Well, we did it. In most unseasonal weather. TGL did fine.
We set off with most of the E.Sussex in a large group (probably about 75% of the riders for the 50
), which was a bit slow. Towards lunch, TGL, a chap on a Colnago and another on a Giant went off the front up a hill. I prayed they would stay together, as, even though he had a map and a route sheet, I wasn't confident that TGL would be able to navigate it.
I went off the front in a couple of places - particularly hills, as I was a bit overgeared to ride up slowly - than waited.
We saw TGL again at Heaven Farm, the control, where he was waiting outside, as he didn't have any cash for food. Never mind, we hadn't been too far behind.
After a long queue and a nice lunch, we were just relaxing when the E.Sussex (well, most of them) decided to up & off again. We got ourselves ready in our own time and rode to catch up.
TGL was itching to go a bit faster, so I let him go off & solo sections, but I was still nervous about him following the route sheet (he wasn't bothering with his map), so I asked him to stop at junctions. Well, that worked for a while, till he decided to go off ahead.
I reached a back group of the E.Sussex, and found TGL had ridden through towards the front group. By now, we were on a pretty straight bit of the route, so I waited for Butterfly, and we rode onwards.
We left the back markers, and headed off to find the head of the group (& TGL). We came close, but were taking it easy and stopped a couple of times, especially after a long straight, unexpectedly exposed section where we'd been buffeted.
We actually arrived back at the HQ on the tails of the group, who had been delayed by a minute or two after TGL had fallen, his front wheel having dropped off a sharp edge of tarmac. He, and his new Campag jacket, of which he is very proud (he does look good in it) were unharmed, so we went for tea and cake.
So that's his first - 50km. I am trying to persuade him to do the 100km next year, but getting home after took it out of hime (ride to Uckfield (very pretty, by the way, and nothing like as lumpy as I'd expected); long wait for a train; change at Oxted for another, busier, train; ride home from station). Maybe, if we stay in Sussex another night, and just do the 100km, he'll be fine.
He says he's prepared to do 80km. I'd compromise on that, if I have to
