Читать книгу 20 Classic Sportive Rides in South East England - Colin Dennis - Страница 10

INTRODUCTION

The New Forest – open roads and slip streaming… heaven (Route 1)

Sportive cycling is enjoying a boom-time. From chip-timed monumental feats of organisation and logistics to small club-run affairs, cycle sportives create a buzz all of their own. From social rider to wannabe racer, well-organised sportives cater for every standard of road cyclist. Pick any weekend from early spring through to late autumn and no matter where you live in the UK, you’re bound to find a sportive event within reasonable distance from your door.

On the back of the UK’s amazing cycling success in the Olympics, World Championships and the Tour de France, men and women have taken to road cycling in numbers not seen since the Victorian era. With the likes of Sir Chris Hoy, Sir Bradley Wiggins, Victoria Pendleton and Chris Froome filling the back pages of daily newspapers, UK cyclists are as recognisable today as football or motor racing stars.

Mortal riders take part in cycle sportives for many different reasons: fitness, challenge, obsession or raising money for charity. Whatever the reason, riders get out of bed at unearthly hours each weekend and ride in all weathers to become exhausted, yet exhilarated. This guide offers the perfect opportunity for riders of all abilities to challenge themselves over the most varied and scenic areas of the south east of England in preparation for their chosen sportive event.

Enjoy the ride!

About sportives

A sportive often includes a number of routes ranging from 25 miles up to 100 miles, or further. The varying route options enable riders of all abilities to challenge themselves against the clock without having to live by a strict training regime. Sportives are normally held on open roads and riders must obey the Highway Code. Each route will be well signposted by the organisers with strategically placed feed and drink stations peppered along the way. Most sportives now include chip-timing to accurately record the time of individual riders.

Arguably, the UK sportive scene has grown organically from a combination of the French ‘randonnée cyclosportive’ scene and British cycle club endurance rides. For many years cyclists have flocked, in their thousands, to participate in both open and closed road events over some of the toughest mountains in continental Europe. Some might say that modern British sportives are more akin to cycle club ‘reliability trials’.

Sportives – raising money and smiles

Popular during the winter months, reliability trials are long-distance club rides where riders and club racers concentrate on getting more ‘relaxed or social’ miles into their legs. Club runs seldom use route signage or feed stations, so riders are left to fend for themselves (hence, ‘reliability’). Café stops are often an integral and important port of call during club runs.

Whatever the reasons, the ever-growing UK sportive season enjoys a calendar full of exciting and challenging rides in some of the most beautiful landscapes that these islands have to offer.

There are also a growing number of sportive events in the UK that are held on closed roads. Events such as the ‘Etape Cymru’ in North Wales and the ‘Prudential London–Surrey 100’ prove to be hugely popular, with riders entering in their thousands to complete these arduous rides in the safety of closed roads. But distance is not the only challenge facing sportive riders – hills play a major part in sportive rides, and conquering a severe climb is seen as one of the real tests of any given event. Sportives may not yet attract the mad-cap cycling supporters, or tifosi, as seen lining the mountain stages of the Tour de France, but a warm welcome is always on hand at the end of a sportive event.

Although sportive events are not races, many riders pride themselves in getting around in the quickest time possible and will look to improve on their times throughout the season. But one thing’s for sure, sportive riders can enjoy a sense of achievement that few other amateur cyclists can. A hundred miles is a long way and should never be taken lightly. Train for the distance, train for the hills – enjoy the ride.

Roadside tifosi in Upton (Route 5)

The south east of England

Within the broad regions of the UK: Hampshire, East and West Sussex, Kent, Berkshire, Surrey, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire all qualify as south east England. As far as training rides go, each county has enough beautiful countryside and variation of terrain to provide challenging routes, which prove ideal as testers of fitness in both body and mind.

As the most heavily populated area of the UK, life can be busy in England’s south east, but this works in its favour too. An excellent system of trains, motorways and trunk roads make light work of delivering riders to wherever they want to cycle. Furthermore, the area offers sportive riders an eclectic mix of locations and country roads. From the brooding landscapes of the New Forest, to the rolling contours of the High Weald and Surrey Hills – mile upon mile of exciting terrain exists on which cyclists train and prepare for their favourite event. The number of cyclists riding every day in these beautiful areas proves that there’s room for everyone.

