My London to Brighton

Yesterday I completed the 54 mile London to Brighton Bike Ride with 28,000 other people!  It was mad, and so much fun!  Check out this great news coverage

My start time was 9am.  One of the later times of the day (some people started at 6.30), but it meant I got to sleep in kinda.  Tom and I stayed at Brook Farm the night before so we wouldn't have as far to drive in the morning.  I was very happy that Tom was able to drive me up there and wish me good luck as I set off.  Very much appreciated!

Getting out of London was insane!  It took at least an hour to go the first 5 miles.  I didn’t even clip into my pedals properly for ages because we were so stop and go.   But the atmosphere was great.  Everyone was fresh and excited for the day, joking around as we crawled along.

After a while the cycling began, well until we got to the first hill.  It was so congested I had to get off my bike and start walking with the crowd.  I chatted a bit with the man walking next to me who said the previous year his team broke a record for cycling to Brighton, back to the start in London and down to Brighton again in six and a half hours – Crazy!

The majority of the ride was really enjoyable.  Tom's parents watched out  for me from a village near their home which I thought was very sweet.  Seeing as my own Mom and Dad obviously couldn't be there like they always were when I was growing up, it was nice that Tom's parents came to support me. When I spotted them I stopped for a quick chat and they had brought me a treat =).  I was surprised at how many refreshment stops were set up along the route swarming with people milling about and making a relaxing day of the event.  I sped past most of the stops eager to get to the finish.  However, I did stop in Lindfield for a quick refresh break.  I needed to use the loo and quickly down an energy bar to help get me to the end.

I’m proud of myself for powering up Turners Hill and attempting Ditchling Beacon “the hill”.  I made it half way up. I figured I had to at least try to cycle it.  But then it started raining and I was scared I would get to a horribly steep bit where I would struggle, and with so many people walking around me I decided to take the safer option and join them.

As I reached the top of Ditchling Beacon the ride turned to hell for about 30 min.  It began to absolutely pour!  I could barely see the rain was coming down so hard.  I cycled past a lady being put in a neck brace with an emergency blanket over her, and I just thought, “this ride is not safe anymore.”  I wanted to cycle fast just to get to through the last 9 miles, but at the same time I was scared of going too fast on the wet road.   I was absolutely terrified on the next downhill I came to.  Police were motioning to slow down, but I was holding my breaks as tight as I possibly could, and pumping them and I couldn't slow down.  The hill got congested for a couple of seconds and I thought people were stopping.  There was no way my bike was going stop and I seriously for a second thought to myself, “what is going to be the best way to crash.”  Luckily just then the policeman moved back over to the side so people spread out and I didn’t die.  Of course when I got just past the bottom of that hill the sun came out again.

I crossed the finish line fairly dry and smiling.  I loved all of the people clapping and cheering near the end, I thought, “yes I did achieve something good, I deserve that clapping.”  It was a good feeling!  In fact I was on a high the rest of the day.  Plus this is something I've wanted to do for a few years and I'm so happy I've actually done it.  I even got a medal.

I really liked cycling before but now I love cycling.  I am now hooked.  In fact this morning, despite being a bit sore, I signed up for another ride in late September, this time 100 miles, the Brighton 100.  After my day of rest today I will be back on my bike training hard.

Love