I TOOK PART IN A TEAM ORGANISED BY "BRIGHTON TAKE HEART GROUP"  OF WHICH I AM A MEMBER.

WE MET IN THE CENTRE OF BRIGHTON AT 03.30 HRS, AND BOARDED OUR  COACH TO LONDON, WHICH WAS SPONSORED BY SKILL'S COACHES. OUR CYCLES WERE TRANSPORTED COURTESY OF COURAGE BEERS. WE LEFT AT 04.00 HRS AND ARRIVED AT CLAPHAM COMMON AT 05.20 HRS. UPON ARRIVAL IT WAS RAINING, OUT CAME THE WATERPROOFS.
 
THERE WERE CYCLES EVERYWHERE, ALL HEADING FOR THEIR DEPARTURE GATE. WE GOT OUR INDIVIDUAL OFFICIAL STARTERS CARDS STAMPED AND PROCEEDED TO THE START LINE.

OUR INITIAL START WAS 06.00 HRS, WE DEPARTED ON TIME FOLLOWING THE OFFICIAL COUNTDOWN. ONCE WE HAD TRAVELLED ABOUT 8 MILES THE RAIN EASED TO A DRIZZLE AND THE SERIOUS RIDING COMMENCED AND WE BEGAN TO SPLIT UP, IT HAD TO BE REMEMBERED THAT THIS WAS NOT A RACE AS THE DEPARTURE TIME SLOTS WERE ON THE HALF HOUR UP UNTIL 09.30 HRS. WITH SO MANY RIDERS TAKING PART IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO STAY AS A GROUP. WE HAD PREVIOUSLY ARRANGED TO MEET UP AT VARIOUS STOPS ALONG THE WAY.
 

BY THE TIME I HAD TRAVELLED APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES I WAS NO LONGER WITH ANY MEMBER OF THE TEAM AND I JUST RODE USING ALL OF MY CONCENTRATION TO AVOID BEING INVOLVED IN ANY COLLISIONS BUT ENJOYING THE BEAUTIFUL AND STUNNING SCENERY OF THE SOUTH DOWNS.

 
BY 08.30HRS I HAD TRAVELLED ABOUT 25 MILES AND THE WATERPROOFS HAD BEEN REMOVED, THE SUN WAS THREATENING TO SHINE AND I WAS JUST ENJOYING THE BREEZE AND OCCASIONAL LIGHT AND REFRESHING RAIN.

THERE WERE TWO MAIN HILLS THAT CONCERNED ME THE FIRST WAS THE STEEP, TURNERS HILL, THIS I INTENDED RIDING IF I COULD AND IN FACT ACHIEVED WITHOUT TOO MUCH OF A PROBLEM. THE SECOND WAS THE DREADED DITCHLING BEACON THIS I INTENDED WALKING AS MOST PEOPLE DID.

 

 
 

 

ON ARRIVAL AT THE FOOT OF THIS INCREDIBLE CLIMB THE HEAVENS OPENED AND IT JUST POURED DOWN, NO TIME NOW FOR WET GEAR. IT IS APPROXIMATELY 8 MILES FROM THE FOOT OF THE BEACON TO THE FINISH LINE, AND AT THIS POINT MOST LEGS ARE VERY TIRED. HOWEVER!!! I DECIDED TO AT LEAST MAKE AN ATTEMPT AT THIS 1 IN 10 3/4 MILE HILL. NOT ONLY DID I RIDE IT IN TOTAL, I RODE IT WITHOUT STOPPING, AND WILL REMEMBER A VOICE OF A YOUNGER MAN SAY "GO ON MATE KEEP GOING" AS I PASSED HIM PUSHING HIS BIKE HALFWAY UP, (I GLOWED INSIDE) BUT PEDALLED ON UP SAYING "THANKS MATE" WHEN I REACHED THE TOP I WAS EXTREMELY ELATED AND FIGHTING BACK THE TEARS OF EMOTION, TO ME IT WAS LIKE CONQUERING EVEREST.

 

THE LAST FEW MILES TO THE FINISH LINE WERE DOWNHILL AND FLAT AND IN JUST THAT SHORT DISTANCE THE WEATHER CHANGED AND THE SUN WAS SHINING.
 

I ARRIVED AT THE FINISH LINE AT 11.00 HRS WHERE ALL ARRIVING RIDERS WERE GREETED WITH AN APPLAUSE FROM THE MANY SPECTATORS LINING THE FINAL STRETCH OF MARINE PARADE ON BRIGHTON SEA FRONT.
 

A BARBECUE ON THE BEACH HAD BEEN LAID ON FOR MY GROUP (BRIGHTON TAKE HEART) THE PERFECT END TO A VERY ENJOYABLE RIDE.

 
MY THOUGHTS WERE NOW WITH THOSE THAT LEFT LONDON BETWEEN 06.00-09.30 AND HAD TO ENDURE THE HOTTER PART OF THE DAY ALONG WITH THE ADDITIONAL THOUSANDS OF RIDERS NOW ON THE ROUTE AND STILL POURING INTO BRIGHTON AT...............7PM