Getting there and getting around

By car

All roads lead to London, and therefore the roads that shoot in and out of England’s capital also reach out like a giant spider’s web into the nooks and crannies of its south east. The M1 and M11 motorways allow easy access to the M25 circular from locations north, east and north east of the city, while the M40, M4 and M3 act likewise for car travellers approaching London from the Midlands and from locations to the city’s west and south west.

The majority of routes within this guide are within easy access of motorways and main trunk roads and the start/finish points are quite often adjacent to a motorway or major road; such is the excellent road system of the region, you are never far from the beautiful landscapes that entertain classic sportive training rides.

By rail

Riders choosing to get to the area by rail should first check out National Rail enquiries (search ‘Cycling and cyclists’ on www.nationalrail.co.uk). Here you will find easy links to your nearest regional train provider and how you can book your bike onto a train. Most trains to England’s south east require you to travel through central London and then change station to get to your chosen sportive destination. Travelling by bike across London takes a little more planning; start by searching ‘Bikes on public transport’ at www.tfl.gov.uk, where Transport for London sets out the rules on taking non-folding bikes onto tubes, overground trains, river boats, buses and DLR.

Once you are in the area, the region is well-served by the rail network. All the main centres are served by mainline routes from London and other areas of south east England.

When to go

The south east of England boasts the warmest climate in the UK. It may not be exactly balmy, but, statistically, the area does enjoy the best of the weather. Realistically, however, it should be treated just the same as any other region in the UK: cold and wet in the winter, warm and damp with sunny bits in the summer, so dress accordingly – it’s better to be warm than cold when out on your bike. Layer up and add some flexibility to your clothing.

Caution should be applied when ice and frost warnings are given in the winter months. Always ride with care in inclement weather as bad visibility can hide a cyclist from a vehicle driver quite easily. Use powerful front and rear lights in low light conditions. Wear something bright and reflective – do not be invisible to other road users.

Quiet Sunday mornings – priceless! (Route 20)

Accommodation

From picture-postcard bed and breakfast cottages to five-star glitzy hotels and spas, south east England caters for all tastes. With many of the routes in this book based in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) or national parks such as the South Downs and New Forest, there is no shortage of self catering, bed and breakfast or hotel accommodation. See Appendix C for a list of websites that provide a good place to start your search for a good night’s rest.

There are plenty of towns and areas to use as the perfect bases from which to explore the full potential of the region. To the west, Brockenhurst and Lyndhurst are ideal for the New Forest, Meon Valley and South Downs training routes, while Newbury and Hungerford provide easy access to Dragon Slayer, the Gibbet and Windoverstoke. Just south of London and the M25, the lively market towns of Godalming and Dorking are well situated to provide a springboard for The Hog’s Back, Mud, Sweat and Gears, Surrey Hills and Reservoir Cogs, which all start centrally within the area covered by this guide. Further east, Brighton is close at hand for all the rides that pepper this corner of the region: Park and Ride, Weald-a-Beast and Battle Plan are within a short journey. To the north, Marlow and Oxford are excellent options to stay for routes such as Merry Wives, the Wycombe Wanderer, Oxtail Loop and Ox and Bucks.

On the road

Hills

Love them or hate them, hills are difficult to avoid if you ride sportives. Riding 50 to 100 miles can be a serious challenge in itself, but when you start adding long, grinding ascents and lung-busting climbs into the equation, the difficulty factor can multiply several times over.

Some routes in this book are unashamedly all about hill climbing. Every now and again it’s worth including a shorter, harder climbing route such as the Gibbet, Kings of Meon or the second half of Surrey Hills as a specific training ride. It’s also worth noting that a challenging climb at the start of an event with fresh legs will feel like a very different beast after 50 miles or so. There are no shortcuts. If you want to avoid the walk of shame, train for the hills at every opportunity.

Burning legs and lungs – get training! (Route 4)

Yes, it would be naive to enter a ride such as the Fred Whitton Challenge in the Lake District and endure some of the most challenging climbs in England without suitable training. But there are plenty of challenging hills to be found in the south east of the country too, just don’t get caught out by a lack of quality hill training. Plan ahead and make sure you know what you are getting into.

Hills – what goes up…

Read through this book, train on the routes that suit your aspirations and fitness, and as you progress through your training schedule choose a tougher course. Following the routes in this guidebook is also a great way to explore the varied and beautiful countryside of England’s south east. Take your time, enjoy your riding and build up your distances and challenges before letting yourself loose on the world of cycle sportives.

