The London to Brighton Bike Ride

I don’t usually like to talk about all the charity work I do. That’s because I rarely do any, save for giving the odd tenner to mates who are doing a bit of fundraising and, of course, regular donations to the Broleur Beer Beverage Benevolent Fund (BBBBF). All contributions are welcomely received.

The London To Brighton Bike Ride was something different, though. Not only because it’s one of the more iconic routes in the south-east, and not because I could raise a bit of dosh for my chosen cause, We Are Family. I’d wanted to do London-Brighton for a long time because it pulled at my taut heartstrings. It had a sentimental allure.

Twenty years ago, I remember our Dad rode London-Brighton, along with our Mum, Sisteur and our Broleur-in-law (although it must have been the BHF version). I can still recall how awe-struck I was when he recounted Ditchling Beacon and just how tough he found it; when he talked about the bonhomie between the riders, and about the wonderful support they received at the finish.

‘Big John’ might have struggled up Ditchling because he did it on an old-school mountain bike so heavy it was probably forged in Mount Doom along with the One Ring. Even so, his achievement - and our family’s - made this a must-do event in my mind.

No Strava palaver

Having cycled down to Brighton from London a good few times, I knew the distance - 90km - wouldn’t be an issue, nor the climbing. Tough and unpleasant as Ditchling Beacon undoubtedly is, it’s no Mortirolo - our new standard-bearer as the most stupendously hard climb we’ve done.

This was a ride I planned to enjoy. I wasn’t looking to steal any Strava KOMs and didn’t want to draw ‘pistols at dawn’ with anyone who had the temerity to pass me or shirked their turn on the front. I just wanted to savour the moment for a change. Or that was the theory at least.

It was an added bonus that the start line was a stone’s throw from my doorstep, on Clapham Common. No schlep across the country, no stressing or nightmares that I’d forgotten my helmet/shoes/jersey/bike on a European adventure, no expensive hotels that I’d have to surreptitiously raid my kid’s piggy bank to pay for.

You’re having a laugh

The ‘fun ride’ aspect was confirmed when I did my usual pre-sportive assessment/judgmental critique of the field. Loads of riders in charity jerseys and I counted more tutus than shaved legs. There was laughter and jokes in the air rather than a nervous hush. It probably helped that it was a rolling start from 6.30am-9am, so riders could relax with a coffee beforehand instead of anxiously fidgeting around in pens.

The first few kilometres through Balham, Tooting, Mitcham and Carshalton and out towards Chipstead was a very genteel affair. It's best to get going as early as possible, though, to avoid any traffic. No one was jostling for position and no one seemed to be forming groups. Everyone seemed to be content to go at their own pace, which was fine by me.

Chip on my shoulder

Or rather it was “fine by me” until we reached the first climb of the day in Chipstead, Hazelwood Lane. I’d been yo-yoing with a bunch of four riders in red and yellow jerseys (I couldn’t read the charity or club name, so dubbed them the ‘Hula Hoops’).

The competitive fires had clearly not been extinguished completely, as I couldn’t resist engaging them in battle. There was no verbal declaration of war but the Hula Hoops and I all knew it was game on.

It was only after I’d hunted them down one by one and crested the climb that I realised I was feeling deflated, not elated. There’s a time and a place for acting like a tool - and London-Brighton is neither. There’s no glory in dropping the hammer past riders who are already having to walk.

As my American wife all too often says, I was being “such a jerk”. Time to wind my neck in and quit with the oneupmanship as we wound our way through the countryside to the rest stop at Turners Hill, some 50km into the ride.

Savoury delights

Many of the bigger, more famous sportives could learn a thing or two about feed stations from London-Brighton.

Chapeau to the organisers, Skyline Events, for putting on a fabulous spread. Loads of room for people to stretch off, toilets where there wasn’t a ridiculous, bladder-bursting queue, chairs, tables, non-intrusive music, a guy on the mic who wasn’t incredibly irritating and, best of all, proper food. Not an energy gel in sight.

For the savoury selection, there was pasta, rice, rolls, coleslaw, potatoes, boiled eggs, salad, ham and chicken. Then, for the more sweet of tooth, brownies, cake, fudge... Top marks all round, they got it spot on.

