Tell us about your weekend ride

I also did a ride to Brighton yesterday, mainly to prepare for the DD this weekend. My main intention was to prove the bike and equipment setup. Since I only just put a rack and pannier on last week. I also wanted to try using OsmAnd for navigation.

I had planned on leaving earlier, but I did not set off till 9.45. Getting to Mitcham was easy enough I know that part of London quite well. Traffic was not too bad. Once I got to Mitcham and was on the road to Sutton I switched the navigator on. I took a couple of wrong turns around Chipstead, but nothing major, only a few 100m each time. Having said that It did take me ages just getting to the M25.

I had forgotten how hilly this route is actually, I could swear I had found it easier the last time I did it. Perhaps it was the heat, or more than likely I just have gotten used to riding around the flat parts of London. Getting up Turners and Clayton Hill in particular were bad. Mainly because of the self created mechanical issues. My chain came off, shifting badly going up Turners. Then on Clayton I managed to get my rear derailer to skip, making a racket and making me think my chain was going to come off again. I think I need to do more hill training, and perhaps some shifting training too.

Riding with a single loaded pannier is a pain in the ass. I think I was carrying more than I needed just to get the utility of having a rack and pannier. Commuting wise it make sense, but for this kind of ride it was overkill. In the pannier I had two locks, food, a change of cloths, tubes, and tools. I didn't even lock up my bike! I am going to go find a top mounting rack bag for the DD.

My cycle computers battery flap has morphed into the case, and I have still failed to get that fixed. So I basically had no idea how quick I was going or what time I was where. Other than when looking at my backup dumbphone's screen. Even though I brought a double capacity battery for the GPS phone, the phone was dead just after Turners Hill. I knew the route roughly from having done it before, so I figured I would get a map from a petrol station when I came across one. As it turns out I did not need it. I did stop a lot because of the heat. The other annoyance I created for myself was that I was wearing a loose belt, which meant my shorts needed adjusting every so often. I lost a water bottle between Ardingly and Lindfield. A brand new Camalbak I had just bought the day before.

I stopped at Lindfield for a good 20 minutes, but still struggled getting up the hill leaving Lindfield. But once I got going again I was good until Ditchling. Now I had intended to do the Beacon but by this point I was fed up with the hills. So I opted to stick with the route I had planned and headed towards Clayton Hill. That route actually goes on to the A23, which I was apprehensive about doing.

Earlier on my trip I had been cycling with a group of three other riders on and off from around Ardingly. Sometimes they would stop, and I would carry on. Then they would catch me up, when I stopped and we alternated this for a while. I went down the A23 until the cafe, hoping there was a way on to the crossing bridge I could see. But there wasn't. I decided to turn around and work out how to get on to the bridge. Just as I was doing this, these three riders had caught up with me. I asked if they were going to carry on down the A23, which the leader responded to with a 'yes'. So I just joined them. As it turns out after about two miles in the hard shoulder, a proper cycle path springs up. Clearly they had ridden that route before. We rode together until partying ways around the center of Brighton. I headed to the pier for some chips.

I was in Brighton around 3.30 so nearly 6 hours, which is a little disappointing. I think my big mistake was setting off without having any proper food. Then making too many stops. Not too worried about the DD though, so at least that is a positive.

Things I learned :
Eat properly before setting off!
Always fit a bike computer.
Wear clothes that fit and belts with enough holes.
Keep a charged spare battery for the GPS phone.
Don't carry locks if you don't need them!
Panniers suck for this kind of ride.

Things I saw :
The Dulwich Paragon doing a road race at Chipstead had to wait a good 10 minutes for them to go.
A classic car show in Ardingly - did not have time to stop properly. But I could see quite a few cars on the field as I went by.

Things I re-affirmed :
Surly make awesome bike frames.
Continental Four Season tyres are also awesome.
Brighton chips > London chips - maybe.