Singletrack lanes

These are great for deterring lorries, but the myriad of narrow veins that criss-cross the British countryside will often be loose and gravely under your wheels. They will also be slippery with mud in the rain and, inevitably, the only car you’ll meet will be skidding around that narrow corner. Singletrack lanes should be treated with respect. Keep your speed down on descents, ride in single file and expect the unexpected.

Expect the unexpected

Cattle grids

They’re everywhere in the New Forest, and they pop-up now and again on other routes too. They pose no problem as such, but it’s always worth crossing them with a degree of caution when wet. Always cross them straight-on. Keeping a little momentum to free-wheel over cattle grids helps when approaching from uphill and standing up as you rattle across reduces weight on the back wheel to lessen pinch-flats.

Safety

Cycle sportives and training rides are not races, and, unless it is held on closed roads, a sportive and the riders involved are bound by current traffic regulations and the Highway Code. Therefore it’s worth getting into some good riding habits from the outset of your training regime. This will pay good dividends in your safety cycle-management come the day of the event.

Keep your bike in good working order, especially if you’re getting in plenty of winter miles. Regular servicing of it is always a good thing; as is cleaning. Cleaning your bike is a good opportunity for close inspection, thereby avoiding potential problems later on. Check tyre pressures regularly too; correct tyre pressures are often the difference between an efficient and enjoyable ride and a puncture-fraught journey.

Be seen. Wear bright clothing and always fit a rear light. It’s often as difficult to be seen on a bright sunny day as it is on a cloudy, overcast day. Always wear a cycle helmet.

Ride courteously, keep other road users in mind and give clear indications and signals of your intentions. Always check over your shoulder before you manoeuvre.

Be self-sufficient as much as possible. As a minimum of self-help and self-reliance, learn how to make small adjustments to your bike, repair punctures and fix a broken chain in the comfort of your home – don’t leave it till it happens out on the road. If you do have a bike maintenance emergency on the road, see Appendix B for a list of bike shops.

Suggested minimum repair kit:

 pump

 CO2 cartridges (x2) and inflator

 tyre levers (x3)

 spare tubes (x2)

 tube repair patches or puncture repair kit

 tyre repair patches

 multi-tool

 chain tool

Other essential items and considerations:

 fully charged mobile phone

 paper cash

 debit or credit card (taxi ride back to the start?)

 a riding partner or two

 let someone know where you are going and how long you’re likely to be away

Emergencies

Should a serious injury occur while out on a ride and you require hospital treatment, dial 999 and request an ambulance. You will need to give them your location and the state of your injuries. Always carry a fully charged mobile phone when out on a training ride.

If your injuries are less serious then consider calling 111 for the NHS urgent care facility. If you feel you are able to make it to an accident and emergency unit (A&E), see Appendix C for a list of local hospitals with full A&E facilities.

Equipment

The bike

It may not be ‘all about the bike’, but a good-quality, lightweight road bike certainly makes life easier out on the road. A lightweight bike is generally easier to propel along the road than a heavier one, and is certainly less effort up the hills.

Make sure you ride a bike that is the right size for you; this is important if you want to get the maximum amount of power output from your bike and to avoid any injuries. A bike that is too small will be cramped and uncomfortable, whereas a bike that is too large will not allow enough stand-over height, which is potentially dangerous, and the handlebars will be too far away to reach for the brake levers. Get along to your local bike shop to get specialist advice and to get sized up properly.

Helmet

Always wear a properly fitted cycle helmet. There are plenty of lightweight, good-quality helmets out there in the market to satisfy even the most reticent of helmet sceptics. You will more than likely have to wear a helmet to ride in a sportive anyway. Buy a good-quality helmet, look after it, and again get some advice and proper fitting from your local bike shop.

Cycle shorts

Never scrimp on buying cycle shorts: 100 miles is a long way to be sat down on a saddle and your rear will thank you for investing wisely. Bib shorts are worth considering; they are extremely comfortable and don’t cut into your waist at all. If you are riding often you should invest in at least a couple of pairs of shorts. Wash them regularly, and don’t wear underwear underneath them.

Pedals and shoes

Clipless pedals and shoes are proven to be more efficient than traditional pedals without straps, and by quite some margin. If you do get into sportive cycling quite seriously and begin to include high mileage routes into your training programme then buying specialist clipless shoes such as Shimano Road SPDs makes complete sense.