Whereas I don’t usually like to dilly-dally at feed stations, getting in and out as quickly as possible like an undercover operative, I had to make an exception for this buffet and took my own sweet time. Very sweet in fact, as I wolfed down a third brownie.

Beacon of slope

From there, it’s only about 20km or so (and mostly downhill) to what London-Brighton termed ‘The Big One’, Ditchling Beacon.

Having ridden up it a couple of times in the Puncheur, I knew Ditchling is not a climb to be taken lightly. 1.5km long and at an average of about 9%, it’s no joke.

Pretty much everyone I saw seemed to be walking - and there’s no shame in that. The first time I did Ditchling, I managed to shear off my derailleur after switching from the big ring to granny gear and toppled over. But, with the road closed to cars for the event - a nice touch - I didn’t have to be barking out, “On your right”, or having to weave past people. There were also some bellows of encouragement from - without going too Game of Thrones on you - the ‘Walkers’.

The cheers were much needed because Ditchling is deceptive in that you think you’re close to the top, that the summit is just round the next turn, but then it goes on and on, slowly breaking your will. A Chinese burn of a climb.

The one thing I’d say for first-timers to keep at the back of their minds on Ditchling is that it’s worth keeping turning those pedals square because once you eventually reach the top, apart from an exquisite view over the Sussex countryside, it’s all downhill from there. Life’s a Brighton beach.

Once you get into Brighton city centre, it does get a bit stop-start unless you’re a complete chump and jump the traffic lights - and I saw quite a few doing just that.

Without wanting to preach too much, please don’t, cyclists have a bad enough reputation as it is. You can stop your Garmin, Strava, Wahoo or whatever, it will all be OK. I find it as irritating as riders who drop their gel wrappers like they’re on the Tour de France.

Pier power

Anyway, let’s get back to the sportive. After taking a left at Brighton Pier, you get a wonderfully flat finishing straight along Madeira Drive. With the beach and sea to your right and lots of marshals - who were great by the way - and supporters cheering you on, it’s a fantastic opportunity to sit back and soak up your achievement before crossing the finish line.

London-Brighton is perfect for those wanting to dip their toe in the shallow waters of sportives rather than jump straight in at the deep end.

It’s not ridiculously far, there’s an amazing feed, very few are in any great rush and everyone is really supportive. If you have to get off and walk, then do so. You won’t be alone. And then there is always the bigger picture for you to look at...

Charity case

After collecting my medal and circling round to go to meet my best supporters, my wife and daughter, for a picture in front of Brighton Pier for We Are Family, I saw something that will always be etched in my memory.

A woman was in floods of tears, locked in an embrace with her partner. On the Tannoy, it was announced that she suffers from Multiple Sclerosis and had been riding her first-ever event for an MS charity.

That’s when it really hit home and I started to well up. London-Brighton isn’t about selfishly stressing about Strava, or about getting one over a faux enemy on a climb. It’s about doing something good for people less fortunate than yourself, about a woman with MS overcoming all her difficulties to do something incredible.

My Dad may well have been proud of me; he’d have been positively beaming for that woman.

The other brother

Time spent on a bike is an enviable opportunity to reflect, but how often do we savour this precious gift that keeps giving?

Of course, sometimes there’s no opportunity to ponder the whys and wherefores of life. There’s no reason to unilaterally withdraw from the idle chatter of a friendly group. When you’re racing against the clock, there’s simply no time. And it would be reckless to ruminate if all your attention should be focused on just staying upright.

But other times we’re needlessly glued to the Garmin or Wahoo, watching our wattage wane, our cadence climb or an average speed slip. Or we fall prey to an ear worm, replaying that conversation, winning the argument, drafting a snarky email response we’ll never send. Perpetually scrolling through a feed that offers no comfort and has no end.

So stop (figuratively). Think. Or don’t think. But at least be grateful. That the sun is straining to shine and the breeze is at your back. That your legs are in painless motion. That your chain isn’t slipping and your crank is creak-free. Life is like Dennis Wise: short and hard. Savour the good bits.

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