Box Hill to Brighton

The SBR team really began to feel like a proper team as its members drew up one by one into the car park of the Burford bridge Hotel at the foot of Box Hill.

The setting for the first training ride of 2011 for the team shifted from Hampton Court after it was decided it may be a little traffic heavy so close to London.

Chris suggested the new start and organised a 20 mile loop for the beginning of the ride to add to the 45 miles yet to come. The rest of the route had been studiously plumbed into Matt's Garmin Edge.
After many photographs, many trips to the toilet and a fair bit of fettling (as Luca might say) we were off. Chris' route took the group on an non-road, flat route along a cycle path by the A24 to ease everyone into the feel of the bike before heading off through Leatherhead, Cobham and a little bit of Surrey countryside and then up on to Ranmore.
By this point Paul could no longer contain his nervous energy and, in pursuit of some leisure cyclists, disappeared off into the distance. He missed the next turn forcing yet another stop. Luckily a phone call and a few directions later and we agreed to meet back at the Burford Bridge and the ride continued.
The more restrained members of the group took the superfast descent back to the end of the loop to say a quick hello to Rebecca before heading on the route proper.
Chris chose Box Hill as a start point as it is due to be used in the Olympic road race and he though it might make a nice backdrop for some photos. He utterly refutes the idea that it just happens to be close to where he lives.
As it turned out the group, Paul Maxwell-like, were racing through the countryside barely stopping to look at the view, let alone stop for pics. The ride was on.
Despite our Garmined ride the technology was not behaving itself and this quick breakaway broke the link between Lindsay and his son Martin. This lead to a split in the group that would never heal. The advance party sped on as Lindsay and Martin took a worng turn. After a few phone calls Lindsay and Martin were eventually joined by Luca who lead them back on course, some way behind the leading pack.
The rest of the group ploughed on, again in a rather stop go fashion, through the countryside. The most notable point in the ride was Ditchling Beacon. This had loomed large in the minds' of the riders and the reality didn't disappoint.
After 60-odd miles in the saddle the climb was pretty taxing. Matt had obvioulsy been saving up all of his strength for the climb and clearly thought this, and his swanky new bike, would see him to the top first. He hit the bottom of the climb with gusto but was soon in trouble.
Sadly he had peaked too early and blew up towards the summit.

The climb was worth the views at the top and the cycling effort became easier. The rest of the ride downhill all the way, in the best possible sense, as the team coasted into Brighton and to the quirky welcome of the My Hotel. A quick shower break and few beers in the bar later and the stories started to flow.
Dinner provided more opportunity for the tales to grow and the story of Lindsay, Luca and Martin's day to unfold. Jamie Oliver's Italian also provided a great meal to replace all of those lost calories. Ready for the return leg.


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