Cycling apparel

Invest wisely in your cycling tops; buy the best that you can afford and only buy specific cycling jerseys made from either man-made fabrics, such as Polyester, or, in some cases, natural materials like Merino Wool, if retro styling is your bag. It’s worth having a selection of short and long sleeve jerseys to allow for warm or cold weather. Again, pop into your local bike shop to get a taste of what’s available.

When the weather turns cool it’s worth considering layering up both upper body and legs. Cycling leggings will keep hardworking muscles warm, and a windproof and waterproof cycling jacket is a must. Buy the best that you can afford; there is some great kit out there that won’t break the bank.

Gloves are a must-have item too; not only will they keep your hands warm but they soak up the sweat from your palms and help keep a safe grip on the handlebars. Wear short-fingered gloves when warm and full-fingered ones when cool. Waterproof cycling gloves should be considered in the winter or heavy rain conditions.

Cycle-specific glasses are highly recommended too: a fly in the eye at 20mph is not funny. Get clear lenses for rainy days, yellow lenses for low-light days and sunglasses for days when the sun decides to show its face. Three-in-one options are readily available so, unless you want to, it isn’t necessary to buy three separate pairs.

Suitable clothing always pays dividends (Route 8)

Bike maintenance

Clean your bike regularly, preferably after each ride, but do so especially if the weather was inclement on your last ride. Grit and crud from the road will wear out your chain and components in no time if you don’t wash them off. A quick hose-down and a little chain-specific oil will work wonders at prolonging the life of your bike.

Another reason for cleaning the bike regularly is that it is easy to spot any potential problems. When you get down into areas such as the spokes or bottom bracket, it’s easier to inspect them as you clean your bike. Check bolts regularly for tightness too; don’t over-tighten them but always check for safety.

It is worth having your bike serviced at least twice a year by a specialist bike shop. This may depend on how many miles you’re putting in, but after a long winter or in the run-up to the sportive season, it’s worth giving the bike some TLC so that it’s ready for your event.

And a bike wash to finish with – if the level’s up (Route 2)

The rules of the road

Cyclists are responsible for their own behaviour on the road and are therefore bound by the Highway Code. Always ride responsibly and be courteous to other road users, especially horses and their riders. Always give clear indications as to your intentions before manoeuvring; the car driver behind you is not a mind reader, so indicate in plenty of time before turning.

Check over your right shoulder before manoeuvring or turning; this small but very important act could prevent anything nasty from happening – always check behind you before you turn or move out into traffic. Don’t drift in and out of parked cars; stay out in the road until the obstacles end. Try not to ride too close to the edge either; there are drains and potholes waiting to eat you up. You will also be seen much earlier on a bend if you stay out from the edge. How you behave will reflect how other road users view other cyclists. Be an ambassador for your sport by riding responsibly – and remember to smile and wave (or at least nod) to other cyclists... please!

Wishful thinking as far as cycling goes

Maps

All the required OS Landranger Maps 1:50,000 for this guide can be found as follows:

 164 Oxford

 165 Aylesbury & Leighton Buzzard

 174 Newbury & Wantage

 175 Reading & Windsor

 184 Salisbury & The Plain

 185 Winchester & Basingstoke

 186 Aldershot & Guildford

 187 Dorking & Reigate

 188 Maidstone & Royal Tunbridge Wells

 195 Bournemouth & Purbeck

 196 The Solent & Isle of Wight

 197 Chichester & the South Downs

 198 Brighton & Lewes

 199 Eastbourne & Hastings

Navigation

The navigation in this guide is designed to be as intuitive and straightforward as possible. While none are onerous, some routes are easier to navigate than others. While clearly not in the game of stopping unnecessarily, there may be times when a quick reference to the route guide is required. If you’ve downloaded the route into your GPS, smartphone or other navigation aid, so much the better. Please remember: never read a map or guidebook while moving, always pull over first.

Some signs are obvious (Route 14)

Some signs are a little quirky (Route 13)

In lieu of direction arrows that would guide you around a sportive event, normal road signage now becomes your replacement arrows. The road signage throughout the routes is generally well maintained, but now and again there’s always one that tries to trip you up with washed-out lettering; or on one or two occasions signs where letters aren’t even there! It is important to spend a little time studying the routes beforehand and get a picture in your head of the day’s ride.

