East Sussex Roads
Posted on Sunday 28 February 2010 by Thomas James
I had led a record number of two-star riders before but that was at the upper limit. Now we made another season record, as only four of us proved to be all-weather cyclists.
The forecast was highly accurate: heavy rain began early morning and continued without break through to lunch. The advantage for us was lower traffic levels and the fun of occasional large puddles; the disadvantage was that we were cold and damp. At least we were able to test our wet weather gear and find out what worked (and more often what didn’t).
Our route was south from Tunbridge Wells across the High Weald. There were slow climbs and quick descents, mostly on quieter roads, with water flowing downhill in the roads along the way and flooded fields in the valleys. We took our roast lunch at the Blackboys Inn in the village of that name.
We continued on to Uckfield but took our northward journey back by train, honour satisfied that we had made our usual Sunday ride despite the hills and rain, even if just 36km this time.