Yeah, just to echo what everyone else has said, that was a great day out on the bike. A really well designed route and the control at Chiddingly was perfect - both in where it came on the route and in the catering provided.
I'm pretty pleased with how it went. It was the end of a tough week at work, and I didn't get to bed until 1am the night before, then was up at 4am to get the first train up to Bromley. Plus I'm in no condition for a hilly ride at the moment - unfit and overweight.
Stayed with the big bunch for the first stretch down to Ide Hill, then just pootled along at my own pace, occasionally falling in with other riders but mostly riding on my own. I had decided even before the start to approach the hills with the mindset of just getting up them, rather than attacking them in any way, and that proved to be very much the correct decision. I got passed by a few people on Toy's Hill but at least I managed to get to the top without stopping.
Hogtrough is pretty nasty. You can see the road ahead rising almost vertically from soon after you pass under the M25, and when I saw it, the main thought going through my head was "You have got to be fucking joking!" but at least it doesn't go on too long.
High & Over was tougher than I was expecting too - the top bit is really rather steep. Lots of fun coming back down it the other way though.
The rain in the first couple of hours added to the general toughness but I'd mostly dried out by the time I reached Seaford, although I think I have a touch of trench foot. Unfortunately, I tore one of my Velotoze overshoes while fiddling about with them on the train and then binned them in a fit of petulance. That was a mistake.
Total riding time of just over 9hrs is about what I was expecting and hoping for, so I'm pleased with that, but stoppages added another 90mins to that, which is a bit disappointing. I was intending to avoid lingering at controls and other unnecessary stops, so often my downfall on audaxes, but I ended up spending over 40mins in Mayfield alone. Having spent 15mins hanging around outside the supermarket scoffing a steak slice, I set off but then spied loads of bikes outside a café I'd missed on the way in, so decided to stop for much-needed warmth and caffeine, and to use the loo - a blessed relief as I'd been wanting to do that since very early on (had failed to find anywhere in Crowborough, and didn't fancy the facilities in Seaford).
Would have happily spent longer at the finish, enjoying the fine beer and even finer company, but having checked the train times, I realised that I had to dash off or risk not getting home until very late. Plus it was a bit too chilly for sitting outside a pub, even if Jonah was doing his best to pretend otherwise.
Well done, Ivan & co, for putting on a splendid event. I'll definitely be back if you run it again - hopefully a stone lighter by then so I can really enjoy it properly.