Cycling long 7:45:00 [4] 165.5 km (21.4 kph) +1400m
Dorking original sportive
A really hard day out.
0-26 miles: started off really cold, but thought I would be ok with the two climbs early on. Then got a puncture at about 25 miles, and it took a good half an hour to fix - those armadillos are so hard to get off/on. Really dismayed 1 mile down the road at the first feed stop to find out we'd only gone 26 miles.
26-60 miles: v demoralised as was off the back of the 'epic' pack and hardly saw anyone. I'd cooled right back down fixing the tyre and was getting tired.
60-80 miles: a high period as I stopped for lots of food at the second feed stop and then bashed out the three/four main climbs of the day. Really pleased to get up White Down.
80-100 miles: made the mistake of thinking it was basically over at Box Hill, but 20 miles is not a negligible distance. Slowed right down and was just surviving.
Route: from Dorking, up Ranmore, down the N side, up Green Dene, Godalming, down south to the low weald, up to Coldharbour, Leith Hill, White Down and Box Hill, finally a loop out south to make up the distance.