Hilly Chilterns 4 Star
Posted on Monday 10 May 2010 by Bob Davis
Well, it didn’t get off to a good start. I’ve been down with intestinal problems which have clobbered my fitness level, so I wasn’t up to 4-star riding in the first place. So only a 3-star type ride was to be offered to my companions.
I turned up at Marylebone to meet Roger, Kay and Doug. Kay was obviously ill so decided to go back home. The three of us remaining trained to Princes Risborough, got out into spitting rain and cold winds, and Doug thought of going home.
Nope, not a good start.
But we are CTC and perseverance is our middle name. We decided to have a shorter ride and not hammer it, although there were plenty of hills. I took part of the old Hilly Chilterns 100km randonee route: we kicked off on to Bledlow Ridge, down to Radnage, up to City, across the motorway and down to Fingest:, on to super-pretty Hambledon for a tea stop in the café/shop. Then the delight of Pheasants Hill, a couple of more up and downs and a quick lunch stop at a café in Marlow.
Back to climbing with the private road one in three out of the valley, and off for a few (more gentle) climbs and descents to West Wycombe and the garden centre-café. I’d planned for an extra 40km to Amersham, but it was going to be a shorter day than originally planned. Doug went straight to High Wycombe, Roger and I sampled some more cake and climbed on to Bledlow Ridge and then dropped into Princes Risborough to get the 14.30 train back.
We met Charlie Keep on the train as he returned from the off-road Audax and explained that while less challenging than intended (only 65km, albeit hilly), it had still been a very worthwhile day.
Perseverance pays.