Surrey Hills 1

6th December 2008

60.18 miles

5 hours 39 minutes

Road

Winding through Cobham to Box Hill, and back through Epsom

Today was supposed to be the Doyen of the Downs 30 miler. Except I got the day wrong and it's actually tomorrow, when I'm flying away. So I was going to run the route anyway. But I was kindly sent a 70 mile route starting from London and going around the Surrey Hills, and I was thinking of doing that on Christmas Day. However I wasn't sure I was up to the distance, and although there are plenty of stations near the route, they wouldn't be running on Christmas day. So I though I'd do a test ride, today instead of running. All started well - I cut across through to Kingston, but then was scuppered by the one way system, so got off and walked over the road to bike the other way and found where I wanted to be. Traffic was reasonably light, but then it wasn't even 9am on a Saturday morning. From there it was main road pretty much down to Cobham where (I think it was here - my mind has mashed the ride altogether) I started on the country roads. Was much nicer to be on quieter roads, although it was a bit nerve wracking when lorries flew past me and I wobbled in the wake of their vacuum. I'd printed the route from googlemaps, but even on multiple pages, the details was still a bit sparse, for example most roads weren't named on the map, and when you're trying to pick out which country lane, and commit it to memory so you don't have to stop and check the map at every junction, it's a little tricky. Managed to stick to it in the main, although a few times I missed turnings and had to find a way back to the route without wanting to simply turn straight around. Hills were mostly manageable - lots of short up and downs. There were three main climbs - one from the A246 crossing near East Clandon - I huffed and puffed my way, but I made it without stopping. The next climb was a completely different story - I turned right onto Crocknorth Road, and the hill rose very very steeply for a long long way. I managed about 20 yards before stopping. I then walked to the top, and was absoutely knackered - no way I could have managed riding. But the reward for that climb was riding along Ranmore Common, which was lovely. I knew that the 'big one' ie Box Hill was coming up shortly and was getting nervous - I didn't want to have to get off and walk again. I think I lost concentration as I missed my turning and ended up riding along Dorking High Street, instead of my pretty country lanes. Got back on track, and on seeing bike signs for Box Hill and a subway, got off and walked under, but I guess it would have been possible to just ride around the roundabout. It was busy, but I saw another cyclist on there - one for next time. And then I was at the bottom of Box Hill. And going up was fine. Yes, it was a sustained climb for a couple of miles, but the gradient at times was barely noticeable, and I felt comfortable the whole way. That said, I was glad to reach the top and see the beautiful views. From here on was basically the home stretch, albeit a 30 mile home stretch. I followed the given route until Epsom, then was thrown by the one way system, and not wanting to get off and walk in the right direction, decide to go left and blag it. Ahem. No. Ended up just doing a small tour of the town a couple of times before I found where I wanted. And then I hit West Ewell and it all went wrong. By now I'd exceeded my previous longest distance of 45 miles, and must admit that in the ensuing frustrations, it occurred to me more than once that I could just stop and get the train home. The route got very fiddly, taking side roads that were hidden amidst myriad side roads. So I figured I would just head in the vague direction and work from that. But then I saw a cycle route sign to Kingston, and decided to follow that. First off, it took me through a park, where I had to dismount. Then the directions stopped. Aaaargh. Followed my nose again, but ended up on a dual carriageway. Not good for the nerves. Then saw cycle route signs for Ewell and Epsom and decided to follow those. They took me back through the park the opposite way, back to where I'd started. Aaaargh. Then I did a lovely tour of some of Epsoms finest estates. Not the country kind. Eventually got back to Ewell (where I'd unintentionally turned off the route), but I was so tired and annoyed by this point that tears were almost shed, and I so nearly stopped at the station. But nearly stopped isn't stopped. I'd had another check of the rubbish Google maps prints, and assuming I could get the right road out of Ewell, created a new route home from main roads. Not ideal, but I was losing any patience I may have started with. But the good thing is that I have lost my fear of roundabouts. I am still nervous at them, but no longer terrified. I went over three major roundabouts within a mile or two of each other, (straight over at two and right at one) which included a heavy flow of traffic from the A3 (twice) and the A24. And I survived. More than that, it was fine. I saw when I could go, and drivers saw me, saw where I was heading, and didn't run me over. Result. And then I was back on familiar territory. Or so I thought. I still don't quite inderstand how I took a road vaguely parallel south of the main road, but ended up at a junction north of it? Anyway. Quick diversion to retrace this mornings steps to pick up my bike computer, which had fallen off. Now although I wasn't aware of the exact moment it fell off, I did notice it fairly quickly. But chose not to go back, thinking I'd pick it up later. On my return, I realised how stupid that idea was. Firstly, I couldn't remember where it might have fallen, secondly, anyone may have found it and moved it. Thirdly, looking for a tiny computer, not much bigger than a £2 coin, on a long stretch of road where it 'may' have fallen is not fun. Especially after 60 miles. So I now have lost my computer. Didn't realise I even used it much when I'm wearing the Garmin, but I really missed it today. Just things like checking the time, and seeing what speed you're doing on hills, and in fast traffic. I'll never know... So after giving up the search, it was an easy coast for the last mile. Apart from the drivers trying to kill me, but it was actually a relatively attempted-murder free ride. It was shockingly slow. I usually average 15mph on weekend rides, which in itself is slow. Today was 10.6mph ave. In my defence, that's from start to finish - I didn't stop the Garmin at all, and I had numerous (lengthy as had to get stuff out of bag with almost numb hands) stops to check the map prints, and for drinks etc. but even so, the moving pace would have been fairly sedate - I was pooling to a degree as I wanted to last the whole 60 miles, and I held the brakes on the downhills as the roads were wet and a little icy. Learnings? A lot. In terms of performance, it hasn't helped my confidence due to the slow pace. But I know that I can fairly easily cope with that distance. And as training for ultra marathons focuses on time on feet, I'm going to prioritise time on wheels. Even if that means pooled miles - the longer I can spend riding a bike the better. I am my own worst enemy. My stubborness, which gets me through ultras, can also work against me. In Epsom, but particularly around West Ewell/Ewell/Chessington/Hook/wherever I was, despite the fact that I was nearly in tears with the frustration of being lost, I was determined not to look at the map on my iphone, which tells you exactly where you are. Why I didn't use it, I dont know. I just wanted to get by without it. And I did, but the hard way. I liked the route, but more than half of it was on busy roads. I may look into getting the train just a few stops away from here, and use that as my start/finish point. Hills are my huge weakness. I cannot climb them well, sometimes not at all. To get better I need to do lots of hill training, and build up my (still only 3 month old) biking muscles. And lose weight preferably. I'l find it a lot easier getting up hills if I was lighter. There's a good reason why hill-climbing champions are tiny waifs on bikes. I did enjoy the ride. At times I really enjoyed it. At times I was frustrated, either by traffic or by myself. My confidence at junctions is improving, but I still had to walk over two junctions - one of which on the way out where I had to cross two lanes of fast moving traffic joining the A3. I didn't even try, and got off and waited for the green man to lead me to safety. OK, so no calculator will tell you that 60 miles bike is equivalent to 30 miles run, but I was out for almost as long as I would have been running for, and it was an exercise well worth doing.