Central London CTC blog

Some of us remember the late lamented Hilly Chilterns 100 kms Audax – the “Chilly Hilterns” , a collection of numerous short and very sharp hills in the Chilterns between Amersham and Marlow. This ride was due to cover some of the second part of it.

The usual suspects gathered at Marylebone: Martin Hayman, Keith and Naomi, Matthew Wright, Damian, Roger and Kay and Phil Coleman. Elevenses and late lunch rather than a long stop were planned and I think worked out OK.

Super picturesque Hambleden has the village shop for cake and coffee, and an interesting insight into rural life provided as I sat inside. A pair of locals discussed the tribulations of the farming community: “It was a drive by shooting…”. more »

Sixteen riders met a St Pancras for the 38 minute ride to Ashford on 23 October. We quickly escaped Ashford and sped through the Stour Valley towards the hills.

Our time in the North Downs started with a run along the old Pilgrim’s Way, undulating below the southern escarpment. Then a turn to cycle across the grain of the hills, up to the viewpoint at Farthing Common, then another down and up, then a long fast but gentle downhill to the edge of Dover.

We crossed the town to the seafront midway between the docks and for lunch in the bar of the Dover Marina Hotel. We were able to eat outside in the autumn sunshine with views of the castle, the sea, the ferries, the coast of France and, as promised, the White Cliffs.

Lunch done, we took a long climb back to the top of the Downs and the escarpment first above the sea, then above Folkestone, then above the Channel Tunnel railway yards.

We descended to the seafront at Hythe, where one of the group had gone ahead for a swim, and onto Romney Marsh for a flat section. The leader took a very near miss from a motorist who had thought it much better to risk injury to himself and others rather than undergo the ordeal of a minute’s delay to his journey.

Unharmed, we took a last climb over the Greensand ridge and a fast return to Ashford along the Roman Road. We were back in London by 1800. It was 95 km – map of the ride here.

We were a lucky 13 leaving Haywards Heath on 14 August. We began the day in West Sussex with a spin through the undulating High Weald and the less undulating Low Weald, ending the morning with a long climb to the top of the South Downs by the Devil’s Dyke. The pub on top of the hill is large and busy but the food is good and the views from the terrace are spectacular.

On the Devil's Dyke

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Billed as ‘Chiltern Hilly’ three-star, I had planned the ride based on the middle section of the late lamented Hilly Chiltern Hundred Audax. This was an annual mid-summer Audax from Ballinger via Marlow, taking in 1800 metres of climbs of the short and sharp variety, much beloved by many of us. For a late winter ride we would be joining the circuit at Bledlow Ridge after climbing up from Princes Risborough, doing about half the distance of the Audax plus the ride to and from the circuit.

The weather forecast promised well – cold and sunny with the possibility of a few showers later in the day. So all looked well.

And then … more »

When I moved to London many years ago one of the first things I learned was how to escape it. I soon discovered that if I rode the bike far enough (and sometimes not even that far) I would find myself beyond the suburbs and out into the countryside. Occasionally there was the odd remnant of London but soon even that would vanish and be replaced by woods and fields and country lanes. This weekend’s 3* ride was a little like that. more »

Thank you who turned out for my fifty mile bike ride to help celebrate my fiftieth birthday. It was great fun if hard work. The climb towards the end reminded that I have some work to do if I am going to get around the Hell of the Ashdown at the end of February! Thanks to all for waiting for me. And especial thanks for holding back at the end so that I could have the honour of cruising over the finish line first.  And a final thanks to Martin for his posting.

Stephen, ever-popular, had invited 3-star riders to join a hubristically-titled ’50@50 Team Time Trial’ for his 50th birthday ride.

We detrained at Knebworth and after some delay and low-rent banter at Dr Bob’s expense, nearly a dozen set off for an anti-clockwise loop around Stevenage (geddit?) and Baldock, to end at Emily’s tearooms in Whitwell. The aim was to complete the 50 miles in 4 hours, a mere bagatelle for real cronometrists but a proper challenge for our crew. more »

An iron rule is that people who e-mail/text/ring up to ask about a ride never actually turn up on the day – or generally don’t. For this ride I had enquiries from Tash (would her hybrid slow her up too much for a 3 star?); Jim and Phil (should they meet me at Tally Ho corner?).

All three turned up!

The ride started at Golders Green where James met me. We arrived at Tally Ho to find Phil inserting a replacement wheel which Jim had found for him – an advantage of Jim living walking distance from the meeting point. The Finchley RT was meeting next to us – fifteen tough roadmen in identical team kit. I knew a couple of them from when we were in the Paddington CC 25 years ago together, so chewed the fat with them while Phil inserted the new wheel. more »