The Easier One 35miles/50k

Whilst a fair amount of the squad were on Sportive duties, injured or probably cooking dinner for their mums. Eight turned up at the park. Eight going out on two rides, my god we have had eighteen going out on one !! Still it was Greg upping the tempo on a 56 miler and MG - standing in for the Gaffer/Benny on a more gentile ride out with a couple of rolling hills thrown in. Martin opting to go with the challenge of a longer route and both Colin and Greg reasuringly encouraging him to take up the challenge.

So we set off together and split at the bottom of Glenisk Road, on our way down to Bexley through Blackfen, to re kindle our relationship with the training loop. All keeping together until we took a left up Maidstone Road and into a head wind the rouleuers got split down the road, Suley doing a cracking job all day of rounding everyone up. Jason out on the lash the night before holding the wheel and keeping a good little pace sheltering behing MG.

Then it was a right down Hockendon Lane, i say down but it is only until you go under the bridge then its a gentle rise in the road all the way to Crockenhill. Easy to do, but sapping on the legs, none the less. Again we were a bit split down the road but all rejoined once we reached the junction at the end of the road.

Again another rolling road until we turned right at the bridge and then everyone had a lovely fast descent- whilst one was struggling coming the other way, although chapeau cos he was in his 70's and grinding out the climb !!

A welcome refuelling when we got to Lully'...Suley asking where we were going after coffee, MG replying up there..and pointing with his finger. Suley realising "we normally come down this,dont we " Then offering some friendly "words" to the Ride Captain which could still be heard as we climbed Redmond Lane first, and then after we hit Cockerhurst Road and we went up and up and up...Jason doing a great job, Suley still offering "thanks" to the leader of the ride as we continued our ride to the top.

Well we could have gone up Well Hill, but we chose Firmongers instead and then of course what goes up must come down and dropping through Crown Wood we were on the homeward stretch. As we came onto Chelsfield Lane the storm clouds threatened, especailly seeing as MG had taken off his rain cape, but a few spots amounted to nothing and just the little climb of Watery Lane which after a long day in the saddle can somtimes feel like Mont Ventoux, not today as we all rode with added confidence up the lane and for the only time in the day we got bogged down in traffic through Sidcup and back to the park. A good mornings effort, with a ride that had a little of everything, some flat, some down and of course a bit of up too, eh Suley !!! 

MG