Hell of the Ashdown

I rode it yesterday, just to see. Found it hard going :(

Brave and myself will be riding. We are joining a few mates at the Cudham Lane junction at about 8.40 I think. Might see some of you out there.

I'm on at 8:33, feel like bumping that forwards a touch? :P
/based on yesterday's performance you'll catch me soon enough

I rode it yesterday...

Cheat! :)

I appear to have tweaked my left knee a bit, hope I'm okay for the weekend.

Did you do the 'new' climb rather than Groombridge Hill, Tom?

I hate that hill. I find that I come to it with no rhythm after having descended for about 6 of the previous 8 miles.

I was following this: http://www.routeyou.com/route/view/60991/cycle-route-hell-of-ashdown-recce.en , no idea if it's right or not... my Garmin gave up and gave me a straight line back to Cudham around Bough Beech, so I had to guess a bit, but did Bayleys, along to Ide, up Star and across, which looks pretty much spot on.

Maybe I didn't do that one. Bleh, going to have to switch computers and plug my Garmin in, now.

I think the people we are meeting are starting at 8.30 or 8.35 so I reckon you will get to Cudham at a similar time, Ill give you a bell int morning.

I'm on at 8:33, feel like bumping that forwards a touch? :P
/based on yesterday's performance you'll catch me soon enough

I did this one:
http://www.routeyou.com/route/view/54251/cycle-route-hell-of-the-ashdown-challenge-106k-route.en
I remember it coming up with La Nouvelle Col de Groombridge, which made me smile. Didn't find it that bad, the only thing that really broke me was that bastard climb in the Ashdown Forest that just goes up and up and up.

Col de Groombridge ffs...

Ithe only thing that really broke me was that bastard climb in the Ashdown Forest that just goes up and up and up.

Kidds Hill? The Wall. Just think of the massive down hill you get after it though, bargain.

Kidds is a short sharp shock for sure but JAMIE is right.. the decent after is worth the effort.

Christ, I hadn't appreciated how much of the route I'd recognize. Quite a lot of the Northward bit features on the journey home from my Dad's old house.

Star Hill Road and Downe Road (I know what it's called now) are good fun. Quite looking forward to this now.

Oddly, that's exactly what I was thinking to myself as I was doing it yesterday ('I wonder if this is the way Nick heads back in to town...'), I remember you expressing familiarity when we've previously gone up Star.
/need to get out more
//cleaning yesterday's accumulated gunk off the bike in the shower (no access to hose, innit). Definitely a mudguards ride on Sunday, my bike is caked in filth, and so was I when I got in.

It's advised but not compulsory..

*onlyasportive

I don't do many sportives..

I can't see how or why they can stop you on open roads.

neg is the new repped..

cheers

Do they refuse you the "certificate" of completion?

Fuck they're really getting tough on sportives now.. Just as well I'm not doing it...

I wear a helmet all the time anyway... I'm just chuntering on..

*deservedthenegrp

I woke up with some bastard cold thing this morning, scuppering my chances of having much fun tomorrow. Current plan is still to turn up and give it a go/infect as many people as possible, but if I sink any further into this sniffly haze there may be a legitimate place up for grabs (so either brave or jamie can get a decent time in under my name...)

take loads of paracetamol!!! lemsip. ibuprofen
Good luck with it

I am dosed up, the flow from my nostrils has slowed.
Here is a quick plotting of the route for tomorrow, with hill starts and summits added as waypoints so your Garmin can count you down to the top. A technical exercise, curious to see how it'll work, is all.

Current plan is still to turn up and give it a go/infect as many people as possible, but if I sink any further into this sniffly haze there may be a legitimate place up for grabs (so either brave or jamie can get a decent time in under my name...)

Nice plan to record a good time under your name, I'll have to remember that one ;0)

Bad luck, Tom. Maybe see you at some point tomorrow.

13 hours spent today putting up route arrows and signs important info for anyone riding

Hever Road is closed so we mapped and marked out a detour which is ;
approx
13 miles Left no sign post
13.5 bear right under rail bridge
14.6 r@TJ B2026
15.5 L in to Marsh Green Road [was previously a Right from other direction]

one other mistake on the route sheet is at
29.6 miles L sp Wych Cross Coach Road [not Hatch Cross Coach Lane]
See you all tomorrow and hope the bloody weather is better than today.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/65861998

That does not have the corrections of my previous post but is other wise accurate.
Ignore the speed we route checked it in a car :)