Featuring a sort of secret way under the M25 and a sort of secret pub and a sort of secret small valley. 50 miles in total.

We’ll start off down the Waterlink Way, through West Wickham (though taking a different route to our normal one), then head over the North Downs to the halfway point somewhere near Otford – folk can take the train back from here if they like (check yourself about engineering works) though you will have to ride at a reasonable pace as the rest of us will need to get back. Our rides aren’t overly fast though.

After a leisurely pub lunch we’ll head back with a fairly fast return to town, probably slowing down for the last bit through Beckenham Place Park.

Please note that this ride contains a fair amount of climbing though we will wait for everyone.

Suitable for any bike – the return through Beckenham Place Park may prove a bit tricky for a full-on racer but you could always carry on down the main road from Bromley to Lewisham.

Report

Eight of us at Cutty Sark Gardens, two more at Ladywell Fields and another couple at a specially arranged stop down the Waterlink Way. A good mix of regulars, totally new folk and several from across the river. And a special mention for Andrew who we last saw a couple of years ago on a ride to Brighton.

We took our usual pootle down the Waterlink Way – good to let people warm up and socialise a bit – but then cut off early to take a different route to West Wickham, gateway to the North Downs. May well use this route most of the time in the future – a bit shorter I think. Also greener, less main roads and less bother with traffic lights splitting up the group.

After West Wickham, the usual moderate climb to Downe. Definitely one of the best things about being in South East London is the ease with which you can get out into wonderful Kent Lanes. A pause at Downe to swap a tube over because of a slow puncture. Pic included. No shame in punctures – an occasional reality– just bring the spare tubes and no problem. Downe’s a nice place to stop anyway and we exchanged a few words with the Dulwich Paragon (some in their rather fetching club strip) out on their Saturday morning ride – they meet in Crystal Palace for a fixed-route cycle around Kent lanes and in fact it was the Paragon which introduced me to some of these routes – more info at www.wallygimber.freeserve.co.uk

It was tempting to stop at Christmas Tree Farm for a coffee and cake but I knew there was serious climbing to do (thankfully for some maybe they didn’t realise quite how much). First, the climb to Cudham – becoming a bit of a regular challenge on my rides but the last bit does get easier – honest. Partly it’s psychological; once you know that the final and worst bit is ultra-short it’s easier to persevere.

After a much needed rest, left in Cudham, down the lanes, left at the crossroads and into some virgin territory for our rides to finally deliver on the promised bluebells. A bit of an indirect route to Otford to be sure but, hey, we’re out to enjoy the ride.

We turned right to make towards the final climb over the Downs and on a descent met a bunch of venture scouts or whatever – or maybe it was some Duke of Edinburgh award bunch. I daren’t ask. The second time we’ve met these folk out here in as many rides – sure hope they aren’t the planned last defence against any invasion as they were again totally *** lost despite having Ordnance Survey maps with them. Slightly better than the last lot who desperately asked if we knew where the church at Cudham was as it stood virtually in front of them, obscured only by their flapping maps.

Leaving them to their wanderings (they are probably still out there living on berries) we went through Halstead, past a great looking pub we must visit sometime, then zapped down the rather hidden way under the M25 although Jurek remembered it when it was a functioning road. Never climbed it but come to think of it, it's probably pretty handy that way as well – especially compared to some of the hellish ascents I’ve taken people up from the south of the Downs.

Into Otford and then we hit the really secret part – a damn awful climb to our hidden pub and lunch. Sorry – not telling you where it is – if you want to find out you’ll have to come on our next run of this ride – probably before the summer has quite gone. But it is so well hidden that one of our party ventured the guess that I was about to lead them over a cliff edge just before it appeared. It’s kind of amazing it survives but apparently it does well by catering for walkers, folks from the nearby small caravan park and the select few who know about it. Great beer, decent basic food and a really nice garden at the back which I didn’t actually know about when I checked it out for the ride. Next time I’ll see if we can get permission to get our bikes through/round the pub to park them into the garden.

Lunch was an extended affair, partly because the food took a while but also because no-one was in a particular hurry on such a glorious day. Jurek had to leave us for an early appointment back in town though.

After lunch a bit more up and down, a long descent into rather scenic Shoreham (some more nice looking pubs) and then through Chelsfield, Farnborough, Bromley and Beckenham Place Park.

Everyone seemed to enjoy the ride and 12 is definitely a good turn out for a ride which promised/threatened some strong climbing and definitely delivered it – no shame to the folks who got off on some of the tougher ascents – thankfully the 25 per cent climb at Cudham is very short. In many ways probably our toughest ride of the year, even though some will be longer. Still, nothing like a little pain mixed with the pleasure.

Paul