. one of my favourite roads in the uk, from the top of ditchling all the way down

I'm hoping a 7:30 start will be early enough if I power ahead at any opportunity and stay ahead of the pack.

You make it sound like you're trying to escape from a hoarde of zombie nodders.

Ah...

brakeless on that ride + the descent into Brighton = suicide!

Doing it on Sunday but had to go for the road bike, can't believe my fucking knee goes this week after 2 years fixed no problems

Anybody need an entry to this, or know anyone who'd like to do it? My cousin sent me his but i cant make it....

Set of at approximately twenty to seven, three hours and an irritating seven minutes (target was three hours ) I was handed my medal and bottle of water

And here are the details for those who want to compare:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/93482221

feck orf^ speedy bugger. we set off at 6am and rolled into brighton for medals at 2pm exactly...

but in my defence i was with a bunch of first timers for whom this was the longest ride they have done, I do have a bad back which needs constant stops, i did get shat on hugely by some bird (sure it was a whole flock, the amount i was wiping off my arms with leaves) and despite wearing my summer jersey im just slow and tired.

Set of at approximately twenty to seven, three hours and an irritating seven minutes (target was three hours ) I was handed my medal and bottle of water

Thats a great time!

I set off at 8 and made it to Brighton for 1:20, made it half way up the beacon but then hit a wall of people doing not alot and had to get off and couldn't get going again :(. Made all the other hills though, there was a few hairy downhill moments with people just swerving in front of me which was irritating!

I had good fun but I think next time I will definitely have a brake and a helmet, the volume of people was scary. Met a few people riding fixed, some friendly some not so friendly.

Never again.

Set off at 9.30, made it to Tooting just before 10.30. Utter fucking joke! Had some hairy moments when people literally stopped dead in front of me and a serious elbow battle with 2 bellends going up one of the early hills. At one point everyone had to walk up the gentlest of incline due to the amount of people who didn't even bother trying to ride it which was annoying to say the least. The only good climb I got was the beacon which I seemed to get up pretty well. For some unknown reason people actually walked on the left for the first time leaving the right lane for riding. The descent started off fun and I hit 40.8mph (48x19, serious spinning!) just as everyone was forced to slow down due to an ambulance attending to a faller who looked proper fucked. Set off again, then 200m later another ambulance dealing with 2 guys who were being put on spinal boards. Fingers crossed they're ok.

All up 4hrs 26mins, which taking into account the fiasco getting away at the start and the forced walking, wasn't too bad an effort.

i can't believe a sane person would choose to ride the LTB on nodders day. would rather give some wedge to the charity and ride on any other day. it's fucking carnage.

Agreed, in part- I gave it a miss last year as my sentiments echoed yours pretty much 100%.

This year I ignored the 9.30 start time on my ticket and turned up at 6.30.

Result? It was dog slow getting out of London, in fact the first 13 miles took over an hour, but after that it was the first one I have done with no stops- I did not unclip until Brighton.

Next year I will leave at 6 come what may and aim for 2.45