London to Brighton Bike Ride 2006

Hiya everyone!

In reply to considerate members who worry about the state of my bum, I would like to say immediately that I'm fine, no aches or pains immediately noticeable.

We had a 6.30 start and got through the start line at 7.10, thus avoiding the worst of the crowds and the heat. We had a clear run all the way, stopped a few times to get the team together and get an ice-cream (there's a little shop at Turners Hill that sells ice-creams to die for )

I stayed with Mark all the way, to reply to the same considerate member who would have rejoiced in a temporary split-up. He was riding my old bike, heavier and slower than mine, and he has recently been on a punishing yeast-based diet (he's working in Dublin during the week and fast acquiring a taste for Guinness).

Now, for those of you who don't know the Brighton area: Brighton is south of the South Downs and, to get to the city from the north, you need to get over the hills.
Well OK, it's not Mount Everest, but I'm no Armstrong (Lance, not Louis). The London to Brighton ride takes us every year through Ditchling Beacon, up a twisty 2-mile road with a 1:10 gradient. Most riders come off their bikes and start pushing. This year, I coldly abandoned Contender443 to his fate and stayed on my bike all the way to the top. I thought I was about to faint by the time I got there! A quick rest and another ice-cream (Feast, the best) got me back on the saddle.
We made it to Brighton in 6 hours - as I said, we were in a team and I didn't want to leave people behind. Then we cycled to LancingSC for a swim!  

There were 27,000 registered participants that day, plus all the cyclists who joined in after the start for a fun ride. It's the biggest ride in Europe, brings Brighton to a complete standstill for a day and earns millions of pounds for the British Heart Foundation. Can't be bad  

Wanna come next year?