Tell us about your weekend ride

After managing only 2 rides over a centuary all year I've been berating myself for lack of miles, rhe summer has been too hot for the long epics. This last weeks autumnal weather acted as a real spur and as the forecast yesterday looked good I committed to a last centuary before the end of days weather descends upon us. I decided a suitable punishment for my lack of riding would be a hilly route exploring new territory, and having heard good things about Ashdown Forest and Knatts valley they formed the bones of the ride which I'd flesh out with a few more side orders of pain, operation last of the summer whine was a go.

I've battled an addiction to Tunnocks tea cakes for years, my guilt about such weakness is however reduced by the perception of added value I get by cutting up and writing directions on the empty boxes, the best school is the old school. Big thanks to Corlis Benefideo for suggesting some routes around Ashdown Forest, and a lovely descent down Twyford lane that I definately would'nt have discovered otherwise. So route prepped I set off.

The first 30 miles or so I was familiar with but I thought Surrey had launched a new tourist attraction named pheasant world as my ascent up Beddlestead Lane was accompanied by the paniced flapping and squawking of loads of the pea brained but pretty birds, who undecided as to whether to fly away or run away did a megamix of both. Then up and over Toys Hill, I love the fast descent from there, then it was pretty much all new to me.

I like to try and get a bit of technical non road sections in so at the 40 mile mark I turned off the B2110 and cut down here:

As this is not a proper road its not on google streetview so this was the only section that I was'nt able to cyber recce. You start by crossing a golfing hole and then it quickly gets more rugged and wild, this was the only time on the ride I went the wrong way, ending up in someones drive. I then selectively chose not to see a 'private' road section where the track gradually deteriorated into more like a Fort William rock garden than a road, that with 23c tyres could only be negotiated at walking pace. I cycled nervously past about 3 properties hoping no one would set any hounds upon me as there was no speedy exit route available. Thankfully I did'nt see anyone and the route turned into an enchanted wood, I saw 3 deer and despite trying on a couple of occasions to take pics they were not like the Richmond deer, these feckers just would not let me get close enough to take a pic. I then cycled past some really old exposed, knarled and knotted tree roots which I regret not getting a picture of, at the time being too concerned with being a failed Simon King.

Thankfully the route came out where I'd hoped and then it was onto the Twyford Road section complete with ford at the bottom

Having had no luck with the deer and with the haunting mocking of King, Nutkins et al in my ear I was determined to get a picture of some animals other than the abundant inside out pheasants and rabbits lying by the side of the road. On the ascent up Birchgrove Lane I saw a cat sat in the road but staring into the grass in hunting mode. For some reason I acted like a wonderstruck numpty who'd never seen a cat before, despite them being probably one of the most widespread animals on earth. I stopped and tried to tempt it over for some strokes but it was'nt having any of it and jumped in the hedge, and despite unleashing my entire reportoire of kitty tempting calls it stayed well out of reach and so I gave up. A few minutes later I cycled past the National Cat Centre and convinced myself the kitty was a recent escapee and could'nt risk exposure, well feck you kitty I'm blowing your cover on the interwebs.

Then it was a good fast section along Colemans Hatch Road

and turning off down Kidds Hill, and up the other side, ooof that climb was harsh but at the top the sun came out which seemed as though a higher power approved of my stint being close enough to the bar tape to smell it, and felt a reward was in order. Then there was another great fast section down the B2188.

One thing about plotting routes through the wilderness is that by their very nature they are a bit lacking in shops, and by the time I got to Sussex Lane my lone water bottle that I'd not filled since Brasted was empty and I was beginning to get a bit worried. Thankfully the Rock Inn appeared and I stopped for a refill and a lager in the empty and sun swamped garden, that beer tasted good. Shortly after the pub stop I passed the lovely Larkin brewery building.

Having not really paid any attention to the overall route profile when planning the ride, I was now feeling the drain from the constant up and down. It was only when I uploaded the route afterwards I saw exactly how punishing it was, there seemed to be no flats bits at all for the whole ride, and looking at the profile this morning makes me wince. It will come as no surpise when I confirm constant undulation is knackering.

I crawled up Bayleys, and unfortunately my arrival at Otford and up Rowdow coincided with the after school early rush hour shit fight, and that section was really busy, and a shock to the system after having such a traffic free day up to that point. These concerns quickly vanished as I soft pedalled down a mercifully deserted Knatts Valley Road, another good section. Then it was back over to Knockholt and Biggin Hill before letting gravity take effect to bring me back to civilisation. I'm not sure I've done such a constantly undulating route, even in Wales. It was nowhere near as exciting a location as some on this page, but a hard and really nice route nonetheless. I ache a lot now and decided against riding in favour of a day off. Todays Tunnocks tea cakes will be totally guilt free.

http://ridewithgps.com/trips/1824436