A ride over and down the North Downs to Groombridge which is half in Kent and half in one bit of Sussex. We’ll stop in its Kent or Sussex pub for lunch and then return by the Forest Way and Worth Way traffic-free trails. Possible tea stop on the way but it depends on how we are doing.

The route has been designed to get most of the effort over by lunch. Afterwards will be a slowish amble up those traffic free trails.

Lunch after 45 miles, so as always bring snacks. Total ride distance is variable, allowing folk to train it back at different points. After 55 miles we’ll hit East Grinstead Station, with Three Bridges after about 65 and Gatwick with its fast and frequent trains after 70. That’s probably the farthest we’ll get though if anyone’s up for some punishment I may be willing to press on to Caterham after what I think should be about 80 miles. Everything will be done by consensus.

Pace will depend on the group as an early start should allow us to take it fairly easy.

The Forest Way and Worth Way may cause issues for some full-on racers but it is by no means serious off-road – definitely suitable for all other bikes and leader will be doing it on a narrow-tyred fast city bike.

More info from Paul: 07957 209322 NO TEXTS PLEASE

Report

Eight of us at Cutty Sark Gardens alongside the burned out shell of the Cutty Sark. Equal split of men and women, good mix of regulars and new folk – relative newcomer Liz had brought another friend from north of the river.

Turned out to be a very evenly matched group – speed while pedalling fairly moderate as always (regular zaps ahead by me to check the route/take pics but folk often ahead of me) but we hardly had to stop for folk to catch up – just the normal stops for snacks, water, brief socialising.

Took the new route to West Wickham – seems roundabout but fairly direct and a nice slow start before the rigours to come. Through Downe where we paused before the climb to Cudham – clearly making good time as we’ often run into the Dulwich Paragon around here on their Saturday run – see our links for their page.

After the rest under the tree, on to Cudham and its notorious through very short 25 per cent gradient. Chris, Liz’s friend, got up it despite only just having started cycling. A few walked – no disgrace – it’s tough but easier with practice once you are psychologically prepared. Another stop at the crossroads beyond Cudham where we took a right towards Brasted for more climbing followed by a long descent into Brasted. Past the White Hart in the High Street, famous haunt of Battle of Britain pilots from Biggin Hill, then more climbing towards Ide Hill.

None of the climbing was as tough as the initial bit to Cudham though and we were rewarded by lots of wonderful downhills. And the climbs never bothered Kay-E who as usual shot ahead as they approached. And with just 16 gears on his folding Dahon, just shows that you don’t need piles of gears at all – just well spaced ones. Maybe Dahon have a knack for this – my Dahon Speed Pro has just 21, almost primeval by modern standards, using a seven speed derailleur and a three speed hub gear (as much techie knowledge as you’ll get out of me) but its gears are far more effective than the 27 speed Cannondale I use for most Lewisham rides.

Nothing too eventful on the rest of the ride before lunch though at one point Kay-E and an accomplice shot ahead past a turning – repeated shouts appeared to have no effect so we co-opted a friendly
driver and his canine passenger to go and bring them to heel.

Through Penshurst – must stop sometime for a tea and cake but I was keen to get to lunch and back at reasonable hour so we carried on. Sometime soon we must veer off here to take the cycle path to Tonbridge which is apparently pretty nice.

We hit lunch in Groombridge after 38 miles – apologies if I put some folk off by listing it as 45 miles in the invite I must have double counted the distance I add on to compensate for my reccies being from Forest Hill rather than Cutty Sark Gardens.

Wonderfully placed pub on the Green in the Kent half of Groombridge. Decent food and great beer though soft drinks an awful con – makes me wonder whether we should use it again, £2.70 for a pint of orange – about the same for a pint of fizz from syrup. Don’t ever pity publicans charging these prices who moan about the effects of drink driving laws – they are making mega margins on the back of it. Like most pubs they had no objections to filling our water  bottles at the end – if I was into soft drinks rather than a couple of pints I’d be seriously tempted to drink the water.

Enough grumbles. Into Groombridge’s Sussex half, then onto the Forest Way traffic free trail which we had used in the other direction on the previous week’s East Grinstead-Lewes loop. A wonderful route but maybe best done at the beginning of a ride as an easy paced sociable start.

The Forest Way took us all the way to East Grinstead which we hit by about 3:30 after about 48 miles. Five decided to take the opportunity for an early return from here while three of us cycled the extra seven miles up the Worth Way where we took trains from Three Bridges.

Good ride, maybe next time I'll adapt it by lunching in Groombridge and then turning to loop eastwards to take in more lanes rather than the Forrest and Worth Ways.

The route to Groombridge by the way is the same we’ll be taking to Hastings on June 30 – about 80 miles but as with this ride most of the hard work is at the beginning – hope to see more of you then – get trained up for the flat Dunwich Dynamo.

Paul