Bear in mind that chatting away to your ride partner can cause wrong turns to be taken. Speed is another reason to miss a turn – going too fast downhill or pedalling hard with head down results in a loss of concentration and missing that all-important junction. Remember: these rides are training routes, not races. Stay in control of your bike, look where you’re going, enjoy the beautiful scenery – and check the signage. Also, keep the book handy in one of your back pockets and download the relevant map into your GPS or smartphone.

Feed stations

A major factor to consider is energy and hydration replacement. On a long training ride, pubs, village shops, post offices, garages and cafés must act as feed and drink stations. Whether it’s 25, 50 or 100 miles, it can feel like a long way on a bike when it’s cold, wet and windy. Don’t make it any harder for yourself; don’t chance it on an empty tank.

Toast and tea are all part of the regime (Route 9)

To this end, make sure you carry plenty of food, water and energy bars, which can be crammed into rear pockets or stuffed into small feedbags on your bike. Eat and drink as you go along. Again, be self-reliant as much as possible; some pubs or cafés may not be open if you’re an early bird.

The old training maxim applies to everyone: drink before you’re thirsty, and eat before you’re hungry. Keep your energy levels up and replenish little and often as you go along – your performance and recovery levels will benefit dramatically.

Don’t fall off – fuel up

Using this guide

The routes in this guide are designed to offer a happy medium across the distances involved and, importantly, provide some insight into what to expect when covering longer distances by bike.

Each route is designed for both newcomers and experienced sportive riders alike. Having built up a base level of fitness and stamina, any fledgling sportive riders will soon feel the benefit of testing themselves against the distances and terrain involved. More experienced riders will enjoy the variation and challenge of discovering new routes as they test themselves in the most scenic areas across the south east of England.

There’s nowhere to hide when climbing (Route 13)

As in any well-organised sportive route, the majority of mileage covered in this guide is on quiet country roads and lanes. B roads are kept to a minimum and are generally quiet as far as traffic is concerned. Major road sections are only used when unavoidable but integral to the route. Right-hand turns, especially on A and B roads, are kept to a minimum and used only where necessary. It would be almost impossible to only have left-hand turns; the route would be very short!

All the routes in this guide can be downloaded and are compatible for GPS. Each route is original in its concept, is the creation of the author and is designed to cover areas in which sportive rides are popular. Any similarity to existing sportive events is purely coincidental. The intention also is that the routes should be as close as possible to built-up areas. Not every route needs to be a ‘destination’ ride, but if you’re lucky enough to live close to a route, riders can start from a more convenient point.

Route maps and profiles show you what to expect during each training ride and refreshment stops and bike shops have been plotted onto the maps with easy-to-spot icons. The route summary table in Appendix A gives an overview of the 20 routes detailing the basics: location, start and finish points, distance, ascent, grade and approximate time. Appendix B lists bike shops and cycle repair stations on a route-by-route basis, should you have any bike maintenance emergencies. Appendix C lists useful contacts such as accommodation and transport websites, sportive organisations and hospitals in the area.

Timings

Timings are often highly subjective when cycling and should only ever be used as a guide: café stops, puncture repairs, fitness levels, type of terrain (hilly rather than flat) and weather conditions are just a few internal and external influences on time taken to ride a particular route.

There will always be exceptions to the rule of course; if Sir Bradley Wiggins should decide that he wants to train on ‘Reservoir Cogs’ then he would be expected to be way inside the time frame.

Cadence

Performance cycling is all about optimising efficiency, and cadence is the cycling term for RPM or revolutions per minute. If cyclists turn their pedals at one rotation per second, they are deemed to be working at 60 RPM. Other factors do come into play, however: the selected gear, whether the terrain is rough or smooth and whether going up or down a hill, for example. Weather variations also play a part, especially wind conditions.

All these factors play their part in how cyclists ride. Ultimately, the desire is to pedal as smoothly and efficiently as possible to get the greatest return for the effort put in. It is better to spin the pedals efficiently rather than churn out a big gear and simply burn out the legs in no time.

Keep a higher cadence for more efficient pedalling, and aim for somewhere between 80 to 100 RPM. Don’t worry too much about the speed at first, work on cycling efficiently; over a long distance a high cadence is the most effective way to ride.

Linking up routes

For riders who really want to test themselves before an event, a selection of routes in this guide join, or link together, at certain points along the way. Riders taking on the extra miles will experience what it’s like to complete a full sportive event of approximately 100 miles or even more.