BHF London to Brighton Bike Ride 2010: start of Ditchling Beacon

[StyxTour]

So I tackled this beast for the first time today! My god it's big, kept wanting to stop and push but I wanted to achieve it! I stopped for drink once but carried on going in my lowest gear which soon felt like double my highest gear... Incredible feeling when you reach the top.

[cashman1985]

What time did you set off in the morning? Seems like the main problem is the sheer volume of people walking up it.

[gingerdj]

@cashman1985 9:30am, the last time slot. You're right, I'd caught up with heavy traffic from earlier slots. If you've never done it, there's an earlier hill (after leaving London's sprawl, about 15 miles) that causes an unavoidable walk. This year I'm going to choose the 8am slot.

[cashman1985]

@gingerdj Great. I think I have the 6am slot so as long as I keep going at a decent pace I should be able to keep ahead of the major cues.

Any tips for a first timer? I've started training, but only small distances so far. Any tips for my bike too?

[gingerdj]

@cashman1985 Regular training. Build up the mileage, mix in some hills. Do 2 or 3 midweek short rides then do 5-10 miles on a weekend day as a starter. Increase the mileage every week. A week before the event you should be able to do over the half the distance. I did Ditchling Beacon for a confidence booster.

Bike tips: make sure you've got a good comfortable saddle (if it hurts after a mile or so go into a shop to get adjusted), well pumped-up tyres.More advice on my blog

[LegoYodaX]

I'm doing the run this year... How steep is this bit?

[gingerdj]

@LegoYodaX Not so much as steep but a long, long road up. Its the last hill of the journey with about 8 miles to the finish line after climbing it..

[clubsport911]

Climbed this on my Fixed gear, singlespeed - didn't stop once. Highly recommended !