"The Hell of the North Downs"

[Davek]

Well, that was fun. The Invicta Grimpeur - 100km of
*seriously* undulating country roads.

I got round in a shade over 6 hours, which I was pretty
happy with - I've done the same distance several times
recently and generally get home in under 5 hours, including
stops, but this, to coin a cliche, was a completely
different ball game.

I ran out of gears less than halfway up the infamous Yorks
Hill, and ran out of legs shortly after. Had to stop and
consume some of my bonk rations. But I was determined I
wasn't going to walk and, after nearly falling off a few
times, managed to clip back in to my pedals and struggled
the last few yards to the top. I thought the rest of the
route would seem easy after that, but when I hit Bayleys
Hill on the return leg I discovered just how much Yorks had
taken out of me... And there were still three more big hills
to come after that - Exedown (the last big climb, right up
the face of the North Downs) just seemed to go on forever.

Still, I made it, and I am bloody pleased with myself.

And of course there were some fun bits too - namely, the
descents. Coming down River Hill, a big wide main road with
good tarmac, I was *coasting* and managed to hit 45mph. I
topped that coming back down Gracious Hill, a similar road
surface but a straighter path - I got a good run up to it
and clocked 48mph before having to brake pretty sharpish for
the control at the bottom of the hill. That was
exhilarating.

The cake was pretty good too - though most of it had gone by
the time I got to the end of the second lap.

Overall, despite the suffering, it was *great* fun, and it's
really given me the urge to enter more Audax events as soon
as possible - I'm just hoping they aren't all like that (OK,
I know they aren't) - I can cope with one or maybe two hills
like that over the distance, but today was hard work. Not
that this will stop me from doing it again next year!

Oh yes... the subject line: I overheard some wag using this
line in the car park at the start. I laughed at the time,
not realising quite how appropriate it was...

d.

 

[Iain Jones]

"davek" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> I got round in a shade over 6 hours, which I was pretty
> happy with - I've done the same distance several times
> recently and generally get home in under 5 hours,
> including stops, but this, to coin a cliche, was a
> completely different ball game.

Well done that man!

>
> I ran out of gears less than halfway up the infamous Yorks
> Hill, and ran out of legs shortly after.

I know the feeling, all too well.

> And there were still three more big hills to come
> after that

Ditto.

> Still, I made it, and I am bloody pleased with myself.

Ditto, except the "all too well" bit. Makes going back to
work a bit more bearable (this week was an exception but
let's not go there!)

> And of course there were some fun bits too - namely, the
> descents. Coming down River Hill, a big wide main road
> with good tarmac, I was *coasting* and managed to hit
> 45mph. I topped that coming back down Gracious Hill, a
> similar road surface but a straighter path - I got a good
> run up to it and clocked 48mph before having to brake
> pretty sharpish for the control at the bottom of the hill.
> That was exhilarating.

Ditto. Though as I get older, descents get slower and brakes
tend to melt...

> Overall, despite the suffering, it was *great* fun, and
> it's really given me the urge to enter more Audax events
> as soon as possible - I'm just hoping they aren't all like
> that (OK, I know they aren't) - I can cope with one or
> maybe two hills like that over the distance, but today was
> hard work. Not that this will stop me from doing it again
> next year!

Atta boy! Never done an Audax myself but been considering
them lately.

 

[davek]

Iain Jones:
>Well done that man!

Cheers!

>Though as I get older, descents get slower and brakes tend to melt...

I have to say I surprised myself with some of my descending prowess - interestingly, it was the first chance I had to go out on my bike since installing the new Gatorskins, and they seemed to make quite some difference (in a beneficial way) to rolling resistance compared to my old tyres, which surely helped.

>Never done an Audax myself but been considering them lately.

If you like climbing, there's the Devon and Exmoor 300 next weekend - 3 AAA (altitude) points - 5000 metres of climbing!

d.

 

[Iain Jones]

davek <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

>
> I have to say I surprised myself with some of my
> descending prowess - interestingly, it was the first
> chance I had to go out on my bike since installing the new
> Gatorskins, and they seemed to make quite some difference
> (in a beneficial way) to rolling resistance compared to my
> old tyres, which surely helped.

First real fast descent on my road bike (compared to heavy
mountain bike with chunky tyres) was a steep twisty road in
Lancashire somewhere. Whether I liked it or not I reached
50mph, ooh what's that, a huge pothole, ka- dumff. I swear I
was airborne for a brief second or two, and another sharp
corner was approaching fast. I stayed upright though. Had to
wait a few minutes at the café at the bottom for my hands to
stop shaking!

So I've been grabbing the brakes hard ever since ;-)

>
>>Never done an Audax myself but been considering them
>>lately.
>
> If you like climbing, there's the Devon and Exmoor 300
> next weekend - 3 AAA (altitude) points - 5000 metres of
> climbing!
>
> d.
>

I'll excuse myself from that one thanks. It's too far away
for me. That sounds better than "It's too hard for me."

 

[wardie2000]

Where exactly was this 100km route, it seems as if there are some good hills.

Wouldn't mind trying them out

Thanks

 

[Dave Kahn]

Iain Jones <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...

> First real fast descent on my road bike (compared to heavy
> mountain bike with chunky tyres) was a steep twisty road
> in Lancashire somewhere. Whether I liked it or not I
> reached 50mph, ooh what's that, a huge pothole, ka- dumff.
> I swear I was airborne for a brief second or two, and
> another sharp corner was approaching fast. I stayed
> upright though.

Airborne at 50 mph from a pothole there's a handy prayer you
can use. Dear God, please let my wheels still be round.

--
Dave...

 

[davek]

wardie2000:
>Where exactly was this 100km route, it seems as if there are some good hills.

The route starts from Otford, north of Sevenoaks and runs in a big loop past Ightham Mote and Bough Beech reservoir. The hills you want to look out for are Rowdow (just northeast of Otford), Exedown, Yorkshill, Bayleys Hill, One Tree Hill and River Hill - basically it's up and down the North Downs and parts of the Weald.

Also, not on the route but close by are Toys Hill and Ide Hill, which some folk reckon are even nastier than Yorks.

d.

 

[Martinm]

davek <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> wardie2000:
> >Where exactly was this 100km route, it seems as if there
> >are some good hills.
>
> The route starts from Otford, north of Sevenoaks and runs
> in a big loop past Ightham Mote and Bough Beech reservoir.
> The hills you want to look out for are Rowdow (just
> northeast of Otford), Exedown, Yorkshill, Bayleys Hill,
> One Tree Hill and River Hill - basically it's up and down
> the North Downs and parts of the Weald.
>
> Also, not on the route but close by are Toys Hill and Ide
> Hill, which some folk reckon are even nastier than Yorks.

No I think Yorks takes the biscuit. I did have to do Ide
Hill at the end of the National 400 two years ago though,
that was character building ;-)